William King Books

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William King Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Many Dimensions

Published in Paperback by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (1963-07)

Author: Charles Williams

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Average review score:

Freaky, Deaky, Sheiky

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-04

For a provoking supernatural thriller (to the extent early 20th century Brits can be thrilling) Williams can't be beat. But here Williams goes beyond his typical heterodoxy to apparently reject the Triune God and further poses a bizarre revisionist history where Persians have somehow maintained the engine of King Solomon's flying carpet. That's all well and good for ecumenical sorts I suppose, but, personally, I think Mr. Williams drew a bit too deeply from the hookah during the Golden Dawn ritual at which he conceived the plot of this particular metaphysical potboiler. Ultimately the book seems to abandon the cycle of redemption. Williams finds salvation outside of Christ's death on the cross and instead in the workings of a queer rock. Weird, Wilde stuff. So I would skip this one, unless it's raining and you don't have anything else to read, or you've read War in Heaven and have a burning desire to know the fate of Giles Tumulty.

Also, the quality of the Eerdmans books is disappointing. This is unfortunate since they're publishing a third of the current Williams catalog. My copy of Many Dimensions is already falling apart and the pages resemble a digital scan of the original. My Regent College copy of All Hallows' Eve appears to be of better construction. Read it or War in Heaven instead.

Very funny for Charles Williams, and well done

Helpful Votes: 15 out of 17 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-13

Charles Williams is always deep, and often thick and meaty. Happily, in this novel, he is extremely funny. Watching what the British do when a spiritually powerful stone is dropped into their outstretched hands is a fine pursuit. Some situations are farcically funny, others witty, and some are, in the end, pitiful- the kind of jokes about the human race that are rooted in our failure to do all we should with our great gifts, that we wish we didn't have to make.

Williams combines an ultimately serious theme with high poetry, good plot and characters, and his highly individual treatment of the supernatural and mysticism for a very satisfying read (and re-read).

Does God Play Dice?

Helpful Votes: 26 out of 33 total.
Review Date: 2001-04-03

Contrary to popular belief, I'm fast coming round to the idea that Williams was a *philosophical* writer rather than a *religious* writer. And not only because he himself described his seven novels as "metaphysical thrillers".

Unlike "Descent into Hell" - which is quite frankly an overwrought gothic monstrosity - "Many Dimensions" is a 'typical' Williams story, with standard English prose (standard for the 1930s, that is), a straightforward plotline and plenty of pace. In fact you could put "Many Dimensions" up against later fiction of a similar tone - like Dennis Wheatley, for example (not very well-known now, but immensely popular in the 50s and 60s) - and be hard put to pick a winner.

So where does the philosophy come in?
Primarily in the form of a series of very basic, but also very important, questions that lie just below the surface of the story - and sometimes not even below the surface.

Questions like: "If you can restore all of the people in group A to health, but in the process throw at least an equal number of people in group B out of work - at a time when work isn't that easy to come by in the first place - which group should take priority?"

This question, and others closely related, run all through the story yet, due to Williams' writing skill, they do nothing to impede the plot unless the reader actively chooses to think them through.

The final answer Williams gives, I *think*, is that there is no *easy* answer. Only he frames his conclusion far more lucid and impactful manner than that last observation might suggest.

In short, this writing has the power to enthrall and satisfy a wide range of readers.
The only reason I don't give it five stars is because the literary style is typical of British writing in the 1930s, which I guess won't necessarily be to everyone's taste.
Having said which, I really do recommend the majority of Williams' novels as a taste worth acquiring.

Oh yes, why did I give this review the title "Does God Play Dice?"? When you read the book I think you'll know exactly why.
Good reading!

How does one measure God...or Spacetime..., for that matter?

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-10

Even to his fans Williams can seem a bit remote, but once you get used to the British inflection and syntax in his dialogs - and identify the parameters of the uncanny worlds he portrays - Williams can become exhilirating. His is a very unique and peculiar genius. This particular book has depths and images I will ponder for quite some time. It also has a very subtle and intelligent humor. I should probably read it again. Apart from the provocatively and profoundly problematic talisman of the Stone and a clever plot illustrating some fascinating ethical and theological conundrums, I believe Williams brilliantly (and prophetically?) explores (what I had previously thought was) the ultra-modern and ultra-sophisticated (or perhaps, if you prefer, science fiction) topic of teleportation in its many forms. No doubt this guy got his Images from a Dimension few of us visit during our daylight dealings and distractions.

Nice Follow-along to "War In Heaven"

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2005-07-31

On page one the reader finds that Charles Williams's "Many Dimensions" has a setup similar to his "War In Heaven"- namely, that the scholar Sir Giles Tumulty (a crossover character from "War...") has obtained an ancient artifact which purportedly has supernatural powers of a religious flavor. The remainder of the book develops as a struggle over the artifact between those who are aligned in someway with the forces of light and those aligned with the forces of darkness.

"...Dimensions" falls short of "War..." in that Williams's narrative in "...Dimensions" is less cohesive and more prone to various sidebars and extraneous characters - always a risk in a Williams novel. To his credit, however, the extraneous sidebars and characters allow Williams to perceptively comment on some character types and issues commonly encountered in the modern (or post-modern) world.

Though perhaps not as good as "War in Heaven", worth reading as a loose sequel to that book, or can be read as a stand alone. Somewhere between 3-4 stars and generally better (if only by being more substantive) than most contemporary fiction and certainly better than "The Da Vinci Code".

Blind Harry's Wallace

Published in Paperback by Luath Press Limited (1999-09-01)

Author: William Hamilton

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Average review score:

A Good and Trusty Friend

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-18

Blind Harry wrote over a hundred years after Wallace was executed, but to this day his history is the most complete life of Wallace. Some dispute the extent of the recorded adventures and argue it is folk lore or fable, but fact is often stranger than fiction. I first encountered the 1800's reprint of the manuscript in the rare books section at Sydney University Library some twenty years ago, and having my own personal copy now is a rare treat indeed. Forget Braveheart. The movie could never encompass a fraction of Blind Harry's description of the deeds of Wallace. A word of caution to those who claim descent from Wallace. It is recorded that he died without issue. So I am of his family, but none are of his lineage.

Read it for the drama, and the poetry of the legend. Or read it out of respect for the world's first, and best, guerrilla fighter.

Turbo swords!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-21

William Hamilton of Gilbertsfield's retelling of Blind Harry's Wallace, which he rewrote into rhyming couplets in the eighteenth century, starts with two strikes against it. This is a long eighteenth century poem, and it's written in rhyming couplets. It nevertheless manages to remain interesting, largely because the subject itself resists Augustan ornament and distancing.

