Digital Books

Photoshop CS3 is a very "deep" application, and I think that this book can be an excellent resource for virtually any CS3 user (especially those who classify themselves as intermediate users of Photoshop). The author does not assume that you have already read a user manual or other book. He covers in detail many of the tools in detail that are frequently used to color correct, mask and composite images, and do many other common tasks. "Hints" and "Notes" can be found throughout the book in small green boxes, and I found them very helpful. For example, in Chapter 10, the author explains in a Hint box how to apply sharpening settings from one image to a batch of images in Bridge.

Weinrebe supports his lessons with good screen shots throughout the book. Just a small selection of the tools that he covers very well (in a step-by-step fashion) are the Healing Brush, Lens Correction tool, History Brush, the Bridge and Camera Raw (including a suggested Bridge/Camera Raw Workflow), tinting with a color layer, batch renaming, converting to DNG, creating contact sheets, creating panoramas with Photomerge, and actions.

One of the most interesting parts of the book are the artist interviews. These Q&A sessions with such luminaries as John Paul Caponigro, R. Mac Holbert, Pedro Meyer, Graham Nash, Maggie Taylor and Joyce Tenneson generally run from about 4-7 pages and include fantastic imagery and insight about the artists' background, their art, what motivates them, and how they approach and use various technologies. I believe that this series of essays could easily be a very strong coffee table book on their own. They are a really special.

I also like the Chapter Reviews questions and Exercises at the end of each chapter, which can definitely help people to learn more about the Photoshop techniques that were covered in the chapter. Having all the exercise files on a CD in the book is also a nice feature. Also, it really helps that Weinrebe is a professional photographer who has been preparing files for clients for years. His work really shines throughout the book.

The development of pigments by chemists changed the art of painting in the Renaissance. The development of film sensitivity changed the art of movie making in the 20th century. How will Photoshop and other image processing software change the art of photography?

This book provides instruction in the use of Photoshop, in an unorthodox manner. Most Photoshop books are organized along workflow lines, although a few work their way through each of the Photoshop tools and menus in order. Weinrebe follow his own order, dealing with light and shadow, curves, black and white processing, color tools and so forth before dealing with the tools used when first bringing images into Photoshop. Often a chapter introduces important techniques not related to the main one, as in the author's discussion of the use of the history brush in the chapter on curves. The author recognizes his approach is unusual, and suggests that readers go through the chapters in the order the reader needs.

The chapters include practical exercises that use images provided on an included CD.

The book recognizes the version 4.1 update to Adobe Bridge which is a component of Photoshop CS3, although I expect that the update was made available at too late a date for the author to do much exploration of its potential. (There has been a 4.2 update, but the changes seem to have improved code, without adding tools.) How else can one explain the author's dismissal of the new sharpening facility that allows for input sharpening, which is different from output sharpening?

Besides the instruction on using Photoshop, each chapter concludes with an interview with a famous photographer. Most of these photographers seem to specialize in montage, that is, the creation of pictures by combining images.

My biggest question was what happened to "the Art of Photography" mentioned in the title? Nothing in the material on technique goes further than to describe what controls and sliders create what effects on an image. No advice is presented in how to use Photoshop to create a picture that is more "artful" (whatever that means). The interviews are interesting but they don't include any information on how the artists used Photoshop to make their pictures more artful. I suspect that even Rafael received some instruction from his teachers on how to use the new pigments beyond how to apply them to canvas. Certainly, a few books on Photoshop have covered this terrain. I particularly found Rob Sheppard's "Outdoor Photographer Landscape and Nature Photography with Photoshop CS2" to be useful.

I also have some small complaints about the book. The text always appeared to be one or two pages behind the related illustrations, leading to a lot of page flipping. Some instructional areas seemed to scant the tools being discussed. For example, the chapter on Adobe Bridge mentions how customizable Bridge is, but neglected to provide any details in how to do this.

Still, a photographer looking for an introduction to Photoshop will be able to get started with this book. On the other hand, those looking for a more detailed introduction might want to look at a favorite of mine, "Photoshop Artistry: For Photographers Using Photoshop CS2 and Beyond" by Barry Haynes. It doesn't cover all the changes made to Photoshop in its later versions, but it will provide an understanding of the software that may even include a little bit about injecting the artful into one's images.

As a long time film photographer making the move to digital this book was a life saver. The step by step approach took the mystery out of photoshop.
The language was clear and the examples relevant.

the book is well worth the cost: it is well organized and presents all of the capabilities of Photoshop in a pseudo-textbook fashion that are easily understood. At the end of each of the 12 chapters, the author presents a review: questions that the reader should be able to answer and exercises covering the CS3 capabilities that had been explained in that specific chapter. Also, the author includes interviews with 12 noted creative photographers such as Maggie Taylor and Lois Greenfield.

Photoshop is incredibly feature-rich software, and frequently perceived as overwhelming. Weinrebe breaks it down into easily understandable bits while still providing useful tips for very experienced users.

And the interviews with renowned photographers add a unique element, opening - at least a little a bit - a window on their varying perspectives and workflows.

Well done. This book is a valuable addition to every photographer's reference library.

