Robin Hood Books

Great looking book, unnfortunately it is not the edition we need fo my son's class

I think it would be difficult to find a folk hero, historical figure or group of legends that are better known, have spawned more literature and have had more movies made of them than King Arthur and his legendary Round Table and the Knights and Ladies who were a part of his story. To be frank, I grew up on this stuff, and furtherer more, admit to having been tremendously influenced by these stories when I was younger. In a fashion, they are very much a part of my total make up. I can well remember reading and being read to out of this very rendition. That being said...

Howard Pyle first published this work in 1902. This book represents the first volume of Pyle's retelling of the Arthurian Legend. These books, as most of this author's work, were directed toward young people of that time. Do not though make the mistake of considering this work a simple child's story, as it is far more than that. When I was in high school and then college, I ran headlong into Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, and like many other young students, when completely numb. Later, I read Baines' rendition, which was of course more readable, but still quite a chore. While these works are certainly worthwhile, and should certainly be read by anyone with the least bit of interest in classical literature, they never-the-less are not easy works. Actually, they are rather difficult and you actually have to work at them. This is good, but sometimes you just want to relax and enjoy a good story. (I often speculate as to just how many people have been completely turned off to classical literature via having been forced to read these old tales when they were young. For those of you who were; a suggestion...try rereading them now. It is amazing what twenty or thirty years will do to your outlook!

This offering by Pyle fits that need, both for the younger reader and for the adult. I admit to taking great delight in reading this author's rendition of these old tales and am absolutely thrilled that they are again in print and in such a wonderful edition. The language Pyle uses stays true to the archaic style it was meant to be, yet it is not overwhelming. While the Malory translation is just a kick above G. Chaucer's, it is never the less difficult in this day and age. Pyle has toned things down so that the average reader can read and enjoy without a lap full of arcane dictionaries setting in their lap, yet he has not lost the essence and beauty of the original work.

This volume starts with the birth of Arthur and then covers many of the tales concerning the various Knights of the Round Table. We meet Sir Kay, Queen Morgana le Fay, Sir Pellias, Sir Gawaine, the wicked down fall of Merlin; The Lady Vivian, Merlin himself and many, many others. The courtly manners, speech and now long outdated attitudes are all meticulously recorded in a readable manner. Now do beware; this is not a politically correct book by any means. The original basis for the story goes back hundreds of years and Pyle's rendition was, after all, written in 1902. Actually, if this one is read to a much younger child, an adult really should do the reading and offer explanations as to why events were handled in the way they were.

This particular volume is of course illustrated by Howard Pyle himself. I must admit that he is probably one of my most, if not the most, favorite of the older illustrators. The pen and ink drawings are so typically Pyle that it is difficult to confuse him with others. The ample illustrations in this volume are all of that style and in fact strongly resemble old wood engravings. Pyle of course was the creator, or at least the inspirational origin of the Brandy Wine School of Illustration, which include some of the best of the past and are still quite influential today.

For a pure reading joy, this volume is difficult to beat. I cannot wait to get my hand on the rest of the things.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

This novel is about King Arthur and his knights - more specifically the tale of how Arthur became king and found excaliber and various stories about some of his knights, Merlin, and others. While not the traditional tale, a very good compilation of short stories about a variety of the characters. Would highly recommend.

I read three versions of the Arthurian legends recently, and this one was the weakest. The language is somewhere between Malory's archaic form and modern prose, but does not succeed well at being either. The tales were also, in my opinion, less well told than in the others.

For your consideration, I read La Morte D'Arthur in an abridged version and Roger Lancelyn Green's "King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table" from the Puffin Classics series. I enjoyed Green's telling the best, as it was credibly compiled from a number of works (including Malory) and had some excellent atmospheric illustrations. Though it is a Puffin Classics edition, I did not find the usual condescension or "dumbing down" that often occurs in youth literature.

Get Green's version. It was just as cheap right here on Amazon, and well worth every penny.

Howard Pyle delivers yet another splendid book which recaptures the enchantment and chivalry of the legend of Kind Arthur and his knights. Some have complained of the archaic english, but I love it. It only adds to the magic of Pyle's story. This book is filled with the adventures of noble knights, and it does an amazing job of keeping your interest. Somehow, even after many previous jousts and sword matches, Pyle makes each one more interesting than the last.

