V Books

Keohane's collection offers crisp writing and creepy stories. It doesn't get much better than this--and you'll have an excuse for not being able to sleep.

Dan Keohane is a fresh new talent, a guy you should keep an eye on. The sleek poetry of his descriptive language and lean dialogue make him one of horror's brightest new stars, and this collection is a delightful introduction to his work. The author also gives a portion away to charity, which tells you a great deal about the character of the man (and no, we've never met!) So give "Christmas Trees and Monkeys" a try. You'll be glad you did.

Up until the last story, I didn't think I would have a favorite, although a few will stick with me for quite a while. "Feed the Birds" will take you into the bowels of human depravity. "The Doll Wagon" outshines the old Twilight Zone story. Positively creepy. Thanks to Keohane, I will never see GI Joe the same way again! Ever.

The other stories are strange and thought-provoking (such as Y2Kay and The Storm of Generations). My favorite was "Tanner's Bomb". It was a darkly hilarious story about a trucker, desperate to drop his load so he could get home to his family in time for Christmas. He did, but not without dire consequences.

I not only enjoyed Christmas Trees and Monkeys for the stories, but for the way they were written. Mr. Keohane has his own unique style, which I found refreshing. I look forward to reading his next book. Highly recommended.

I've known Dan for a few months now and just picked this book up at a group signing we did a few weeks back. This is a stupendous collection of work from a writer with a serious future in speculative fiction. Excellent narrative skills combine with sleek dialogue and a wonderful gift for building suspense to create some of the coolest short stories I've read in a long time. Standouts for me included "Y2Kay" - one of the most unique takes on the Y2K crisis - and "Lavish" a truly great epic tale. Dan Keohane's work shines here and he will definitely be making a big mark on the genre. Don't miss this fantastic collection of stories from a serious up-and-coming author.

CHRISTMAS TREES AND MONKEYS, besides boasting one of the most unusual titles ever for a collection of horror stories, proves Daniel G. Keohane to be one of the very best (perhaps THE best) of the next wave of writers in this genre - and heads above many of the (for now) better-established names I won't divulge here. His prose is clean, assured, his plots and characters intriguing, his imagination sparkling, his approach widely varied so that one doesn't know what to expect from each story - which keeps the offering fresh. A story like BARK can be very simple is plot, but a powerful engine of suspense. AM is a super-spooky tale that would make great reading at Halloween. But as eminently entertaining as these stories are, at times Keohane steps into the realm of surreal literature with brilliant and achingly human stories like FEED THE BIRDS and the gorgeous WHITE WAVE OF MERCY (perhaps the best story in the collection), and THE MONKEY ON THE TOWERS, in which the titular preternatural simian is an enigmatic symbol of chaos and catalyst in the lives of numerous people (Keohane is very adept at shifting view points). There are also a good many stories with a religious theme, in which an intimate hell (RITUAL) or apocalyptic event (REDEMPTION, LAVISH and the unnerving zombie tale TWO FISH TO FEED THE MASSES) are brought about by an incomprehensibly harsh Creator more frightening than any literary Satan - and in which characters fight for redemption, or at least a modicum of understanding in the face of the bleak unknown. Though the last story, TANNER'S BOMB, is a little silly, every story in this book is impressive in its own unique way. Keohane is a master in the making, and any fan of horror in its many sub-categories will find more than enough to be impressed by in this first collection from a first-rate author.

This is the Coleridge I thought I knew through his poetry. Holmes brings him to life in this first volume of Coleridge's early years. The book makes you wish you had known Coleridge personally and shared in his life. His life is complex and challenging and so it must have been for Holmes to research and write Coleridge's life. In fact, Holmes seems to have a special knowledge into the life of one of the greatest poets of the English language. This book gave me insights into Coleridge's works I had not had before. If you want to learn more about Samuel Taylor Coleridge, his life and his works, this is the book to read.

The general reader and the scholar should enjoy this book. Holmes does set Coleridge talking.

Don't miss Owen Barfield's WHAT COLERIDGE THOUGHT if you want to explore the matephysician.