The premise is very interesting and the characters are gripping. It begins really well, and the conversation is structured well. Some of the description seems a little over-wrought, though, and some adjectives and adverbs could be edited. The premise, the situations and the characters themselves convey the novel's premise; spelling it out crowds the narrative and is superfluous.
I would love to see it fully published and available - I like the novel's grand canvas as well as the little touches.

Looks like an intriguing twist on the ever amazing fact that life's appearance is always changing but its effects always stay the same. Look forward to reading the book.

I am extremely attracted by the idea of a universal constant shown through a single couple up and down the timelines and would very much like to see how it plays out over the course of the story. I was initially scepitcal but soon got drawn in. I suspect it could be excellent.

Initially I worried that this story was going to be about Pigeon poop but I have to admit that I was drawn in and disappointed there wasn't more to read. The similarity to 9-11 was its major drawback to me. It seems like good tale that would have stood well enough on its own without reference to "The Twins" and images from that dreadful time that we all witnessed live on TV. As I had read it without reading the Authors own comments on the site the cryptic references to God, aliens and spacecrafts made me want to find out more and to see where this story is going. Will I buy the book? Yeah Probably

This book has been a long time comming but the wait was well worth it.

Outstanding effort

For anyone who might have wondered what it is like to go through Airborne training, Edd Voss' story is the answer. In fact, I would recommend it for anyone who is going into the Army and considering signing up for the training. I'm an old Army hand myself and if I had been able to read this story before I signed up, I might have went the Airborne route myself...but then again, maybe not. It's not the heights; it's the idea of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. This story is a great primer for adventurous types who are considering skydiving or going into the Airborne corps. Five stars!

The title of this review will probably make the author smile, because he long since learned through superior training and exquisite attention to detail each and every time on each and every jump not to let such disasters happen. His training, in other words bred CONFIDENCE...but there is a better word and Sergeant Voss gives it to us...His training bred the spirit of AIRBORNE. There is no other way to put it, and the author tells us why as he relates IN EXQUISITE DETAIL every step he went through to get to jump school. Your neck muscles tighten as you read, because Sergeant Voss will not spare you the detail...the detail...each and every step is full of detail.

Through the detail you learn why...and it's impact is all the greater because you the reader will appreciate it...Sgt. Voss will not tell you. You learn it's the detail that saves your life. With every step toward the door there are details to be recalled...details related to your own preparation...details related to your buddy's preparation...details related to the details related to your other buddy's checking of your preparation... on and on...THE DETAILS SAVE YOUR LIFE...and as Sergeant Voss talks, you learn the details he had to learn...in detail. It's a fascinating story made all the more fascinating by the way Edd Voss writes it. You feel like you're back in the military...but not in some route step unit...Sergeant Voss puts you with the Special Forces and you truly follow One Man's Journey... Edd's journey to the status of AIRBORNE.

This evening when Edd reminded me I had promised to read his story about a month ago, he said he was waiting to see if I thought he had done justice to the 34Foot Tower. It was like magic...every muscle tightened, particularly those in the parts of the body most affected by the memory and I cringed into a cold sweat, promptly writing him an emotional response. The 34Foot tower, as Edd explains, is the triumph of psychology...the psychology of fear...fear of heights...fear of falling...fear of thinking your PLF might not be letter perfect. Yeah Edd, Ol' buddy, you did justice to it...now I'm so sore vicariously doing your damned pushups for you and standing on the edge of that thing focusing on the horizon and concentrating on my PLF that I may never straighten up again. I HAD to focus on the horizon...because I've had a deadly fear of heights ever since my dad cut the engine of the plane we were riding when I was in second grade and we plummeted a couple thousand feet toward earth, with only the whistling wind and the Love of God as companions. I had to concentrate on my PLF because I had recently broken my ankle. That was my nervous look at my left combat boot that got points taken off as i stood at the edge...I was thinking of that PLF...that ankle.

I never did the next step...the bit with the perfectly good airplane. my job called for me to then qualify as capable to perform my duties at 42,000 ft pressure altitude, and 165 ft pressure depth...so I never CAME CLOSE to being AIRBORNE! But Edd did...and he'll earn your profound respect, or if you are AIRBORNE, like my closest friend back in Samoa, he'll make you very nostalgic. If you're listening Sergeant O'Brien..."DRIVE ON AIRBORNE!" Thanks Edd...but not for the Beautiful Streamer...you'll have me sucking air over that for quite a while! Five Stars... SSgt Cassell

Another thoroughly enjoyable read from the literary spell-caster named Edd Voss. This piece, his newest in a growing line of engaging stories and memoirs, was written with just the right mix of self-effacing honesty, charm and nostalgia.

I was a sport jumper in the eighties and nineties, and the advanced equipment we used made it all fairly easy - the expensive rectangular canopies employed by sport jumpers captures and harnesses the wind in such a way that if you flair at just the right time (engage both toggles simultaneously so the canopy folds in on itself - like hitting the air-brakes!) you can light upon the ground as gently as you would by stepping off a low curb. Seventy year-old men can do it - and have.

Not so with the equipment Edd Voss and his noble colleagues used during Airborne training - if you attempted the same type of landing using a circular chute, you would shatter both legs like dry kindling, sending splintered bone fragments through flesh and uniform alike. Today, sport jumpers frequently wear fashionable rubber Teva sandals; back then, you had to wear special jump boots to help protect your ankles.