I also love the "moral of the story" section he does at the end of most major book divisions. He did not do that in the other Pyle book I have read (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood), and I very much liked them. In such he made allegories of Excalibur and its sheath (to God's Truth and faith), and does likewise with many things, always wishing to teach to us some truth through his writings about Arthur and his knights. I also loved the oath of the knights of the Round Table:

"And this was the covenant of their Knighthood of the Round Table: That they would be gentle unto the weak; that they would be courageous unto the strong; that they would be terrible unto the wicked and the evil-doer that they would defend the helpless who should call upon them for aid; that all women should be held unto them sacred; that they would stand unto the defence of one another whensoever such defence should be required; that they would be merciful unto all men; that they would be gentle of deed, true in friendship, and faithful in love. This was their covenant, and unto it each knight sware upon the cross of his sword, and in witness thereof did kiss the hilt thereof."

This except, I think, well sums up this book, in which these oaths are held, and if they are not, retribution always follows swiftly. In the land of Camelot, good deeds before God are of highest value, and wicked deeds are always subject to disapproval and punishment.

i was very disapointed with this book! i thought it would be as well written as the forest wife(one of my very favourite books) instead child of the may seemed forced and it rushed along at a dizzying pace. also i truly came to hate magda! she seemed so spoiled and fake. all and all this book isnt really worth buying except for young children who might like it. ages 4-6

Magda, the daughter of Little John and Emma, is the main character in this book. The book begins when John and Robert come to the Forestwife with baby Magda. Emma was killed by one of the sheriff's men and Little John couldn't take care of her. So Magda is raised by the Foreswife. 15 years later, Magda is tired of living in the Forest and wants to go out and seek adventures. She follows her father and Robert to help Isabel, who the sheriff has decided to marry to the man who killed Emma, if she doesn't pay a fee. This book is about Magda's adventures. The Forestwife was a better book. I think this book should have dealt more with Robert and Marian instead of them being minor characters.

This is the best sequel for a book I have yet to read. The connections were accurate, and the future was just what I had wanted. Hope there's a next one on her child!

This was a wonderful book that was in some ways even better than its towering prodeceser, if that were possible! The story is about Magda, the fifteen year old daughter of Little John and the late Emma, who was a close friend of Marian the forestwife, who has raised her so far. Magda however, is totally bored with chores and caring for sick people, and she longs to join her father and Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. She gets her wish, and she goes with her father and the outlaws to save some girl, but faces more challenges than she was prepared for when she finds herself facing in battle the man who ruthlessly murdered her mother. Part of why I liked this book was that it showed in true depth a father's love for his daughter, and that more of the action, in fact all of it, took place with the main character right in the thick of it, instead of just having it happen to other people "offscreen". This was a truly wonderfull book with beautiful writing and style and I would reccamend it to anyone who enjoys strong female heroes.

Have you ever heard people say that sequals are never as good as the first ones? Well, in this case, that is not true. This sequal to The Forestwife, is as good as the first and I highly recomend this book to those who haven't read it.

My 7 year old son LOVED this book as a read along. He also did well reading some of the passages, as he is a good reader, so it is a nice "you-and-me" book. Story is gentle and engaging for this age.

I read Robin's Country. It was written by Monica Furlong. This is an asome book to read. I read this book in three days because it was so hard to put down.
This story is about a kid nammed Dummy (well that's what his master called him). He was practically a slave to the family. One day he makes a plan to run away. Because his master accused him of dameging his knife. The master's wife let Dummy sleep inside for the first time. So he takes a basket fills it with food and runs into Sherwood Forest. It happens that he falls into the entrance of Robin's Hideaway. The first couple of the day he was sleeping. When he got up he was asked questions but could not answer. Dummy could not talk. After a while Marien starts to teach him how to shoot arows. He gets better and better with practice. Robin goes to an archery contest and wins the prize but he was in a disguse. When the Sheriff found out that Robin won he sent an army to destroy Robin. But when the army arrived they couldn't get in. So Prince John sends an army to help. After a part of the seige was over a monk entered the hideaway. It was King Richard back from the Crusades! Dummy is King Richards's grandson.
I would recommend this book to antone who likes Robin Hood or who likes archery and sword. This is a great book so please read it. Is a great twist on the Robin Hood legend.

