Jim Swain has another hit on his hands. This is the third book on the character Tony Valentine. With the the twist and turns you can't put it down. The way Jim brings in the cast of character is masterful. Especialy Mr. B. You'll have to read the book to see who this one is.
Can't wait for the next one.

I thought Grift Sense was GREAT. I thought Funny Money was better. Now along comes Swain with another winner in Sucker Bet. Female wrestlers and alligators on the prowl; blackjack and casino cheating scams; colorful and idiosycnratic characters; a guitar strumming ape with apparent psychic abilities; and Tony Valentine, the master at figuring out the schemes and scams perpetrated on the casinos of the world. It's a great book that I couldn't put down. I hope they make movies out of them. I hope hope Swain has 10 more of them coming down the pike. I can't wait for more!

I have to admit that I set out wanting to like this book, as the previous two in the Tony Valentine series, Grift Sense and Funny Money, were both winners. But Swain has really hit his stride with his 3rd outing. I think the best review I could give would be a direct quote from the book's cover, and it comes from none other than Michael Connelly: "Wow, what a discovery! James Swain is the best new writer I have come across in a long, long time. Sucker Bet is wonderful. It snaps with the gritty feel of the truth. Swain has carefully added all of the ingredients: tragedy, humor, action and, most of all, a cast of characters that would make Elmore Leonard's mouth water." Grab this one, you won't be disappointed.

I loved/love this novel. It was one of those books that I could not help sharing with my friends. And now - I surf the web trying to find a copy to share with new friends. Along with the fact that the novel is absolutely entertaining and hilarious, it was the closest I've ever come to feel as though I was watching some sort of movie while I was in fact reading - which may be part of the 'real time' irony in that it is a document to a ficticious life about making and living movies. I give it 5 stars because I loved it when I read it, I enjoyed sharing it with my friends and I miss it now that I have lost it (to an ex-friend I guess!). I still think about this book! I read it about 10 or so years ago and I'm on the hunt. My advice is - if you have a copy keep it and if you don't find a trusting firend (like I am), borrow it, and keep it! Enjoy - you can't go wrong!

Like most people who love this book I read it by accident, picking it up in a seconds shop. To say I was pleasantly surprised as I finished it 10 feverish hours later, would be an understatement. But it would take many readings to fully appreciate the many levels of irony, both subtle and hammer-like, that Boy Wonder functions on. A fictionalised biography of Shark Trager, a monstrous film producer, narrated in addictive chunks by his bizarre family, friends, lovers and enemies; it works as an original character study and laugh-out-loud assault on the movie biz. Basically the whole story is a series of wicked movie parodies as Trager's life mirrors the story of Hollywood in the 60s, 70s and 80s in all its excesses. (I thought this was OTT until I read Easy Riders and Raging Bulls and the Don Simpson biog and realised its a accurate portrait of the era.)

Along with American Pyscho and The Talented Mr Ripley I think of Boy Wonder as an unholy trilogy of great books about sociopaths. Like those novels it's studded with violent death and an inventive use of household implements ( most memorably as Shark makes a slasher movie about his childhood friend/serial killer, employing the pyscho as "Creative Advisor") But it's a lot more fun, satirizing the banal horrors of corporate Hollywood. Basically everyone who stands in Shark's way gets totally destroyed but they do so in ways that are as hilariously unlikely as they as horrible. As the story gets more and more outrageous and operatic, every time you think that Shark (and Baker) has surpassed himself, he manages to trash yet another of our few remaining taboos, right up to the incredible Oscar night finale and Shark's memorable death (I'm not giving anything away: you know he's going to eventually self-destruct right from the first page.)

I often think this would make a great movie except no studio would touch it. This is not an affectionate send-up but all-out attack on everything Hollywood (and America values.) Baker was a frustrated screenwriter and you can just feel his delicious anger directed at the men-in-suits. One of the more surprising things about Boy Wonder, is it's sub-plot about the movies' dilemma between art and commerce as Shark's career veers between personal flops and trite block-busters and in the unanswered question: was Shark an irresponsible genius or "mediocre whore"? So don't hold your breath for the Jerry Bruckheimer version, instead trawl through the second hand shops to find a copy and decide for yourself.