Blind Harry wrote his original epic in the fifteenth century. Hamilton remade it into modern English sprinkled occasionally with Scots words. Most of these are glossed in the margins in this edition; modern readers will not find its story hard to follow. Hamilton is not always faithful to his source; the introduction notes that a supernatural sequence, where Blind Harry had Wallace dreaming a vision of the Virgin Mary, and had his vision interpreted by a priest, has been altered in this retelling to better suit Presbyterian sensibilities. Again, the subject resists Augustan polish, and the occasional inclusion of highfalutin' vocabulary or stock pastoral imagery here only adds a disconcerting bit of cognitive dissonance. On the whole, the verse seems more reminiscent of broadsheet ballads than of Dryden or Pope; as such it's more accomodating to contemporary readers.

The story reads like an over the top novelization of a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Wallace seems to be portrayed as a turbo Grignr, a Tasmanian Devil of manslaughter; he commits a fresh homicide in almost every chapter, even the ones that aren't about warfare and battle. The Scots are the good guys and the English are the bad guys, so any time Wallace encounters an Englishman, blood is spilt.

The net result is to make the poem a highly entertaining yarn, at least in small doses at a time. It's hard to have much empathy with the hero, but the lurid spectacle of his exploits and downfall is told with enough hyperbole to make up for the one-dimensionality of its characterizations.

The pleasures of fine writing aren't to be found here. It's hard to give the poem much credit as a historical source. The pleasures of sword and sorcery, comic books, and murder ballads are what the poem has to offer; and if you bring appropriate expectations to the work, you may well find it quite entertaining.

Better and Worse than Braveheart

Helpful Votes: 12 out of 14 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-18

One of my first reactions was to value this volume as a corrective to "Braveheart" - to which it is certainly rather weakly linked. Harry's Wallace was not stupid; he did not use a wild Highland charge against thousands of Edward's men as did the celluloid creation - without armor. Thus I appreciated the poet's description of Wallace's defensive gear - not just an occasionally-worn helmet that falls off at the onset of battle (as in Hollywood's offering ) but a helmet, steel collar, coat of mail, and even steel-plated gauntlets. Viewers of "Braveheart" also tend to come away with the impression that Wallace was (essentially) a Highlander leading clansmen to battle - which certainly cannot be concluded from Harry's account (and naming of Wallace supporters). This Luath edition of the historic epic, moreover, contains a very interesting map of "Wallace Place names" (page 225) which suggests that Wallace's support was in the South (some in the North-East) of Scotland, and not the North and West where the great Highland clans were situated. There are numerous such (major) discrepancies in the popular movie but each reader may easily and instructively discover these for himself as comparisons are made. It is only fair to add, however, that the movie might also serve as 'corrective' to the poem since the film-script does warn us, on at least two occasions, of the hyperbole that results in passing on verbal anecdotes of legendary figures and the Harry version relies, at least in part, upon such anecdotes. Randall Wallace's script (understandably, since his is an audience of different sensibilities to Harry's ) is not so obviously 'racial' in its prejudices. I had the impression (reading the bard)that I was reading the Declaration of Independence one minute and Mein Kampf the next. The "blood untainted" of Harry's Scots (see page one)is, of course, nonsense, as is the demonisation of the "Picts, Danes and Saxons" that the 'Scots' historically fought. To the knowledgable, Harry's 'English' were simply a mixture of Gaelic and Germanic elements (quite like the Scots themselves) mustered by descendants of the Norman conquerors of England (Scotland was itself already somewhat dominated by such high-flying Normans, and would continue to be, especially in and through the person of Robert Bruce and his dynasty). The introduction to this edition of "Wallace" perhaps gives the key to Harry's racial preferences. Page xvii reveals that Harry's chief patron was the Scottish king himself - descendant of Bruce's Norman royal house. Obviously the poet could not have included Normans in his enumeration of Scotland's enemies (on page one) - but the 'English' (his and Scotland's historic rivals)were fair game. Burning thousands of 'English' alive in retaliation for the perfidy of her alien leaders (in "Wallace")seems a bit unfair (though Harry interestingly indicates that the nascent Commons of England actually acted as a restraint on Longshanks). It also takes away the impact of Wallace's own horrid death which Harry (at least consistently) does not dwell upon. In short I concluded that Randall Wallace and Blind Harry had both dramatic virtues and vices. "Wallace" was both better and worse than "Braveheart". Since there is a dearth of early historical sources for Wallace's life this is certainly worth a read. It may be at least as accurate a portrayal of Scottish history, at any rate, as Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and certainly illuminates the author and his audience. Personally I felt that much of it was likely to be authentic and I greedily devoured many of Harry's details.

a must for those Studying William Wallace

Helpful Votes: 13 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-02

For the person wanting to have a balanced view of Wallace, they need to include this text. Blind Harry or Blin Hary the Minstrel is believed to live from 1440-1493. Very little is really known about him. However, he is recalled for this major achievement of gathering and recording stories of Wallace. Supposedly the first written work about Wallace. He sang or recited these stories in verse form, and it is noted that he was well received at the Renaissance Court of James IV. One must recall these tales were collected well over 100 years after Wallace's death, giving plenty of time for the legend to already take root. Many of the details of Harry's epic are very accurate, some are not (but then he certainly is a lot closer than Randall Wallace!!).
William Hamilton(c1665-1751) brought Wallace back into the minds of everyone with the translation of Blind Harry's original poem.

One needs to understand this is written from a very pro Scots point of view, and tends to see Scots as the good guys and English as the bad ones, with few areas of grey. But taken on a whole, with most of the works on Wallace stemming from English records, it gives a balanced picture in studying Wallace.

Better and Worse than Braveheart

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-19

One of my first reactions was to value this volume as a corrective to "Braveheart" on which it is certainly only very loosely based. For example, Harry's Wallace (unlike his celluloid counterpart) was clearly not stupid enough to lead a wild 'Highland' charge against Edward's men - at least without wearing armor. Thus I appreciated the poet's description of Wallace's defensive gear (see page 25 etc.) consisting of a helmet, coat of mail, steel collar, and even steel-plated gauntlets. In the movie Wallace, at his most prudent, wore an ill-fitting helmet that fell off in action.

Viewers of "Braveheart" also tend to come away with the impression that Wallace was a Highlander leading clansmen into battle - which certainly cannot be supported by Harry's references to Wallace's supporters. In fact in this edition of "Wallace" (on page 225) a very interesting map of 'Wallace place names' suggests that the hero's support was in the South and North-East (of Scotland)- not in the North and West where the great clans were located. There are often such (major) problems when books (like this) are 'adapted' to be popular movies, and these each reader may enjoyably discover for himself.

