I've ben GMing for something like fifteen years and this is the system I always return to. If I want to run someting of my own, this is the system I base it on.

Slim-line, fast, flexible, simple, expansive, effective. All words that describe Talsorian's game mechanics - it simply does not get any better.

As for the universe - this is a REAL world of darkness. No bright dawn, no happy ever after. Only your wits and tech, style and edge. No right or wrong, only power and death, a world of grey areas that seems only just around the corner.

If you are a gamer and you don't have this - get it now.

If you aren't a gamer but love the Dark Future setting, it's worth it.

Magnificent.

This is one of my all time favorites!! I got into the gaming craze at an early age and quickly tired of singing burds and happy elves. This game takes a long hard look at where were headed as a society and allows you the player to take part. It has one of the more versitile character creation systems and is not hard to follow the logical progression to modify equipment! Oh, and not to forget it supports two of my favorite philosophies: 1)Knowledge is power! 2)Attitude is everything! So don't lose any cool points chumbada, buy the book!

I was stationed in Vilseck Germany with the 2nd of the 63rd Armor when I friend told me about Cyber Punk. It was almost a year before we found someone with the books, and immediatly set up a game. It was a game that I have never forgoten. It sits in my mind like the begining of Secret of Mana, forever a defining factor in my oppinions.

This game does tend to drag with its role to hit/role to dodge rules, but it is more believable then any other game I have seen or played. The setting for Cyber Punk is OURT world, with OUR history. It is science fiction. We can look at our own lives, make few changes to the timeline, and see that it IS possible. In reality, these things would never happen, but in the game, it is easier for us to adapt to this new world because it is so close to our own. Realy, what has changed? The world has met a sort of anarchy, like in Mad Max. The government is now run by Corporations. Bionics are common enough that you see people with mettle limbs on a regular basis. This world is more real then any other I have seen, and this makes more believable. Since it is more believable it becomes easier to enter your charactor and enjoy the game.

If I had to rate all the games I have played, I would put this on tope, even with its long combat and ineffectiveness with machine guns.

The weirdest thing about this book is that the beginning is so true-to-life. The book was written several years ago, but the story is very much in sync with what is going on in the world today. This is my fifth Marcinko book and it's one of his best. It's his second fiction work, a follow up to Rouge Warrior: Red Cell, which is the main reason I didn't give it five stars. The action scenes in Green Team are much more exciting than Red Cell, but the plot just doesn't stand up to the latter. It develops at a break neck speed, but its quality fluctuates right up to the end. First time Marcinko readers will probably get hooked, just like I did with Rogue Warrior: Task Force Blue, only to be more pleased with the discovery of his first and second books. Marcinko's crossing of the thin line between reality and fiction might annoy some readers who are not used to his style, but I think it's a very original welcomed breather from the "2+2=4" formulas of other action books. Marcinko is not the writer Tom Clancy is, but then again, Tom Clancy is not the warrior Marcinko is.

I'll admit to this guilty pleasure: I love the Rogue Warrior books. Not because they're great literature, but because they're just plain fun. I'm a Marine combat vet, so I can usually detect the (very) fuzzy line between military fact and fiction, but with Marcinko's books I throw up my hands in the amphibious salute and just go with it. Demo Dick's literary swagger is intoxicating, and his larger than life character is THE male archetype. All of us guys want to pump iron at Rogue Manor, throw down the double Bombays, and go shooting and looting with the SEALs' best.

It's not "the best book I've ever read," nor is it the SPECWAR primer that Rogue Warrior is. But for some unadulterated macho fun, Green Team (like the others in the series) can't be beat.

Marcinko lives large and plays hard. This book, along with the rest of the Rogue Warrior Series, is hard hitting and action packed. This dude does it all, says it all, and doesn't take crap from no one. Execellent reading for someone whose tired of the slow moving far fetched action of most fiction books out there. I read Red Cell just three months ago, and I've read almost all his books to date. It's KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) read the book and get hooked!!! Anyone for a Bombay?