Looking at the world through the skewed eyeslits of Hunter S. Thompson creates altered perception and thank God for it. Without a foundation in his world of paranoid, cryptofascist metaphors there is not a hope that you could begin to appreciate the ways both subtle and hammerlike that James Robert Baker japslaps the entire stomping grounds Hollywoods best and brightest. I picked it up in Germany before a trip to Greece in '90 and not only have I read it nine times but it is in simply deplorable condition due to manic thumbing of pages by close friends and those with a sense of humor that have torn through these pages at warp speed. Most of those were men but not all. There are scenes depicted in this book that are so visually stunning and dramatic it makes the fact that your attention is riveted to the laserthin beam of twisted irony that runs throughout as electricity through a conduit that much funnier. The review that should have been on what was once the front cover of my copy of "Boy Wonder" should have stated that it was the literary equivalent of flying down the freeway at midnight with the top down and the dronelike buzzing of cocaine frazzled fingers massaging your scalp. Only then would the rightous hands of the gifted few be lured into exploring the inner reaches of a parralel world. One that skitters along the wavecrest of reality only to pick up speed before crashing onto the cacophonous frenzy of slewed wit and sarcasm. Check this first novel out and beg Amazon.com to aquire more copies and hurry!!! This is a cult train that you simply MUST be on!! END

While the subject matter of this book is not for the novice, this is a must-read for anyone developing or planning to develop multi-threaded applications. I have been developing multi-threaded applications for several years and I found this book to be full of useful examples and insights on threading. It was clear, to the point, and easy to read.

This book explains every aspects of a multithreaded application. You don't have to buy a few books before you can grasp the whole concept of multithreading. If you're new to this area, I highly recommend this book as your standard text.

However, this book was written in 1996, you can only find one chapter on MFC. Hope Jim could cover more on MFC & VC++ in the next edition.

This is a very focused book. I found it a good companion book to other Windows programming books. It doesn't try to go into areas outside of it's scope like discussing MFC programming or C++ programming. If you want to know about threads and how to program using the WIn32 threading model then get this book.

It's nice having because it contains the complete King James Version of the bible as it was originally translated and published. It is one of only two published editions of the complete KJV that I have been able to find. Very few people seem to realize that the KJV included the books of the Apocrypha.

I wish that they made this available in a hardcover without the Michelangelo on the cover though.

I've read the Bible over and over and remain ever-amazed at the "life" of this book. Considering how the Bible was written over such a long period of time, it is amazing it how it all hangs together. It is truly inspired by the Living God through the hands of men. This is a book you can bank your life on. Read a good, modern translation of it. I read The One Year Bible every year.

"The fool hath said in his heart,"There is no god." That is what the Bible says. It is not a book to be interpreted by men, but one to be read and believed as it is written. What it means is not nearly as important as what it says. To better understand the whole Bible, one should begin reading in the book of John. You will learn more about the author that way

Excellent account of the planning and execution, and ultimate failure, of Operation Eagle Claw. This book is just as good as Charlie Beckwith's "Delta Force," but much less famous. It covers the overall planning of Eagle Claw at a joint-forces administrative level above Beckwith, and covers the joint-forces command of the actual mission, since Kyle was the overall commander at Desert One. The mechanical and personal failures of the helocopters and their crews are also discussed, as well as Kyle's conclusions on why the mission failed. Beckwith's book covers SFOD-Delta issues more closely, but Kyle's book examines why Eagle Claw failed.

