X Books

The X-Factor (1965) is a standalone SF novel, probably in the Council/Confederation universe. The Survey Service allowed their space personnel leave to marry and to produce children. After several years, the marriage was break-bonded and the couple went their own ways. Any children from the marriage were raised in a Service creche.

In this novel, Diskan Fentress was raised in the Service creche on Nyborg. Unlike his fellows, Diskan was oversized and clumsy. Under direct or hostile supervision, he was even more clumsy. His superiors deemed him suitable only for the most degrading forms of manual labor.

Then Renfry Fentress returns from presumed death to find his son. His ship had been holed by a meteor and left drifting. Another scout from an unknown spacefaring species had rescued Renfry and took him back to Vaanchard. There he had married a Vaan woman and became stepfather of her two children, Rika and Drustans.

Since they could not have children of their own, Renfry searched for his children from previous service marriages and found Diskan. Before his long absence, Renfry had earned an impressive reputation as a First-In Scout. Obviously Diskan was not going to follow in his father's footsteps, so Renfry took him to a new home on Vaanchard.

The Vaans are a refined and sensitive culture. They do not issue rude remarks as had some of his crechemates. But they do consider him crude and inept. Diskan just doesn't fit in here anymore than he did at the creche.

One day Diskan finds himself in his father's study and decides to flee the planet. He takes a trip tape from a rack and heads for the spaceport. There he steals a smaller ship, inserts the tape, and goes into stasis for the remainder of the trip. However, the ship awakens him for an emergency landing.

During the landing on Mimir, a drive tube blows and the ship rolls across the terrain, finally coming to rest in a muddy bog. While the ship sinks into the mud, Diskan is ejected and reaches safety. Yet all emergency equipment and supplies go down with the ship.

In this story, Diskan barely survives the first night. Still, the natives detect his presence and converge on his position. One makes initial contact, leaving the carcass of a small, big-eared animal with him for food. Then the native saves him from a menacing predator.

Later, Diskan has strange dreams of walking through sweet scented water while accompanied by frolicking animals. He is surrounded by shadows that seem friendly. He senses a feeling of great expectation around him.

Diskan finds signs of other offworlders on the planet, including a survival shelter with labels in several languages other than Basic. Later, he discovers a Zacathan and human from a stranded archaeological expedition. Then a Jack ship lands to search for treasure. Some of the crew start looking for the archaeologists.

This story deals with the mindset of outsiders. Diskan differs from his fellows in body and mind. He doesn't seem to fit in any of the conventional roles. On Mimir, however, he finds acceptance and even some delight in his mental skills.

This tale is similar in several respects to Dread Companion. In both stories, the protagonists are raised in a service creche and are unsuited to their expected vocations. However, Diskan is even less suitable than Kilda in his initial environment. This outsider theme runs through many of the author's works.

Highly recommended for Norton fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alien civilizations, telepathic animals, and a persevering youngster.

-Arthur W. Jordin

This book combines some of the great SF/Fantasy themes in a way that works and flows. It is the Norton that I would most frequently check out of the library to re-read as a young adult. Some of the mental images I developed in reading this story, can still bubble up in my memory today. The sense of alienation - of not belonging - felt by the main character echoes the feelings of all unpopular-due-to-nerdiness kids - many of whom were SF fans in the making. That alone should explain part of its appeal.

We also get -
*a cold wintry planet with a Forerunner-like mystery
*one of the friendliest and most interesting of Norton's Zacathan characters [a wise, peaceful lizard-evolved race (in sharp contrast to most authors' intelligent-lizards-are-savage depictions (although see Norton's *Eye of the Monster*)]
*a hidden, "furry" race
*Norton's trademarked handling of telepathy, with her concept since copied by many other authors
*and a plot that , while a classic hero's journey, has many particular 'vignettes' that have also been copied since - including by Norton herself - but rarely as well done.

All in all, my sentimental favorite of early Nortons, and still fondly remembered.

-Brooks A Rowlett

When I was forty I wrote Andre Norton a letter in which I thanked her for everything that her books at taught me when I was growing up. Her stories about outsiders who succeed by finding the right path for the right person, something that out of step adolescents need to hear. Ms. Norton graciously responded with a letter I cherish nearly a decade later-- actually it's professionally framed and hanging in my office.

