For anyone who grew up "little" in stature, wee Geordie is an inspiration and a joy. With the unlimited optimism known only to children, he develops his scrawny little body into a Scottish Charles Atlas. Luckily, his pluck grows along with his body and he becomes a man with great heart. As a child, I identified strongly with this brave little boy, as did my tiny daughter twenty years later! I wish this book were readily available for all late-bloomers to enjoy!

This is the story of a wee gamekeeper's son from Perthshire who takes a body-building course by correspondence and ends up an Olympic champion. The glory of the book lies in its accurate depiction of the Scottish Highlands and the small community which propels Geordie on his way. The beauty of the crag where the eagle nests, and the scent of the mist in the glen, are everywhere. But a wry humour prevents this little masterpiece from ever cloying or sounding a false note. Someone on the dustjacket of my copy said he read it on long air raids into Germany during the last war. It reminded him what he was fighting for. Find it if you can!

Doctor Who: The Handbook - The Seventh Doctor concludes the excellent series of Dr. Who Handbooks from Virgin Publishing. This, the seventh and final volume in the Handbook series focuses on the Sylvester McCoy era of Dr. Who from 1987-1989 (seasons 24-26), the final three years of Dr. Who as a regular BBC series before cancellation.

Great behind the scenes information as well as a feature on the making of the season 24 story "Dragonfire". This volume also focuses on the seven year gap of 1989-1996, looking at the various attempts at one time or another on possible revivals of Doctor Who either as a new series or feature films before the British and American co-produced TV movie of 1996 that starred Paul McGann as the new Eighth Doctor, succeeding and finally concluding Sylvester McCoy's era as the Seventh Doctor. This handbook also includes massive coverage of the 1996 TV movie.

This volume also includes a superb index at the end of the book as well as an errata section, correcting the mistakes from the previous six Doctor Who Handbook volumes. An excellent end to a wonderful series of Handbooks that have become the most in-depth and authorized research on the history of the science fiction series Doctor Who.

I waited a long time for this book to be published and was very pleased when I finally got a chance to read it!

This volume covers the last three years of the original BBC "Doctor Who" series (1987-89) as well as the events leading up to and including the 1996 "Doctor Who" movie.

It is organized into sections for easy reference and includes an episode guide for the seventh Doctor's era, with two reviews for each. It also goes on to include the information about Paul McGann's stint as the Doctor as well.

If there's any criticism, I wish the book had contained more information about the events surrounding the end of the TV series. But, this is a small point.

Like the others in the "Doctor Who" handbook series, the Sylvester McCoy volume is another well organized and well-researched volume.

This book reproduces the original travel book created by David Roberts in the early 1800s. Though not as large as the original book, the reproductions are quite large and beautifully done. David Robert's lithographs are magical.

Roberts portrayal of the holy land as it appeared thousands of years ago brings to life what once could only be described by the words of the bible. A visit to the mid-east would not be complete without first studying Robert's book. One's perspective as they visit the holy land would then blend today's rituals with that of the past.

There are a lot of better known writers today. But, there are none better than Estelman.The Amos Walker series is fun, exciting and challenging. Strong characters and good stories. If you like noir mysteries and the Chandler hardboiled style, you'll love Estelman. This entry is one of his finest. But, whatever Estelman(Amos Walker) book you begin with, you cannot go wrong.

"The Midnight Man" is a bit darker than usual for an Amos Walker novel. Death hangs omnipresent as the intrepid Walker tries to bring a cop killer to justice before he is killed by the police. Along the way he encounters black militants, a bounty hunter, a sex-starved cop's wife and more dead bodies than he would care to count. Author Loren D. Estleman runs his hero through the wringer in this adventure and it is a great ride indeed. Walker is everything a great P.I. ought to be, tough, sarcastic, somewhat alcoholic and beholden to a his own private code of justice. He is Phillip Marlowe updated for modern times.

This "I-Book" edition features the added bonus of an essay by the author regarding his inspiriations for the novel. Addtionally, it also has an Amos Walker short story, "Redneck" that comes along at the end like the desert to a fine meal. Overall a very worthwhile package.

As the title implies, this book is a great reference for someone who is looking for a guide to the syntax and usage of MPI. The book does not teach "parallel programming" and doesn't discuss other parallel programming tools which means that the nuts and bolts of MPI are all the more clearly presented and accessible. Furthermore, there are still plenty of examples which demonstrate the usage of the many MPI functions.

