I Books

The second installment of one of the best scifi anthologies around and also the first where my all-time favorite Joker of all time Jube the Walrus is introduced (or is he a joker or something else entirely you will have to read to find out.

The story forces on an invading force from outer space dubbed in typical pulp fashion "The Swam" the stories focus on the attempts by Aces and Jokers to fight it and by a tyrannical cult to control it in the mistaken belief that the swarm's arrival is for the greater good of all humanity.

There are also appearances by other Aces including Cord, the Great and Powerful Turtle Captain Trips and an unfortunate teenager named Kid Dinosaur who can change into any of the long dead reptiles that he has knowledge of...unfortunately his mass doesn't change.

This is another time where my powers of description do not measure up to how great this book is

If you are a fan of

Lewis Shiner
Walter Jon Williams
Pat Cadigan
George R.R. Martin
Roger Zelazny

Then do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book.

Aces High is a high class, and high up restaurant catering to the Aces, the Wild Card victims with powers. It is expensive and snooty, run by one of their own, a man named Hiram Worchester, who has the ability to control weight.

The Aces have two serious problems in this book, and the stories all relate to these somehow, the menace of the alien Swarm, and the crazy black magic style power use of the Astronomer, a geeky crazed black magician type.

The other memorable nasty, Demise, with his death gaze and regeneration abilities, also is introduced in "If Looks Could Kill".

Wild Cards 02 : 01 Pennies from Hell - Lewis Shiner
Wild Cards 02 : 02 Jube: One - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 03 Unto the Sixth Generation: Prologue - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 04 Jube: Two - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 05 Ashes to Ashes - Roger Zelazny
Wild Cards 02 : 06 Unto the Sixth Generation: Part One - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 07 Unto the Sixth Generation: Part Two - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 08 Jube: Three - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 09 If Looks Could Kill - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 02 : 10 Jube: Four - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 11 Unto the Sixth Generation: Epilogue - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 12 Winter's Chill - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 13 Jube: Five - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 14 Relative Difficulties - Melinda M. Snodgrass
Wild Cards 02 : 15 With a Little Help From His Friends - Victor Milán
Wild Cards 02 : 16 Jube: Six - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 17 By Lost Ways - Pat Cadigan
Wild Cards 02 : 18 Mr. Koyama's Comet - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 19 Half Past Dead - John J. Miller
Wild Cards 02 : 20 Jube: Seven - George R. R. Martin



Fortunato meets a nice girl to go along with his geisha collection, but his pursuit of the Masons through rare coins has terrible consequences.

5 out of 5


Walrus boy ain't what he seems.

4 out of 5


An ally makes a desperate teleportation attempt to warn Jube of the Swarm.

4 out of 5


The death of his alien ally and the loss of the singularity shifter and a garbled message of warning distracts Jube from the xmas cheer.

4 out of 5


The death of his alien ally and the loss of the singularity shifter and a garbled message of warning distracts Jube from the xmas cheer.

4 out of 5


Jube hires Croyd to find the alien corpse, and anything with it. Devil John biffo.

4 out of 5


Modular Man made, Swarm invade.

4 out of 5


Singularity shifting. Don't try and mind-control androids.

3.5 out of 5


When Jube realises his ally meant the Swarm, he knows he needs the power of the Singularity Shifter rather more urgently.

3.5 out of 5


Astronomer hires Demise eyes.

4.5 out of 5


Jube enlists the transparent infobroker.

3 out of 5


Punks find Shifter.

2.5 out of 5


Girl shy Turtle.

4.5 out of 5


Astronomer, Swarm, Takisians all prove to be a little overwhelming.

3 out of 5


Captain Trips drops back in, as Tachyon's relatives show bad timing, capture them, Turtle, and others.

5 out of 5


Tachyon and Trips vs Takisians and Swarm for the fate of the world.

5 out of 5


On the Mason trail.