Needless to say, it took a special breed of man not just to jump out of a plane, but to want to jump out of that plane. It took daredevils and it took adrenaline junkies and it took a big set of brass ones (please pardon the ribald metaphor, but I maintain it is appropriate here) to engage in such an undertaking fraught with so much obvious peril.

What I enjoyed the most about Edd's piece (and the piece by D.J. Stephens as well - had to sneak that in there, didn't want to do two reviews!) was the lack of braggadocio at the heart and soul of each story -- these two accounts were written by men who were not daredevils, or adrenaline junkies (I will not comment on the other, but I'm fairly sure I know) they were just a couple of guys who wanted to do something out of the norm, to help blaze a new trail, to be the pioneers of something, and simply, to do something that made them proud.

The stories are not without nobility; they are both fueled with dignity cast in bronze, but there is not one ounce of self-promoting machismo in either piece.

In fact Edd almost belabored the notion that he was afraid; not afraid of death, as would seem to be normal, but afraid of failing. This is where I believe Edd creates something more than the sum of his words, for he has fashioned a mental lithograph, a man jumping out of a plane, as a perfect symbolic representation for anything that frightens us - speaking in public, asking that cute girl at the bar if you can buy her a drink, demanding a raise from your boss -

The way to overcome your fears is to do exactly what Edd did -- focus on the problem, practice, practice, practice, then dive in head first, scream in the face of adversity, and give it everything you have.

The taste of your heart in your throat is its own peculiar reward.

Congratulations, Edd -- you have earned the right to wear your wings on whatever article of clothing you deem fit!

I salute you.

E.R.O.

Strange. The first paragraph hit home on issues swirling in my life as I began reading "Airborne." I had read reviews prior to purchase and am even more impressed now with the exuberance of the connection to this story by those who've "been there."

>> What is there in a single word that can have the power to give strength in time of trouble; can help you find the strength to go on when you think that you have nothing left to give. It can be a simple greeting between those who share a common experience, or it can be the battle cry of soldiers heading into the fires of combat.<< That was the perfect opening for this account.

Voss has developed a solid ability to pull the reader (and the reader's emotions) into his world: >>Since I had grown up in Colorado, mountains have always made me feel at home. The Alps were no different; the crisp air scrubbed by alpine winds blowing across fields of snow filled me with a sense of calm.<<

Wouldn't most of us like to feel this: >>The attitude of those around me was amazing, there was nothing that they didn't believe that they could accomplish, and they expected me to accomplish the same type of things.... What had seemed impossible on my arrival became reality by adopting the Airborne spirit of those around me.<<

"Airborne" had many more lines I was itching to quote, and you can read them now.

This training experience's concluding phases reminded me of a "Fright Flight" in July 1968, concluding the United Airlines Flight Attendant school in Chicago. Maybe you'll be surprised at what experience in your life this Short will recall.

Currently a pushing 60, pansy type of female who fooled myself into thinking I was a Tom Boy mountain goat during a phase of my youth, I didn't think I'd identify with "Airborne." I wanted to read it anyway. At the end of the first page, through the above quotes, I began wishing I had more... ahem. I was wishing I could do something like this, to own that type of physical confidence. Songs surged the getting there. I felt them. I felt the series of different reactions to each of the four required jumps. [...].

For me, reading an Amazon Short is like taking a few cleansing breaths so pure they'll feed through 24 hours of peaceful, easy breathing. Swirls are at peace. Each time I remember "Airborne," I'll release a day's dead weight, feeling like I'm cheating reality, fortunate for the privilege.

My Mom did this, (in a parallel universe starting a basement bakery business, Coal & Coca-Cola). Her dream was to be a pilot like Amelia. Wish I'd been able to read "Airborne" to Margie during her final bedridden weeks. She would have had less fear getting her wings. She flies now.

Fly through words in Amazon Shorts,
Linda Shelnutt

"You have to be granite, you can't be sandstone. Sandstone crumbles."

This was a line in Edd Voss's story that stuck out for me. From the very first word to the very last one which was "AIRBORNE" I was taken in. This author describes his time in jump school that had me living every moment.

You have to dig deep within yourself to climb the obstacles that are all around you and there isn't anyone on the face of the earth who can do it for you. That mindset, or spirit if you will, takes you through even the most difficult physical pain these people have to face as they prepare.

In this story, the inner strength and mindset that is needed to achieve what Edd and many others have set out to conquer was described in a beautiful way and comes straight from from the heart from someone who knows and has been there. Having seen a set of the wings Mr. Voss talks about has made me really understand better what was earned and the honor that is attached to them. I can't help but admire this author and the many others who took the challenge and continued on even when there was doubt... and succeeded anyway.

Excellent story Mr. Voss. I look forward to more of your stories.

Vickie (Tory Lynn)Author of "My Charming Protector"

After finishing "Armageddon: 1973 - Part 1" during breakfast, my husband Tom was shocked at what he thought was the ending. He hadn't noticed that I had also placed a print-out of part 2 on the table. When I noted there was a part 2, he gave a gush of relief, saying, "[mild expletive]! It couldn't end there!" He went right into part 2 and finished it in one sitting, even though he usually crashes from his night shift right after breakfast. We both admired the way Cassell resolved the situation, especially the hinge of success being placed on the enemy CO's stating to each other, in essence, "I'm not a ...; I'm a [true] warrior [a military professional]."