This is an inspiring and well-written book. I love the way this book gives a new point of view to our old favorite outlaw Robin Hood. This is more to the caring side of the man and helps you to learn more about the most famous gang in literature. A young boy, Dummy, who can't talk, runs away from his cruel master due to the cruel and unusual punishment he has received. He runs to Sherwood Forest where he believes that he will be killed by either wolves and outlaws but it is his only hope to live. He soon becomes sick and he stumbles into a cave, part of Robin Hood's kingdom, which is hidden by a dense thicket. At first, Robin and, especially, Marian think that Dummy may be a spy for Prince John. Eventually he is accepted by the men in green. We also soon find out that his name is Richard. Marian is to be his teacher with the bow and arrow, for many believe she's the best archer. Robin become Dummy's friend and hero he hopes to become just like him. This book shows faith, honor, courage and friendship. All of which are greatly woven in. There is a surprise for all at the end, though it will make you think how it happened.

I think that Juniper and the book Wise Child and Robin's Country were really good books but if youv'e read Wise Child their has to be a sequel because the book is so great you have to know what happens next.

Dummy, a young boy who is unable to talk, runs away from his cruel master. Though he has heard there are wolves and outlaws in Sherwood Forest, it's the only place he can hide. Delirious with fever, he stumbles into a cave, part of Robin Hood's tiny "kingdom," hidden by a dense thicket and protected by Our Lady of the Forest. At first, Robin and, especially, Marian are afraid that Dummy might be a spy for the wicked Prince John, but soon he is accepted by the green-clad outlaws. It's Marian who teaches him to use a bow and arrow, because she's the best archer. Robin becomes Dummy's hero, and the boy hopes, one day, to be just like him. This is an inspiring story of faith, honor, courage and friendship. The descriptions of the greenwood are lovely, and the characters come alive. There are many exciting, often humorous, adventures. And there's a delightful surprise happy ending. Although "Robin's Country" is written primarily for young readers, I think anyone interested in Robin Hood would enjoy it. Some other good books based on the Robin Hood legend are Theresa Tomlinson's "The Forestwife" and "Child of the May" and Robin McKinley's "The Outlaws of Sherwood."

Having found the King Arthur and Dracula's in this series good, this Robin Hood showcases mideival life very well. I liked it.

The setting and characters of Robin Hood are unforgettable. The setting of the story takes place in northern and central England. The story mostly takes place in Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood is the main character in the story. He is a nice man who cares about the poor and gives them money when he sees them. Maid Marian is Robin Hood's fiancée. Little John is a big strong man who helps Robin Hood on his journeys. Friar Tuck is one of Robin's friends. King Richard is the king of England. Sir Guy of Gisborne is one of Robin's enemies who does the sheriff's dirty work. The Sheriff of Nottingham is a cruel person who doesn't like Robin and tries to kill him when Robin turns to an outlaw.

The problem is that Robin is declared an outlaw. Worman is Robin's treacherous steward who then lies about Robin setting a plot to kill the king. At Robin's wedding the sheriff of Nottingham says that the prince has declared him an outlaw. Now Robin loses his land and title and he's living in the greenwood and can't marry Maid Marian. There are four things that Robin wants. First, he wants to marry Maid Marian. Second, he wants his title and his land back. Third, he doesn't want to be an outlaw. Finally, he wants all of the people to stop treating the peasants badly.

The solution ends up being really complex. Robin runs into the forest and puts together a group of merry men. Then he writes a letter to the sheriff to threaten him in his own castle. Then the king returns and restores everything that Robin had lost when he became an outlaw. Maid Marian and Robin get married. When King Richard dies, King John takes his place and Robin becomes an outlaw again. When Robin goes back to the greenwood he starts to fight Sir Guy and kills him. After, Robin threatens the sheriff, saying that if he will not leave the woods, he will kill him. Later, he goes to St. Mary's to confess his sins but he is betrayed and captured. When the merry men hear the news they go to the prison and free Robin.

Robin goes to the Kirklees Priory because he knows that Maid Marian and his cousin are there. His cousin lets Robin's blood and she never seals the wound because she is in the pay of the sheriff. There he dies in Maid Marian's arms.