3 out of 5


Astronomer has hostages and Shakhti machine, but the Aces rally for a raid.

4 out of 5


Swarm sighting.

3 out of 5


Yeoman finds the Singularity Shifter while taking out Egrets. When Tachyon learns of this, he has a plan to take the fight to the Swarm.

5 out of 5


Jube tells Red about some aliens and decides his allegiances are local.

3.5 out of 5

A great installment in the Wild Cards universe. An alien swarm is headed on a collision course with earth and the Aces must unite to fight the impending doom of the world. However, "the Astronomer" - a super-villain- is trying to stop the heroes, and employs any devious methods to reach his ends... There are new characters presented such as Demise - who can look in your eyes forcing you to relive his death, and thus die yourself...and Jube, the walrus-like newspaper salesman with bad taste in jokes and equally bad fashion sense... who knows what motives he has?

This is a great story, and I can't help but think that the wild cards would make an excellent series on the sci-fi channel.
I look forward to the next episode!

Relic113

This is the second book in the Wildcards series. This book focuses on the lives of many of the aces of the wildcards universe, with the main unifying plot of the stories being the threat of an alien invasion.

Aces High is a more focused book, dealing with a smaller group of aces and returning to them more often rather than the sampler that the first book was. Many of the favorites return; Fortunato, Dr. Tachyon, The Great and Powerful Turtle, but there are some really nasty villians that appear in this book, as well. The villians are not nice people, so be warned, but they are interesting characters. The leader is pretty much evil to the core, but his hirelings are much more human, each with their own motivations which are explained pretty well in the book. They aren't all evil; many are just looking to get ahead and backing the team that they think will win. Well, and perhaps are a bit more accepting of the "win at any cost" mentality.

I can't think of a story I didn't enjoy in this book, either. All were well written, and were tied together well. I think my favorite story may have been the exploits of Modular Man, but Captain Tripps is a very interesting character as well. I hope to see more of them in future books.

So far, it seems that these books should be read in order, so if you skip Wildcards 1 and start here, you may be lost. Just a word of warning, since I know the books can be hard to find.
I recommend this book to all Wildcards fans and any superhero fan that has not read this series yet is doing themselves a disservice.

The continuing short story collection set in the shared world as introduced in 'Wild Cards,' this is the continuing stories of those Aces and Jokers (and sometimes plain old natural humans) in the fallout of the genetic Wild Card virus. We're in the eighties now, and a new menace looms on the horizon - a dark alien organism is on its way, and the Swarm Mother sends terrible creatures down to attack earth in many places - and who else can stop them but the super-powered Aces?

The nice thing is the story-arc merely starts with the swarm assault, and from there, the weaving in of new and old characters is superb. We revisit some of the best characters from the first volume (The Great and Powerful Turtle is my favourite so far), and the story of the Swarm Mother certainly doesn't end in that single attack. This is solid stuff, and very well organized to say that it's a shared world.

Now I've ordered book three in with the last of my online gift certificates, and hope it arrives soon! Nothing quite like a new literary addiction.

'Nathan

I'll be honest, all in all I liked reading about Andy's journey with CF. I can understand how he feels and he does a good job of describing what he has been through. While reading i felt as though half of this book was written to help you understand andy and his journey and the other half is simply a "look what i did." At times he came off as whiny and emotional. Also although it's never metioned it's written as though andy grew up with "deep pockets." Which is fine, it just helps me understand him. Overall i feel for you Andy. Fight the good fight

Whether or not your life has been touched by chronic disease, you will be able to relate to Lipman's story of overcoming adversity. The candid, honest prose reminds the reader to seize the day. The work has affected me more than any other. I would highly recommend it.

I am not a reader, but I could not put this book down. I read it on the beach at Cabo San Lucas. I have kids who are struggling with health problems. This book gives hope and strength to anyone who is facing impossible odds. Andy is obviously a man of deep character and tremendous resolve. If you are struggling yourself or know anyone who is, get them this book.