This pair of Amazon Shorts is an offering of prime excellence. It gives an accurate picture of the admirable mind sets of military personnel at its best; and in that exposure increased my hope for mankind's evolution toward higher consciousness, toward a type of global peace based on a willingness and ability to stand up for what's necessary and right, and to stand down when a good-and-true agreement, a meeting of brilliant minds, has been achieved, one which can be trusted to hold through a period of time.

This is a story of the highest potential of military machinations. I haven't read anything like this before; it came across more like a "Virtual Reality" than a movie or a book, with me bounding and buffeting inside helicopters-of-storm, whether I wanted to or not. Since this was a taste of the life of soldiers on land, sea, and air, I wanted to have this experience through a good use of words, to know what they go through from various levels of rank, multiple angles of mission.

Not only that, this story is an offering of exquisitely engrossing entertainment. (For extra detail on the unique appeals of "Armageddon: 1973," and a few quotes of the syntax luxury achieved by this author, see my review on Part 1.)

Well done, Cassell. Five Stars Glistening Bright in The Night!
Linda Shelnutt
Coal Dust In Their Hands: A True Story

I am assuming that you've read part 1 already if you've gotten this far. If not, what are you waiting on?

The intense action picks up without missing a beat. Both sides of the battle are "staring" each other down in a deadly competition to see who blinks first. Neither commander wants to back down but both desperately want the entire situation to end quickly and peacefully. Unfortunately something has to give.

Eventually the decision is made. Shots are fired, explosions blast through the air, and men lay dead. Who dies and does it start World War III? You'll have to read and find out. Once again Mr. Cassell takes the reader on a whirlwind of emotion in this action-packed adventure. And who's to say it never happened or might not happen one day soon?

When I finished reading part 1 of Cassell's military tale, I made it clear I wanted to read the rest of the story. He'd successfully built the suspense and left us hanging at a key point in the story.

Part 2 picks up the story in full throttle, escalating the stakes on both sides and deftly bringing things to a satisfying conclusion.

While this is a far cry from my usual reading material, I can honestly say I enjoyed both parts of "Armageddon: 1973" and can recommend them without reservation.

John Cassell takes the reader into the minds of military combatants in his thrilling conclusion to Armageddon: 1973. What is obviously a military standoff quickly becomes a psychological standoff as well. Two commanders going to the brink of Armageddon to protect their charge. Both are prepared to do whatever is needed in this personal battle; neither interested in the opinions of leaders at home. Cassell has left these two combatants to figure a way out of this incident on their own. Be sure to purchase both Part 1 and Part 2 of this story to see how the author builds up an incredibly tense confrontation before bringing his readers, like myself, to an enthralling and shocking conclusion . . . The reader of fascinating, well written, international intrigue will not be disappointed here. I can vouch for John W. Cassell. Great job, John.

Joshua Berry, author of Andrea's Dream and numerous Amazon Shorts

A well written enjoyable and believable account of what might have been. Line after line of suspense and chicanery holds your interest through out.
The only issues I found was that it ended much to quickly.

In my opinion, there can never be too many books like this one by Michael J. Hammel. This project-based book has great examples of how the graphic designer can use the GIMP software to get the job done. Each tutorial in this book is an individual project, allowing the reader to pick which tutorials best meets his or her needs. But read them all. Each technique is not presented in a vacuum. Hammel discusses these techniques in a way that prepares the readers to reproduce the results in their own projects.

Besides being a project-based book, I also liked that Hammel did not waste the reader's time, and his own, discussing every detail about each panel, menu command and keyboard shortcut. Instead, he commits those pages to more information that you can really use. Don't get me wrong, he does give a short overview of the GIMP workspace in order to orient the novice to the software. But he does a good job of giving the readers only the information that they will need for the rest to the book.

So what does Hammel cover in this book? He writes each project-based tutorial from the point-of-view of the graphic designer. He begins with a short description of the design criteria for the project and ends each tutorial with suggestions for other projects where the reader might apply these techniques. He divides the book into six chapters and each chapter covers a different area of graphic design. Once he covers the basics, he moves on to techniques for the photographer, web designer, advertising designer and UI designer. Throughout each chapter, he discusses how type applies to the project and he also devotes a chapter to type effects.

For the photographer, he begins with some simple techniques for adding steam to a photo and creating a vignette. Then he covers more advanced techniques such as simulating depth of field. Have you ever wondered how graphic artists get type to look so good on top of any background? Hammel shows you how this is done, along with some other nice text effects. Also, he has one of the best techniques for converting a photo into a sketch that I have seen so far. His technique goes beyond the usual examples that you find in books and on the web.

Moving from photography to web design, Hammel states that "color is king" on the web today. Only just a few years ago, books were preaching just the opposite. But now with the better monitors, Hammel can share some of his techniques for creating mood, simulating 3D and reflections, and "popping" an image. He also has some great techniques for creating folds from texture and gradients and for creating the popular Toon style.