This was one of the books I was thinking about when I wrote her. The hero has great physical strength, but feels as though he lacks the mental swiftness and physical grace to fit into the world of his father. He flees using a stolen travel tape and ends up on Mimir where he must find the courage and wits to survive and foil a villainous plot.

On one level a simple adventure story, on another a story that most adolescents, who can't seem to fit in their changing bodies, can identify with. This Norton's juvenile stories at their best.

I read this back in high school for the first time, then came across it in a used book store a few years back after searching in vain for several years to find another copy, (I'm 31 now, so it had been awhile since I had read it) and read it again, and loved it even more the second time around. I feel it's time to read it again, because the way Norton paints the plot it flows like a movie inside your head. It's one of the best books I've ever read that lets you visualize exactly what's taking place. If you come across a dog-eared copy in a used bookstore somewhere, by all means pick it up, hold it close, and give it a good home, you won't regret it! And for those of you that have read it, please feel free to e-mail me your thoughts and comments about it

At this point in Norton's Council / Confederation universe, the job of discovering and exploring new planets - that of the First-In Scouts - is pretty much a closed occupation. Scouts make contract marriages with suitable women, which end after the birth of a child or upon the Scout's departure for his next assignment, and any children of the union - nearly always sons - go to the nearest Scout creche to become the next generation.

But what happens when the child of such a union isn't suited to the life of a Scout?

Diskan Fentress was rejected as mentally unsuitable for Scout training; his size and great strength mark him as a throwback. Since his mother's death in childbirth and his father's disappearance in space left him in state custody, he wound up assigned to manual labor - until the day Renfry Fentress reappeared. Renfry had found a new civilization, and even a wife among his adopted people - but knowing that they could not have children, he sought out his son.

But Diskan, despite - or because of - the endless patience, charm, and tact of his father's adopted people, is utterly alone among strangers, marked by clumsiness, his great size and strength, and inability to express himself. Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will appreciate how his isolation is drawn here - and will understand why he gives in to temptation.

Fleeing from an embarrassing scene of (accidentally) shattered artwork, Diskan hides in Renfry's study - and steals a voyage tape for Mimir, a world marked as only partially explored and having some mystery about it. His journey in a stolen spaceship brings him into contact with a Zacathan archeologist, the Guild, and the ruins of an alien civilization. Or are they really ruins - could Mimir still be inhabited?

The saurian Zacathans, historians of the galaxy, are mentioned throughout the books set in this universe, but this is one of their (to date) few appearances as actual characters. The Guild - the criminal underworld - appears in many books, as do many Forerunner civilizations. If you're interested in books wherein the Guild plays a major role, try _The Zero Stone_ or _Forerunner Foray_. For another story of someone rejected from Scout training, try _Dread Companion_ (the daughter of a Scout, rejected for reasons different from Diskan's).

This book was the most helpful guide I have ever had. I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to keep on going. It got me through the whole game in just over an hour, not even. If you are just dying to get through your game, you better buy this book. I garantee you'll get your moneys worth.

I thought that this help book was very well written. Ithelped me a great deal getting through the game. I would recommend itto anyone.

This is a great book for The X-Files: The Game. It has everything you'll need to know about the game plus funny messages, a section that explains the little things you don't understand, a picture gallery, an interview with the director of the game, and a quick walkthrough for agents on the run.The only thing I didn't like about it was the small nit I found that made me have to hesitate to go on with the game. I would greatly recommend this book.

I'm generally not a big fan of "hint books" butPrima's Official Strategy Guide to The X-Files Game offers more thanan easy way out of those tight spots during game play. It also includes some valuable insights into the game's characters, plots, and a photo gallery.

This is an excellent guide. I would not have finished the game without it. It gives detailed instructions on what to do. It made the game alot less frustrating and alot more fun!