There have been a lot of books written about the James Bond films and phenomenon; I should know because I've read them all! That's why I feel uniquely qualified and very confident in saying that this latest book (written by the two gentlemen who produced the special edition James Bond DVDs) is without a doubt THE best book yet written about the James Bond films! If you're baffled as to which book to add to you movie library, look no further because here you will find information and photos that you will not find anywhere else.

What makes this book so good? Well, first off, it's HUGE in size! A great coffee table book to be sure. The graphic layout is extremely well done and all the films are given equal time (not the case with some of the other books which tend to fixate on the Connery era). Also, for the first time in any official publication, we have coverage of the two "unofficial" James Bond films: NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN and CASINO ROYALE. Up until now these two "rogue" films have been missing from all official publications for legal reasons. JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is the first book to be published after MGM took ownership of these films, so now we are able to hear the fascinating stories of how they came to be made and, most interestingly, how they impacted and influenced the official series. Great stuff!

But what I like most about JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is how the authors look at each film within the historical context of when it was made. They focus not only on what was going on with the Bond producers at the time, but also what was going on in the world; what socio-political and even cinematic trends the Bond films were keying into. This really brings a new understanding to each film and helps explain why James Bond has endured while other "pop culture spies" (Matt Helm, Derek Flint, xXx :)) failed to connect beyond their time and have long since disappeared. Most people think James Bond films are "all the same", but you will discover here that they are not. In this book I learned how throughout its amazing 20-year history the Bond filmmakers made subtle--and sometimes very bold--changes in the tone of the series and to the character of James Bond himself. This is much more than a simple look at the production and plot of each film, this is a major work on one of the most famous fictional characters of the 20th century. Oh, and the book also gives a detailed look at the new Bond movie, DIE ANOTHER DAY, with some pictures that lead me to believe this could be the best Bond movie of them all! This alone makes it stand above the rest as definitive.

JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is a must buy for all James Bond fans and anyone interested in 20th century popular culture. Again, if you buy just one book about James Bond, make it this one.

First of all, let me begin by saying that I have too many books, movies, tapes, laser discs, etc., about James Bond, dating back to the 1950's. Some good, some not so good. These include autobiographies that seem to tout a personal agenda, books that push the author's point of view, and this book, a gift from my wife. JAMES BOND: THE LEGACY is the best one of all. It does not try to be everything, but it does succeed in giving the reader a thorough background into the writings of Ian Fleming and the production history and methods of Broccoli and Saltzman.

As one who has literally "read it all" about Bond, I found this book to be a refreshing read, that made me look forward to every page. While there was some "old" news that had been hashed and rehashed, I was surprised at the "new" information I was not aware of.

While it is not inexpensive, it is a quality book that speaks of the conspicious consumption that its name sake employed, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes the Bond movies, or just wants to know the history of action movies in the last half of the 20th century.

This book has one big problem. It is too big! It is crammed with more info than most encyclopedias and loads of amazing pictures from the 40 years of Bond, James Bond. I just wish it was easier to hold and read. Alas, the pictures probably wouldn't look quite so good. If you have read other books on the Bond films, well, this one will give you a whole new perspective on the longest running, most successful series (until Lucas makes more Star Wars films) in movie history. While one reviewer here claimed that the book "re-invents the myth", considering the access the authors had to the filmmakers (there is a whole section of quotes from virtually everyone associated with the world of Bond), I would say this has to be the best word on the subject. Fortunately, we are spared rambling opinions and are given a great deal of depth, history and insight into how these films have stayed around for so long. Really enjoyed this book and if you are a Bond fan, I think you will, too.

I remember a few years ago that i purchased the book "silverwing" from my school's book order, not expectly that the book would turn out the way it was. It was so captivatng, i really am still wondering how Oppel can see through the eyes of a bat the way he does.
Once I finished "silverwing" after not being able to put it down and vowing to buy "sunwing" right away...I didn't. These books seemed a lot more than just books, it was more like a life of Shade.
About 3 years had passed when one day I saw "sunwing" at my school library...I grabbed it right away and was done it just as fast as Silverwing. It was just as captivating and answered all the un-answered questions from "silverwing". I've never really read a book from an author that writes the same way as Oppel, his writings are full of twists and turns that leaves you guessing and best of all reading to find out!
Now if I can just get my hands on "firewing"...