With the advent of widgets and other ways to create your own desktop applications, graphic designers are being asked to design user interfaces (GUI) for these applications. Hammel devotes the last section of his book to take you through the design process for creating a UI for a video player. He starts with the face plate and designs each part of the UI individually. However, these same techniques could be used to create environments for digital games and other design applications.

Hammel has been working with GIMP from its beginnings in 1996. He has authored and co-authored many GIMP related books and articles.

If you don't know what GIMP is, it's an alternative to Photoshop that allows you to do the same things (essentially) but is free.

I was impressed and surprised (in a good way) on the depth of tutorials in this book. I was really looking for something that would give me a good overview of using GIMP from the top, and was surprised at how many things you can do creatively that I hadn't even thought of. My only criticism is the paper used is flat and it would be nice to have something a little glossier for the images. The images are in color, which is nice though. I've used photoshop and now GIMP from probably a pretty basic level (I'm not a graphic artist) for album coverwork for compilation CD's for myself and friends, posters, and just playing around with abstract art to frame and hang on my own wall. I've been impressed with GIMP as an alternative to Photoshop and I think this book is a great companion to help me get the most out of it. If you've tried GIMP, which is free to download, and want to get more out of it, I would recommend this book.

The GIMP is an image editor whose power and easy use rivals the industry standard Photoshop - and is a popular free software item. While The Artist's Guide to GIMP Effects could've been explored in our Computer Shelf area, it's reviewed here to alert every artist working with computer images. It shows how to use the GIMP's powerful features to apply to ads, photos, and business pursuits, and comes from an author who has used GIMP since its first public release. From specialty photographic techniques available within the GIMP model to advanced web design features for special effects, no photo artist using the computer should be without THE ARTIST'S GUIDE TO GIMP EFFECTS - and any collection strong in Photoshop-type books needs it.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Should have purchased this book months ago. Not for the absolute beginner, but a must have for the advanced beg or int user who wants to learn more about using gimp.

GIMP, or the GNU Image Manipulation Program to give it its proper name, is a graphics-editing program broadly similar to Adobe Photoshop in terms of functionality. The GIMP is an open source program that can be freely downloaded and installed on most computers, including maps. But on the downside it doesn't come with a manual, so figuring out how to use GIMP can be tricky.

But 'The Artist's Guide to GIMP Effects' isn't simply a book explaining what all the different tools and features do. Michael Hammel pitches this book quite a bit higher than that, focusing instead on how to use GIMP to perform a variety of useful and common tasks. From trick photography to building graphics for web sites, Hammel leads the reader expertly through nicely illustrated tutorials. The end result is more than simply a better understanding of the program, but a richer appreciation of what the program can be used to do.

There are six chapters, the first of which introduces many of the basic concepts. Although there is some attention given to where the relevant tools are found and how to use them, the focus here is on what they do and why you need them. Fundamental to success with any graphics program is understanding how different tools work when applied together, and Hammel finishes off this chapter with a set of multi-function tutorials that underline this point.

The second chapter concentrates on manipulating photographs. These include softening images, adding motion effects, and creating reflections. In each case the process is taken step-by-step, with clear text and relevant screenshots. At this point it's also worth mentioning something about the layout of the book. No Starch has really done a good job here. The book is wider than it is tall, and each page holds two columns of text. The flexible binding lets the book stay open at any page. As a result, it's an easy book to use alongside the computer.

The next chapter is about creating artwork for web sites. These include things like tiles for web page backgrounds, buttons, tabs, and menu bars. The first tutorial in this batch is all about creating glossy, gel-like buttons of the type Macintosh users will be familiar with. One of the later tutorials looks at the ubiquitous rollover buttons, though from the perspective of creating the actual artwork required rather than the necessary JavaScript or CSS coding. That said, if you use a WYSIWYG web page layout program like Freeway, you probably won't need to manually any of that sort of code to your page anyway; all you need are the graphics.

Like all the other chapters, the web design chapter finishes with a collection of useful tips. Some of these should be required reading for any web designer, and it's great to see the author lay them out fair and square.

The fourth chapter is very unusual but actually makes a lot of sense. It's a chapter devoted to creating advertising. While no substitute for a degree in marketing, there's some great stuff here for anyone who needs to produce things like packaging and posters. Small businesses attracted to GIMP by its low cost will likely find this chapter worth the price of the book alone. On the other hand, some of the tutorials in this section are only incidentally useful for advertising purposes though, and could be just as relevant to anyone creating computer artwork. Again, there's a wrap-up section with a slew of useful tips and tricks.

Chapter five brings text into the mix. This chapter kicks off with some tutorials covering things like neon, metallic, and gel-like text, among other typographic effects.

The last chapter is specifically for software developers, and illustrates the ways in which GIMP can be used to design and prototype application interfaces. While a clever and potentially useful chapter, what was obviously missing from this section of the book was something on designing icons for programs. The book then rounds off with a detailed index.

For $45 this isn't a cheap book, especially when you consider that GIMP itself is free and comes with its own online guides and tutorials. The question is whether having things laid out clearly and logically in a nicely illustrated book justifies the cost. In the opinion of this reviewer at least, the answer is yes. For the GIMP user looking to go beyond simply cropping and resizing digital images, this book is highly recommended.

