X Books

firestar was a character from television that was given a comic origin in 1986. she was about the age of the New Mutants, but she wound up joining the Hellions.

Firestar (Angelica Jones) is a very likeable character, able to do with microwave radiation what the Human Torch does with flame. she comes upon some very hard times and is trained by the evil White Queen to act like an assassine for political reasons.

this character later went on to join New Warriors, where her familiar yellow outfit on the cover boosted sales. many people remembered her from the show. this comic book origin is a must for Firestar fans.

Firestar has always been a favorite character of mine. I will not pretend I have not loved her character since I was very, very young.
That being said, I was pleasantly surprisedto see this repackaging of her orininal mini series. The story stills tands up today, and her character is so lovely. A sweet, sensitive girl faced with challenges all around her, and she learns to overcome.
This could really, really be used for a basic script for "FIRESTAR" movie, if you cut out all of the X Men characters and references.
Great emotional payoff would be easy, and not a lot of special effects would even be needed. A relative newcomer would be needed to play her, and someone with natural beauty, who could play shy and sensitive, yet could also be tough when push comes to shove. Emotional range. If only Patricia Arquette were young enough....
This is a very touching and human story.
Long live Firestar.

Popular TV superhero FIRESTAR (from the cartoon Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends) made her comic-book debut in 1985 in X-Men issue 193 as one of the Hellions, a group of evil teenagers headed by Emma Frost.

Of course, Firestar was not evil -- just an innocent girl manipulated into fighting the X-Men. In 1986, Firestar was awarded her own four-issue limited series that told her origin; this digest contains all four issues, as well as addendum pages with profiles of Firetsar, the Hellfire Club, and Emma Frost.

This book is fun reading for all age. The art is crisp, interesting and clean. Very appealing.

Firestar would go on to join the Avengers and the New Warriors, but the stories here are a great look at Firestar's early years.

Guest-stars include Professor X, Kitty Pryde and the New Mutants. Highly recommended.

There's a lot going on in this volume. This volume is where the story really starts to pick up, and probably because of that, it's one of my favorite volumes. We finally introduce Subaru-kun, and thoroughly introduce Sei-chan, my favorite CLAMP character of all time. I know he appeared before, but you can't have Sei-chan w/o Subaru-kun and call either one introduced. It also reveals Kamui's choice and the effects of that choice. I won't reveal anything, but if you stop and think, you can probably figure it out.

Sei-chan and Subaru-kun's first fight is half of what makes this volume great. My two favorite characters not really fighting. The beginning is great, with both of them talking to each other w/o much hostility. The end is great too, with Subaru-kun angsting over Sei-chan. hehehe ^_^

Fun things: Sei-chan and Subaru's first fight, full of sakura petals, neither of them really putting up a fight, both of them looking scrumptious through the entire thing, and lovely little blood smears which don't disappear until the end of volume 9, the CCD boys (Nokoru, Suoh, and Akira) appearing, looking oh-so-bish, Kotori acting like she's completely lost her mind, and Kamui actually acting like he's going to do something other than just stand around. oh, and Fuuma's last moments as Fuuma *claps hand over mouth*

Not-so-fun things: Sorata calling Sei-chan "Guardian of the Cherry Blossom Burial Mound" (It's Sakurazukamori, people!! *kicks Viz*), some rather weird translations from Viz, and general confusion about which sword is which.

Clamp's art is incredible, with flowing details and beautifully drawn characters...they're the mangaka that keeps on giving! This one is especially yummy to those who enjoy seeing Kamui-tachi in bloody situations. I would recommend it to anyone, just for the art, but the poignant sadness of the story is another factor that keeps me turning the pages, to the ultimate destiny that will one day inevitably befall Earth.

Uh....not much else I can say but this is a visual treat! EYE CANDY and a story deeper than....just about anything!!! Clamp is, by far, the best manga team ever! This manga is a turning point in the X/1999 series and is one that is needed in any collection... I have this book and I think this is one of the most essential part in the X/1999 series ... and you really can't NOT read this book if your looking to understand the story. OF COURSE you've gotta read the books before this one... but this book contains some sexy stuff (AKA FUMA/EVIL KAMUI) that any Clamp fan will want to take note of! If you like gore (lots and lots of blood) and some sexy yummies (FUMA...SUBARU) Ya gonna love this. ALSO! The first fight between Subaru and Seishiro!!! Anyone who is trying to follow Tokyo Babylon's story this is a HUGE part in the story....This manga is all around essential for any Clamp follower!