If you think Coleridge was finished by 1804, think again. True, all his great poems had been written but an astonishing life of triumph and tragi-comedy lay ahead. "Coleridge, Darker Reflections" is the long-awaited second half of this award-winning biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It covers the period 1804-1834 - a time when, according to popular belief, Coleridge's fertile imagination had dried up and he faced a slippery slide to an opium-induced decline. But not according to the author Richard Holmes, described as "Our best post-war biographer". He is a superb story teller and unlike so many biographers before him, deeply in touch with his subject. His first volume, "Coleridge Early Visions" introduced the poet to a new generation of admirers (including myself who was fired into writing a play for children about the poet's early magical years). This wonderful book will surely establish STC as a troubled but gigantic genius of the 19th century. Holme's own genius is to show us Coleridge the man. "Always on the knife edge between tragedy and comedy" said Holmes at the London book launch this week (21st October 1998) Holmes has worked assiduously through STC's vast notebooks. Like his namesake, Sherlock, the author clearly enjoys the detection element of biography. His is a personal search for the man, his millieu and his place. Holmes retraces STC's footsteps around England - echoing the desperate perambulations of the wandering poet. Holmes tells this astonishing story at a cracking pace - he has the thriller-writer's gift for making you turn the page. We follow STC through his Malta years - a wonderful evocation of Coleridge's chaotic life. The years of tragic opium decline in London are brought to life (I challenge you not to cry) - and yet there are so many triumphs - the marvellous late poems that Holmes has championed in an earlier collection, the seminal lectures on Shakespeare, Coleridge the thinker and radical, Coleridge the father (not a very good one), the years of relative happiness in Highgate where we find Coleridge the guru. Above all is Coleridge the man. Holmes as only the greatest biographers can, brings his subject completely to life and shows us why Coleridge was such a tour de force in the Romantic movement and why Byron called Wordsworth "a fixed star" but Coleridge "a meteor". There is so much to love in this book - it is hard to know what to recommend. If you have never read a biography before, make this your first. If you think you are familiar with the life of STC, this book, so full of new discoveries and insights, will make you reassess the poet. Holmes is clearly enamoured of his subject. It is a book that will make you laugh out loud in places. You will see exactly why Charles Lamb said of his great friend "He is an archangel, damaged."

This treatment of Coleridge's early life is excellent in scope & detail; in fact, it won a prize. But its strength-- objectivity-- is its weakness. Holmes expresses no imaginitive sympathy for his subject. He writes about Romanticism with the detatchment of an entymologist examining a butterfly. And while he treats Coleridge's pathology in an overtly psychological manner, he fails to identify the pathologies he describes -- like a doctor who collects symptoms without making a diagnosis.

The result is an outstanding example of conventional literary biography, but one that is insensitive to growth, imagination, and mind in the act of making the mind -- or why Coleridge was passionate about them. Those interested in these must seek elsewhere, but this volume remains a good place to learn the facts of Coleridge's life, despite its dry prose.

Somehow Holmes produces scholarly biographies that make compulsive reading. He never fictionalizes or puts thoughts in his subjects' heads that he has no authority for - and yet he keeps us turning those pages. Is it the subjects he choses? Shelley and Coleridge both had strongly "plotted" lives. Coleridge married the sister of Southey's wife and fell in love with the sister of Wordsworth's wife. I liked his comment on Coleridge's father's predecessor in the the benefice of St Mary's Ottery.

This book is simply fabulous in every respect and you will most certainly not be disappointed! The pictures are plentiful, crisp, clear, and full color showing very precise detail of each item featured along with thorough descriptions, references to Ad's, dates and what I consider realistic price guidelines.

There are also additional photos of the inside of some compacts, especially the carryalls, which is extremely helpful in identifying what items should be there in order to maintain value. I have collected compacts and carryall's for years, but often find even though the exteriors are in great shape the interiors lack essential pieces, which can devalue, therefore knowing what you should have inside and out is of paramount importance to your collecting.