It is only fair to add, however, that the movie could also be seen as a corrective to the book. Randall Wallace's script does warn us (at least twice) of the hyperbole that results when verbal anecdotes of historical and legendary figures are passed on, and there is clearly a great deal of this reflected in Harry's epic (since he relied partly on just such anecdotal evidence). Moreover the film-script (understandably because of the sensibilities of a modern audience)is not so shockingly racially-prejudiced as "Wallace".

I had the impression (reading the bard) of alternating between the 'Declaration of Independence' and 'Mein Kampf'. The "blood untainted" of Harry's Scots (such references begin on page 1 of the book)is, of course, nonsense, as I think is his demonisation of the "Picts, Danes and Saxons" that the 'Scots' historically fought. To the knowledgable, Harry's 'English' were simply a combination of Gaelic and Germanic elements (quite like the Scots themselves) mustered by descendants of their Norman conquerors (Scotland itself was filled with many Norman aristocrats and was to be ruled by a largely Norman dynasty in the person of Bruce and his descendants).

The introduction to this edition of "Wallace" perhaps fittingly holds the key to Harry's racial preferences. Page xvii reveals that Harry's chief patron was the Scottish king himself - descendant of the Norman royal house of Scotland. Obviously the poet could not have included Normans in his enumeration of Scotland's enemies (as a Saxon might have done) - but the 'English' (his and Scotland's historic rivals) were fair game. Burning thousands of 'English' alive (see, for example, page 90) in retaliation for the perfidy of England's alien rulers seems not a little unfair (though Harry interestingly indicates that the nascent Commons of England actually acted as a restraint on 'Longshanks'). It also takes away the impact of Wallace's own horrible death which Harry (at least consistently) does not dwell upon.

Since there is a dearth of early historic sources for Wallace's life this is certainly worth a careful read. I devoured greedily many details that seemed to me to be authentic. It may be at least as accurate a portrayal of a part of early Scottish history as Shakespeare's Macbeth, and certainly illuminates the author and his audience. In short I concluded that Randall Wallace and Blind Harry had both dramatic virtues and vices; consequently "Wallace" was both better and worse than "Braveheart".

Farseer (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)

Published in Mass Market Paperback by Games Workshop (2002-05-21)

Author: William King

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Average review score:

Best Eldar Book in 40k

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-03

I found this novel an entertaining read. It was exciting from start to finish and managed to convey the alien Eldar without becoming too alien of a read in the way that Eldar Prophecy was. The background material is also true to 40k; in addition, the background does a good job of bringing to life some areas of the 40k universe that you really can't get from a rulebook. The best example would have to be the navigator's view of crossing into the immaterium. Overall I recommend it as a good read. Definately light years beyond Goto's Eldar Prophecy, which ranks as one of the worst Black Librairy publications that I have ever read.

Good Read

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-13

This is the first Warhammer 40k book I have read. While I'm told there are others that are better, I did find this a worthy read. It's a must read for those interested in the Eldar. Though there are some very interesting isights into Eldar culture and history this book does nothing to solve the mystery of the Eldar. Oh, and the ending! I don't want to ruin it for you, but it's a shocker, and it definetly does prove that the Eldar are every bit the advanced, sometimes arrogant, mysterious beings the Imperium believes them to be.

Anxiously awaiting a sequel.

Image craft

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-16

This was an exsellent novel, the pictures painted by King come to life. All the characters are led down paths to a briliant conclusion involving.

I can see how Eldar players may be dissapointed, there role in the novel is distant. This works only to serve the Eldar justice, the race is writen in the Warhammer world as distant and elusive.

Overall a well craft book with well rounded and interesting characters.

Great 40K novel

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-07-31

I can't understand what the reviewer below, who is an Eldar player, didn't have enough of in this novel; but for me who am not an Eldar player, I found plenty to love. Fast-paced action, a demon prince, an female Eldar warrior and a Farseer who seemed (at least to me) to be major players in the story as well as a battle in a mysterious dead city on an Eldar home world. The chapter about the Navigator's journey into the warp is fantastic, as well as all the background info about Eldar history. Good stuff if you want my opinion. In fact it is near to being my favorite of the 12 Warhammer novels I've read so far.

great read

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-17

William King does it again. Although this book isn't as action packed as his Gotrek & Felix novels, it is still an excellent book which will keep you interested till the end,which incidentally has a twist.

Harold and William: The Battle for England, A.D. 1064-1066

Published in Hardcover by Cooper Square Press (2001-10-25)

Author: Benton Patterson

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Average review score:

Good Storytelling, Poor Scholarship

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-03

I enjoyed reading this book. I believe that its virtue resides in providing a straight-forward play-by-play of the lives of Duke William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson from 1064-1066. It's an enjoyable read for learning about the time period and the events of 1066.

What's lacking is scholarship. Patterson is a professor of journalism at the Univeristy of Florida, and he explains in the afterword that he draws his literary influence from Hunter S. Thompson, Tom Wolfe and similar story-telling journalists of the 1960s. I applaud Mr. Patterson for stepping out of his comfort zone to approach a work of history. However, as he tells the story of the parallel lives of William and Harold in journalistic fashion, he neglects to inform the reader from whence he found his information. For me, that's a problem.

Nowhere is this more disturbing than in the first chapter "The Royal Mission" where Patterson states flatly that King Edward 'The Confessor' dispatched Harold to Normandy to offer Duke William the crown. This is a theory, and a frail one at that! Patterson states it as fact and cites none of his sources. No one can say for certain why Harold ventured to the continent. If one does, he or she needs to he honest with the reader about how this is personal speculation, not history.

In contrast, I enjoyed reading about the Battle at Stamford Bridge: Patterson provided some good and gruesome details and explained how Harold was able to muster the English forces to surprise the Vikings. I was unfamiliar with this part of the story prior to reading the book. I also enjoyed reading about some of the royal ceremonies on both sides of the Channel. I learned a lot from reading the book. However, I'm nervous that what I learned might be based not upon historical evidence but Mr. Patterson's conjecture. I'll have to read more to discover what corroborates with Patterson's tale.

I read this book immediately after reading Andrew Bridgeford's "1066: The Hidden History of the Bayeux Tapestry."1066: The Hidden History in the Bayeux Tapestry That is a work that is both eminently readable and of superior scholarship. "Harold and William" was a good read but fell short of expectations after reading the superior book first.

Biased, yes, but what history is not biased?