I found the book totally inspiring!! I pray that when my daughter is old enough to read that she will be as inspired as I was. Thank you Andy for doing such a wonderful book!!!

This was a great book it really inspired me.

I am proud to lend my support to the kind of intelligent tool my parents insist upon. Does it replace an agency? Not for our families. An agency is not just a place to get a pool of names. When you use an agency you should be purchasing a rare commodity, expertise. The judgement that allows the placement professional to quickly separate the diamond from the cubic zirconia. This expertise, coupled with the sound scientific foundation upon which this test was created and book written, will provide you with the best tools possible to select a superb nanny for your child. Essential for do-it-yourselfers, too. If you can afford it, I urge to employ the most experienced agency you can find that specializes in the type of nanny you need (live-in or out, new or experienced, nanny school certified or college degreed, etc.). Our nannies, for instance, specialize in nurturing the gifted child. Bravo Dr. Pick!

My wife and I are making plans to start a family and one of our major concerns has been child care. We are both marketing professionals and plan to continue our carreers, but the added stress of leaving our child with a stranger has been the source of many long debates with our friends and family. We have heard countless stories, both good and bad, with regard to finding and retaining the right nanny. A couple we know recommended we read "Are you hiring the right nanny" and take the guess work out of who has the right system. They were right! This book makes a difference. It's an easy read, complete, and provides the tools to make informed decisions.

I have seen many books come and go about nannies. Few are written by people with as much experience as Dr. Pick. Following her steps will greatly enhance your chances of having a successful nanny/family relationship and most importantly, happy kids! Peace of mind for you is icing on the cake. I have worked with Dr. Pick and spoken with her numerous times, her test is even available on our web site. Buy the book. You have my personal pledge it will make a difference whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or use an elite international agency like ours! Jackie Williams, President and Founder of I Love My Nanny.com

This is a wonderful book for family! I have graduated from "The English Nanny and Governess School" in Chagrin Falls, OH, and have found that this book is acurate and useful for both parents and nannies. With the bad rap many nannies are taking through media, I'm pleased that this book gives nannies the recognition they deserve. Many work long hours and want to be dedicated to the child and the family. It helps to know what to look for in a nanny so that she may stick around for quite a long time. The child will appreciate his mommy and daddy taking time to read this before hiring anyone to take care of his/her daily needs. You won't regret buying this book!

Finding a nanny was an amazing amount of work. I had no idea where to start. This step by step book gave me the insight I needed to choose the best nanny for my daughter. I am recommending this to all my friends.

Umut is my son. I cannot give him less than five stars!

I hope one day he can review this book and rewrite it with all details without fear.

Author Ozturk who braces the Hurricane Katrina in Biloxi, Mississippi says that he loves the Gulf Coast of Mississippi more than ever.

Author Umut Ozturk brings in fifteen years of his life in Biloxi, Mississippi and shows us ups and downs of being a foreigner in his new home.

Mr. Ozturk's story is a Mississippi Gulf Coast's history between 1990 to the current days.

As you are reading this review he is fighting against Hurricane Katrina's devastation, side by side with his friends in Biloxi, Mississippi.

True Story of Turkish Family Facing Deportation Says Otherwise


With fear and apprehension still hanging over the country like a dense fog, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 continue to impact the American public. Innocent people wanting to immigrate to the United States have been turned away due to racial profiling and the fear of additional attacks. The Department of Homeland Security was developed in response to the events of 9/11, but Americans remain on high alert. For one immigrant family, lack of communication between this government agency and the FBI created a nightmare. In his book America Hates Me But I Still Love Her!, author Umut Ozturk tells their story.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Umut Ozturk immigrated to the United States with his family in 1990 at the age of twelve. His father is a NATO officer who participated in the U.S. Air Force and Turkish Air Force exchange program, and the family settled in Biloxi, Mississippi. Years later, while trying to qualify for financial aid in order to attend law school, Umut applied for permanent U.S. residency. That fateful action brought the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to his family's doorstep, changing their lives irrevocably.