Nick has a very special way of relating real events. I found this book very compelling and exciting to read, not only because of the author's straightforward style, but because these were real events.

If you like intrigue and real-life crime type stories... buy this book!

Mangieri's books bring to mind the nonfiction of Peter Maas, author of Serpico. However, Mangieri's work has a sharper edge, simply by virtue of the fact that it is based on his personal experiences and is told in his own words. His books are well worth our attention.

I really enjoyed this book, which tells of corruption in an important government investigator's job. Nick Mangieri dealt with very difficult issues that most of us don't have to face in our day-to-day lives. Despite the pressure, he kept his head and his integrity intact. We can all learn a lot from his story.

This book gives the reader a vivid experience of the day-to-day reality of a white-collar crime investigator. Although the blurb tells us that the author didn't get his main targets, nevertheless he came very close to thwarting his adversaries (who certainly knew they'd been in a fight), and readers will be surprised to see what successes Mangieri had and how his efforts fell short. It's also encouraging to read about some of the allies Mangieri picked up, groups who work largely out of the spotlight but help greatly in keeping corruption and incompetence from wrecking our system altogether.

Outstanding read. I salute the author for his honesty and resolve. Having been assigned to Washington,DC as a member of the armed forces my observations paralleled that of the author's. As a Federal Investigator the author uncovered wrongdoing and by the oath of his office pursued the corruption. A Great Read! This is the Real World Folks! Read it! You won't put it down until you close the rear cover. The author should have received a medal.

Courtney Mroch is a name to remember! In her short story, The Clockmaker, this talented authors's writing makes for a delightful read. Mroch's gift for allowing the reader to feel as if they are "there" in the midst of the story is a gift to us. After reading The Clockmaker and her book, Beneath the Morvan Moon, I look forward to further publications by this upcoming author.

the story is interesting and engaging. this was my first amazon short, and the service worked very well. i can only hope that amazon continues to offer inovative and creative ideas like this. the short story will reach millions of readers, all of whom should enjoy it. the sotry is about, duh, a clockmaker, and his most unusal creation. the prose is done with a ligth touch, keeping the story evenly paced and fast. the story unfolds with great characters and believable dialogue. truly enjoyable.

Courtney L. Mroch's story, "The Clockmaker", unfolds beautifully and simply. The main character, Hohberht Wilmod wants nothing more than to stop time. When the story starts, he has locked himself in his clock-making workshop, reminded of the loss of his wife and dreading the potential loss of his daughter. Even if his daughter's only wish is to marry, he finds himself unable to face anything that would further alter his life. But he gets visited from within his shop from two very unexpected guests. What unfolds is a magical lesson in acceptance for Hohberht, as he realizes that there is no need to fear the changes that take loved ones from us; they are inevitable.

Courtney L. Mroch tells her story in simple, straightforward prose. Subtle and soft conversations bring her characters to life with ease. She writes very skillfully and precisely, infusing her story with creative magic that is never indulgent nor distracting. A less skilled writer might have indulged in more fantastical descriptions in an attempt to convincingly create a fantasy world. But Courtney sticks to what is needed and never lets the simple thread of her story run away from her. Very well done.

The Clockmaker is a great short story. I am a new fan of Courtney Mroch. Other shorts of hers that I have read recently include "Cellfish Ways" and "The Hammerhead". I enjoyed experiencing the range of emotions that each of the stories evoked in a short amount of time. "Beneath the Morvan Moon" is next on my reading list. Where can I find "The White Spider"?

I really enjoyed this short story by Courtney Mroch. The plot was so intriguing it held my interest from beginning to end.

I hear that the CLOCK was mentioned in this author's debut novel, BENEATH THE MORVAN MOON, although we only learn where it came from in this short story ... the "whys and wherefores" of this clock, so to speak.

The clockmaker is an interesting character and Mroch brings him to life with great skill. His daughter is a sympathetic character, her health being the catalyst that prompted the clockmaker to make this mysterious clock with its rather eerie powers. Surprise characters are the "little white people" who play a big role in the book, also. Ms. Mroch has excellent pacing and her dialogue is believable.

I highly recommend this short story; it has prompted me to purchase and read BENEATH THE MORVAN MOON. - Betty Dravis, author of 3 novels and 3 short stories, August 2007 "1106 Grand Boulevard"

This is my all time favorite yaoi and remains my number one even as my manga library grows. Yugi Yamada's artwork is beautiful, her story-line amusing, sweet and dramatic all at once. This is most definitely a must read for any yaoi fan. Steamy scenes, lovable characters, and a plot that makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

this manga is pure brilliance.

consistently wonderful art, storytelling, characterization, sense of humor. the main character's sarcastic streak had me rolling. just read the first 2 pages, and you'll see what i mean!

sexy.

all of the smut was VERY sexy. just graphic enough, but not so much that you feel you're watching bad porno, and not so little that you feel gyped and are certain the characters feel that way too.

i yearn for a volume two. this manga is my #1 top favorite manga EVER. (followed closely by love recipe, and second by the 'little butterfly' series.)

buy it. love it. pet the cover. re-read it again and again.

