Michael Dorn Books

I have not yet read the book, (working on that!) but I have met Mr. Dorn in person after hearing a lecture he gave to my school. His lecture and books are a must for all involved in educating students today! He explains adults what to look for when finding those students "slipping through the cracks."

Weakfish is an enlightening story about a boy who has been bullied througout his school career. The author provides insight into why the bullying occurred and provides excellent information and resources to help teachers, administrators and parents prevent bullying in their own communities. A must read.

This is a wonderful book. I have read it myself and I have used it to teach a unit on bullying to a high school class.

Today I heard Michael Dorn speak as part of our "beginning of the year" inservice. I am a second grade teacher and was profoundly affected by Michael's message. He has helped me remember the powerful influence and presence I have in my students' lives. As a parent, his message has helped me question and be very connected in my own kids' lives and education. He is an excellent speaker and writer. I highly recommend this book to all people who influence children in any way. It is an eye-opener and a wonderful reminder of how precious and beautiful our children are.

Edward Dorn's work is driven, turbulent, acute; there are tender moments too of course (eg "Song: Europa"), often interlaced with a poignant irony and a searching view of the contemporary. From the early reflective poems, writing himself out of rural Illinois, to the first flush of inspiration at Black Mountain (Olson, Sauer) to the time in the UK (esp. at the then new University of Essex) to the late reflections on heresy and chemotherapy, the sense of groundedness in a living tradition, but wanting to expand out of it, is clear. As he writes in the late poem "Tribe," his "tribe came from struggling labor" and this struggle to articulate the new is characteristic of his best work. This volume greatly expands the 1997 "sampler" "High West Rendezvous" and includes a generous selection from his parody epic "Gunslinger," not included in the much earlier "Collected Poems" (but available through Duke UP); yet "Way More West" shows that Dorn is much more, and other, than--as the cover has it--"the author of 'Gunslinger.'" Unlike its "Ur-text," Black Sparrow's 1993, "Way West: Stories, Essays and Verse Accounts : 1963-1993" this volume has no prose (ok, it's in a poetry series). Given however the range of Dorn's work, his classic narrative of Puget Sound, "views," "interviews" and prose commentaries and accounts of all kinds, and the abiding interest of this material (published through smaller houses), could this also be licked into popular shape?
A strong line of rather quizzical comedy runs through the volume, and a little poem like "the hazards of a later era" with its pastiche of Williams's icebox poem adds a reflection on the state of agribusiness, etc. (again, the rural). Dorn plays with his sources and influences, among them D. H. Lawrence, whose work can be detected at times from "Los Mineros" of the '60s to the "Languedoc Variorum" of the '90s. Always searching, probing, listening; "way more west", yes, but also never west enough.

From his early lyrics like "The Air Of June Sings" and "The Rick Of Green Wood" and "Like a Message on Sunday" through his first experiencing England: THE NORTH ATLANTIC TURBINE, the long poem "Oxford" most specifically, to his breakthrough "spiritual" address in GUNSLINGER (notably Books I & II), and his gem, RECOLLECTIONS OF GRAN APACHERIA, on through LANGUEDOC to the brave work of CHEMO SABE, Ed Dorn has created a body of lucid and resonant and controversial poetry, in which there is often an effortless shifting of discourses within the poem, a mode which he developed into a postmodern way of usually hard-edge jump-cut justaposition. Tom Clark's impressionistic biography of Dorn is a useful accompanying text.

Michael Dorn is an internationally-recognized expert of school safety and anti-terrorist measures who has worked with government agencies, foreign law-enforcement departments, among other organizations. He is also associated with the leading defense and intelligence agency Jane's. After analyzing a few notorious incidents from around the world where terrorists took school children hostage for the reasons for the success or failure of government authorities in dealing with them, Dorn--with his co-author his son, also a recognized authority by government agencies and the media--discusses general principles which can prevent a terrorist incident, be prepared for one if it does occur, and if so minimize the number of school children and teachers taken hostage and the potential loss of life. The timely, authoritative manual addresses the natural concern over the safety of children with a realistic perspective on the probability of a terrorist attack on any particular school. The recommendations put forward follow the guideline of being pertinent and responsible without being excessively costly to school systems and governments at different levels.

School/Law Enforcement Partnerships: A Guide to Police Work in Schools Great book to have.

The newer research on the Civil War suggests that it was won in the west and that the action in the east is not what caused the end of the war. Vicksburg was the crucial campaign in the west and while this book can get bogged down in details it does a very good job of providing information. The challenge of taking this city on a hill and the importance of the navy are all well explained here. A look at what happened to the south as the war progressed is not readily apparent but if read in between the lines it is easy to see what happened. The analysis about the importance of opening up the Mississippi to union forces is very good and brings new light on a subject that needs a lot more exploring and debate.

Mr.Ballard's book is another popular history,it contains little if any new information excepting a defense/excuse of the CS commander Gen. Pemberton.