The Ozturk family was forced into the beginning stages of the deportation process even though the INS granted Umut's request for residency. Today, the Ozturk family is in the midst of their third appeal. Unless this appeal is successful, everyone in the family, with the exception of Umut and his younger American-born sister, will be deported, effectively tearing the family apart. Even though Umut's personal request for U.S. residency was approved, he has yet to receive his green card due to his family's ongoing court battle. Ironically, Ozturk's father received a commendation from the FBI for his years of public service AFTER the family lost their initial case and appeal!

America Hates Me But I Still Love Her! reveals a new racism against immigrants that has become increasingly prevalent throughout the "land of the free and the home of the brave." Ozturk's compelling prose and easy-to-read style will instantly draw the reader into his tragic and all-too-true story.

Dear Mr. Ozturk,

I have read your review for Dr. Mehmet Oz's book: You: Owner's Manual

You are wrong. There are no bad books! All books are good!

Yes, Mr. Ozturk, there are only good books.. How dreary would be the world if there were no books! It would be as dreary as if there were no Dr. Oz and Mr. Ozturk. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance. We should have no enjoyment.

You don't believe in your book "America Hates Me But I Still Love Her!" You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get a business man to hire editors to watch in all your books to be a better book, but even if they did not see your book as good as others, what would that prove? Nobody sees bad books, but that is no sign that there are bad books. The most real things in the world are those that neither readers nor editors can see. Did you see bad books on sale?

Ah, Mr. Ozturk, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding other than a non-fiction book

A thousand years from now Mr. Ozturk, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, your book will continue to be somebodies' heart of childhood and adult life.

Yes, Mr. Ozturk, we need healthier life and a heathy body. But, we need a healthy society to live in. We need both Dr. Oz's book and yours as human being.

Your book, Mr. Ozturk, as good as Dr. Oz's book. All books are beautiful!

True Story of Turkish Family Facing Deportation Says Otherwise

With fear and apprehension still hanging over the country like a dense fog, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 continue to impact the American public. Innocent people wanting to immigrate to the United States have been turned away due to racial profiling and the fear of additional attacks. The Department of Homeland Security was developed in response to the events of 9/11, but Americans remain on high alert. For one immigrant family, lack of communication between this government agency and the FBI created a nightmare. In his book America Hates Me But I Still Love Her!, author Umut Ozturk tells their story.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Umut Ozturk immigrated to the United States with his family in 1990 at the age of twelve. His father is a NATO officer who participated in the U.S. Air Force and Turkish Air Force exchange program, and the family settled in Biloxi, Mississippi. Years later, while trying to qualify for financial aid in order to attend law school, Umut applied for permanent U.S. residency. That fateful action brought the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to his family's doorstep, changing their lives irrevocably.

The Ozturk family was forced into the beginning stages of the deportation process even though the INS granted Umut's request for residency. Today, the Ozturk family is in the midst of their third appeal. Unless this appeal is successful, everyone in the family, with the exception of Umut and his younger American-born sister, will be deported, effectively tearing the family apart. Even though Umut's personal request for U.S. residency was approved, he has yet to receive his green card due to his family's ongoing court battle. Ironically, Ozturk's father received a commendation from the FBI for his years of public service AFTER the family lost their initial case and appeal!

America Hates Me But I Still Love Her! reveals a new racism against immigrants that has become increasingly prevalent throughout the "land of the free and the home of the brave." Ozturk's compelling prose and easy-to-read style will instantly draw the reader into his tragic and all-too-true story.

Fun, clear, to the point, nuanced yet simple. If you delight in the enneagram, get ready for a delicious ride.

This book is discussing about personality type. it is a great book one who want to know his or her temperament well.