If there is one thing I learned from this manga it is that beer inexplicably causes hot men to grope each other. (Of course, this is in opposition to what I learned in college, but no matter!)

In `Close the Last Door', the main character is Nagai, hopelessly in love with his old college friend Saitoh, who is getting married. He drowns himself in alcohol and is taken care of by Honda, who offers a special `comfort service' to the crying man. The path after this follows Nagai and Honda as they spend more `special' time together and brushes upon Saitoh who is beginning to rethink his thus far platonic feelings for his beloved Sempai Nagai.

I found several sections to be absolutely hilarious. Cute, innocent Saitoh dealing with the intrusion of Honda by behaving in an unexpected way and any scene with Nagai with his ex-girlfriend are pure gold for me.

I summation: though the story can be considered predictable, this is a light, fun, refreshing and entertaining read. As another reviewer mentioned: Get this!

I am surprised by how much I like this. Close the Last Door is definitely Yaoi as it focuses on relationships among white collar workers, from break-ups with girl friends, to denial of one's sexual orientation to finally embracing it. The centre plot is the triangle relationship among 3 twenty something guys, Nagai, Saitou and Honda. Nagai "thinks" he is in love with Saitou as a person (nothing to do with the fact that Saitou is a man), refuses to admit he is gay but is infact attracted to Honda. Sweet Saitou is abandoned by his bride on his wedding and seems to bear more than respect for Nagai whom he clings to. Honda is the interesting seme, outwardly cool but inwardly just as insecure, as he vied for Nagai's attention. Fast paced and often humorous the relationship and characters development is an engrossing read. And of course the sex from just initial gropping, while pretending to be drunk, to hot coupling is quite quite erotic. I hope Vol 2 is not too far away.

I have to admit to a history with this title. So many years ago, I struggled to translate the raws. Something about the artwork, the layouts, the smoldering looks, just caught me, and I *had* to know the story. Needless to say, with my pitiful, measly scraps of self-taught Japanese, I never knew much about the plot. So my soul was singing with ecstasy when I saw than June had published Vol. 1.

"Close the Last Door" starts out with Nagai Atsushi attending his junior's (Saitou Toshihisa) wedding. Not only has he been Saitou's extremely supportive senpai all these years, Nagai has been madly in love with him, as well. So he's understandably despondent over Saitou's marriage. Drowning his sorrows in alcohol, he ends up at the bar sitting by Honda Kenzou , a co-worker of the evil bride. With Nagai being too angry and hurting (and drunk) to be thinking clearly, and Honda-san lending a sympathetic ear, the whole story comes out. Nagai ends up passing out, and Honda-san helps him to a hotel room, even though he doesn't quite understand why he's helping this stranger out so much. Soon, some sexual sparks fly, but it seems to take both Nagai and Honda by surprise, and they back off pretty quickly.

The next day, Nagai finds out that Saitou's bride has left him, the very day after their wedding! (wow!) So Saitou's back to relying on Nagai and crying on his shoulder. Incredibly, it seems that Nagai may have a chance at Saitou, after all. Yet, why does he still have thoughts of Honda, even when he doesn't want to? This sets up the rest of the volume, a love triangle of sorts. Nagai still loves Saitou, so he can't understand his own feelings for Honda--and when it comes right down to it, can he really accept that he's--well, gay? And now, Saitou almost seems willing.... Throw in an ex-girlfriend, the runaway bride, and the story has a nice mix of gentle complexity.

On the surface, this story seems like a re-hash of so many boys' love stories, but underneath there is much more. I adore Yamada-Sensei's skillful drawing of faces, bodies, and especially her eyes. I can see the intense attraction between Nagai and Honda; I can see it in their eyes, their faces, they way they touch. Each time Honda and Nagai are even in the same room, I feel my heart beat faster. When they come together, their kisses make me swoon. The sexual chemistry between them is intense, and seems to build upon each encounter. I particularly like the touches of realism--no perfect first-time sex here! And sometimes things are awkward and comical. I love the careful attention to character development, making the mundane seem vital and new. They're not buff, macho stud-muffins, nor are they wispy, delicately beautiful youths. They seem like real men--real men filled with incredible sexual energy! There's also a fair bit of comedy throughout the story, which lightens the mood delightfully. At the end of the volume, I wanted to see these characters again, to get to know them better. Overall, it's sensitive, genuine, and hot, with a teaspoon of angst thrown in for seasoning.

Now, I have heard that the publishing company has not come forth with a date to publish volume 2. If they choose not to put out Vol. 2, that would be a crying shame, as we get to meet Honda-san's two older brothers--well, I think they are brothers, but I'm not too sure (poor Japanese, remember?). Anyway, that story looks just as fabulous as this one, being that Honda's big brothers are just as awesome and sexy as brother number 3. And we get to see Honda-san and Nagai from vol. 1 return (as far as I can recall). Please buy "Close the Last Door" and enjoy!

In a final note, I have to wonder about Amazon's decision to post reviews on boys' love manga from Publishers Weekly. It's obvious from their reviews that they neither appreciate nor approve of boys' love stories. While they are entitled to their opinion, I don't feel they need to intrude on the enjoyment of boys' love aficionados. We're not interested in their negative opinions, and they are certainly unhelpful in every sense of the word. Only someone who wanted to be convinced *not* to buy a boys' love manga would find them of any use. It's almost as if Amazon is trying to discourage the purchasing of these books.