US Gen.Grant is given considerable credit and deservedly so. The various Union naval commanders; Farragut, Porter etc get much attention also. Mr. Ballard does do a fair job of placing credit on both side's better commanders and lambasts CS Gen. Joe Johnston constantly. He lists the manuevering and prior failures of Union forces throughout the Mississippi region but successfully does so without losing the reader.

However, detail is lacking and the writing style itself is tepid and uninspiring. Contrary to some of the other reviewers, I found the maps poorly drawn and overly cluttered. Done in one color, roads and streams litter the maps; competing with arrows listing advances and retreats and unit markers do not differ between CS/US, infantry or cavalry...an attempt to clarify this on this small maps lists various brigade/division unit commanders but without listing what side is what. Numerous misspellings imply either poor editors or poor research. He consistently describes units as "crack" outfits to the point of the reader wondering, were there any "normal" units present? Any force smaller than a battalion or regiment is listed as a patrol or roadblock. His handling of first person history, the best aspect of recent military writings, is slipshod and often generalised. Few regiments are listed and in general, brigades get the most mention in combat descriptions.

A bright spot was the emphasis on the various naval movements in and about the Vicksburg area. Union naval ability and the Confederate lack of, gets serious and well deserved attention.

Mr. Ballard's theme of the Western Theater being the war winner is well supported by many other current works. Overall, this book is no masterpiece nor is Ballard a Pfanz as a writer. Well read students of this theater will not be well served by purchase of the book but it is a fair one for general or new readers to the subject.

This is a good book for anyone interested in studying on the Civil War. As the author mentions, this campaign to capture Vicksburg is a rather unknown period of the war and this is a good book on this campaign. It has its plusses and its minuses. On the positive side, it covers the campaign in detail with a number of human interest stories. The experiences of the citizens and soldiers who lived in Vicksburg, e.g. living in caves, the casualties, the experiences of soldiers in the hospitals (for example, he goes through the procedure that a doctor used to remove a leg - interesting although somewhat gruesome but it highlights the suffering). He is an apparent fan of Pemberton (although he recognizes his mistakes well) and not a fan of Joe Johnston (but I haven't found a Civil War writer who is...). He covers them well and also the top Union generals: Grant, Sherman and McClernand, including Grant's supposed bouts with alcohol and the feud between McClernand and Grant. This is a balanced coverage. On the minuses side, I found myself getting confused at times about what was really happening. For example, the coverage of the battles including the maps which are very confusing, which ramble about this unit and that unit going this way and that. The early book with this Confederate general and that Confederate general doing this and that is also confusing and may cause you to get you to get frustrated with the book, but stick with it. At one point, he has Pemberton in Vicksburg and needing to go to Vicksburg in the same paragraph. So, I read it again, and... huh. But then the story picks up when Grant tries one approach versus another to reach Vicksburg and decides on approaching it from the South. This is very interesting showing the chess moves between Grant, Pemberton and Johnston which Grant ultimately won. This is a good book, on a period that should be covered more. It may be confusing because unlike Gettysburg, where each writer can read the other books and build on them, there are few sources. So, I recommend it.

I like this book for several reasons.Number one, Mr Ballard is very sincere and called everything by its name.When it comes to describing generals and soldiers on either side of the conflict,he tells it like it is.Number two, the way Mr Ballard describes the military campaign in all its details it's terrific which helped me understand the imporatnce of every battle and the strategies involved.The only flaw in the book is really a minor one which is that sometimes the author gives too many details in things that i dont think are not that important.BUt ,in general, it's a very good book!

Dr, Michael Ballard has written an excellent book on the Vicksburg Campaign. Ballard has had good mentors in his study of the Mississippi River City which fell to US Grant in July, 1863
He is has been guided by Terry Wenschel the National Park Chief Historian; read the massive three volume work by Mr. Civil
War Ed Bearss on the campaign and is a lifelong native of Mississipi who has visited Vicksburg since his youth.
Vicksburg was a complex campaign pitting the inept Northern Born Confederate General John Pemberton against the aggressive and brilliant US Grant. Grant's Union Army worked well as a team.
Even though Grant did not like McClernand he used him well in launching the blue horde against the city on the bluffs. Grant
worked well with Sherman and McPherson, Logan and others as they tried many ideas to conquer Vicksburg. Grant and David Dixon Porter worked well on coordinating army-navy operations.
Grant succeeded when his forces crossed the Mississippi to
Bruinsburg, Ms. Union victories at Port Gibson, Jackson and
most importantly Champion Hill (May 16, 1863) led to a 47 day
siege of Vicksburg which fell to Federal forces on July 4, 1863
Vicksburge the key to victory in the Western Theatre was then
put into Mr. Lincoln's pocket. The fate of the Western Confederacy was sealed.
I am surprised how little many Civil War buffs seem to know little about the Western Theatre of the War. Those whose approach has been "Virginia-centric" will find much to explore as they gaze at the Western Theatre.
Grant emerges as a tough, imaginative, never say never commander while the Confederates Pemberton and Joe Johnston wee weak and indecisive leaders. Grant's star rose in the West as Lincoln discovered the man who could beat Lee and win the war!
Ballard's book is well illustrated; the maps are clear and
easy to follow. Ballard has done his homework as the many pages of bibliography attest to his acumen. While dealing with the battles he also quotes the thoughts of civilians of Vicksburg and Misssippi who saw their society rent asunder by the blue
hordes from the north.
Ed Bearss is still the dean of Vicksburg scholars but Michael Ballard has also contributed greatly to our understanding of this vital, complex, too often overlooked campaign. This book
can be read by the buff or the neophyte with equal pleasure. Thank you Dr. Ballard for your work!