This is a great little book. It's fun to read, has great cartoons and will make you laugh. Just as important, it contains concise summaries and accurate information according to Enneagram theory. It also has great tips for getting along with the different types in relationship.

I have studied the Enneagram for years and take it very seriously. This book is charming and delightful in it's very basic way of explaining types on a surface level. The cartoons capture the essence of the 9 types and make understanding the Enneagram fun and easy, even for the serious scholars! I love it! It will make you laugh and create an even deeper appreciation for the 9 types.

I wanted to like this book. I picked it up as a tool for exploring the chemistry between characters in my writing. I always identify their enneagrams during character development, and it seemed like this might inspire thought and lead to new depths of understanding the way they relate.

Unfortunately, this volume is a bit skimpy. The section on enneagram interrelations runs from pages 9 to 157, and it only gets that much because the book has a large typeface, utilizes bullet points and lots of cartoons. I enjoyed what they have, but it feels like a teaser for a more indepth book.

I'll be looking for that book.

This simply written book of rhymes was a short and fun read. Parents will enjoy the light-hearted way it echoes our sentiments at our child's firsts, our hopes and fears for them!
Enjoy.....

As I Remember.....is a great book with anyone with children or anyone who is planning on having children. It brings out the best reason for having them. With my two babies growing so rapidly and not knowing where time goes-this helps me remember the joys that i have had and will never forget. The words are easy to read even for my 6 year old and the illustrations are greatly related to each poem. For every one who wants to enjoy the best thing in life...get this book, you won't regret it!

Every parent should share this with their children, whether your child is 7 years old or 17 years old. This book accurately captures the true definition of unconditional and everlasting love.

This book contains all the reasons why being a mom is the most important job you can ever have. I love the book, the words, the pictures - thank you for this book. It is truly an inspiration and something to be treasured!

I bought this book for my wife..........and she can't believe how someone knew exactly how she felt. Our kids had smiles on their faces throughout the book. They think it was written especially for them! Buy this book for your wife, your kids and yourself .......... It's definitely "one of a kind!

As with many Bahai writings (I'm not a member, but I have been to Bahai functions, read much of their literature, and have close friends in this faith), one doesn't have to be a member to enjoy this book. A lot of what Esslemont says here is practical for anyone. Partricularly such advice as-

"For a child, a teacher is necessary, but the aim of a true teacher is to teach his pupil how to do without a teacher."

"The time has come when narrow national patroitisms should be merged in the wider patriotism whose country is the world."

Want more? Buy the book and see.

This book has a defined scope. It does not address all the questions of a scholarly mind or an inquisitive mind... but that is not within it's scope. The fact that some reviewers find it does not address all the contemporary questions may be related to a misunderstanding of when this material was written. J. E. Esselmont lived from 1874-1925. Keeping the context of history and the author's personal involvement in the faith, it shares a view of the emerging Baha'i faith by one taken up in the swell of the changes of the day. The author's introduction clearly states that when he first glimpsed the teachings, he was struck by their power and beauty. The author thus disclaims his bias and his position. This is not a dispassionate, dry, recitation of the purports of the day. This is the writing of a man in love with something greater than himself, attempting to put his learning into a context historically and socially.

No book will be perfect, but this one is intriguing. A preview of contents is available by project guttenberg online.

I'm not going to get into much detail here, because this a book that you really just need to read for yourself. Verily, every Earthling should read this. Okay, that is a biased thing to say. ( I believe in Baha'u'llah's revelation ) But to view this as a reader and not a theologian, it is a remarkable introduction to the 2nd most widespread and youngest of the world religions. It is a source of the Baha'i view on a very large number of issues that face the world today. I think its easy to at first be utterly confused by the Baha'i faith, but this book should aid you in a comprehension of Its message and what it means to be one of Its adherents.

To be a Baha'i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood." - Abdu'l-Baha

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility." - Baha'u'llah

It was an exciting experience.