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-02

I've read the other reviews criticizing Harold and William for its bias towards Harold, but what written history is without bias? History tends to be recorded by winners, survivors, descendants and later observers, the majority of whom tend not to be actual eyewitnesses to the event chronicled for their audience. Credit should be given Mr. Patterson for tackling a subject lacking in available documentation. He has several things working for him: he is British, and they are some of the best historians, he is an academic and professor of journalism, and he is fascinated with his subject matter. This is a labor of love, and Mr. Patterson wishes to share it with us. Can you blame him for that?

As for those desiring a text with lively dialogue and vivid action, please attend to any number of historical fictional adventures not based in fact. I find Mr. Patterson's writing style concise, yet descriptive and his narrative tempered to the right degree to keep me interested. He maintains a fluid plot and his attention to detail with chronologies and background materials adds to the reader's interest and education.

Give thanks that the world has historians willing to take a chance and present their theories before us. You only have to look to Hollywood to see history mangled for lowest common denominator audiences. If you disagree with Mr. Patterson's book, then write your own in rebuttal.

Don't let the bad intro throw you!!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-08

Initially I was getting ready to put this book aside because the author stated that he perceived the Saxons as the good guys.I thought not another one of these pro-Anglos,like a southern American lamenting old "Dixie".Anyways Hastings was almost a thousand years difference and with not alot of primary sources available,how could anyone honestly believe the Saxons were such wonderful people.Ask LLewelyn of Wales what he thought about the Saxon "wonderfullness",so how far back are we going to go on this?
Anyway, I don't think the authors' stated bias affected his interpretations at all and this book is packed with tension and excitement,I actually had to put the book aside a few times so I could savor it.Two strong personalities Harold and William headed on a collision course with lots of swinging axes.A great movie script if some producer could latch on to this book.

Interesting, if extremely slanted

Helpful Votes: 11 out of 18 total.
Review Date: 2002-06-05

In the introduction to this work, Mr. Patterson tells us a few things that apparently do not bias his viewpoint - namely that he is a descendant of the long-deceased King Harold of the 11th century AD, and that the wrong man won at Hastings on that fateful October day in 1066. Needless to say - I was a little surprised and turned off immediately. He goes on to say that huge gaps occur in the historical record, and his novel-esque narrative will have the holes filled by his best guess of what happened. Okay - perhaps it's not a crime, but we're trying to peddle this as history, when, if you do read the text, it is not.

I am familiar with most of the sources used as references (although strangely enough there is NO CITING AT ALL), and the incredible amount of detail into which Patterson occassionally delves is quite astonishing. In all - this is entertaining, but dont' take the man's word for law. His is a story tainted heavily by bias and a great deal of guess-work where it is not necessary. As the old axim goes (and I use it to argue that "history" need be neutral): Don't try to be a great man, just be a man, and let history make its own judgments. Mr. Patterson - present us with the happenings, but don't tell us who "should" have won. You are quick to pass judgment upon something you profess is largely lost in the abyss of the past.

Dissatisfying

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-19

"Harold & William" is an easy read. It's a fairly concise (200 pages) telling of the story of the personal rivalry behind the Norman conquest of England -- a rivalry between England's last Saxon king (Harold) and the Duke of Normandy (William, later William I). The root of the rivalry lies in the alleged oath by Harold to support William's claim to the English throne after Edward the Confessor's death and Harold's own election to the throne later on, causing William to seek it by force. The story is further complicated by Harold's younger brother Tostig, who for his own reasons persuaded the King of Norway to make an invasion attempt that same year, just weeks before William's landing. "Harold & William" is a good introduction to the story.

As a work of scholarship, the book fails to stand up. Documents are scant and unreliable, but Patterson makes no attempt to analyze them or compare evidence. Rather, he just tells the story as he has interpreted it, and his own words of sympathy for Harold in the introduction demonstrate a strong subjective viewpoint. As for the facts, he simply states that he made what he believes are the "most reasonable" interpretations. Basically, he hasn't contributed anything to the subject other than what he feels. It's largely undocumented opinion.

In the book's defense, one might say that Patterson was never trying to write an annotated, definitive work of scholarship. He was just trying to tell a story. However, the book doesn't really succeed on this level either, because Patterson is not a strong enough writer to make it particularly gripping. It isn't infused with the page-turning passion that a good journalist or best-selling mystery writer would write with.

The book's saving grace is the story itself, because it IS compelling. But there are better books to read. As a place to start, I would suggest David Howarth's "1066: The Year of the Conquest." He too sympathizes with Harold, but he goes through all the facts (what few there are) before laying out his own view--and manages to do so concisely, without dragging down the tale.

Henry IV Part 2

Published in Mass Market Paperback by Washington Square Press (1999-02-01)

Author: William Shakespeare

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Average review score:

Falstaff and Richard II's Consolation Prize.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-15

In "Richard II," Bolingbroke usurped Richard II's crown and became King Henry IV. In "1 Henry IV," King Henry IV stopped the rebellion by Hostspur, Worcester, and Vernon. But his enemy Northumberland is still out there. And this brings us to the present chapter "2 Henry IV." Despite the title, the real star of this play is Falstaff. In "1 Henry IV' Falstaff had a moderate roll. The learned Isaac Asimov was of the opinion that Shakespeare got more than he bargained for with his Falstaff and realized he could write a play with Falstaff as the prominent character. One minor complaint I have is that while Falstaff probably could handle a play, some of the scenes with him seem drawn out. Northumberland reappears and he is of course sad over the death of his son Hotspur. (Slain by Prince Henry in Part 1.) We also meet the Arch Bishop of York who becomes an enemy of Henry IV. The Arch Bishop delivers a striking passage that emphasizes that the past and to come always seem better than the present. In Act 2, we quickly learn that Falstaff has built up some debts and that he is neglecting his duties to the king. (Big surprise!) Prince Henry is a backstage player for the early part of the play, but rather than being close to Falstaff (as in Part 1), he bitterly rebukes Falstaff for his style of life. Also, Prince Henry expresses some sorrow over his father's failing health. But he is afraid he will be seen as a hypocrite if he shows it. (Many people in his position wouldn't be able to wait to wear the crown.) Interestingly, a woman named Doll begins to find Falstaff attractive. King Henry IV does not enter until Act 3.1, and we can see that the rebellions have taken their toll on him. He is having insomnia and he can only talk about the tribulations of his crown. It is even possible that he feels he deserves his afflictions. Later, Falstaff gathers his men together in a well drawn comical scene. Westmoreland and Henry IV's son Lancaster defeat the rebellion of the Arch Bishop of York, Mowbray, and Hastings in a less than honorable way. But this is not an invention of Shakespeare. It really happened. In the comical 4.3, Coleville surrenders to our favorite fat rogue Falstaff. It is on the funny side when Falstaff comments that Lancaster is so uptight because he doesn't drink. But the sad part of the play returns soon enough. Despite the fact that Henry IV 's enemies have been defeated, Henry IV's health has failed, and he doesn't have much more of a reign to enjoy. (And if you follow my reviews, this constitutes a small consolation prize to King Richard II.) The scene where King Henry IV admits his crimes, begs God's forgiveness, and wishes the eventual Henry V well is one of Shakespeare's greatest moments. I always liked how in "Richard II," Henry IV was a young and energetic usurper, and then in "1 Henry IV" he was portrayed as somewhat more heroic and a likable king, and in "2 Henry IV" he was portrayed as a sorrowful and penitent man. Some people dislike Henry V for banishing Falstaff, but the truth is Henry V has little choice. Falstaff's actions (as comical and entertaining as they are) are flat out criminal. Though Shakespeare did not keep the epilogue's word by putting Falstaff in "Henry V," he would eventually reappear in "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