I was the commander of the MC-130 squadron chosen to participate in the mission. Jim Kyle, author of "The Guts to Try", was my boss throughout the preparation for the mission. I had kept detailed notes on all the training, rehearsal, etc., with the intent to write my own book. I am the one mentioned on page 7 in the "guts to try" story that lead to the book's title. I was the commander of the 5 Air Force fatalities at Desert One. Col Kyle and I were raked over the coals by the US Senate and House military committees with Kyle taking most of the heat over the accident. I went on to be the chief air planner for preparation for the second attempt buy Kyle was replaced by General Richard Secord as the senior Air Force member of the task force. I therefore surrendered by notes to Kyle and helped him put together the book rather than pursue my own. He did a remarkable job in telling the story correctly. Out of the ashes of Desert One has emerged a capability to do Special Ops better and with few casualties. "The Guts to Try" is an important accounting of the bottoming out and rebirth of Special Ops. Few people realize how much our capability improved during the 5 1/2 months of preparation--this book helps the reader realize that there was more to be proud about associated with Desert One than is apparent. Special Ops would have achieved its current high capability eventually---but Desert One and Jim's book got us there quicker. Roland Guidry,...

This exhaustive description of the planning and execution of Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages, gives the reader a sense of how complex the mission was. There is an old aphorism about the military that says, "The amateur talks about tactics and strategy while the professional talks logistics." This is one of the few military books I have read that provides enough (almost too much depending on your taste) detail about what it takes to carry out a mission deep in enemy territory. At the beginning, after realizing the problems they faced, I could not see how they could succeed. That they came as close as they did is what is truly amazing. It also speaks to the decrepit state of the military seven years after the end of the Viet Nam War. They had the men but lacked adequate resources. Fortunately changes were coming. This story helped to lead the way.

The Anonymous Author of this rather remarkable text has done the public a profound service. (S)He has managed to sweep aside the cobwebs of mystery-mongering-occultism, and unlock the fetters of will-to-power-magic. Sound Philosophy and Theology combine in this work revealing the integrity of its author. In citing not only Christian, but Kabbalistic, Magical, and Occult traditions, the catholicity of these meditations becomes apparent. The only negative aspect of the text is that it tends to get preachy and Dogmatic in chapters 7 & 8. However, if apparent dogma is read mystically, these chapters, too, shed valuable light. A must for Christian Contemplatives and for all Hermeticists wether they place themselves under this rubric or not!

I found this book in a public library six years ago, and have been studying it almost every day since.To say that it has changed my life is an understatement.In the final chapter the Dear Unknown Friend invites the reader to complete the book that he has started and continue with the minor cards - I have dedicated my life to doing this.

The cards of the tarot are a little like an encrypted message from God. The message is to be found in the images on the cards, but we have to decode them to understand their meaning.In other words, we see the message but do not register its meaning in our brain. This is the wonderful mystery of the cards which this author suceeds in revealing. Any one who thinks that all Tarot books are the same, should read this one. They will be amazed to see how much depth can be found in seemingly simple picture cards.This work goes very deep, but not quite deep enough.

I thoroughly recommend this book, despite some differences of opinion of the meanings of certain cards.This work is more than half way there I believe.I hope to bring the "other half" to light, with the Lord's help. 23/01/2001 H

The author of this book truly overwhelms the subject matter with himeself. His personality and his philosophical lens (Catholic hermeticism/occult Christianity)so dominate that it is difficult to get a sense of the Tarot in its own right. Thus I do not recommend this book for those beginning Tarot study. That being said, the writer has a wonderful, convoluted, complex mind.....very opinionated and judgmental in some matters, very humanist and tolerant in others. Some of the passages are heavy, dense and ponderous.......others are sheer music and lift you up to the stars......Although his teachings on mysticism are what I bought the book for, it's also a fascinating read for his critiques on the thinking of many 20th century (and earlier) writers. A much needed antidote for the literal-mindedness which has overtaken the Christian churches through the course of the past few centuries.

I finished this book on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles...with one disaster after another occurring in this massive storm, the writer keeps the reader actively turning pages throughout the book. You would not believe the bravery of everyone involved, from the actual racing teams to the rescue teams, not one person was left unphased by this experience.

I am not an active sailor now, but with some experience in racing with a crew on sailboats, I found the account of this true story gripping.

Certainly, a fun book to read, even if you are not into sailing. It may even convince you to never go open ocean sailing!