This is an incredible book which outlines the basics of a new, world-wide faith known as Baha'i. It discusses such topics as:

- The unity of science and religion

- The way to peace

- Health and healing

- Prayer

- Education

- Fundamental justice

- Baha'i history and religion

It contains a number of profound ideas and meaningful insights which can be applied to any life and every society, and offers a basic understanding of this young religion. For some, it leads to still greater questions -- the answers of which can be found in other, further reaching books and studies.

I highly recommend this book.

This thorough but not exhaustive work (like the bible) of the flow of biblical history in the book of Genesis is hard to put down----it's that good. All main areas are covered. Where Schaeffer brings in controversy he gives us fair warning. This book should be read as a unity with "No Final Conflict". "If we won't listen, we won't understand."

There is a basic mystery that holds true, that we came into being: 1. from nothing to something 2. everything began with an impersonal something 3. everything began with a personnel something, or 4. there is and always has been a dualism; there are no other choices, and 1,2, and 4 quickly erode when analyzed. The bible gives us structure, without it we are only left with an "existential leap"----a blind faith. Schaeffer says, "we who are finite can never exhaust the finite". Yes, even the finite.

Wish you well and blessings
Scott

This was my first Schaeffer book, so I was unsure of what to expect. I consider myself rather picky with regard to religious subject matter. Mr. Schaeffer's book was enjoyable, and I will try another one. While "Genesis" did not really have any significant new ideas, it was well communicated and easy to follow, even for laymen or the casual reader.

If you are unfamiliar with Genesis and the conservative approach to its interpretation, this is a good book. It is not scholarly or philosophical, in my opinion, but it remains substantial - which many people will find refreshing.

This is a great book for all Christians to read. It puts creation back into perspective and establishes all the solid biblical proof for why creation had to exist in both space and time. Unbelievers will scoff but in this book believers will be reminded of who they are and where they came from.

Francis A. Schaeffer (1912-84) was an American Evangelical theologian and philosopher whose works were very influential on Evangelical thinking. In this fascinating book, Dr. Schaeffer takes a look at the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis, which many Christian thinkers seem to find irrelevant to a truly Christian worldview. On the contrary, Dr. Schaeffer shows that the early history of man, as contained in the beginning of Genesis, is crucial to understanding why man is the way he is, and how God works with and through man.

I must say that this is a truly mind-expanding book that goes a long way towards giving the reader a truly Christian view of the man and the world that he inhabits. I mean, how is man "fallen," and what was and is his relationship with God? These are crucial questions to understanding the very foundational concepts of our religion, and the answers are contained in this book.

This is a great book, and a true classic of Christian thought. I do not hesitate to say should be read by all believers.

One of Schaeffer's best that I have read.He looks at the start of time for us not God, since God is eternal.It really made me stop and think. Also to look at Genesis in a whole new way

The Bellerophon -- or Billy Ruffian to Jack Tar, who wasn't familiar with Greek mythology -- is, or at least used to be, a familiar ship to English schoolchildren, because it was the ship that collected Napoleon on his final failure and used to be regularly illustrated in textbooks.

In David Cordingly's deft and straightforward biography, the Billy Ruffian turns out to have had an unusually interesting career, with even some echoes still reverberating in the 21st century.

Cordingly does not attempt to retell the history of the Napoleonic wars, or even just the naval wars, through the experiences of the ship, but he does nevertheless give a concise review of the naval strategy and most of the important battles. Billy Ruffian took a brave part in three of the most important -- the Glorious First of June, the Nile and Trafalgar.

Billy Ruffian was badly knocked about in all three, actually being driven from the field at the Nile, although only after giving a stout fight to a much bigger French ship.

Although slugfests in the Age of Sail could be very bloody, not many men died in the Bellerophon's fights: four at the First of June, 49 at the Nile, 27 at Trafalgar. Compared with the butcher's bills presented at places like Waterloo and Borodino, seapower was a cheap way of dealing with tyrants.