This text provides a quick, concise review of the pimary topics covered on emergency medicine exams. I found it to be a good way to prepare for inservice exams and the written boards.

Getting Into Travis Picking is a good beginning thumb style pickin' book. You should probably already have some knowledge of guitar playing as it is not a beginning guitar players book. Michael teaches you several riffs and rolls used by the legendary Merle Travis and demonstrates their use in several songs at the end of the book. Study the riffs well as they will help you develop the basic "oom-pah" beat that this style is famous for. The CD lets you hear what you are striving for which is a must in my book. Overall - a good book for beginning thumb pickers. I hope Michael produces an advanced technique book!

I like Michael Dorn as an actor, but not as an author. This book is filled with extremely horrible and unnecessary profanity. You can't get to the storyline past this awful language. It is crude, offensive, and blasphemous. I do not recommend this book to anybody.

Michael Dorn has created an interesting black indiana jones named Tony Miller involved in some time/space adventures. But it looks like the book was written individually by the 3 authors and then put together but not very cohesively. Maybe more will be explained in the next novel but the reader should not be as confused as the main character of the novel. I also think the 2 other authors should have had their names on the cover as well as Dorn.

Michael Dorn captures your attention early in this brilliant novel and doesn't let go until the last word of the last parragraph. The imagery is the best I've seen in pop Sci-Fi in years! I can honestly say that I haven't been this excited about a sci-fi novel since the first time I read Ringworld.

Miller, the main character, is portrayed in a fashion that allows you to actually think like him, almost anticipating how he will handle each step of his convoluted trip. And, what a trip! The authors propensity to twist and manipulate reality keeps you at the edge of your seat the entire page-flipping, gut wrenching experience.

The last page, though tieing up most of the myriad tendrils of the story, creates whole new questions; leaving the reader thirsty for more of the intoxicating obserdeity of Millers grand trek.

This is a must read for any fan of the limits of imagination, and the excitement of classic Sci-fi. I can hardly wait for the sequel.

Devouring the book in one day I found it an enjoyable read. Yes, there were plenty of inconsistent action, but there were some good twists to keep me on my toes. Being a Star Trek fan made me buy the book, but the story itself kept me with it until I finished.

The action was good...and the setup of the main character was very "renaissance" like with the military to academic background. Yes, I want to be like Tony.

The back of the book is a bit misleading and I was slightly confused, there are books with worse that I have read so I won't hold them accountable for it.

I'm now off to find the second book of the series...

The book description isn't really accurate . . . the main character HASN'T heard of this crazy island, he happens upon it by chance only after being forced to go there by some 'unknown alien' that is inhabiting his friend's body.

My biggest problem is that the main character doesn't act like a normal person would act in abnormal circumstances. His best friend's mind has been taken over by some alien force and he never once stops to question the guy as to why he's acting so strange - instead thinking that he's been injured by a blow to the head.

I found the book to be full of cliche, not consistent (as if a collaboration where different authors wrote various scenes), and it didn't seem like it knew where it wanted to go. And then to end it with 'to be continued' really lost it for me. I don't think I can read through another in the Time Blender series . . .

In this book, although the characterizations are not too far off the mark from those established for the characters, much is sacrificed in order to fit the classic murder mystery plot. One must accept, for instance, that it is possible to fire a phaser on board the Enterprise without the computer being immediately aware of the occurrence, and signalling security; that it is, in fact, possible for a member of the ship's complement to replicate a loaded phaser without clearance or any record of the transaction; that there is no high-tech way to establish the identity of the person who fired the phaser, or even whether a particular phaser was the one fired at a particular time, and many other very dubious propositions.

Still, the book is well-written, and if you enjoy detective and mystery fiction as well as Star Trek-style space opera, it should provide an enjoyable read. It uses a very Agatha Christie-esque method of maintaining suspense and uncertainty as to the question of "whodunit" by making almost all of the non-regular characters behave suspiciously at one point or another.

Not really my style, but well done if you like that sort of thing.