I recommend this book for several reasons. The first reason is the pictures and the notes that Neil Phillip put in there. I also liked it because of all of the action in the book. Some other features are the diagrams of the castles and people and the CD to read along. Finally, when you listen to the CD, you can hear the sound effects of swords and the birds singing and how the voices of different people sound. This is why I recommend this book to other kids.

My children- 3 & 5 years- love this- they can actually listen to it multiple times a day and have started acting out and reciting bits from it- so cute! We actually use the cd alone- as it's on lone from their cousin who still has the book. The reader does have an accent ( which makes it a bit more authentic) but you may have to help them identify some of the words that sound different. The language is quite sophisticated but the story keeps them enthralled. Great for rainy afternoons, or tired ones- and great for a tv alternative. We also bring our stories on cd in the car for trips or just to make the errands less painful! I highly recommend this and any of the others in the Read & Listen series.

The book I'm going to review is Robin Hood by Neil Philip. The setting of the story is Nottingham, England. The characters are Robin Hood, Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Lord Fitzwalter and King Richard. Robin wants freedom, Marian and his title and lands back. His first big problem is the sheriff wants to kill him. So he harasses the sheriff. Robin gets 30 comrades to help him and lives in Sherwood Forest. The king comes back and gives Robin's title, lands and Marian back to him.
The new problem is King Richard is dead and Robin is now an outlaw. Robin kills Sir Guy in self-defense and tricks the sheriff and scares them away. The next problem is that Robin gets captured in St. Mary's Church and thrown in a dungeon. The solution is that Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet and Little John frees him. The last problem is Robin's cousin tricks Robin and lets his blood and never closes the cut. The resolution is he dies with peace in his heart because Robin begs Little John not to harm the nuns.
I would recommend this book to certain kinds of kids who can handle the happiness and the suffering in this book. The maps were helpful to me because they had information about where things were happening. The diagrams were helpful to me because they told about the cycle of families in the Middle Ages and what kind of jobs the kids did when they grew up.

The DK Read & Listen books and tapes are so well produced, I don't mind listening to the tape or reading the book over and over to my 5-year old. We liked the Robin Hood book so well, we also bought Oliver Twist. The tapes are great for the car.

Generally, I don't like historical novels. My taste runs more to fast-paced murder mysteries. I like books I can read through quickly, and not have to linger over every word. Although I enjoyed seeing Kevin Costner as Robin Hood, I have never been that interested in the Robin Hood tale. So "The Archer King" was definitely not a book I expected to like. I read it only because two close friends raved about it so enthusiastically. To my great surprise, I LOVED this book! The writer is an exquisite story teller. The twists and turns of the plot kept me turning the pages. The main characters are drawn with complexity and depth. Lorele's writing style is so beautiful, I wanted to read every word. Although there was every reason for me not to like this book, "The Archer King" was one of the best and most enjoyable novels I've read in a very long time.

Although the authour has an engaging writing style, and this makes her book easy to read, it is more New-Age fantasy than serious retelling. If you are a serious Robin Hood scholar it may prove disappointing (except as one more example of a modern retelling). For instance, the book abounds with references to Wicca, which is a 20th century religion and not a 12th century one. Furthermore, the earliest confimed Tarot deck originated in the 15th century as a deck of playing cards painted for the Visconti family of Milan; it was not a divination tool that a 12th century peasant girl would have had. In all, the book seemed to be full of Wiccan stereotyping and to play up to the (disproven) theory of Wicca as an unbroken tradition (at the end of the book when Maerin joins a nunnery Lorele writes that Maerin passed her Wiccan learning on to the nuns in her charge, and that "this was one way that knowledge of the Wiccan Craft survived.") Yet for those who like alot of fantasy in their stories this may work for you. However, I recommend the "Robin of Sherwood" series (Goldcrest TV, early 80s) for a good Pagan portrayal of Robin Hood devoid of Wiccan stereotyping.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Lorele's book. This is one of those books that is hard to put down and when I finished I was left wanting more. For anyone looking to make another Robin Hood film this book would certainly translate well to the big screen. The descriptions of the banquets were delicious and a fun addition! I highly recommend this book.