The heroes of the Billy Ruffian also were true Britons. Although a myth has grown up that European ships' crews were cosmopolitan, one captain of Bellerophon wrote down a unique list of the origins of all his sailors. (Why he did this odd thing is unknown.) Fully half were English and most of the rest Irish, Scots and Welsh. Many foreign places were represented in the crew, but only a small proportion were foreigners.

After the war, Bellerophon was converted into a floating prison, and Cordingly's description of this episode is as interesting as all the war stories.

The part of Billy Ruffian's history that still resonates concerns what to do about Napoleon. The situation was very similar to that faced by the American administration today, and the outcome was similar, too.

Napoleon's status was uncertain. At times he wanted to be considered a prisoner-of-war, at other times not. The British Cabinet was convinced that, whatever his legal status, he had to be put away. In this, they were undoubtedly correct.

The interference of lawyers in matters that were beyond the scope of law was then, as now, a danger to innocent lives, and while Bellerophon never ran from an armed enemy, she did flee in the night from a lawyer, who was thought to be carrying a writ of habeas corpus. (In fact, it was only a subpoena in a civil suit.)

In the end, Napoleon went to St. Helena, the Guantanamo Bay of 1815.

"The Billy Ruffian" is a satisfying ship biography, with one exception. It is lavishly illustrated, as might be expected from Cordingly, formerly Keeper of Pictures at the National Maritime Museum. Unfortunately, in the paperback edition the reproductions are too small to be examined. The hardcover edition (which I have not seen) is probably, therefore, the better bargain.

This is an absolutley fabulous book and read, for both the knowledgeable reader of the 19th century Royal Navy or the novice regarding that era. There is naval history, social commentary and history, as well as of adventure and seamanship.

A great book to read, keep and read again.

I enjoyed this biography of a 74-gun ship of the line that was everywhere during the Napoleonic wars. He gives interesting information on shipbuilding, life at sea, the Cadiz and Brest blockades, the battles (Glorious First of June, Nile and Trafalgar), the Admiralty and Navy Board, press gangs, prison hulks, Lord Nelson, etc.

The problem is his very sympathetic treatment of Napoleon. It's one thing to say he was a brilliant battlefield commander. But it's inexcusable to fail to add that he was a ruthless tyrant who drenched Europe in blood and kept it at war for over 20 years. After Waterloo, Napoleon surrendered to the Bellerophon and Cordingly seems to agree that the British were somehow hardhearted in exiling him to St. Helena, rather than giving him what he wanted--a nice cottage in the English countryside. What he deserved was a rope at the nearest yardarm.

Veteran scribe of the seas David Cordingly has wrought a spellbinding biography of HMS Bellerophon, "The Billy Ruffian: The Bellerophon and the downfall of Napoleon: The Biography of a Ship of the Line, 1782-1836", one of the most important warships in Great Britain's Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. "Billy Ruffian", as she was know affectionately by her sailors and much of the fleet, played a pivotal role at three of the most important battles during these wars with Revolutionary France and Napoleon's French Empire; The Glorious First of June, the Battle of the Nile, and Trafalgar. At the Glorious First of June HMS Bellerophon fought decisively against a French fleet nearly twice the size of the British fleet commanded by the elderly Admiral Lord Howe, the Royal Navy's most distinguished fleet commander at the onset of the French Revolutionary wars. At the Battle of the Nile, HMS Bellerophon fought a fierce duel with the larger, more powerful French ship-of-the-line L'Orient, the flagship of the French fleet, only to be rendered a drifting hulk with the loss of much of its crew killed or wounded, a short time before L'Orient blew up and sank; an explosion which was heard twenty miles away. And then, of course, was Bellerophon's heroic struggle against French and Spanish warships at Trafalgar, made most memorable by the death of her captain during the battle's climax. Yet the most important episode in her celebrated career occurred at the close of the Napoleonic wars, as the warship which carried Napoleon Bonaparte back to England at the end of his "Hundred Days", mere weeks after his defeat at Waterloo by an Allied army commanded by the British general Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. Tragically, Bellerophon's distinguished career as a Royal Navy ship-of-the-line would end shortly thereafter, with the last two decades of her life spent as a prison hulk. Coordingly is a captivating, mesmerizing writer who has created a splendid biography of this important, yet forgotten, warship. Fans of naval warfare and of course, C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian, will find this memorable book well worth reading.