Another very valuable (and appreciated) aspect of the book is that *both* the C and FORTRAN prototypes are given when new MPI functions are presented (the C and FORTRAN implementations have slightly different forms).

Set up more as a reference than a tutorial, this book allows users with a very basic understanding of MPI to really take off up the learning curve

I have been reading most books on Tropical Medicine. This is the the best book I have seen so far. It is a must have for anybody seriously interested in Tropical Medicine.

The first truly comprehensive guide to tropical infectious diseases, compiled by the leading authorities in the field. Of enormous use and benefit.

David Walker's 'Anxious Nation' is a particularly interesting, entertaining and humorous investigation of Australia's relationship with Asia. In fact, it is one of the more innovative and insightful studies to come out on this topic in recent years. By exploring Australia's encounters with Asia, both real and imagined, Walker has revealed the complexities of the Australia-Asia encounter. By investigating themes such as: travel, trade, population, place, space, climate, 'race degeneration', intermarriage and invasion, he not only delineates Australian anxieties in regard to Asia but also outlines the extensive links that formed between Australia and its northern neighbours. Although Walker's study focuses on Australia and its relationship with Asia, it locates that particular relationship within the broader framework of relations between 'East' and 'West'. For example, the book draws out numerous American parallels and points of reference: appeals to Rooseveltian notions of manhood, the visit of the Great White Fleet, 'yellow peril anxieties', Nordic fetishes and links with the Insitute of Pacific Relations. As a result, 'Anxious Nation' will be of particular interest to anyone fascinated by the intricate and multi-layered history that surrounds interaction between 'Occident' and 'Orient'.

In the Chicago area, Lambert Fleming is arrested for allegedly molesting a little girl. Private Investigator Mal Foley remembers Lambert as the classmate who was thoroughly humiliated by his so-called friends, including Mal. Feeling guilty over that two decade old incident, Mal decides to prove Lambert is innocent.

Mal figures this will be a simple investigation that should not take up much of his time. Instead, to his shock, Mal finds the case to be extremely difficult and even somewhat dangerous as the alleged victim turns out to be related to extremely powerful mob families. Even when the girl's father tries to abort Mal's investigation, he continues to investigate what really happened to the little girl.

In his third appearance, hard boiled Mal Foley continues to be a very interesting sleuth whose acerbic and witty tongue constantly gets him in trouble. The Chicago area also comes to life (albeit through Mal's myopic eyes). This, in turn, leaves readers believing they are visiting the Windy City. Though the story line of APPLAUD THE HOLLOW GHOST includes some stretches, the novel remains a very entertaining mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Dealing with the devil means you must dance to his tune. However, when the individuals involved in the malevolent tango consists of a Chicago Bishop and his brother, the police department Organized Crime Division acting chief of detectives, one hardly suspects evil. Bishop Peter Keegan believes his half-brother Walter is nothing less than Satan personified. When Peter begins to receive blackmail threats involving an incident in his past as well as getting the sensation that someone is stalking him, the bishop feels Walter is involved.

Due to his sensitive position, Peter knows he cannot turn to the police. He has no idea what Walter wants, but figures his sibling will tell him when he is ready to do so. Instead of waiting and fretting, Peter hires Wild Onions, a private detective security firm to help him. The owners Kirsten and Dugan agree to take the Bishop on as a client even as they quickly understand that any dealing involving Walter is a struggle to survive.

A BEER AT A BAWDY HOUSE rotates the narration among three different players (Dugan, Kirsten, and Peter). The technique works very well as David J. Walker makes the three characters feel so genuine. Dugan and Kirsten will remind readers of "Hart to Hart." The flawed Bishop has insecurities that turn him into a human being. The mystery is well-designed and special.

Harriet Klausner

I had Proffesor McMullin at UMass-Boston and he was incredible. There is probably no human out there with more knowledge of American Urban History. I read this book at the library after taking his course and was blown away. It is an engaging and consise guide to the Governers of the American Territories. We got Scoundrels, Heroes, the Author of Ben Hur, and Brigham Young! BDATG is like 17 great books. The writing style, much like the teaching style of Professor McMullin is exciting and informative. This man is a Great American Historian.