This book is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. There is never a dull moment. In the book, cannibal bat Goth, who was struck by lightning in 'Silverwing', flys off in search of the jungle, his homeland. Southern bat god Cama Zotz heals his scars and burns, and tells Goth to go back to the Humans. At this place, Goth and enemy Shade meet again. When Goth gets back to the jungle, he finds out he been crowned King of all the Vampyrum Spectrum (cannibal bats). An eclipse is coming up, and sun-lover Shade Silverwing must come up with a way to stop Goth from stealing the sun forever.
It is a beyond amazing book, so don't delay and read it now! I stayed up all night reading it, and it was all I could think about. Don't hesitate! Read 'Sunwing' today!

This is the story of Shade, a young silverwing bat. As in "Silverwing," nothing is as it seems. When he and his family and friends are trapped in a human-made paradise, everyone else seems content except for Shade, who questions the humans' motives. It is not long before hundreds bats start disappearing. Shade and his Brightwing friend Marina once again embark on a journey that takes them far south to the home of the Vampyrum Spectrum and the homeland of the evil batgod Cama Zotz. What follows is a non-stop adventure that will keep you reading through the night, but I'm not going to spoil the ending for you. You'll have to read it, yourself.

This book was recommended to me as excellent reading about the Troubles, particularly for Americans. I whole-heartedly agree; it is all that and more. Conroy does indeed describe the daily workings of life in Northern Ireland but he also tackles the prejudices and ignorance of Americans (and the U.S. government) when it comes to the political climate in Northern Ireland. He pulls no punches and sugar-coats no issues. He explicates the situation as he sees it and is not afraid to indict those who turn blind eyes. The version I read was older so I have not yet seen the updated book that includes information on semi-recent IRA ceasfires. But I do think many of Conroy's observations are still applicable, changes in administration notwithstanding. He describes the intolerant view towards Sinn Fein taken by the American government in the 80s and the biased, oversimplified treatment of the Troubles by the American media. Indeed as Conroy notes it has not been hard to sell the British point-of-view to American audiences but what of the counterpoint? When do proponents of the other side get a chance? Conroy also concludes that for as long as Northern Ireland remains a British enclave, continued violence is guaranteed. For that reason alone, Americans owe it to themselves to read _Belfast Diary_.

I could not put this book down! I just returned from Belfast (a truly wonderful city) and this filled in the blanks for me. I finally understand why so many events that that we know of came about, and it his writing provided me with a more sympathetic understanding of their terrible situation. As hard as it is for an person raised in America to really understand the troubles on a heart felt level, Conroy facilitates that.

I have done a lot of reading on Belfast and the IRA during my work on a novel about a musician who grows up in Belfast and moves to Minnesota. During the course of my own writing I have had many many questions about what his childhood would be like and if I am being realistic in my portrayal of this character. This book was an excellent resource for me, and based on the information in it, I have made some revisions to my character.

Belfast Diary gives the reader not only a "factual" picture of life in the war-torn city, but also evokes the spirit of the place. Many times, as I read, I found myself with tears in my eyes at the extreme conditions Belfast natives accept as "normal."

Conroy lived with Catholics in a Catholic neighbourhood as he wrote this book, so I have to admit it has a republican slant to it. I admire Conroy for putting himself into the poorest parts of the city and experiencing life there for himself. This is an excellent book.

This is the best book! I love John Peel. The characters and the suspense is awesome! Tristan is 14 and in big trouble. Ever since he fell off his girlfriends roof his whole world has changed. He found out that he is adopted and has a clone! Devon is Tristans clone and is evil! He (Devon) has created a Doomsday virus that will destroy the world. It's up to Tristan to save it! With the help of Genia, an outcast,and Mora, Tristans ex-girlfriend. Can he save them? Read the book to find out! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fiction, especially science fiction!

this book is awsome action packed scifi with a twist i read this in 2 days i just couldn't put it down Tristin a boy who finds out that he was adopted and is trying to find his real identity when he alerts his clone of his presence that could be a fatel mistake find out what happens
-podus

