Mikhail M. Gilula, The Set Model for Database and Information Systems (Addison-Wesley, 1994)

Gilula, at one point in this book, says "As far as possible, we have attempted to simplify the presentation in order to make it intelligible to readers who have had no special training in the field of mathematical logic." Could have fooled me. It's possible for the bachelor's earner to grasp, but just barely and after multiple readings. You're probably better off not trying to tackle this one unless your bachelor's is in math, or you've earned an advanced degree.

That said, is there really any reason to tackle it at all? A number of websearches on set theory as it applies to current database technology (and specifically Starset, the language proposed and outlined herein) turns up precious little, leading this reviewer to believe that the relational model, which is what Gilula and co. are trying to overthrow, has won this battle without too much effort. This book is, at this point in time, going to appeal at most to a niche market. Gilula mentions that the original Starset interpreters were written in C, and the appendix has more than enough info for the hobbyist or vertical-market software developer to reverse-engineer Starset and program a home version of it. And Gilula certainly does make an interesting case for set-model databases, and he does so with just enough clarity to make the average DBA wonder if, perhaps, a set-model database might be of more use than a relational database for any given purpose. However, unless that DBA has unlimited time and resources, this is probably going to remain no more than an interesting artifact. **

I understand that Marshall Goldman is/was an esteemed economist at Harvard. To be fair, it is easy to look back on his book (last updated soon after the August 1991 coup) with critical hindsight. However, it has been claimed in the main review that this book was "prescient". So it seems reasonable to point out that Goldman got a lot wrong. His repeated emphasis on the need for early and rapid privatisation (by which I mean selling off state enterprises) as a key part of successful economic reform, for starters. Goldman's economic diagnosis and prescribed cure are merely a mapping of received ideas about economics onto a country without paying much attention to how those prescriptions would actually take effect in this particular situation. "Privatisation is good, it says so in this textbook, so Gorbachev needs to privatise everything now. Inflation is bad, so Gorbachev needs to stop printing money." etc. etc. We now know what effect this kind of thinking has had on the people of the former Soviet Union. But what really bothers me about this book is that it contains factual inaccuracies, which I'm sure were just typos but should have been weeded out. The transliteration of Russian words is erratic to say the least, which leads me to suspect that Goldman's knowledge of Russian was close to non-existent at the time (but hey, who needs to know the language of a country before you start drawing up recipes for its reform?). And finally, it's just plain badly written.

This book contains a great deal of information about many variations with the Schlieman defense, but the author presents a good deal of material which is simply not correct when properly analyzed. There are additional books on the Schlieman, and while I don't know the quality of them, I would give one a try before settling on this one.

Over ten years before the millennial madness, self described 'nuclear engineer' Robert Faid was ahead of the curve in attempting to pinpoint the end of the world and the rise of the biblical Antichrist. He backs his story up with lots of meaningless numerology and statistics. Like many prophets before him, he also fails miserably.

Of course, in 2002 this book seems like pure unadulterated hogwash, and it is hard to believe that some evangelists will still attempt to defend tenets of this book when the central premise has been clearly proved false. A reader stated (in a review written in 2001) that 'it cannot be denied that Gorbachev was quite active on the world scene for some period of time', as if this was some sort of incredible revelation that the author couldn't guess at when the book was written. You could say the same thing about Jimmy Carter.

The reality is that the book was bogus from day one, and Mr Faid appears to have left the prophecy game in disgrace, just as quickly as he entered it. One only wonders if his later 1993 work 'A Scientific Approach to Biblical Mysteries' is as fatally flawed as this one, since there is nothing 'scientific' to this madness. Perhaps after receiving his Ig Nobel Prize in 1993, Faid decided to stick to the 'nuclear engineering' game for good, heeding the words of one much wiser - 'No man knows the hour of my return'.

I purchased this book somewhere around 1991 while I began assembling information on Bible Prophecy. Having read the book I contacted the author of the book on a number of points. Dr. Faid took the time to write a personal letter to me, which was surprising and appreciated.

Of main interest was whether Gorbachev could actually fulfill the prophecies concerning the Antichrist. John 5:43 and a passage from the Prophet Daniel would seem to indicate that the Antichrist will be a man the Jews will be comfortable with. This would seem to preclude Russia, which has been an arch-enemy of National Israel. Indeed, Moscow is a primary target of Israel's oft-denied nuclear weapons ("The Sampson Option" - Seymour Hersh).

Much of the conclusion is based on the prophecies of Ezekiel 38-39 where a Russian invasion (descendents of Magog are the Scythians - Flavius Josephus) comes against Israel; albeit unsuccessful. Yet the siege of Jerusalem in Zechariah 12 and 14 indicate that the Antichrist will be successful, if only for a short time. Therefore, a leader of Russia is more appropriately identified with Gog of Magog in Ezek38-39 and less identified with the Antichrist.

Gorbachev, an avowed athiest, was busy with world politics and pursuing efforts of world religion to salvage Russia. Though not personally KGB, Gorbachev was nonetheless the protege of Yuri Andropov who had heavy KGB ties. In the past decade, the former Presidio US Gov't military facility in San Francisco has been the home of the Gorbachev Foundation, a think-tank for globalism and like-minded efforts.

Faid's book noted many of the world situations and conflicts of the late 1980's. For that it is interesting reading. As to the accuracy of interpreting prophecy it is not as accurate. However, it cannot be denied that Gorbachev was quite active on the world scene for some period of time. Gorbachev was driven out of the seat of power of Russia not long afte the Berlin Wall fell. Since the death of Raisa Gorbachev, he has been less active. Vladmir Putin's current sabre-rattling may make him more of a candidate for the Russian leader in Ezek38-39 than any other.

I still have my copy in my library. However in interpreting Revelation 13 I would more likely look to anyone who gives real teeth to the United Nations. Should Gorbachev achieve that office, I might have to dust off the old copy. Nevertheless, anyone who looks at Jerusalem in the daily news, can have little doubt that there will not be any real peace achieved in that area. For Gorbachev to be the Antichrist, he must be pivotal in providing a 7-year peace plan for Israel and Jerusalem. That is the key to understand the identity.

Poor Deluca. The only topic he knows about is cold war. And now its over.

This just is the poorest excuse for a book that I have read in a long time. It's not that there is no new information here -- there really is next to no information here at all.The reading level is pitched to fifth graders and unless you are interested in what sort of toothpaste Philby preferred, this book is a waste of your time.