Compacts shown in this book are very attainable too, although there are those depicted, which are more difficult to find, rare and more expensive the book gives a wonderful comprehensive overview of VERY accessible compacts the collector can actually find in the market today. Within the first 50 pages I had already easily found and identified 6 compacts I purchased over the last 3 months AND I was able to identify even more within online auctions.

Finally a book that shows compacts, carryall's, etc. in great detail, gives a thorough description, references to Ad's, gives accurate dates and what I consider very accurate price guidelines, plus offers pieces, which can actually be found. This book is a stunning masterpiece both in text and photos and I can't wait to purchase the Second Edition!

I bought this and Volume II. The history! The pictures! You know what you are seeing and reading about in a collectors book, AT LAST! I have been collecting for a number of years, just for the beauty and my own personal thoughts about the people that might have owned these compacts. Now I know so much that I have always wanted to know. Now that I have seen these books, even though some of mine are not listed, I know where to look! I would love to talk to Laura, the author, because she must feel the same.

This book is just as beautiful as Gersons' Vintage ladys compacts with just as many color photographs of compacts. How ever Mueller expands her information on compacts with every chapter and the different compacts are catagorized by type ie, military, novalty etc and she also includes face powder boxes and other related Items in her books. I would recommend getting both volumes of her Encyclopedias as one is meant to compliment the other. There was a wonderful wooden box that she includes in one of the books that was originally meant as a bridal gift that I would love to acquire. Mueller has put keepsakes from her own wedding in it to demonstrate what it could be used for. Plus on the top of many pages of her books are quotes from people who were in the cosmetic and compact business when compacts were originally made that I find fun and unique. I highly recommend these books by Mueller .

From start to finish, this book is loaded with very sharp images of hundreds of vintage compacts ranging from absolutely gorgeous pieces to whimsical and always with great descriptions and current values. All of the photos are in beautiful color and are very sharp & easily recognizable. I've been collecting vintage compacts for years and was still amazed at the variety of styles and manufacturers that are included in this book! It stays on my desk and is a constant source of reference and pleasure! The only thing I would really like to see (maybe in a future publication) is the approximate age of each piece. Whether you're a serious collector or just a lover of the older compact beauties, you just cannot miss with this book....the author knows her stuff!!

This volume, along with volume 2, is the best place to learn about compacts and how to collect them. Gorgeous photos, all in color, covering every possible category of compact imaginable. Mueller covers compact and makeup history, from Egyptian times to the turn of the 20th century to the demise of artistically designed compacts in the 1960s. Any reader will be educated in the world of compacts after going through these two volumes. A quality guide/encyclopedia.

What's to say? The greatest cartoon ever is out of print and can't be seen by anyone. Thankfully his animated work is available on DVD through Amazon and it's a humbling experience. Those were the first animated cartoons and in some respects they've seldom been equalled. His first one--THE first one--is a shocker, like some amateur building the Taj Mahal on the first try. In terms of raw, fantastic, dizzying, imagination coupled with stunning craftsmanship McCay may have no equal.

If this material is not made available pressure should be exerted somewhere, maybe with the Smithsonian, to release new editions. The lack of availability is almost criminal: like finding out that Don Quixote's gone out of print or something. Really, I'm not being hyperbolic. For all the interest there is in comic art these days, all the Manga, Fantastic Fours and graphic novels, this has to be accepted as the medium's Shakespeare.

Although originally published as a weekly comic strip at the turn of the century, time has hardly diminished the charm or imaginative experiences of Little Nemo. As an unscripted character in his episodic dreams, a little boy named Nemo endeavors to keep up with the developments in "Slumberland" as they rapidly unfold. Recurrent characters show up to join in on the adventures, usually already in progress, and to clue Nemo in on where he is expected to go. As in dreams, the logic is usually skewed, and the storylines quickly gain momentum till they peak in a cataclysmic event that ultimately awakens Little Nemo. The wonderfully illogical development of the dreams are still as fresh today as they were a century ago. The only reminder of the era they came from is the quaint clothing and manner of the characters. The innovative story developments, though, are still uniquely fresh, having come from the visionary mind of Winsor McCay, who is credited with being the father of modern animation.