I find these book really exciting i already have book 1 and 3 of the trilogy. i hope more of these will be written. I am a fan of x men

I thought that the third installment of the chaos series was probibly the best that Roman wrote. His back and fourth sequence of events made you feel like you were right there in the story. Please read the first two before reading the third, or at least the second one first (that's actually what I did) because after reading the 2nd, you'll HAVE to buy the last installment to find out what happened. It was beautifully written and I loved every moment of it

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. I didn't like the first novel (Doctor Doom), because the villain was written just like a madman. (Dr. Doom's behavior was very illogical and abrupt. It bothered me a lot.)
In this book, Magneto's personality was portrayed very carefully and thoroughly. In his new world, Magneto was written as a person with a noble soul and ideal and I could understand him better than in any other novelization. I was touched by his conversation with Professor X.

This book is above the average and definitely worth to read. But as a person who read both Legacy Quest and Chaos Engine trilogies, I will recommend the Legacy Quest trilogy over this one. Legacy Quest has more interesting plots and character development.

x-geeks, this is for you. nice job of putting lee/byrne cast into chaos.

Ok, before I start, read the first two before you read this one, as they were excellent books as well, and you really have to read the other two just to get the story in this one.

This book was amazing. Roman finds a way to perfectly balance out all the different characters in the book and it is well written...simply put.

This part of the trilogy takes you to the version of earth where the Red Skull comes upon the cosmic cube, bringing about the Fourth Reich where the nazis had defeated the allied forces in World War 2. Mutants are considered the scum of the earth and the Skull goes by means of special task forces, and sentinels to apprehend these genetic impurities. Cyclops (who's secret as a mutant isn't discovered until mid-story) and his wife (Frau Sommers) are the poster-couple of the empire, Storm presides in Africa where all colored humans and mutants were sent to- her powers deactivated genosha-style, Magneto is in a concentration camp, Nightcrawler is on the Lightning Force strike team of the empire (though he is still considered scum, he only gets to be on the team because he is a true german), rogue is a tool of the empire, gambit is a collared worker, professor x is a traitor to the mutant race, leaving Psylocke and Warren the only 2 X-Men left unaffected by the cube. The story has 2 plots really that are going on. Betsy and Warren are up in the citadel where Doom is ascending to god-hood (won't tel you how), and of course you have the cube/Red Skull storyline. Definitely a 2 thumbs up!!!

This book is way underpriced for how much it delivers to the reader. I love seeing the x-men knocked back into survival mode. It reminds me of the good old days when the the x-men were fighting for their rights. Only now its better due to the fantastic art and intense story of today. We get to see some new enemies, a nice old classic one, and my favorite the sentinels. There is just something nice about x-men vs huge robots that gets me going.

While House of M/Decimation set up the new status quo over three years ago, the X-titles have been a little uneven since then. Ed Brubaker took half of the X-Men into deep space, while Joss Whedon did the same with the other half. Mike Carey, playing with the few characters left on Earth, secretly set the stage for "Messiah CompleX" (you can skip the "Endangered Species" hardcover, as it has no bearing on this book). For a run-up to the "Messiah CompleX," check out Carey's X-Men: Supernovas and X-Men Vol. 2: Blinded by the Light.

This is as good a book as any to jump onto the X-Men bandwagon. New and returning readers may be shocked to see Gambit as part of Sinister's Marauders, or Professor X sans wheelchair. And don't ask for any help trying to figure out who all of the young X-Men are--they tend to get killed rather quickly anyway, from what I understand. Overall, the story is full of action, emotion, and, most importantly, is cohesive. While the story is far from over--we never learn the identity of the mutant infant that's hailed as the messiah--this is a solid book that old and new fans should enjoy.