It's because Clamp has been having trouble with their publisher, Asuka comics. Not because they're lazy or don't know how to end the story. In fact, it's because they know exactly how they want to end it that they've run into a brick wall. According to various japanese websites evoted to X along with some of the reviews on Amazon Japan, Clamp was told by Asuka to tone down some of the violence and gore in this manga. Mostly this was because of the Hanshin earthquake in 2002(?)that freaked a lot of people out, because it seemed to parallel the manga in an eerie way.
Clamp refused, rightly so, to back down and dumb down the manga storyline, especially the ending which will be extremely violent and graphic, so they are essentially at a standstill with Asuka comics as to continuing the X 1999 story.
The true shame here, is that Clamp has more art and story finished that they are not allowed to release because Asuka owns the rights. They don't even have the option of self publishing the ending themselves. So, unless they work out their differences, there's a very good chance we will not see the end of this at all.
Asuka felt that due to some customers complaints that it was in bad taste to release the manga series on the heels of an earthquake that killed so many people. Maybe after a few years more, the people will feel like reading this again and not be overwhelmed. It really is one of the best Clamp stories out there, and they should maybe reconsider the 1999 year and redo it to be 20xx so that it's not dated. Although, anything they put out at this point would be greatly appreciated.

Okay, so we've made it this far. 18 volumes down, who knows how many left? certainly not anyone overseas, since 18 volumes have been released there too! And this is not the end by any means. I predict at least one or two more volumes.....if only Asuka will get around to continuing to run X.....*writes massive amounts of letters to Asuka.*

Okay, so volume 18. We've made it past THAT SCENE, the infamous volume 16, Arashi has finally admitted her not-so-secret feelings for Sorata, the consequences of which appear (let's all pray really hard that it's just an obstacle she has to overcome), and quite a bit of I'm-not-quite-sure-what-to-make-of-it moments between Aoki and Karen. And thus we arrive at volume 18.

Features:
Nataku, ah poor Nataku. Our cover boy this volume. Throughout the series, he's been quite the strange character. But I really love him in this volume. Karen is the one who really interacts (I'm cringing at word choice, but I don't know how to put it without spoilers for the scene) with Nataku, the aftermath of which gives us a very insightful and heart-wrenching scene and dialogue between DoH Kamui and Karen about the final battle and quite possibly DoE Kamui's true intentions. Of course, this occurs about ten pages before the end of the volume, so everyone's left screaming.

Subaru-kun. Oh man, Subaru-kun. After the end of volume 17, which ended with Subaru-kun cluthching Sei-chan's (Seishiro-san or Sakurazukamori to those of you who don't adore Sei-chan)left eye (yes, i know in the Viz version, it's his right eye, but i'm one of those screaming RIGHT!!! NOT LEFT!!! about the which eyes are blind on the pair) in a jar to his chest after DoE Kamui gives it to him after a heart-wrenching (at least to Sei/Subaru shippers) talk about Seishiro-san's true wish besides dying at the hands of his loved one, we're all left crying and wondering (not really) about what Subaru-kun will do. Subaru-kun has yet another talk with DoE Kamui, equally heart-wrenching, no matter what your relationship vote, and as pretty much no surprise to anyone, Subaru-kun has two seeing eyes now. Man, Subaru-kun is sexy in all black......SEI-CHAN LIVES!! (not really, but read that scene, and you'll know what i mean)

DoH Kamui has a spine now guys! *everyone cheers* Guys, if DoE Kamui is granting everyone's "true wish", can he grant Kamui's "true wish", if we ever truly figure it out? ha. not likely. but we can dream, ne?

So, we've got huge angst-fests from just about every character who's still alive, lots of discussions about everyone's "inner wish", and evil!Hinoto commenting on just about everything, mainly the fact that there are only two kekkais left now, City Hall, and the all-important Tokyo Tower, and with her final words of "The time draws near for them to start the final battle", the volume ends.