Long before a little boy and his tiger explored the imagination with wry social commentary and surrealism, Winsor McCay did the same with this amazing series of full page newspaper comics. This is a veritable treasure trove of comics history.

Admittedly, the jokes are not the same as Calvin and Hobbes so do not expect the same feelings. I find that Nemo evokes more feelings of wonder and delight while C and H brings about the hearty "guffaw". Also, the ending of every episode is exactly the same in that Nemo awakes to find the night's adventures were all within his head.

On the other hand, this book gives wonderful background of McCay and his world as well as beautiful reprints of the original prints.

I would heartily recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, childhood, comics, or the dreams of past days.

Winsor McCay has been forgotten by the mainstream Nostalgia R' US spoon-fed media circus that we are all tapped into. Winsor McCay was a pioneering creative genius. He may not have been the very first motion picture animator but created some of the first animated shorts which featured CHARACTERS. His first was Gertie the Dinosaur. McCay would actually tour with his short and interact with the dinosaur on the screen, making it roll over and other tricks. McCay's Little Nemo is a feast

for the eyes. His eye for detail gives us a window to the early days of the 20th Century. The characters are completly fantastic. He was decades ahead of his time.

Winsor McCay's "Little Nemo in Slumberland" is a rare combination of artistry and imagination that deserves to be considered the first classic comic strip. "The Yellow Kid" came first, but it never demonstrated the superb craftsmanship of McCay's work, which is done in a distinctive "art nouveau" style that presages the coming of surrealism. Within the frames of his story McCay was able to create illusions of vast size and space, showing a word that was remarkably futuristic. Each of Little Nemo's weekly adventures told of a dream of the tousle-haired boy (of about six?) and concluded with him falling out of bed or waking up. McCay's son Robert served as the model for Nemo. Before working on the Slumberland strips McCay had experimented with other comics including "Little Sammy Sneeze," "Hungry Henriette," "Poor Jake," "Tales of Jungle Imps," and "Dream of the Rarebit Fiend" (the last one under the pseudonym Silas), but none of them even hinted at the splendor of "Little Nemo." In 1909 McCay would go on to create "Gertie the Dinosaur," the first commercially successful animated cartoon, which is probably how most people know of McCay's work. But that can only be because they have yet to be exposed to this comic strip.

The "Little Nemo in Slumberland" comics in this book originally appeared in the "New York Herald" Sunday color supplement from October 15, 1905 to March 31, 1907 and are faithfully reproduced in their original colors from rare, vintage file-copy pages in the hands of a few choice collectors. There is even a special strip that appeared in the European edition of the "Herald" that was never printed in the U.S. The strip continued until 1911 and those strips are published in the other volumes in this series. In these early adventures Little Nemo first enters Slumberland and learns to cope with his unpredictable flying bed, pursues the beautiful Princess of Slumber, searches for the castle of King Morpheus, and endures the ministrations of Dr. Pill. Nemo also meets up with the devilish Flip, a green-faced clown in a plug hat and ermine collared jacket, who starts off always trying to summon the Dawn and wake Nemo from his dreams but then becomes our little heroes boon companion in his Slumberland adventures which involved an impressive array of strange giants, beautiful mermaids, humongous elephants, mysterious space creatures, exotic parades, fantastic dirigible rides, a jolly green dragon, and anything else McCay could imagine.

By both artistic and historical standards "Little Nemo in Slumberland" is the first truly great comic strip. When you look at the great strips that followed, such as George Herriman's "Krazy Kat," George McManus' "Bringing Up Father," Bud Fisher's "Mutt and Jeff," and Frank King's "Gasoline Alley," they are all decidedly different from what McCay was doing, although the use of "art nouveau" interiors and zany byplay by McManus is clearly an homage to "Little Nemo" as far as I am concerned. There is a sense in which those who see nothing similar appearing on the funny pages until Bill Watterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" have a point, although I would acknowledge Snoopy's imaginative life in "Peanuts" as well.