When Messiah Complex was first announced it promised to resurrect the X-Titles crossovers. It had been nearly 15 years since X-Cutioner's Song story line and since then fans were accustom to seeing ever summer a big X crossover. The X-men, X-Factor, X-Force, and Generation X had ban together to fight The Phalanx, Operation Zero Tolerance, or Onslaught.
That was the past. Mutant kind is nearly extinct after M-Day. The X-men are starting to realize they might be the last of their kind. That is until a new mutant is born. The new mutant is targeted by The Purifiers (a group of religious zealots who purpose is the eradication of mutant kind.), Mr. Sinister' Marauders and Exodus Acolytes (who want to control the baby.), and two shadowy figures who have their own plans for the child.
It seems ever summer we get a story that will "Change the Marvel Universe forever", "nothing will ever be the same" or the so common "Someone will die." Messiah Complex had a lot of hype surrounded it and though a good story it failed to deliver. I like to warn readers Spoilers are ahead.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

When Messiah Complex was being promoted it was rumored that an X-men would die. Many suspected it would be characters who had became less popular. (Bishop or Gambit.) Then Wizard Magazine ran a promotion which picture several characters with the title one of these characters will die. Now the only X-men who bites the dust is one who had only recently came back in to books. Caliban. Which feels like a major cop out. We know now the only reason he was back at the mansion was to get full of lead in Messiah Complex.
Then there is the traitor. There is a traitor among the X-men who plans to murder the baby. Now of all the X-men the traitor is Bishop. This is revelation is more confusing than shocking. Bishop is the time stranded X-men who originally travel back in time to save the X-men from a traitor among their group. SOOOOOOOOOO basically, Bishop travels back in time goes on countless missions, risks his life and etc etc to only betray the X-men and kill a baby? This is a little too much to swallow. If Bishop mission was to kill the baby why travel back in time to protect the X-men from a traitor who would kill them? The X-men as seen in Messiah Complex will be one of the obstacles Bishop face so wouldn't it be easy to allow the X-men to die? The problem with Bishop as the traitor it forces the readers to basically ignore just totally throw hundreds of stories featuring the character out the window.
Messiah Complex sometimes comes off as rushed. One perfect example is the end where Pixie teleports basically anyone who is missing from the final battle there.
As I stated earlier this is a good story and it does have it flaws. Messiah Complex did introduced the new version of X-Force. Wolverine leads X-23,Warpath, Rahne, Hepzibah and Caliban. It is very interesting to see Wolverine the usual rebel lead a team. Gambit also returns and by the end of the story he will be establish back as the "is he good or evil" character that made him popular. It's also nice to see Cyclops be the general he was destine to become but I personally wasn't too found of this so call new attitude. (Cyclops approve of killing?)

The story is a good but I personally felt it was over hype. The product it self offers a variant covers and X-men summit notes (to see how the idea of Messiah Complex was brain storm.) The story is still a must read for X-men fans.

I loved it!
The art is so cool
the story is complex, cool idea
AWESOME
I cant say anymore...Lots of fighting and coolness!

The Messiah Complex story arc is, undoubtably, one of the best arcs in the recent history of the X-Men. It has a good stpry, well done characterization, and gives, as its ultimate reward, a thousand ways in which the titles involved can be taken from here on. It only has two flaws: 1) the artwork for the New X-Men is fairly awful, and in a related note, the constantt title (and thus, artist) swwitches causes the art to be jumpy, with the same character (notably Butterfly aka Lyla Miller) being drawn with radical differences,and 2)a slightly rushed story. There is a related note: you have to reallize most of the characters who die are going to be resurrected. Altogether, though, a strong story.

Over 150 adult movie posters from the 60's and 70's are inside, all of them full page and almost every one in color too! Classic taboo fare like "Debbie Does Dallas" and "The Opening of Misty Beethoven" is represented alongside such forgotten wonders as "Lust Combo", "Room and Broad" and "Assignment: Female". Some posters feature photographic images while others have very nice art work that would appeal to fans of pulp paperback or magazine covers. Almost every one has a fantastic blurb designed to titillate and seduce the movie-goer into buying a ticket. As you gaze in wild wonder at each provocative image you come to realize that the posters are far more interesting than the movie could ever be! Many say things like, "A Film So Incredible You Must See It To Believe It!" I can't think of a more fitting description for this marvelous book! I wait patiently for Volume 2!

This book is to adult movie posters as Art of Rock is to music posters. The posters themselves are great, and the book is in itself a great reference guide to exploitation films of the era. These posters are not obscene by any means, and so even if you are not interested in adult films you may enjoy the posters based solely on their artistic originality and merit. They surely bespeak a more creative and exciting time in world culture. I advise listening to some good lounge music and sipping an ice-cold martini as you flip through this first-rate book. Truly, this will be a collector's item.