I loved this book! It tells the story of Robin Hood which alot of people are familiar with from a Pagan perspective. Maid Maerin is a Christian, on her way to becoming a nun and does not come into the story until about half-way through. This book talks about their love and struggle to come together in spite of beliefs and how Robin has to come to terms with the fact that everything he knows is destryed while he is fu=ighting in the Crusades. He becomes embittered with the Christian religion after seeing the deah and destruction wrought by a war in the name of God. One of the best fiction stories I've read in a while!!!

Wow! The Archer King is a very refreshing and enjoyable read. I came online to review the book and was a bit astonished at two of the complaints about the Pagan perspective.Having been initiated in 1979, eventually ordained and having studied deep Paganism for over twenty years, I found Reyna Lorele's research both authentic and and beautifully wound into the story. If there were to be any "positive criticism" it would be that it is a fairly "light"; albeit a very full, read. The reader is moved to think and picture the scenes, not trip over words and keep a dictionary nearby.It is the perfect book for just curling up and lending oneself to the world of fantasy; into a familiar story finally retold from a too long ignored perspective. It is one I have no doubt I shall pick up again in a few years, probably after Hollywood does and yet another version, just to remind myself of what might have have been...

As other reviewers have said, this is a remarkable work. Burl Barer has covered a tremendous amount of ground organizing and sifting all the various appearances of the Robin Hood of Modern Crime "in print, radio, film, and television" between the publication of The Saint Meets the Tiger in 1928 and this book's own publication in 1993. Merely sorting out all the different titles under which creator Leslie Charteris' Saint novels were published would be achievement enough, but Barer also gives us a chronology of all printed Saint stories, cast and story synopses of Saintly radio and television dramas, and even -- thorough to the point of ridiculousness -- verbatim production company press releases for six made-for-TV Saint movies in the late 1980s.

But this book is far more than bibliography, impressive thought the bibliography is. What I found far more interesting was Barer's portrait of Charteris himself, and what struck me as his somewhat ambiguous relationship with his creation Simon Templar. On the one hand, he was a spirited defender of Templar's biography, personality, and distinguishing characteristics, keeping a close eye on the way the Saint was portrayed in all his various media incarnations over many decades. As a writer myself, I particularly enjoyed reading his comments to various scriptwriters about the poor job they were doing on plot or characterization.

At the same time, however, Charteris was more than willing to let those other writers do the heavy-lifting of producing new Saint stories for his approval and to be published under his name. If a story, movie, or radio drama ended up being, frankly, not very good then, as Charteris said in reference to those 1989 TV movies, "The old joke about crying all the way to the bank is my only consolation" (p. 230).

There are some things this book is not, and one of them is a character study of the Saint. Although Templar's biography comes through in these pages, Barer does not devote to the novels the same attention he does to the radio plays or movies, which I regret. But that may be a reflection of my own tendency to think of the Saint primarily as a literary character who was then translated, often not very well, to other media. Barer takes a more holistic view, I think, in which the Saint as portrayed by Roger Moore, the extravagantly betrousered Ian Ogilvy, or the "Thomas Magnum by way of Matt Houston" Andrew Clarke (p. 222) is as definitive a part of the Saintly canon as are the novels.

I don't know if I would call this book "essential reading for the Saint fan," simply because it is possible to enjoy the stories without needing to know the information contained here. But for readers interested not only in the stories but in all the Saint's many manifestations and interpretations -- and most valuable, I would think -- a fascinating look at the author behind it all, then Burl Barer's book has stood the test of 15 years and is worth keeping handy today.

This book is indeed a good buy if you want to learn more about the character of The Saint and his creator Leslie Charteris. Most of the other reviewers already touched on the positive aspects of the book, but beware: It is not perfect!

The author had extensive access to Charteris' archives and at times comes across too much like the voice of The Saint's creator and takes his side too much. On the one hand, the Roger Moore TV series e.g. is not that bad; on the other hand - and quite frankly - the original Saint novels aren't always that good! A little bit of critical distance would have served the author much better.

Also, the book has an amazing 419 pages, though only 243 are proper text about the character in all its incarnations. The remaining 176 are appendices that primarily deal with extensive plot summaries of TV and radio shows. I am not a great fan of books that rely too heavily on synopsis to fill their pages.