This is an excellent book! It's about a kid named Tristan who has to fight for his life from a super hacker. You never want to put this book down. It's the first of 6 in an excellent series. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Long heralded as a monumental portrait of American society in the early decades of the 20th century, John Dos Passos' U.S.A. trilogy is, if nothing else, an amazing display of intellectual endurance. Few novels that I have come across are more ambitious or broader in scope. In 1240 pages, Dos Passos attempts to characterize a vast, growing nation in one of its most dynamic periods in history. While he gloriously succeeds as a sociological study, it is unfortunately at the expense of producing a mediocre work of literature.

It is important to point out that while the three installments of this trilogy were written several years apart from each other, this is most definitely one book, not three. The first and second books, The 42nd Parallel and 1919, have no proper conclusion, and The Big Money, the trilogy's final installment, is a logical progression in terms of style and chronology, if not plot. So reading any of these books on their own, or reading them all out of sequence, would be a thoroughly unsatisfying experience.

It is clear from early on that Dos Passos has bitten off more than he can chew, at least from a literary perspective. His goal is to capture the essence of an America caught in the throws of industrialization and fervent capitalism, and the inevitable wealth gap and social class struggle that result from this economic expansion. He also tackles the difficult task of explaining this country's painful ambivolence towards the war in Europe and the sense of euphoria in the years following it's conclusion. But these themes are vast and unwieldy, far bigger than any one character in the novel, and as a result, the characters themselves become forgettable and quickly get lost. In a sense, there is only one main character in this novel, and it is America herself.

But America is not a person, it is a country and society, and as such the U.S.A. trilogy at times takes on the feel of a social inquiry more than a work of fiction. The other characters, through whose experiences we study the social landscape and fabric of early 20th century America, lack depth and dimension. They are mere stereotypes chosen by Dos Passos to represent various segments of society. There is the down-and-out vagabond, wandering the country and living hand-to-mouth, bitterly condemning the economic wealth all around him from which he is excluded. You have the quintessential rags-to-riches success story, the boy who started with little more than a dollar in his pocket and a whole lot of ambition, and amassed an economic fortune, but at the expense of his humanity and health. We also find the New York socialites, the Communist activists, the labor union organizers, the proud and rowdy GI soldier. But there are no real people, as such characters would not serve the greater purpose of defining American society in the way that Dos Passos sees it. And as a result, the experiences and interactions among these characters are also stereotypical.

Despite its shortcomings, the U.S.A. trilogy is worth reading, as it constitutes an important contribution to the understanding of our nation and its history. And in many ways, the great ambition of this novel encouraged other writers to strive to create works of fiction that were not just of literary merit, but also of important social significance. However, for a far more satisfying literary experience, Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy accomplishes on a micro-level what Dos Passos attempted to achieve on a broader scale. But unlike the U.S.A. trilogy, Dreiser's work is a true pleasure to read.

I love this book/trilogy. It's probably my favorite book I've read so far. I would recommend this book to people whom in the past were put off by older literature. This book, although set in the early 20th century, seems fresh and alive. You may have difficulty at first with some of the more experimental sections, like "The Camera Eye", but I wouldn't let that discourage myself from recommending this book. Those sections tend to be rather on the short side anyway. I wish Dos Passos was more thought of today than he is, because he's an excellent writer. I often couldn't believe how many pages I had read in a session, as I got lost in the book completely. Read this book!

This is the true American Epic.

Dos Passos wrote this trilogy almost as a documentary. It is a history lesson, with newspaper articles, biographical sketches, beautiful train of thought prose poems, and, in the midst of it all, fictional but brutally realistic characters who each experience the times through a unique set of eyes.

Since I have read this book it has become one of my favorites, and there are few titles with more meaning to me than _U.S.A_.

Peter Pan is a good adventure/fantasy that kids and adults can enjoy alike. With much exaggeration, it is something kids can enjoy and read into. It's a page-turning book that once you started you can't stop.