Hilarious Comedy and Moving Drama

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-25

My only complaint about "2 Henry IV" is that Shakespeare draws the scenes with Falstaff out too much (in my opinion). Falstaff is funnier than ever. King Henry IV's younger son Lancaster is a very striking figure. While his father is ill, he commands the forces against his father's enemies. 3.1 where King Henry IV contemplates the consequences of the crown he usurped from Richard II is quite moving. The scene where Lancaster crushes the last of his father's opposition is quite chilling. I can not overestimate Shakespeare's genious in how he handles Henry IV in this play. In "Richard II" his ambition and cruelty for the most part never ceased. In "1 Henry IV," he showed himself to be a competent (and even likeable) king. In this play, he clearly regrets and suffers for his actions against Richard II. (Even if we remember his cruelty in "Richard II," it is hard not to feel sorry for him at this point.) The scene where King Henry IV has his final talk with the eventual Henry V is one of the most moving passages in literature. King Henry V's complete reform is not only well drawn, but it helps prepare us for the next play, "Henry V." But if you want to see more of Falstaff, remember he has the lead role in the later play "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

The Making of a King

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-15

Shakespeare's "Henry IV Part II" concerns the triumphant decline of King Henry IV, and the ascension of his son, Henry, Prince of Wales, to the throne as King Henry V. As in "Henry IV Part I," Part II's main action concerns the attempts of the King to suppress civil strife, which is manifested once again in threatened rebellion. In "Henry IV Part II," the rebels are led by Scroop, the Archbishop of York, the most powerful religious figure in England. The Archbishop's involvement "turns insurrection to religion," thereby hoping to gain popular support and enlistment in the army against Henry IV.

Henry, Prince of Wales, as the next in line to the throne, is expected to take a hard line against these threats, and lead the charge against the rebel forces. However, as in Part I, Prince Henry is nervous, as a young man will be, about accepting responsibility for himself, much less for an entire nation. A frivolous youth, he associates with the common folk in bars and taverns, led in his debaucheries by the notoriously comic Sir John Falstaff. The dichotomy between Prince Henry's father figures, the frail, but courageous King Henry IV and the robust, but cowardly Falstaff sets up the scope of the choice Prince Henry must make. His choice, he comes to realize, will affect the course of his country.

The forces mount as the play moves forward - the King's army is ordered, well-equipped, and led by formidable generals - the Archbishop's army is made up largely of untrained citizens. The meeting of the armies' leaders in the Gaultree Forest of Yorkshire is the emotional and tactical climax of the play, and handled with dramatic precision by Shakespeare.

The growth of Prince Henry, the shaping of his mind, his relationships with his noble father and brothers, as well as those with his low, vulgar drinking buddies, forms the focus of "Henry IV Part II." Through five deceptively simple acts, Shakespeare illustrates the birth of a man and a king, and points the way to domestic peace. This is a play I enjoyed very much indeed, and would recommend reading alongside "Henry IV Part I" for maximum effect.

The single editions have much more background

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-06-26

This is the play where Henry IV squashes the Percy rebellion but himself becomes ill and dies. So, Price Hal becomes King Henry V and this leads to the next play of that name.

The wonderful Falstaff is also on glorious display. This is also the play with the famous tavern scene (Act II, Scene IV) that can be read endlessly with new enjoyment.

Everyone has his or her own take on Falstaff and his treatment at the hands of Henry V, but I dislike it even though I understand it. Prince Hal and his transformation into Henry V is not someone I admire a lot. Nor is Falstaff's manner of living, but his wit is so sharp and his intelligence so vast that it is easy to still delight in him.

But, you certainly don't need me to tell you anything about Shakespeare. Like millions of other folks, I am in love with the writing. However, as all of us who read Shakespeare know, it isn't a simple issue. Most of us need help in understanding the text. There are many plays on words, many words no longer current in English and, besides, Shakespeare's vocabulary is richer than almost everyone else's who ever lived. There is also the issue of historical context, and the variations of text since the plays were never published in their author's lifetime.

For those of us who need that help and want to dig a bit deeper, the Arden editions of Shakespeare are just wonderful.

-Before the text of the play we get very readable and helpful essays discussing the sources and themes and other important issues about the play.

-In the text of the play we get as authoritative a text as exists with helpful notes about textual variations in other sources. We also get many many footnotes explaining unusual words or word plays or thematic points that would likely not be known by us reading in the 21st century.

-After the text we get excerpts from likely source materials used by Shakespeare and more background material to help us enrich our understanding and enjoyment of the play.

However, these extras are only available in the individual editions. If you buy the "Complete Plays" you get text and notes, but not the before and after material which add so much! Plus, the individual editions are easier to read from and handier to carry around.

Henry IV Part II - A Good Play In the Middle of 2 Great Ones

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-12-16

First off, I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed Part I and absolutely adored Henry V. Having said that, I found Part II to be enjoyable, yet perhaps leaving something to be desired - like more action. Falstaff and Prince Hal both come off as somewhat disingenuous and calculating Machiavellian individuals. Disappointingly, Falstaff speaks poorly of Prince Hal while unwittingly in his midst. Conversely, The Prince of Wales prematurely takes the crown before his King Henry IV's death as well as disassociating himself with Falstaff after he is crowned King. These instances, along with others throughout the play, show the self-serving tendencies of both characters.