Mind you, overall this *is* a book that can be recommended to anyone interested in this pulp hero, but please beware of the caveats.

Burl Barer really captures everything about the Saint in this book. It is a huge source of information, and everytime I read it I find out something new!

Even if you aren't a fan of the Saint, you should still buy this book. It's a remarkable, inside account of how a character is translated into books, comics, radio, tv and film. A must-have for anyone thinking of breaking into publishing, tv or film

Burl Barer's book on the history of The Saint is "the source" for Saint fans yearning for more information about The Saint. It is a must-have for Saint fans, and makes for an excellent read, even for those detectivish fans who don't really know much about Simon Templar or Leslie Charteris to start with...

this is a great reprint of the wonderful original coast to coast guide.
its a must for anyone wanting to do all or part of the walk across Britain. can't wait to use it myself on the trail later this year.

This beautiful guide to England's Coast to Coast walk is a rare thing... a very practical and reasonably up to date guide by the man who originated the route together with the original drawings and maps Wainright did to accompany the original edition. It is a beautiful book. The photoreproductions of Wainright's original handprinting give the book the feel of an historical artifact; a work of art from a different era.

The content in this book is terrific. Unfortunately, the text is ridiculously small. I cannot conceive of why. If the text were a reasonable size, I would have given the book a 5-star rating.

A great book for planning and walking across England. It has all the details necessary and is written in a humorous vein. The personal drawings and asides add to the light-hearted approach. Really necessary for the details of the walk.

When I found this book I was VERY EXCITED!!! I have been a life long fan of the legends of Robin Hood, and my very favorite character is the mighty Little John, second in command of the band, and right hand man to Robin. The story begins with John as a young man making his way on a river barge to escape some unfortunate events. It was a fast but very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Robin Hood legends, particularly a fan of Little John. I have wanted to see this seven foot tall member of Robin's band portrayed correctly in film for many years, but he never has been out side of books as far as I'm concerned, so take a load off, and read this book, it's worth it!

FORBIDDEN FOREST: THE STORY OF LITTLE JOHN AND ROBIN HOOD

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be able to steal from the rich and give to the poor? Well, you can find out by reading the story called Forbidden Forest: the Story of Little John and Robin Hood by Michael Cadnum. This book starts out on the ferry that Little John runs when a knight comes on one and causes some problems. The knight finds out that John's friend was stealing gold and he tries to kill him. When John finds out he kills the knight and runs for his life.
After John gets away from the law he runs into a lord called Red Roger, but ends up leaving him because Roger wants John to kill people for him. Then he runs into Robin Hood while walking through Sherwood Forest and ends up hanging with him. Robin and John like to have their hostages tell stories in exchange for food and wine. After a while they get a new guest that stays with them until the real killer of her husband is found. Well, I'll let you find out the ending for yourself. This book is suspenseful and exciting, so if you liked Robin Hood before then you'll love this book.

1. This is a book about the legendary Robin Hood and his giant of a friend Little John who is a friendly giant. They capture a knight who is a mercenary, that joins Robin Hood and help rescue a damsel in distress.

2. I think it is a very good book if you like adventure type books of medieval times. I liked very much because of all the fighting with swords, bows and knives in the forest.

3. The climax of the story is that Red roger keeps trying to find little john and the princess, and all the while thier hiding from him and the sheriff. The climax is the big moment the high point or the finale.

4.This a very good adventure type book from the midieval times. The reason I gave it a four is that it is a very interesting book about fantasy fiction.

The story of Little John's induction into Robin Hood's infamous band of thieves. On the run from the law, Little John finds himself torn between the need to survive, and doing so at the cost of his morals. A wonderfully written tale that blends rich historical details with compelling, believable characters, both evil and heroic. Excellent portrayal of the nature of how alliances are formed out of need, and how trust can forge bonds of unity.

A recommended read for anyone interested in poetic language and an adventurous romp through the medieval life of those profiting from the misery of others, and those striving to enforce a rogue's sense of justice. A rousing good tale of adventure, suspense, camaraderie, and the thrill of pursuing justice with honor. An enjoyable and inventive interpretation of a intriguing side-kick to the legend of Robin Hood.