Everyone write massive letters to Asuka in support of CLAMP, maybe if they get enough of them, they'll finally get off their soapbox and continue running the series.....

Volume 18 features some startling differences between the anime and the manga in this popular CLAMP series. Things only hinted at that occur between Karen and Nataku in the X TV series, here are flushed out and a very different outcome for the Dragon of Earth is revealed. The consequences of Arashi's night with Sorata are starting to be revealed. Kamui becomes aware of Hinoto's deceptions and speaks to Karen about it. Also, the nature of Fuma's true intentions and desires (as well as those of the now dead Seishiro) begin to surface as he interacts with the now fallen Dragon of Heaven, Subaru.

The back of the Shojo edition of this volume reads, "The balance of power is shifting. Arashi's suprising emotional confession to Sorata has unexpected consequences, and the result of Fuma's shocking gift to aimless Subaru is revealed. Unaware of Hinoto's duplicity, Karen and Aoki have followed her instructions and are heading to Ginza to face Tokyo's next threat. Will the Dragons of Heaven win again---and at what cost?"

The cover features a picture of Nataku as the Moon (XVIII) Tarot card. Fitting, since this volume deals specifically with him, as well as represents the nature of the Moon card well. For Nataku, a choice between two things needs to be made, and he has to come to terms with his own emotions, wild and childlike as they are.

The only really irritating thing about this volume, as well as for the Viz series itself, is the flipped artwork. It's hard enough when you have to look at someone clutching the wrong side of their chest as they refer to their heart, but also the change for which eye Subaru and Seishiro lost, not only being different from the TV series (which of course wouldn't need to be flipped), but also retracting from the symbolism associated with Subaru and the Hanged Man (XII) representing the sacrifice of Odin's eye for knowledge. But maybe feeling that way is a bit geeky...

'Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide' by Daniel Steinberg is a great network resource book for any and all administrators, developers, and/or tinkerers!! Packed to the brim with networking goodness, this is a wonderful book for anyone that wants to learn to network things smarter, better, and faster than ever before!! Written in classic O'Reilly fashion with ~220 pages of solid content, this is a nice buy for all interested parties :^)

***** RECOMMENDED

Stuart Cheshire and Daniel H. Steinberg's Zero Configuration Networking: The Definitive Guide tells how to integrate hardware and software with no configuration files in between - and no error messages. Zeroconf is a standard for building self-configuring applications, from LANs to printer files and file-sharing software: Zero Configuration Networking tells how to put it all together with easy implementation. Three 'Hacks' titles provide options for working with networks, images and programs.

Are you a curious user or software developer or hardware developer? If you are, then this book is for you! Authors Daniel Steinberg and Stuart Cheshire, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that provides an in-depth look at the components of Zeroconf technology and a survey of programming APIs that will allow you to Zeroconf-enable your product.

Steinberg and Stuart Cheshire, begin by giving you a quick overview of the various components that make up Zeroconf. Then, the authors discuss link-local addressing. Next, they provide a description of multicast DNS. The authors then provide you with a description of DNS Service Discovery. They continue by introducing the concepts of DNS Service Discovery and focus on how it applies to discovering services on the local link using Multicast DNS. Then, the authors introduce the dns-sd command line toll that lets you experiment with Zeroconf service advertising and discovery before you actually write your first line of Zeroconf.code. Next, they introduce you to the C API for advertising and browsing for services. The authors then explain the Java API, which lets you write portable cross-platform programs that will run on any supported platform that ha Java and Zeroconf installed. They continue by describing two of the Bonjour APIs that are specific to Mac OS X: CFNet-Services and Cocoa's NSNetServices. Finally, they outline the Zeroconf support appearing in some unexpected languages like Ruby and Python.

This most excellent book shows you how you can, with very little effort, make your devices a lot easier to use. More importantly, this book explains how you can add the benefits of TCP/IP networking to your products without having to sacrifice ease of use.

Thank you thank you thank you to my Youth Minister who bought this for me! 10 X 50 has wonderful, creative ideas......especially for those last minute situations! It also offers some "easy to do or change" activities. Though I hate to say it, this book also has some very convicting areas for me to work on as well! Great job.....I need the next one!