This volume includes "Perchance to Dream," an essay by Richard Marschall, who I think was the single biggest contributor of the strips reprinted in this volume. The essay provides a concise summary of McCay's life and career, with examples of some of his earlier work, "Little Nemo" postcards, and an incredibly detailed editorial cartoon. But the most important thing is that Marschall's efforts have preserved the premier American comic strip for the enjoyment of posterity. There has never been a more magical comic strip. Never.

I read this book in school and I was blown away. The book made me think! It has radically changed the way I treat my family, neighbors, and those I may only meet once. This book also made me rethink ministry and do things 180 degrees differently. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn how to better deal with people, and who wants to grow in wisdom and sensitivity in the area of people skills. It will give you a passion for your life and ministry. As I teach others how to minister to people and how to tell others about Jesus, I use the principles in this book.

If after reading this book your prayer life isn't affected you are blue and twitching on the ground, and breathing your last! Dr. Thompson does a comprehensive and Biblical job treating Intercessory Prayer interspersing each chapter with personal, practical experience. This is NOT a dry discourse, but a book filled with energy to change your life. It did mine!

Concentric Circles of Concern serves not only as a method of evangelism it issues a challenge to all that read it. Making evangelism a component of each relationship of our lives is truly "an assignment that you cannot finish . . . until God takes you home." Thompson's process not only shows how to improve evangelism, it shows how to improve life and the lives of others.

There are so many books on the market right now on every topic. This one seems no different. It is hard to choose which books are worth your time. I was required to read this for a Christian Discipleship class in college. It completely changed my life. I have given it to friends and family. Many of them are busy people, but I give it to them with a promise, "This is worth every second you spend on it; this will change you life."
Oscar Thompson gives you a glimpse of the heart of God towards people. It is not another "method" to seek converts. He shows you how to effectively love people.
Read this book. It is worth every bit of your time and money. Evangelism starts in the heart of God. Be a person after His own heart.

This book is helping change our church and the way we do outreach and evangelism. The author's premise is that we cannot reach the world for Christ if we are not reaching our families, friends or inner-circles first. If there are any broken relationships or "ruptured relationships" in a christian's life, then we are not able to go and share the gospel message honestly with anyone. It is a powerful book that is very blunt and sometimes slaps you in the face with the honesty and insight of the author.

This book was recommended by a friend, though the author was unknown to us. I was amazed at the author's ability to paint a great word picture and make the characters come alive in one's mind. It sure made for a good read. Once I started, the curiousity of what happened next, made me read straight through to the end. I would definitely recommend this book regardless of the type of reading one likes.

As busy as we are today, once I started reading, I couldn't stop .
I really enjoyed the plot the action & the time period it took place in.
The character development was very good.
I felt the author captured the feeling of shipboard life in the 1700's quite well.
I am looking forward to the next adventure!

I LOVED this book!! What an easy read. I couldn't seem to put it down. I fell in love with the characters. I usually read a book a week but not in this genre. After reading this book I'm going to look for more like it. Mr. V.J. Cap, when is the next one coming out? I really can't wait to read about their next adventures!

In reading V.J. Cap's book Cruze's Quest I was surprised in how much I enjoyed the characters and story line. The genre is not what I usually find to my liking. However, I found myself captivated in the story and connecting with the characters. I would recommend the book to not just readers of this genre but to all readers, and encourage them to take a chance on this author's first publication. They will be pleasantly surprised.

I am not an avid reader but I do attempt to read multiple books through out the year but only to end up reading a few because of lack of interest. This book let me into the story and I was able to visualize every part of the story and I felt that I new each character for a long time. I would recommend this book to all readers no matter the type of reading you do, my kids are reading as I type this. Can't wait until the next book!

I have met Dr. DeCherney. He has done a wonderful job on this useful text.

I used this book to study for my women's health exam and found the book user friendly.

Best choice for medical students who desire an introduction to Obstetrics an Gynecology. Includes guidelines for treatment. The first book at this speciallity for newcomers.

As a busy 4th yr resident, there is hardly any time to read the major OB/GYN textbooks. This text is a good review of major concepts in OB/GYN. It's a very easy read.