Many years ago I used this book to build a compiler which generated test cases for a complex real-time system. The result was a syntax-oriented, single-pass, context independent, processor with no restricted variables. It all worked as described in the book. I believe the construction concepts are still valid, mutatis mutandis. Simply disregard the language anachronisms.

Grea

I loved this book and, although very out of date (AED RWord, FORTRAN and so on), I still read bits from time to time. Not a book to buy these days - get one that uses a language that *you* use.

I used this book in my undergraduate studies (Computer Science) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It was very good. The main thing we had against it, back at UNN, was the font used. But once you get used to the fonts the rest becomes easy.

This was one of the best books I read when I was a student 25 years ago. You really understand how to write compilers after reading it. It is invaluable for those who learn programming. I believe it contributed greatly to turning me into a professional programmer. It's a shame that this book is not available any more...

Dead Line sits on the border between reality and fantasy, but with a foot comfortably on each side.

Within the space of a few paragraphs Rachel Green carries her reader from a walk through the woods in to an fantastical world of werewolves and ghosts. This transition is handled with such wit and simplicity as to be utterly believable, thus avoiding the tedious scene-setting so common in fantasy tales. The reader merely finds herself accepting the new reality, and moving on with the story.

The tale begins slowly and simply on a dog walk; but, with the discovery of a body, the plot races off. A myriad of hooks leads the reader into a deepening mystery, but there are not so many as to cause confusion. Is Harold as innocent as he first seems? What was he doing running barefoot with Gillian? Who is Gillian, anyway? And how does Fliss do that?

Green's characters are quirky and likeable. She finds a suitable balance, between normal and odd, for the reader to both recognise and be intrigued by them.

While the very start seemed a little too poetic for the rest of the tale, the writing is beautifully illustrated with Green's imagination, and she paints her somewhat bizarre scenes with ironic realism. It is a tale that sucks the reader in without warning; the 5,000-word opening is more than enough to grab the attention, but not nearly enough to satisfy the appetite.

Dead Line is a page-turner from the start.

Dead Line fizzes with originality. Settings are quickly brought to life with a few deft strokes. The characters are engaging and the dialogue witty; I laughed out loud twice. There is a huge amount of energy and verve to the writing, and almost every paragraph raises an intriguing question in the reader's mind. It is a very good sign when the beginning of a book goes at break-neck speed like this. I was so disappointed when it stopped suddenly at the end of the excerpt, and reading the author's synopsis only heightened my feeling of disappointment, because it raised even more questions that I want answers to! I am not a great fan of urban fantasy as a genre, but the author handles her unusual subject matter with a light and humorous touch that makes it a very appealing read. The compelling characters drive the action, and I am longing to find out more about the relationships between them and what happens to them.

Dead Line by Rachel Green is an astonishing and captivating read. Before you realise quite what's happened you're drawn into a magical world where a murder victim is sniffed out by wolf that can morph into a fur-clad woman (and back again) and a batchelor called Tom feeds his aged mother sleeping pills and dreams of escaping into other worlds. Green draws her characters with a deft and accomplished hand. These are not stock characters but fascinating and unusual people. Who is Harold and what kind of person would request a bacon butty and sit down after discovering a dead body? And does Tom drug his mother for her own good or his?

This 5,000 word opening is rammed full of hooks and questions that leave the reader wanting more. Who is the murder victim and why was he murdered? How did Flick become a wolf or was she always that way? What will Tom find at the bookshop? What's inscribed at the front of the book? Who is Vixen and what are the nodules that mean she can flood her body with stimulants? And who is after her?

Green's opening is both witty and intriguing at the same time and she very quickly creates a world that you not only believe in but that you don't want to leave.

"Dead Line" is fantasy at its best.

This well written novel has intriguing characters, a fantastic mystery, a taste of the supernatural, and a very realistic setting despite the supernatural bits that hover around. The characters are sympathetic, and the mystery leaves you hanging and dying to know more.

You begin in the forest with a werewolf and her companion who find a dead body and call in the police, yet leave you believing somehow that they know more than the police. We move to a taxi driver who takes care of his mum, and then to a final snippet that leaves you wanting more about a character named "Vixen."

This book is really a great beginning, and I am dying to know more about these characters, this mystery, the supernatural flavor that the book carries off so well and yet doesn't overwhelm you with, and how so many disparate characters can be tied together. Indeed, that is the biggest mystery of all, and one that begs to be answered.

It's a pity there's only the first 5,000 words - I want to know what happens next. This is a very smooth read, nearly flawless in its ability to draw the reader in. I was interested before I knew it.

Each character has a distinct voice and lively personality; Jasfoup's quick wit and Tom's situation have me hooked. It's rare to find a book that has werewolves and magic and demons that doesn't slap you in the face with fantasy. This feels real, as if it could be taking place today.

I'm eager to continue on and find out what will happen. Three chapters in and the pace is accelerating steadily, there isn't a dull spot or a wasted moment to be found.

If you're looking for a solid paranormal mystery, with engaging characters and an entertaining plot - and a dash of wit, this is it.