But I must add that I share a frustration with the other reviewers: Where is Volume II???? Once that is released and I have it on my shelf, I would like to extend my congratulations to the producers of this work: you did it right and created a valuable documentation of this aspect of 20th century social history, an interesting aspect indeed.

This book is fantastic. Nourmand and Marsh rock for compiling all these great old posters for this book. The book says it is Volume One -- is there a Volume Two yet?

One thing I would like to clarify: Most of the films whose posters are in this book were done during the period where there was no X rating(which came in October 1968), but instead they were "adults only" films. Approximately 80% of the posters are of such films(many of which are considered lost or perhaps hidden in a basement or ???), usually companies like Something Weird video puts out these films.

There are some posters of XXX films in here(Deep Throat, Misty Beethoven, Debbie Does Dallas, a couple with John Holmes), but I would have liked to see more of those, hence my rating goes down a notch. I still recommend this book. (The most interesting poster to me was an "adults only" film with cowboy star Lash LaRue--I hope this film surfaces someday.)

Over 150 pornographic movie posters from the 60's and 70's are inside, all of them full page and almost every one in color too! Classic taboo fare like "Debbie Does Dallas" and "The Opening of Misty Beethoven" is represented alongside such forgotten wonders as "Lust Combo", "Room and Broad" and "Assignment: Female". Some posters feature nude or semi-nude photographic images while others have very nice art work that would appeal to fans of pulp paperback or magazine covers. Almost every one has a fantastic blurb designed to titillate and seduce the movie-goer into buying a ticket. As you gaze in wild wonder at each provocative image you come to realize that the posters are far more interesting than the movie could ever be! Many say things like, "A Film So Incredible You Must See It To Believe It!" I can't think of a more fitting description for this marvelous book! I wait patiently for Volume 2!

I love all the books so far in the X/1999 series! The artwork is great, the story is great, and I can't wait for the next one! If you like X/1999, check out Card Captor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth, and Clover! (also by CLAMP)

Ok, here is the correct order of the books, atleast to book 6. There is allot of confusion concerning this, so I hope this helps. Book 1 is Prelude, followed by Overture, Sonata, Intermezzo, Serenade, and Duet. The first two that I have read have been wonderful, but the main purpose of this post was to help those confused by the titles.

X, or as it is called in America, "X/1999", is one of the darkest manga I've seen. This is especially interesting because it is done by the CLAMP team, who have also made such cutesy titles as Card Captor Sakura. Needless to say, fans of that series may want to research X a bit before reading.

"Duet" continues the macabre apocalyptic story of X, and hightens the feeling of a fast approaching storm. Those who are familiar with Tokyo Babylon will recognize the mention of the Sakurazuka; yet another aspect of the story, which, along with the disturbing imagery of Kamui's visions and the introduction of bizarre genetically manufactured entities by the "bad guys" accelerates the creepiness of the story.

If you like conspiracy theories, darkness, and an approaching apocalypse, this is definately the book for you.

"Duet" is the 6th book in the manga (Japanese comic) X/1999 (or simply X, as it is in Japan.) The book is written and illustrated by CLAMP, a group of 4 women who have created some of the most popular manga-Magic Knight Rayearth, RG Veda, Clover, and Tokyo Babylon.

"Duet" is a must have for anyone following the series. My only warning is that some may find Kotori's dream sequence a bit too long, it's about a chapter long, and quite gory.

The book starts out with main character and protagonist Kamui revealing some memories to the reader, and then trying to protect Kotori from Seichiro, a dragon of earth. One also learns abou the past of Nataku, another dragon of earth, and there is a flashback as Fuma is talking to Kamui, about a promice that explains Fuma's loyalty. Meanwhile, Sora and Arashi meet with Grandmother Sumeragi.

Overall, this book spends most time explaining things, such as pasts, what's going on-important, but not necessarily the most exciting. You might no feel as compelled to go back to it once you're done, but if you're into the series, definately get it.