I used this book as a supplement to my 3rd year clerkship in med school. It is not a huge text, so it was great for looking up the details that were not found in Blueprints, especially if you are interested in OB for a career. The book is well organized and is easy to read. Too much to read for board review or shelf exams, but an excellent reference book for OB/GYN.

This was as good as I was anticipating. I am pretty much an UDON faithful at this point, what with their outstanding Street Fighter stuff. If you are a Darkstalkers fan, you owe it to yourself to grab this one. My only complaint is that half the group is introduced, but the other half remains missing. (They are only seen in cameos in the beginning.) Of course, this just makes you beg for a Volume 2, which, as far as I know, is not on UDON's current schedule. One can hope, though.

I love Darkstalkers, and this graphic novel does the game justice. The drawings are beautiful first of all, and the story is very good. I read it quickly, its kinda short but other than that I had no problems with it at all. This is a great find for Darkstalkers fans, or even just someone who has no prior knowledge of the game series, and is just looking for an interesting fantasy read. Two Thumbs Up!!!!!

Very nicely drawn. I give it like a 4.8 because it says there will be a vol. 2 but capcom comics hasn't made a darkstalkers comic in 7 months or so. I liked it. i must buy for all capcom and comic readers.

I've been in the manga scene for a while. And although there is nothing new or differant about Darkstalkers Volume 1, it is thoroughly enjoyable from begining to end.

The artwork is very well done, the colours, consistency and style of the art just rocks. Plus all the characters are drawn very close to their original concepts.

The story line of the comic is not exactly brilliant. It's rather straight forward, but that does not mean it's not entertaining. I don't know how true the story is to the actual video game as I unfortunetly never got to play Darkstalkers.

I loved this graphic novel, and would not hesistate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading manga's that are beautifully drawn, beautifully executed and are filled with a beautiful lead female characters.

I cannot wait for the next volume.

For those who've never heard of Darkstalkers:

Based on Capcom's game series of the same name, Darkstalkers. The story goes something like this... Strange and bizarre things are happening in the world. Undead walks the earth, demons rampage the countryside, global warming is on the rise... Ok, that last part isn't part of the story. But something is causing all this strange phenomena. And this something is drawing closer to Earth. Its goal? It seeks to devour the planet. Earth's inhabitants have no knowledge of this sinister being. They are having enough troubles with the Darkstalkers already. What are Darkstalkers? Creatures with tremendous power, some malicious, some harmless, and some even nice. Scantily clad succubus, cat woman, werewolf, the undead, possessed suit of armor, you name it. They are the main characters of this lovely series called Darkstalkers.

For those that are somewhat familiar with the Darkstalkers series:

Darkstalkers vol 1, The Rise of The Dark Ones, is a collection of issues 1-6. I'm sad to say that the volume collection is missing the short (about 3-5 pages) story that deals with each character's background, and the humorous one page Darkstalkers Mini that are found in each issue. Example of the short story: Cool sword, but where did it come from? The two things that AREN'T in the normal issue (to my knowledge anyway) are the extra illustrations at the end, and a short story concerning Morrigan when she was born. If you know who Lilith is and the story behind her, then you are not missing much. It's a nice little bonus. You'll understand the main story fine even without this origin story.

IMHO, this is something that most Darkstalkers fans will enjoy. It is very silly of me to presume that every fan and none fan will enjoy this book. Story-wise, I think they did a very good job of conveying the atmosphere and character backgrounds. There are some action scenes. Only some minor characters are injured or dead. The art is very consistent, excluding the cover arts. I'm only saying this because some graphic novels have drastic art changes over the issues (Thundercats.)

Below is a list of characters that actually get story coverage. List in the order of appearances:

Pyron
Morrigan
Donovan
Bishamon
Felicia
Talbain
Victor
Demitri

B.B. Hood actually gets some coverage, but that's in the short story that the volume lacks. For those who are curious, check the last few pages of issue #6 to see her origin story.

This was as good as I was anticipating. I am pretty much an UDON faithful at this point, what with their outstanding Street Fighter stuff. If you are a Darkstalkers fan, you owe it to yourself to grab this one. My only complaint is that half the group is introduced, but the other half remains missing. (They are only seen in cameos in the beginning.) Of course, this just makes you beg for a Volume 2, which, as far as I know, is not on UDON's current schedule. One can hope, though.