However, we can proudly witness the maturation of the young King from wild & dissolute young Prince Hal into one of the most revered monarchs in English history, King Henry V. Part II remains an intriguing play due to its paradoxical nature, yet unfortunately rarely acted out today. Now that I have read Henry IV(I&II) for the first time, I gladly move on to one of my personal favorites, Henry V. I recommend both parts(Folger editions) for all Shakespeare enthusiasts - they have given me greater insight into the young Henry V - when he was more concerned with downing a pint of ale rather than downing the French at Agincourt.

2 Magnificent Quotes from Henry IV Part II -
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." - King Henry IV
"He hath eaten me out of house and home." - Mistress Quickly

King John

Published in Paperback by Wadsworth Publishing Company (2005-03-30)

Author: William Shakespeare

List price: $12.95

Used price: $26.44

Average review score:

Middle Ages Intrigue

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-07

First, I don't understand why half of the reviews below refer to Timon Of Athens rather than King John but that's just an aside.

King John is certainly not one of Shakespeare's best written history plays and the character development is not nearly as strong as some of the others. That said it still an indispensible read. The drama revolves around a questionable succession and lineage and includes planned murder, revenge and middle age international intrigue. While the character of King John never truly comes to life and leaves far less of a lasting imppression than Shakespeare's versions of Henry IV and Richard III, it nonetheless is well worth reading to have a view into the era, and Shakespeare's development in this genre.

Stage quality Bard that you can take with you!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 1998-07-29

Had I time enough and words enough, and skill enough, I'd go back in time and give copies of the complete set of Arkangel to every school in the country! How lovely that the current generation can feel the power and the drama and the passion that lies in those dusty pages. Thank you Arkangel for bringing this to life for everyone.

The coolest play!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 1999-09-06

I recently performed in this play. I had the role of Queen Elinor. It was a joy to put on and I totally recommend the unabridged version to anyone! I myself am trying to find an unabridged book version, so let me know if one becomes available.

Not Bad, But Not Great Either

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2000-03-13

This is a good play, but it does not match Shakespeare's other history plays. In my opinion too much of the play revolves around a doting mother who wants to see her underage son on the throne even though he is very incapable of ruling. Furthermore, any intelligent observer can see that the King of France only wants Arthur on the crown because a child would be a lot easier to manipulate than the shrewd King John. Remember, John WAS NOT a usurper. Richard the Lionhearted named John as the heir to the crown! On the positive side, Richard I's illegitimate son is a powerful and convincing character. John is an interesting 3 dimensional character. At times he comes off as harsh and cruel. But he also shows himself at times to be to be a strong and competent king. And at times we can feel sorry for him. Shakespeare also manages to squeeze some comical touches in. I feel that to appreciate this play as much as possible, you must realize that Richard I named John the heir to the crown. I also feel you must understand that John did prove himself to be a competent king. (Unlike his unfairly blackened reputation in "Robin Hood.")

One of Shakespeare's statelier plays.

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 12 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-29

the Oxford Shakespeare has been touted as 'a new conception' of Shakespeare, but is in fact merely an update of the cumbersome old Arden editions. Like these, 'King John' begins with a 100-page introduction, divided into 'Dates and Sources' (full of what even the editor admits is 'tedious' nit-picking of documentary evidence); 'The Text' (the usual patronising conjecture about misprints in the Folio edition and illiterate copyists); 'A Critical Introduction', giving a conventional, but illuminating guide to the drama, its status as a political play dealing with the thorny problem of royal succession, the contemporary legal ambiguities surrounding inheritance, the patterning of characters, the use of language (by characters as political manoeuvring, by Shakespeare to subvert them); and an account of 'King John' 'In the Theatre', its former popularity in the 18th and 19th century as a spectacular pageant, the play distorted for patriotic purposes, and its subsequent decline, presumably for the same reasons. The text itself is full of stumbling, often unhelpful endnotes - what students surely want are explanations of difficult words and figures, not a history of scholarly pedantry. The edition concludes with textual appendices.
The play itself, as with most of Shakespeare's histories, is verbose, static and often dull. Too many scenes feature characters standing in a rigid tableau debating, with infinite hair-cavilling, issues such as the legitimacy to rule, the conjunction between the monarch's person and the country he rules; the finer points of loyalty. Most of the action takes place off stage, and the two reasons we remember King John (Robin Hood and the Magna Carta) don't feature at all. This doesn't usually matter in Shakespeare, the movement and interest arising from the development of the figurative language; but too often in 'King John', this is more bound up with sterile ideas of politics and history, than actual human truths. Characterisation and motivation are minimal; the conflations of history results in a choppy narrative. There are some startling moments, such as the description of a potential blood wedding, or the account of England's populace 'strangely fantasied/Possessed with rumours, full of idle dreams/Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear'. The decline of the king himself, from self-confident warrior to hallucinating madman, anticipates 'King Lear', while the scene where John's henchman sets out to brand the eyes of the pubescent Pretender, is is full of awful tension.
P.S. Maybe I'm missing something, but could someone tell me why this page on 'King John' has three reviews of 'Timon of Athens'? Is somebody having a laugh?

King of the Seventh Grade

Published in Hardcover by William Morrow & Company (1982-09)

Author: Barbara Cohen

List price: $15.00

Used price: $4.37

Average review score:

An Average Book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2005-03-02

This book was very interesting. I didn't find it very good. It is about a boy named victor Abrams he has to prepare fir his Bar Mitzvah by going to Hebrew school. The Hebrew school he goes to is named new Hebron. He doesn't want to go through the whole Bar Mitzvah experience. He has a plan to get out of it. He thinks that if he acts up in class he will be kicked out of school and won't have to do a Bar Mitzvah. Later in the book he figures out he is not Jewish. He has to make a decision to convert or not. You will be surprised by his decision.
I didn't not like this book because having been through the Bar Mitzvah experience it is not as bad as the author makes it out to be. I also didn't like this book because of the suspense, or lack of it. It just wasn't a very exciting book.

it was a great book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-18

King Of the Seventh Grade

I would rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. I liked the book a lot because it is like my life. He gets in trouble for the same stuff I do. I liked it because the guy was in 7th grade. I would compare it to Time for Andrew because I liked that book also. Another book I would compare it to is More than Meets the Eye. I like when Abby Greenglass reveals that she has always liked him. But she didn't anymore because.... Well anyway I would read it again if it were an assignment.

By Ashley Shoemaker

An Adult Viewpoint

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-11-28

Who could resist this title? Victor Abrams is the king. To begin with, he's the best looking boy in seventh grade. He's the most popular. He has the respect of his peers, if not his teachers. Because of Vic's belligerent attitude, teachers at Hebrew School don't like him.