X, known as X/1999, is my personal favorite. I've read _all_ ofthem, 1-15 (8-15 have yet to come out in English), and I must say,CLAMP has spoiled me. Their art is exceptional, story lines arecomplex and meaningful, and their characters made to love or hate.
This book is my favorite in english, because it introduces SeishirouSakurazuka, the SAKURAZUKAMORI, a heartless, cold, charming andhandsome assasin who has a secret past and bloodstained hands. ((He'smy favorite X character, along with Fuuma Monou))
I'd recommendthis book to anybody over 14, as there are lots of shonen-aireferences (guy on guy schtuff) and lots and lots of gore. Be preparedto love it or hate it. CLAMP really has a winner here.
((and ifthe story seems to be going slow now, wait until the 8th book..thatswhen it REALLY picks up ^///^))
If you buy this, you REALLY won'tbe wasting your money!...

This is really a rare book. Not stupid-funny, and so knowledgeable and pedagogic. I had bought my new iMac, the first since my Mac+ nearly 20 years ago. It looked like a modern Mac, and worked as such. Then I got Joe Kissel's book! And discovered all the stuff underneath. The holy grail of UNIX. And how smart the engineers at Apple still are! I was amazed by how many intelligent goodies they have put into the box. And really enjoyed the profound know-how of Joe Kissell, and his many step-by-step guided tours into the heart of the iMac. I learnt to install a firewall- and that I already had a firewall in my box. I was taught GIMP, and file sharing, and all about the iApp's. Backing up, booting and so on. Apache-in-the-box too. Thank you VERY much, Joe!

I've been using a spare iBook as a webserver for about 8 months now and decided to turn it into an email server as well. In just a few pages, this book explained exactly how to do it with Sendmail.

Unfortunately however, Panther ships with Postfix preinstalled (and from what I've read Postfix is a better alternative to Sendmail) so obviously the steps for configuring Postfix weren't included in the book. I emailed the author (who thoughtfully provides his email address in the book for help related questions) asking for instructions to configure Postfix, and within hours he emailed me concise details of how to configure Postfix with a shareware program called Postfix Enabler.

Just a short while later my iBook was not only an HTTP web server, but a POP/IMAP email server too. I had no idea it would be so easy, and there's 49 other wonderful techniques that are simple to follow: everything from using the command line with Terminal to installing PHP and MySQL and so much more.

The front of the book does say, "Covers Jaguar!", but I've been using it with Panther and the only trouble I had was with the Postfix issue. It's one of the most helpful OS X books I've ever read.

This is a wonderful book for all us souls who use OSX. The techniques are almost always a way to either solve a particular problem or learn a particular tool. I have only gone through about 30 of them, but each one has made my life either a little easier or a lot. A couple of examples are that I know understand how to best utilize the Finder and am no longer intimidated by Terminal. The style is breezy and very easy to understand without being condescending or dumbed-down. Strongly recommended

Joe Kissell writes for both the techie and we "normal" folk. His teaching of UNIX basics leaves you with knowledge, not boredom, and is worth the price of the book by itself. Most of the improvements he describes for both OS X and MAC are useful, and in some cases just plain fun, to any MAC user, and his ability to explain his techniques to the reader is an absolute pleasure. Can't wait for his OS 10.3 version.

...because I was stupid enough to lend the miniseries to a friend. Anyway, I liked it so much I HAD to have it.

This is demi-science-fiction story about future ruled by Apocalypse and childhood of Nate Summers, known as Cable. It is EXTREMELY well written , and art is incredible, just like anything Gene Ha does. Reccomended for Marvel fans in general, other people would have too much trouble understanding who-is-who .

This graphic novel compiles the mini-series with the same title. It is very good reading and helps to clear away the grey (no pun intended) areas relating to cable's background in particular. All in all an X-cellent book. Excelcior!