I love Darkstalkers, and this graphic novel does the game justice. The drawings are beautiful first of all, and the story is very good. I read it quickly, its kinda short but other than that I had no problems with it at all. This is a great find for Darkstalkers fans, or even just someone who has no prior knowledge of the game series, and is just looking for an interesting fantasy read. Two Thumbs Up!!!!!

Very nicely drawn. I give it like a 4.8 because it says there will be a vol. 2 but capcom comics hasn't made a darkstalkers comic in 7 months or so. I liked it. i must buy for all capcom and comic readers.

I've been in the manga scene for a while. And although there is nothing new or differant about Darkstalkers Volume 1, it is thoroughly enjoyable from begining to end.

The artwork is very well done, the colours, consistency and style of the art just rocks. Plus all the characters are drawn very close to their original concepts.

The story line of the comic is not exactly brilliant. It's rather straight forward, but that does not mean it's not entertaining. I don't know how true the story is to the actual video game as I unfortunetly never got to play Darkstalkers.

I loved this graphic novel, and would not hesistate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading manga's that are beautifully drawn, beautifully executed and are filled with a beautiful lead female characters.

I cannot wait for the next volume.

For those who've never heard of Darkstalkers:

Based on Capcom's game series of the same name, Darkstalkers. The story goes something like this... Strange and bizarre things are happening in the world. Undead walks the earth, demons rampage the countryside, global warming is on the rise... Ok, that last part isn't part of the story. But something is causing all this strange phenomena. And this something is drawing closer to Earth. Its goal? It seeks to devour the planet. Earth's inhabitants have no knowledge of this sinister being. They are having enough troubles with the Darkstalkers already. What are Darkstalkers? Creatures with tremendous power, some malicious, some harmless, and some even nice. Scantily clad succubus, cat woman, werewolf, the undead, possessed suit of armor, you name it. They are the main characters of this lovely series called Darkstalkers.

For those that are somewhat familiar with the Darkstalkers series:

Darkstalkers vol 1, The Rise of The Dark Ones, is a collection of issues 1-6. I'm sad to say that the volume collection is missing the short (about 3-5 pages) story that deals with each character's background, and the humorous one page Darkstalkers Mini that are found in each issue. Example of the short story: Cool sword, but where did it come from? The two things that AREN'T in the normal issue (to my knowledge anyway) are the extra illustrations at the end, and a short story concerning Morrigan when she was born. If you know who Lilith is and the story behind her, then you are not missing much. It's a nice little bonus. You'll understand the main story fine even without this origin story.

IMHO, this is something that most Darkstalkers fans will enjoy. It is very silly of me to presume that every fan and none fan will enjoy this book. Story-wise, I think they did a very good job of conveying the atmosphere and character backgrounds. There are some action scenes. Only some minor characters are injured or dead. The art is very consistent, excluding the cover arts. I'm only saying this because some graphic novels have drastic art changes over the issues (Thundercats.)

Below is a list of characters that actually get story coverage. List in the order of appearances:

Pyron
Morrigan
Donovan
Bishamon
Felicia
Talbain
Victor
Demitri

B.B. Hood actually gets some coverage, but that's in the short story that the volume lacks. For those who are curious, check the last few pages of issue #6 to see her origin story.

Extremely practical and useful book! This book was easy to read and to use.

The book was exactly what I needed for my Educational Administration classes. It was a required book for my graduate studies.

This book is a companion to Barnhardt's work on the school portfolio. It is a beautiful introduction to basic data analysis for teachers and administrators in today's schools. The introduction to data bases, the importance of clear identification of dissagregation points and simple but critical rules of good action research make it a must for anyone interested in real accountability and reflective practice.

Being in the educational system I have found this resource to be very helpful in our work w/ educational reform.

Our whole school district and infact 12 out of 13 school districts in the state are using this book along w/ Vickie's other book on School Portfolios.