The feeling is mutual. Vic doesn't understand why he must go through boring religious training. He resents the bar mitzvah his parents insist upon, even though they disagree about everything else. Since they divorced, Vic lives with his father, who doesn't cook, doesn't talk, doesn't do much of anything but work.

Vic's peers are a round of toughs, boys who cause trouble for people inside and outside of school. One friend, Stewie, persuades the others to shoplift until they become proficient thieves. Although Vic is uncomfortable about the stealing, he goes along with it, swept along by Stewie's insistence.

The story moves steadily toward its conflict: Vic wants to quit Hebrew School, and his parents and the rabbi want him to continue. But a turn of events causes the drama to reverse. Vic's mother lets slip to the rabbi that she is not a Jew. Because one can only be a Jew through the maternal line or conversion, Vic is suddenly not a Jew.

At this point, the story becomes quite interesting. Vic slowly realizes he misses the identity he's taken for granted, but his parents veto the yucky conversion process (it involves another circumcision)!

By the conclusion, Vic has grown up, accepted his responsibilities, made peace with those he hurt, become a Jew, and received a year's probation for shoplifting. A huge amount of story in a 190 page book, and every page worth it. Besides being a good story, King of the Seventh Grade contains lots of information on Judaism. This is a superior book: well-written, honest, and enlightening.

Jewish Disaster

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-05

Jewish Disaster

The book I read was King of the Seventh Grade. The book is about a boy named Vic who is thirteen. Vic hates Hebrew school he insults and annoys the teacher. The teacher sends Vic to the rabbi who has a meeting with Vicýs parents. Vic and the Rabbi find out the worst or the greatest news of Vics life. When he has to make the biggest decision of his life he has some troubles. Will the outcome of the story be a good one?
I did not like this book because I like books with a lot of action in it. This one had nothing I like in it. I have not read anything in comparison to this book.

King of the Seventh Grade - this book rocks

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2003-01-01

A boy named Victor goes to Hebrew School and hates it! He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve and hopes that he will get thrown out of Hebrew School for them. He doesn't get thrown out though. But one day he finds out that he's not Jewish. I would recommend this book and, if you read it, you will find out if he converts or not. You probably think he won't because he hates Hebrew School so much, but you might be surprised. I learned a lesson from this book which was: if you hate something, you might change your mind and like it later. Why don't you go to the library or bookstore and get this book right now!

The Monkey's Wrench: A Novel (King Penguin)

Published in Paperback by Penguin (Non-Classics) (1987-10-06)

Author: Primo Levi

List price: $10.00

Used price: $0.98

Average review score:

Witty, Poingnant, Haunting Barely Begin to Describe Levi

Helpful Votes: 12 out of 14 total.
Review Date: 2000-09-20

There are some people who you can never hear enough of. Levi is certainly one of those. He combines one of the greates talents as a writer in this century with a wisdom uncommon for any age.

This book is not an adventure story in the typical sence of the word, but reading it is an adventure, and I for one am a better man for having opened its covers.

I don't think that Levi has ever written a book that I would only read once. This book, I look forward to revisting many times over. The maximum length of this review is one thousnd words. If all those words were supperlatives, I would not come close to doing this book justice.

Gracefully narrated stories of a tradesman's jobs and values

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2003-12-10

Meet Faussone, an able tradesmen who sets up cranes around the world and enjoys his work. Most of the several short stories in the book centre on him recounting some interesting job he's been involved in.

Rather than remain invisible and let 'Faussone' do all the talking, the listener/narrator is also allowed to take on a role - the stories are clearly placed in a setting of Faussone talking to the semi-autobiographical persona of Levi. We learn a little of why he's putting down these stories, his own speculation on whether writing is a worthy 'craft' compared to that of the tradesman, and he even drops in a work story of his own (as a chemist - Levi himself was a chemist) to conclude. Levi highlights the importance of the listener and the context to the stories, which, while entertaining enough to stand on their own, are enhanced by tangents of setting and response. Moreover there's room for just a little plot and relationship development winding alongside the stories.

As close as I can think of are the James Herriot stories, although I suspect some of Levi's fans would be a bit horrified at the comparison. That being said, I suspect 'Herriot' himself would have enjoyed the book. Levi's stories, however, are not nearly as formulaic (or as funny), and Levi is a more able painter of characters that feel more authentic, and don't necessarily need to be pigeon-holed. Amusing that Faussone feels more authentic than some of Herriot's doubtless 'real' recollected characters: in a postscript Levi says,
"Faussone is imaginary but "perfectly authentic," at the same time; he is a compound, a mosaic of numerous men I have met, similar to Faussone..."

There's a grace there as well - which some would find bland - this isn't sensationalist fiction with a sting or a belly laugh. Levi does have an agenda - to suggest that a worker who takes pride and pleasure in his trade is as good a subject (and hero) for a novel as any super spy or renegade cop or tortured academic or whatever. There's also an acknowledgement of giving some praise to Levi and Faussone's fathers in this, so perhaps he can be forgiven if his picture is a bit eulogistic.

The 'wrench' (if the translation got this right) isn't just a symbol of blue collar labour, it's also the wrench between the metaphysical profession of writing books and that of actually making tangible things. The 'Levi' of the stories is struggling with this, and Faussone's parting advice to him is:
"...I tell you, doing things you can touch with your hands has an advantage: you can make comparisons and understand how much you are worth. You make a mistake, you correct it, and next time you don't make it..."
and earlier 'Levi' speculated that perhaps so many writers have bad stress because they can't test their work with a level or a gauge, and are working blind half the time.

So, if you're in the mood for something reflective, diverting, and well written - go ahead. If you're after some action or melodrama, wait for another mood.

A ghastly book: poorly written, dull, pointless

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 37 total.
Review Date: 1999-09-01

What could be more attracitve? Here's a book about travel in countries all over the globe, and it's made up of conversations between two practical men of the world. A theme--engineers construct things, authors construct stories--ties the chapters together.

A great idea, but, alas, one that has been turned into a dreadful book. We're warned in the very beginning that the speaker might, at times, be a bit imperfect: repetetive, full of himself, prone to get lost in details. But the first chapter shows him, despite these short-comings, to be fascinating. Nonetheless, in the chapters that follow, he turns out to be every bit as insufferable as we'd been told in that first page.

Each chapter is filled with mind-numbing details of construction projects, only relieved, at times, with brief passages that are more interesting. Levi's book does justice neither to world travel nor to Italian literature.

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH DELIGHT

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-01

Excellent series of vignettes/stories generally related within the novel by a crane/derrick rigger to the author, a chemist. For those with no inclination to industrial engineering and chemistry, this book makes the two subjects seem interesting, and uniquely identifies them with the human condition. Quite beautiful.