Caution: Graphic portrayal of the brutality and violence of medieval life may not be suitable for sensitive readers.

This is one of the best books I've read. It is not at all like the movies done of it. It is a good, clean book. I would highly recommend it for kids or adults.

In your youth , this was the edition that send you to another time and place . N.C.Wyeth's art is without equal . Each plate pulls the reader deeper into the text. What more could one ask of a book ; a fun read, classic literature, and fine art. I am most thankful that it is again available for my grandkids .

It is a time of crisis in England. With the good King Henry dead and the rightful ruler, unknowing Richard, fighting in the Crusades, the evil Prince John seizes the throne. Interested only in making himself richer, and having no consideration for the poor and middle class people, he becomes a tyrant respected by the haughty rich (few), and hated by the commoners (many). Young Robin of Locksley, son of the Ranger of Locksley, has his lands taken from him by force after the Ranger dies. Robin, cast out with no home, joins an outlaw gang dedicated to helping the poor. How Robin - who laters becomes head of the gang - defends the gang, helps the poor, and wins a name for himself throughout England as "Robin Hood", makes this book the magical story it is.

My five-year old and I love the Wyeth illustrations and the stories which surround them. She is a big Robin Hood fan and we're always trying out 'new versions' (her words) of the classic tales. This is one of the winners, for accessible prose, short chapters and, of course, the beautiful paintings.

And yet ... this version has an incredibly surprising and annoying error of historical fact which bothers me to no end (hence the rating). In the preface, Creswick sets up the plot: it's 1190, and Prince Richard, waiting for his dad to die, goes off on crusade. The competition between John and RIchard is thus presented as 'which one will succeed to their father, King Henry II'? All well and good (and my daughter doesn't care), except that it's totally bogus history. Henry II died in 1187 and Richard had been king for several years before setting off on crusade. John's crime was (perhaps, although not proven historically) in seeking to overthrow a crowned king (not to compete with a brother for the succession). Some may consider this gripe to be small beer (and indeed, as I've said, my daughter doesn't care - although I always read 'king' for 'prince' RIchard when I read it), but it drives me crazy. Why mess around with fact? Either Creswick was too lazy to get it right, or decided that the past wasn't exciting enough and would thus improve on it. Either way it is pretty annoying. [Note: I am no fanatic for historical accuracy, and I am well aware that the Robin Hood stories as we know them are mostly fictional anyway - it's just that there is no good reason to depart from the historical record here]

Giant monsters are hard to verbally; they are intrinsically visual, but this book does a good job. I thought it was interesting that so many stories were by Australian writers. With Australia's unique fauna, maybe giant monsters are not so hard to believe. I liked most of the stories. I definitely recommend it for all monster fans.

The Collection of daikaiju (japanese inspired giant monsters) stories in this tome are terribly entertaining. Not all were stories I particularly enjoyed, but I saw what the writer was going for and could appreciate it.
Sure, there were one or two bad ones, but there is (to my knowledge) only one book devoted to this kind of story: Daikaiju!
If you are a fan of giant monsters, Godzilla, monsters in general, or qwirky writing, this may be for you. And come on, it's the only one of it's kind. Incedentally, the editor mentions a possible sequel to this book, a second collection of Daikaiju stories. I eagerly await that.

I confess, when I picked up this collection, I was expecting a whole bunch of stories of giant monsters trampling over humanity's engineering triumphs. You know, typical giant monster movie fare.

What we got was an eclectic collection of stories and poems, which look more at the people and how having giant monsters in their world affect their lives. Some stories are tragic, others are humorous, and still others deliver something else entirely. All in all, an interesting and all encompassing collection of stories covering all aspects of this genre. There's even one of the traditional giant monster running loose (CALIBOS), one featuring duelling behemoths (Kungmin Hurangi: The People's Tiger), and even a couple set in the preindustrial age (Unlawful Priest of Todesfall; The Greater Death of Saito Saku). The other stories offer up less traditional tales, but are still fun to read. Even "The Quiet Agrarian" will have its fans even if it wasn't for me.

So, in short, if you're a fan of giant monster movies, particularly of the Japanese variety, I highly recommend this book, as there aren't many like this on the book shelves.