This isn't like the Disney movie! I loved this book but at the same time I was shocked by the violence of the fighting between Hook and the Lost Boys and the Indians. I don't think I'll be reading this one to my nephews and neices, not until I have edited out the violent bits. It wasn't that In-Your-Face violence of the Hollywood movies, it was more insinuated and there was definetly a menacing atmosphere surrounding Wendy's, Peter's and Michael's adventures in Never Never Land. I do recommend it though, just not for easily frightened youngsters. This is definetly in need of a PG rating on the cover. PARENTS: This is no Disney Peter Pan!

My 10 year old daughter found this book in the school library. She read it one weekend and has checked it out several times. The classic story along with the beautiful illustrations by Eric Kincaid have made this one of her favorite books. When I surprised her with her own copy that I had found on Amazon she was thrilled and commented on it's excellent condition.

A joke is always funnier if you understand it, and the Alice tales are so full of inside jokes that you need someone to explain them. The Annotated Alice does just that. Carroll's tales are here, complete and unabridged, and the editors have painstakingly provided every piece of explanation and commentary you could ever wish for. Complete with Tenniell's original illustrations (although, alas, not colorized), this is a book any girl, little or big, can cherish.

Alice in Wonderland is an extraordinarily fascinating and delightful story, replete with jokes, puzzles, and nonsense of the highest order. But in order to appreciate it fully, the modern, non-Victorian reader requires some guidance, as well as an adequate background on the man and the times that produced Alice. Martin Gardner, the greatest figure ever in recreational mathematics, provides readers with all the information they need to appreciate this story at its various levels. This book occupies a place of privilege in the library of every serious Alice fan.

Victorian-era readers of Lewis Carroll's delightful fantasies knew the poetry and song and public figures referred to; we moderns need to have the jokes explained to us, and Martin Gardner does a masterful job of it. We're fortunately past the more bizarre Freudian and Marxist interpretations of Alice that Gardner takes to task in his preface, but Gardner's annotations survive, as they should. The White Knight's encounter with Alice is heartbreaking when you know the background information, the lyric the White Knight's doggerel alludes to. By all means, give this to children at risk of being pithed by exposure to a certain indigo reptile; as children, they'll appreciate the story, and as they mature, they'll appreciate the commentary, and you'll have saved a budding intellect.

John Bellairs is best known for his children's thrillers, but he also penned one of the best horror-fantasies ever written (a sadly neglected field, only ventured into by a few). My old paperback copy has a quite from Ursula Le Guin, stating that Bellairs "knows what wizardry is all about." Boy, is she right.

The book starts at the home of Prospero, a reclusive, good natured wizard with an obnoxious talking mirror and a lot of very tacky clutter. His friend Roger Bacon arrives at his home, only to find that sinister forces are creeping toward Prospero's home: an enormous moth that gives them a creepy feeling. Gray-cloaked figures lurking outside. A skeletal bird fluttering at the window.

Roger brings news about a strange book; Prospero realizes that there is an old enemy, Melichus, gaining power to destroy him. He and Roger set out on a hazardous journey across the geographically simple land, ruled by a rather unimpressive king, to find and unravel the mystery behind this strange growing force for evil.

More than once, Prospero and Roger will hit a dead end, be deceived by an evil illusion, or face the horrifying effects of their enemy. And the final battle in this book is unlike any battle of wizards ever seen before.

This book is very difficult to summarize, as some things simply don't click into place for a long time. It is, additionally, not a book that you can really skim. I read the book once, said "What?" on the last page, and had to go back and reread the climax.

This book lacks, in parts, the humor so necessary in Bellairs's books to keep the protagonists from going insane. Long stretches have nothing funny at all; we do have the irritating, singing magic mirror, the attack of the troll on the mini-boat, and the ridiculous rhyming spells that the wizards often utter: "Trying to find out if/(Hagiographically)/John of Jerusalem/liked almond paste..."

This book also defies fantasy cliches; the world that Prospero and Roger live in is very simple, not filled with dark fortresses and castles, but with ordinary villages connected by roads and woods. Evil, in Bellairs's world, is not something that sits on a throne and gives sadistic orders; it creeps into cracks and crevices and flits out at people. The "moth" scene manages to give an ordinary annoyance a feeling of horror; the scene where Prospero finds the innkeeper, and his subsequent escape are some of the most effectively creepy scenes I've ever read. He does so without gore or gimmicks; half the horror is not knowing what is conjured by Melichius.