Wise, moving, shame about the title

Helpful Votes: 9 out of 9 total.
Review Date: 2006-04-14

I finished this book and read it all the way through again less than a month later. There are lots of things to like about it. Mainly, though, I like it because it conveys a sense of joy in work, in writing, in the less spectacular aspects of life that can be as much a source of happiness as can the great gifts that come along once or twice in a lifetime. And the stories are told in such an engaging way you don't really realize Levi is showing you a way to make life bearable. The sad thing is that Primo Levi apparently couldn't do for himself what he did for so many of his readers.

I also like that though a good part of the novel takes place in the former Soviet Union, Levi, with the exception of one chapter in the book, says nary a word about communism. The Soviet regime is, for the purpose of his book, completely irrelevant. Lesser writers would have stuck to the "one-man-against-the-regime" template.

That said, I do have some gripes, mostly to do with the translation. Levi has been very badly served either by his translators or, more likely, by his American publishers. Why this book was called _The Monkey's Wrench_ is beyond me. There's a wrench, and there's a monkey all right, but there's nothing so patently ridiculous as a wrench belonging to a monkey. _The Wrench_, plain and simple, like Levi's prose, would have sufficed.

The Naval Officer's Guide Eleventh Edition

Published in Hardcover by US Naval Institute Press (1998-12)

Authors: William P. MacK, Harry A. Seymour, and Lesa A. McComas

List price: $29.95

New price: $29.95
Used price: $87.99
Collectible price: $88.00

Average review score:

Need to know info for all Officer want to be's

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-24

A very dry read, but like I said it is NEED TO KNOW INFO if you are going to try to be a Officer in the US Navy.

For current and future officers, it doesn't get much better.

Helpful Votes: 15 out of 23 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-12

I am not currently a member of the United States Navy, but I do aspire to be one of these days. I want to go to Officer Candidate School, earn my commission, and hopefully embark upon a prosperous Naval career. Of course, I know very little of what is involved in being a Naval officer beyond what I am able to glean from conversations with friends and colleagues who are current or past Naval officers. That is why "The Naval Officer's Guide" is so valuable. It gives a breakdown of all aspects of the life of a Naval officer. It deals with areas like training, promotions, Naval customs, and common job responsibilities, to name a few. That is just the tip of the iceberg, though. There is so much more in this guide that it becomes an indispensable manual for those who wish to learn about what it means to be an officer, as well as being a valuable reference piece for those who are already serving. As I read through this guide, I found myself developing a greater understanding of the Navy and finding myself able to visualize serving as an officer. There can be no greater endorsement of literature like this.

Helpful and Informative

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-04

As an aspiring Naval Officer I found this book to be just what I needed to help me find out more about protocol.

Excellent Reference Material

Helpful Votes: 32 out of 32 total.
Review Date: 2002-07-18

The book is well-written, easy to follow, and up-to-date. True to its name, this book is a great guide for any current or future officer in the US Navy and does not stray from its intended purpose, which includes providing guidance on customs and courtesies, pay and allowances, duties and responsibilities, and other key subjects relevant to Naval officers. I would give the book five stars if it was a bit thicker and more inclusive (like officer guides from other branches), but this guide is an excellent source of information on important subjects and provides references to other sources of information.

Not for Spouses

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 18 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-11

This book might be helpful to a Naval Officer. But for myself, a soon to be naval spouse, I found it very overwhelming. Attempting to use this book as a reference guide to learning about the Navy was a bad decision. I would compare it to trying to read a book in another language. Too much detailed information and very hard to navigate through.

Ragnar's Claw (Space Wolves)

Published in Mass Market Paperback by Games Workshop (2004-04-01)

Author: William King

List price: $6.99

New price: $49.98
Used price: $4.50

Average review score:

Ragnar's first off-world mission. Fun and exciting.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-20

This book tells of Ragnar Blackmane's first adventure off-world of Fenris. He and his claw are sent to assist an inquisitor on a mission to collect an ancient artifact and save a hive city from a deadly plague. Their mission takes them through vast distances to fight orks, genestealers, and daemons in a multitude of different environments. The character of Ragnar is further developed, with him again being critically wounded only to be revived with a new fear of mortality. There is an undercurrent of uneasiness throughout the book that is only explained in the last couple of chapters as the heroes discover the true puppeteer of their mission.

The fighting scenes and descriptions of the Space Wolf Space Marines are excellent, and as Ragnar discovers the vastness of the Imperium the reader develops a better understanding too. Perhaps the best aspect of this book is the sheer epic feel. The multitude of enemies Ragnar encounters and the vast spaces he travels make this stand out as an excellent resource for those wishing to learn more about the WH40K world. The only complaints I have with the story arise from the writing of King. He tends to over-use descriptive words and phrases, creating a very repetitive feel to some of the scenes.

Overall, this is a fun and interesting read that you'll enjoy if you're ok with some cases of poor writing style.

Good Read

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-02-16

This is a good book. As an avid 40k player and fan, it is a really good read. There is a lot that is conflicting with what you find in codexes and other sources, but it really doesn't subtract from the storyline. You really don't need to read the first book in the series to understand this one, but I'm sure it'll help.

Also, who ever knew that the Great Unclean Ones of Nurgle were British?

I dont know about you but this book was cool

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-28

this book was action packed. It showed how bad ass the Space marines are and had them killing every one. The plot was good and if your a fan of Warhammer 40k you should love this book i wish the 1st one space wolf was like Ragnar's Claw.

A reveiw on Ragnar's Claw.

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2002-03-14

Although i am a Tyranid collector (Giant bugs) i found this tale of the young blood claw , Ragnar Blackmane , extremly exciting and quite easy to read.
One of the extremely few negative aspects about it is that if you don't know a lot about Warhammer or Games Workshop products then you cannot understand the book.
It is very good fun to see the plot unravel as they release the Demon and one of the inquisitors reveals his Chaos tendencies and is promoted to the status of Demon Prince in honor of Nurgle (The Chaos god of disease and pestilance).
In conclusion i think that this book is very , very good book.

Wolves

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-31

No relation but I'm a bit of a space Wolves fan. The Space Marines are meant to be hard fanatical worriers who's training and life style has desensitized them to basic human notions. I liked the supper human world of sub human emotion. King caught this well in a book I feel out stepped the first Space Wolves.
This book is a must to anyone interested on the 40k universe.
Ragnar shows a mavric chapter unlike that of Ultra Marine, This book gives atmosphere and insight but would be aimed more for people interested in Warhammer 40k them general public. Not to be judged in 50 pages.