This is a concise workbook full of suggestions for starting an organized youth ministry and for maintaining one. It focusses on the real challenges of todays ministry to teenagers. It is loaded with practical do's and don'ts in dealing with kids and their parents. It is a very practical guide toward a balanced and effective youth ministry.

The images of the Sudan and Antarctica contained in 12º N x 23º E, 64º S x 60º E : Sudan, Antarctica by Colin Finlay and Marta Salas-Porras are powerful testimony to the silent changes and unheard tragedy occurring on the planet today. They link immediate human suffering with the hidden environmental impacts of global warming. This important photo essay can help catalyze effective responses to the human condition and global climate change. Silence is no longer a choice.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3RMCMLXD1FURC

Yuzo Takada weaves an amazing story about a three-eyed girl named Pai, who calls upon the help of pseudo-transvestite Yakumo Fuuji. They then embark to Hong Kong after a run in with Takuhii a giant bird man. At that incident Yakumo turned immortal for reasons i can not spoil.

This is a humerouse fantasy/horror comic.It's full of action and bravery while entertaining the reader with witty remarks and new suprises. The main characters are Pai a three eyed monster who teams up with Yakumo. Together they must recapture the statue that contains the secret of mortality. This is one of a kind series that will start you laughing and on the edge of you'r seat.

This novel is hot. A journey always fills one's mind with questions, and this story does exactly that. It explores the mysteries of every-day life with crisp sexy writing. Let me know when this writer puts out his next book.

Wayne Tefs' eighth novel starts out in a bar at the Winnipeg airport on the afternoon of Good Friday. Clinton Dokic is waiting for a flight borne to Thompson, Manitoba, where his wife is about to give birth to their first child. The flight is repeatedly delayed by snow, and to pass the time, Clinton, his younger brother Darryl, and their mother drink heavily and pick at a plate of french fries. When the blizzard finally shuts the airport down, Clinton isn't about to let that keep him from getting home. Fortunately, Darryl happens to own a Jeep. Of course, driving 700 kilometres on deserted highways in the middle of a blizzard is a bad idea, but, as Darryl notes, at least they don't have to do it sober.
The drunken, ill-advised mad trip is not exactly a new literary form, but 4 X 4 is not the typical road novel. Tefs manages to avoid the clichés and keeps the novel from descending into picaresque. Instead, he focuses on the road and on the enforced togetherness of a long trip that becomes increasingly oppressive in the atmosphere of secrets that each family member is keeping from the others.
This polyphonic novel is told in the rotating voices of each of the three people in the car as well as that of Clinton's wife, Kaly, who is waiting alone in Thompson. As each character speaks, it becomes clear that there is even more isolating the members of this family from one another than they realize. Something as simple as a car trip, at the birth of a child, is not going to bond them.
As the Jeep makes its way through northern Manitoba, Darryl reflects on the fact that even today there are still a few places on Earth that have not been formally surveyed. Cartographers call these places "sleeping beauties" They are not unexplored places, just places that are not thoroughly understood; they are places where surprise is still possible if you look hard enough. It's a comforting thought that applies not only to geography, but to the most intimate relationships. It is a beautiful metaphor that perfectly sums up the novel.

This is one of the most awesome and upclose and personal looks at any star i have ever seen published..
When reading this.. I could almost hear the words coming outta fifty's mouth...

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK AND THE PHOTOS OF CURTIS AND HIS FAMILY MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I KNOW HIM MORE.I FEEL THIS SHOWS YOU THAT 50 IS JUST AN EVERY DAY MAN I LOVE THE BOOK

Hello,
My name is Scott Neely and I liked the spot illustrations that I drew for this book. It has an X-Files feel to it and is a great supplement to the role-playing game. Enjoy!
Scott

The Conspiracy X rpg is one of the coolest around, and the Aegis organisation definitely needed a source book of its own. And here it is. It has loads more stuff on Aegis, including some cool new skils 'n professions. The stuff on Aegis rocks, and the advice on operations and tactics has helped my players get further into character. All in all, an invaluable addition to any Con X player's/GM's library.