Prospero is a quietly likeable character; his quirky house endears us to him, as does his reaction to the magic mirror. Roger is a little less defined, as the real him appears throughout a relatively small amount of the book. Other characters flit in and out.

Wizardry in this book is more than incantations and walking around with a funny hat (which neither of the characters has). I liked the description of the final duel between good and evil; also the effect on a wizard's staff when the wizard dies. Bellairs's wizardry is not flashy or show-offy, but a serious practice.

This book is relatively short, only about 180 pages; some kids may be a bit confused by the complexity of it, though. However, this is a delightful read...

Prospero, an eccentric wizard living in the Southern Kingdom, has begun to experience something new to him, fear. Nightmares visit him, unearthly shadows dance upon his walls, and dreadful apparitions accost him. When his friend, Roger Bacon, returns from England with shocking news about an eldritch book, he realizes that someone is gaining great power, and that someone wants Prospero dead. And so, Prospero and Roger set off on a quest to unravel the mystery and stop someone who may now be the most powerful wizard in the world.

This book contains one of the most wonderfully unique stories I have every read! It is gothic horror, but one where the protagonist is a wizard. Unlike the wizards presented in many stories however, Prospero often finds that his powers do not help him, and that he must confront the horrors or flee from them, the same as any other man. Through it all, the story portrays a gentle humor that makes it such wonderful reading.

I really enjoyed the black-and-white illustrations provided by Marilyn Fitschen (though this may be only in certain editions), their stark nature adds greatly to this suspense-filled story. I highly recommend this story to any fan of fantasy literature, or player of D&D!

My initial reading of this book was when it first came out in paperback in 1978. This isn't by way of bragging, but simply to point out that it impressed me so much that I still have that very copy of the book, despite many relocations and resizings of my own library. For its time it was so unlike any other fantasy book that it made an immediate impression and has continued to do so to this very day.

Written with a deceiving simplicity that, no doubt, owes its origins to Bellairs' many successes as a writer of horror fiction for young adults, 'The Face in the Frost' is the tale of two wizards who must prevent the completion of a spell so awful it would bring the ruin of their world. When Prospero (not the one on the island) finds his comfy and peculiar home under siege by baleful magick he is alarmed. The appearance of his old friend and co-wizard Roger Bacon (the very one) only confirms that ominous portents are about. Faced with giant moths and a force of giant menacing shadows they make their escape, bent on finding the source of the problem.

In short order they realize that someone is in the process of activating a spell inscribed in a legendary tome. They must face illusion, traps, and even death trying to discover the identity of the book's new owner. And then, once the identity is known they must wrest the book from its keeper's grasp and bring it to destruction. In a trick unknown since Aristotle's Cave, Bellairs manages to fit this detailed and wide ranging quest into a novel of less than two hundred pages. For this accomplishment, if no other, Bellairs deserves a great deal of appreciation.

Bellairs characters are gem-like, as is the world in which they move. The tone of the narrative is quite humorous, with Prospero and Bacon getting much of the credit for keeping up a banter full of strange twists that seems to wander at will across time and place without any disastrous side effects. The narrative, in contrast, is quite chilling. Bellairs shows a fine ability to create suspense and horror without having enormous quantities of gore splattered over the pages. On several occasions I found myself unexpectedly spooked by what on the surface was comparative mild-mannered prose.

For all the time I've had this book I have always been surprised that I haven't come across more of Bellairs' work. It is only recently, thanks to the Internet, that I discovered that Bellairs was pre-eminently known as a writer of youthful fiction, and that he died prematurely. In retrospect, it is probably only a fortunate accident that 'The Face in the Frost' crossed over into adult fiction. It certainly could be read with great enjoyment by anyone who can cope with Bellairs clear but literate writing style. Lest I forget, the story is accompanied by many wonderful illustrations from the pen of Marilyn Fitschen, which the reader will find as pleasant as the story.