Instead of the usual biography of a famous captain or battle, Mr. Cordingly treats us to the life of a famous ship of the line - Bellerophon.
From a protracted birth in the slips of the Medway, through the highs and lows of the American and European wars, to an ignominious return to her birthplace, we read the history of the Georgian Navy as written by her commanders, officers and crew,
The author's painstaking research of the Admiralty records and Naval chronicles breathes life into what could have been a simple catalog of events and postings ... first-hand accounts, log-books and extracts from letters flesh out the bare bones of ports and locations, while the background of contemporary historical events puts Bellerophon's role into full perspective - this is the real stuff that Forester and O'Brian drew on to create their adventures.
Why Bellerophon? There are plenty of other famous ships, but none had the fortune to engineer the collection and safe conduct of the most famous and wanted man in the world from his enemies in France. This was to be the high point of a long and distinguished career, as immediately afterwards she was decommissioned and spent her last 21 years as a prison hulk.
An informative and absorbing read.

I read this book in a single sitting! And laughed SO hard. The authors get what you're going through, give excellent advice, and bust your gut. It's the perfect prescription for the blues.

When you pick up this book, you certainly know what you're getting. It's entertaining and comforting though not entirely earthshattering. I found this book to give some good pointers in dealing with your "IGBN" friends and found an interesting statistic: 88% of people marry at least once in their life. Obviously if there's a book on this topic......well then I'm not the only one!

This book is hilarious!! I laughed on just about every page! It is sooo true and sooo funny. I really enjoyed this book and related to it to a "T". I am 25 and caught in the middle of the bridal wave and this book really tells it like it is and gives great ideas that help get through these times....and makes it seem not so bad because there is a better way to handle this situation. This book is great for any single who feels that everyone around her is getting married but her and that she feels like shes being picked last for the kickball team, or someone in a relationship that is chomping at the bit waiting for her boyfriend to propose while watching her friends "flash the ice" and make that trip down the isle. I LOVED reading this and I think everyone else will too!!

Well I happen to be friends with one of the authors' "current boyfriend" mentioned in the book. I bought it mostly to support her but I figured I might as well read it so I could come up with something nice to say about it. This is not the kind of book I would normally pick up. I thought it would be kind of...you know...self help book for the twenty/thirty something single girl. But I started to read it and I could not put it down. It was well written, funny, sarcastic, didn't take itself too seriously, and an amazingly apt description of what is happening to my group of girlfriends right now. I bought copies for my remaining three unmarried friends. Yes, there are only three (plus me), and that's from two different social circles. I thought this book was fantastic and I really appreciate having it around right now. It has provided some much needed perspective during a somewhat rough time in my life. Reading it, I feel like I know the authors and I really really like them. Every woman going through a "bridal wave" should have this book as a reminder that you aren't the only one out there not getting married. I would also recommend this book to those women who ARE making the choice to wed...it gives a nice perspective of both sides and has the potential to save a lot of valuable friendships.

This book was excellent; I just went through all this with my best friend a few months ago and it really put into perspective what I've been going through. I was really missing our old friendship and feeling sorry for me: why am I not married/in a serious relationship, etc. It made me look at things on a much more positive side. Besides that, the anecdotes are wonderful! I got it from the library but it made me feel so good and had such great advice for getting through this with your dignity intact and without winging out at the reception! that I am going to buy my own copy!!