There are simply too many people in the X-universe that carry the name "Summers". Well, at least this book clears some questions about one of them (Now if it wouldn't raise so many more). The story starts just after X-Men 30, with Scott Summers and Jean Grey-Summers (newly wed), are pulled 2000 years into the future by Mother Askani (Who happens to be Rachel Summers, the alternate future daughter of the newlyweds, who is a major time traveler). Their mission. Raise baby Nathan (who is, if you want to get technical, Rachel's older baby brother [did that even make sense?]) So here are Scott (who goes by "Slym") and Jean (Who goes by "Redd") raising one of the most powerful mutants, who has to disguise himself as a human, in a world where it is "survival of the fittest." And in this world, humans are not counted amongst the fittest, and are trated as such (Very much like in modern day comics with mutants). The unfortunate thing is that the series covers a few days in each book, over a period of twelve years. It gives us only a glimps into Cable's life. Oh well, The Askani Son series picked up the pieces there!

The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix trade paperback collects the 1994 miniseries that attempted to sort out one of the most bizarre family trees in comics, even by X-Men standards.

In this series, newlyweds Scott Summers and Jean Grey, otherwise known as X-Men Cyclops and um, Jean Grey (the name Marvel Girl must be passé) are snatched from their island honeymoon and sent 2,000 years into the future by their elderly daughter Rachel (who arrived there from yet another future timeline) to watch over Scott's infant son Nathan, who had been sent to that very future in order to survive the techno-organic virus that was killing him in "our" time. Rachel, like her mom, is the sometime host of the powerful Phoenix force, and Nathan would grow up to become the mutant warrior known as Cable. Nathan has a cloned duplicate called Stryfe, who is being raised as the heir to Apocalypse. Oh yes, Nathan's mother was Madeline Pryor, a now deceased (sort of) clone of Jean Grey.

I told you it was complicated!

This series attempts to weave these very different threads into a somewhat cohesive pattern. Scott and Jean end up spending more than a decade in the future, which gives them the opportunity to actually raise young Nathan, who is unaware of exactly who his guardians really are. The "Dayspring Family" eventually joins the underground resistance movement and makes what appears to be a final confrontation with Apocalypse. I say "appears" because Apocalypse is killed about as often as Jean Grey, and with similar long term success.

Scott Lobdell does an admirable job with an obviously difficult group of characters, origins, and events. While the series is not as fun and exciting as other X-Men adventures, it is a necessary story to tell, if for no other reason than to clean up the storylines abandoned by so many other writers.

Gene Ha's artwork is absolutely incredible. Ha is one of the most underrated artists working today, with an attention to detail that has to be seen to be believed. His art totally sets the tone of the series, and makes the otherworldly setting and characters seem that much more believable.

Overall, the Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix is a key part of X-Men history. It may not be as fascinating as the Dark Phoenix Saga or the Age of Apocalypse, but it is an important part of the lives of several key X-Men characters.

I can never decide who I like more. Blair for her humor or Kylie for her sweetness? Blair for her strength or Kylie for her humor? Blair for being so human or Kylie for being so perfect? But I will keep reading again and again until I decide!

Along with the great plot the humor is wonderful. You really get to know these people and love them. Very sexy and passionate. Really, this book has it all and will resonate with the reader for a long time until you are compelled to read it again it is that entertaining. Oh My Goodness, this was fun reading. This is a delightful story. This novel is a substantial read to be savoured. Happy sigh...

Excellent writing (fabulous dialogue, just fabulous!), perfectly paced plot, endlessly interesting characters. I was riveted to every page and didn't want to put the book down. I always hold off opening this author's novels until first thing Saturday morning so I can read as much as possible in the next 48 hours.

The author, who I thought was perfection in her other novels, Cherry Grove, Arbor Vitea and the I Found My Heart in San Francisco series just keeps surprising me with one hit novel after another.

This is a Keeper!

From the author's web site - Blair and David Spencer desperately want a baby. Unable to conceive after trying for a year, they turn to fertility specialists. One of the doctors, Kylie Mackenzie, grows to be a trusted friend and advisor for Blair. She and David keep trying, with the procedures growing more invasive. Blair has second thoughts and wants to take things slowly. But David is ready and willing to go to any lengths to make his dream a reality -- even at the risk of turning their marriage into a nightmare.