This is simply a superb book. Its narrative force practically places you on board a number of the yachts as they head toward Hobart. It is both well researched and written, being based on many interviews with race participants, and does not skimp on the necessary factual information. The text is also well supported by an amazing group of photographs. Those who have read The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger will find this book irresistable. For those who have not, I suggest you buy both!

When I decided to read this book, I actually started with another book on the subject recommended by Sports Illustrated. Based on Amazon reviewers I selected this one and wasn't disappointed.

Mundle attempts to show the personal side of the individuals as well as the intense struggle on each boat and helicopter. This is a spellbinding story which he did a good job of relaying. I learned about sailing but more importantly, I learned what it felt like to confront your worst nightmare come true.

This is a great subject correctly described by the author and as a bonus, the pictures in the book are good also. Off-coast sailing? Not for me after this book.

It is impossible to write about Robert Kennedy in adult life without writing about his brother, John Kennedy. Hilty does a very thorough job of portraying Robert Kennedy, the dedicated, hard working, determined brother, warts in all in a fair and impartial way. Throughout this book, one sees the "metamorphosis" of Robert Kennedy. He is the man who works behind the scenes, protecting his brother's interests to his maximum extent. He is the man who pushes his brother forward while sublimating his own interests, needs and identity. It is only in the tragic aftermath of the President's death does Robert Kennedy, in full adult form emerge -- the man who immersed himself in classical literature, the man who became a personal crusader for civil rights related issues, the man who made it his business to know minorities and persons living in poverty. It is during the last nearly half-decade of his life that the full face of Robert Kennedy is shown to his constituents -- the man who doggedly pursued Teamsters and Mafiosi in the 1950s takes that same dogged persistence to the political arena where he runs on his own right. He is a voice for the disenfranchised, a voice for those who share his vision. He was a man who provided hope during a very turbulent period in history marked by war and national violence. It is the opinion of this reviewer that Robert Kennedy is certainly the more interesting of the brothers. His personal, political and personality development is very interesting to watch and track. He was certainly a man who came across as very sincere in his efforts and one cannot help wondering what the outcome today would be had this man lived.

This is a book well worth reading.

Professor Hilty provides an excellent study and examination of Bobby Kennedy. Though this is an enormously hefty read. For those new to Bobby Kennedy, a more manageable introduction might be a rather recent book called Robert F. Kennedy: A Spiritual Biography by Konstantine Sidorenko. Though in contrast to Hilty's (brilliant but somewhat unwieldy) tome, this slim short form biography covers Kennedy and his life in great depth and the book's brevity will not disappoint serious biography readers. It is particularly an excellent book to take up before plunging in to Hilty's.

Robert F. Kennedy was an extraordinary man: former investigator, campaign manager for his brother, Attorney General, United States Senator. His speech to the 1964 Democratic Convention was one the most eloquent speeches ever given. His campaign for the Presidency in 1968 ended with one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in American history when an assassin killed him after winning the California primary.

For myself, RFK represents the better part of politics- the noble spirit and the sense of purpose than the American way of life seems to have lost since his death. People can and should be better to one another, Bobby argued. Government should help the people, he said, but only if those people could help themselves. As a Democrat, I admire Bobby's argument for help, partnership and responsibility between the people and their government.

Professor Hilty has done an excellent job. There are things about Bobby that are difficult to reconcile- why he worked for McCarthy is a good question -and Professor Hilty does a wonderful job writing about them and explaining them. He should be congradulated. I, for one, cannot wait for his next volume about RFK's life.

For 30 years, Parish has been a film historian extraordinaire. . . and he just keeps getting better. Except for hardcore fans, Jet Li remains a martial artist about whom little is really known in this country, but Parish, as always, delivers the goods - from Li's humble beinnings to his status as a reigning and legitimate international film star. Along the way, Parish examines the infrastructure of the Hong Kong, Chinese, and Hollywood film industries, illustrating how each has impacted the ascendancy of Li, both as a star and as a man. A must read for any fan. . . and a good, informative read for anyone else.