From the publishers web site - Life is going darn well for Blair Spencer. She's a very successful real estate agent, happily married to a man who encourages her to live the independent life she loves--and they're actively working to have a baby.

The wrench in the works is that Blair favors adoption, while her husband David desperately wants to have a biological child. The fates are against them, and they finally seek the help of a group of reproductive specialists. One of the doctors, a surgeon named Kylie Mackenzie, eventually becomes a good friend to Blair. And she needs all of the friends she can get when things start to go horribly wrong at home. As her marriage teeters on the brink of collapse, she relies more and more on Kylie's friendship.

Kylie's happily gay; Blair's happily straight. But the way they structure their relationship leads friends and family to privately question whether the pair is setting themselves up for heartache. They eventually come to a crossroads, which could either destroy their friendship or turn it into what each of them has been seeking. The question is whether each woman can change her view of herself and her needs. The answer is all that matters.

I've read all Susan Meagher's books... and this my favorite. The author's specialty appears to be writing strong women, and in All That Matters, she's in fine form. Blair's life falls apart as she tries desperately to have a child with her husband. Kylie, a doctor at the same clinic Blair visits, befriends Blair and serves as her rock as her life comes apart a little more each day. Their relationship grows page by page and was a pleasure to see blossom. Sensual, funny, and painfully relevant, this book earned a permanent spot on my shelf. A romance with real meat on its bones is so hard to find! Simply put, Meagher is one of the best authors in the genre.

I am so much an SX Meagher fan. This book is so well written and in my humble opinion Meagher is as good or maybe a bit better than Radclyffe in her story telling. And this book shows that.
A woman doctor who specializes in fertality and is looking for a nicer home. Enter a woman who wants to conceive a baby and is a real estate agent. Over the course of a year they become friends and eventually more. All the events that lead to that are too numerous to get into and it would spoil it for you.

My God I really enjoy this novel,it's long but worth every page.
Life is going damned well for Blair Spencer. She's a very successful real estate agent, happily married to a man who encourages her to live the independent life she loves--and they're actively working to have a baby.



The wrench in the works is that Blair favors adoption, while her husband David desperately wants to have a biological child. The fates are against them, and they finally seek the help of a group of reproductive specialists. One of the doctors, a surgeon named Kylie Mackenzie, eventually becomes a good friend to Blair. And she needs all of the friends she can get when things start to go horribly wrong at home. As her marriage teeters on the brink of collapse, she relies more and more on Kylie's friendship.



Kylie's happily gay; Blair's happily straight. But the way they structure their relationship leads friends and family to privately question whether the pair is setting themselves up for heartache. They eventually come to a crossroads, which could either destroy their friendship or turn it into what each of them has been seeking. The question is whether each woman can change her view of herself and her needs. The answer is all that matters..

I remember reading this book when I was a kid (I got it from a book club) and laughing out loud hysterically. I still remember it as one of the best books I read as a child, and something made me think of it and look it up more than 30 years later. I think I may buy it again for another go-round!

I loved this book when I was twelve (the same age as Andrew). It is chock full of verisimilitude and I loved the style, which is conversational without being hackneyed.

When in my twenties, I read Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye." A few pages into it, I said "HEY!" Holden Caulfield's voice is almost exactly the same as Andrew Kellogg's. Barbara Brooks Wallace cannot convince me she was not inspired by Salinger.

Barbra Brooks Wallace has written a book for youth that brings home what it is like to grow up unappreciated and lonely in a new community. Andrew, the book's hero, moves with his family to Washington DC and immediately begins facing all of the troubles a boy in junior high must face: the fears that go along with being the "new kid," bullies, loneliness, a big brother with no time for him unless he is bossing him around, and a kid sister he finds himself having to take care of. Top it off with a mother who has to go away for a while, and it is a wonder Andrew doesn't go crazy! Blessed with smarts and a wry sense of humor, however, Andrew rises to the challenges (even when he doesn't want to) and truly becomes the "big deal."

This book brings back memories of my childhood. It's a story of a boy who moved with his family to Washington D.C. and tells about his struggles with childhood, and getting no respect. It is a very funny book for kids, and was the first book I remember laughing out loud while reading!