In typical Parish fashion, a well researched bio of film star Jet Li. The narrative traces the young Li from his humble childhood that was focused on wushu training, through the emerging Hong Kong martial arts film industry, and ending with the international star status Li has attained. The book also provides keen insight into the growth of the martial arts film genre and Li's personal and professional growth as an actor. A good read for anyone interested in Jet Li's career, or the history of the martial arts film in general.

This is a fascinating look at, not just an action star, but at the prolific Chinese and Hong Kong film industries. Through the life of Jet Li, we see his rise through this colorful industry. There is also a fascinating look at his boyhood in a China dominated by Mae Zedong. Even if you are not a martial arts movie fan, this is an enjoyable book. It is very well researched, including a background on Wushu, the form of martial arts practiced by Jet Li. There are many excellent photos and a complete filmograghy. So read the book, then hit the video store and see some movies that are often overlooked or relegated to the b-movie bins.

I read this book more for the cultural history than for an account of the actual battle. This was probably good, because I found the first couple chapters very choppy and thought they didn't do a good job of setting up the background to the battle in a clear way.

HOWEVER, once the siege of the Alamo started, the book improved tremendously. The account of the battle was very well handled and clear.

Still, I think the book's real strength is in what comes after, in dealing with the fate of the battlefield itself in the decades after. The story of how Walt Disney came to make the Davy Crockett movie is especially well-handled, avoiding both Disney worship and Disney bashing. The same for their treatment of John Wayne's Alamo movie. Also, they do a good job revealing how attitudes toward LBJ affected how people thought of the Alamo.

All in all, this is a very good book, very interesting even to people who are not that interested in Texas history as such. If you want to understand post-war American culture, this book is a must. I just wish the opening chapters had been as well organized as the rest of the book

I tend to read a lot of historical nonfiction, and much of it seems to range from either well-intentioned but amateurish to, worse, underresearched to support a (not-so-well-) hidden agenda. On the other hand, this book is exceedingly well-researched and well-written, and caught me up in a reading frenzy like none since Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage." The first half of "A Line in the Sand" covers the events leading up to the fight at the Alamo in 1836 from both Mexican and Anglo perspectives, and paints both sides in a fairly honest and unsentimental light. It also does the two thing all nonfiction should do: It doesn't play favorites, telling both sides of the story with journalistic integrity, and it shows the event to be what most similar events inevitably are: a collision of ideals, fate, timing and personalities. Concentrating first on what happened immediately following the battle, through the hagiographic treatment of Crockett, Bowie and Travis, and finally to the view of these men and their actions in 1999, the latter half of the book shows, with a surprising yet believable spin, that a combination of the Cold War, Walt Disney's politics, John Wayne's patriotism and increasing multiculturalism have caused people to view this hourlong battle as everything from a defining moment in American history (even though Texas wasn't IN America at that point) to an attempt by Bowie, Travis and others to preserve slavery and racism. Compelling and very enjoyable book.

This book is like a recipe for goulash; you just throw everything in it and see how it turns out. Actually, it's a very good book, although it tends to be overwritten in places and there are one or two incorrect dates. It gives a concise history of Mexico in the early part of the 19th century leading up to the Texas War for Independence, and what followed. Everything is presented quite clearly, and you can understand how things happened, and why they happened. The actual Alamo seige and battle pass fairly quickly, because that's how it was in reality. I found the later history extremely interesting, and combining LBJ's father, Walt Disney, John Wayne, and numerous others in the story was an excellent decision on the part of the authors. I'm of the generation raised on Davy Crockett, and my friends and I recreated the Alamo battle countless times on the cinderblock wall in my back yard, each of us taking turns as Davy. If nothing else, Disney's film of Crockett's life awakened in me the idea of history as something interesting, and worth studying. I've done that ever since, and the authors show that the Alamo is ingrained in our national consciousness because of Uncle Walt primarily, and also John Wayne's movie, which I vividly remember seeing as a young teenager. To those of a new generation, who don't have those memories of the Alamo films, this book is well worth reading, and I highly recommend it.