Non-fiction Books

Ladies and Gentlemen find yourself a comfortable reading area and a box of kleenex, before you start Lindsay McKenna's new MM: "Heart of the Warrior" book. I have read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is Inca's story. Now you all should know who this Absolutely Mystically, Magical Woman/Warrior is, because she has had cameo appearances in some of Lindsay's other novels. To lay it on the line this is one gut wrenching emotional read. From the get go Inca and marvelously sensitive Roan catch your attention. You wonder who this Roan Storm Walker is that I have mentioned. Well, he is a mercenary who works for Perseus, which is a top secret organization. Roan is the liasion or the middle man between Inca and Colonel Marcellino, during a drug operation to get the Valentine Brothers. The Colonel would just as soon shoot Inca as to look at her. To find out about the situation between the Colonel and Inca and how it changes you must read this marvelous book. In this story you will learn the truth of Inca's birthright. Along with all the other powerful emotions of this story, you also get to watch Inca and Roan fall in love and trust each other enough to marry. There are a lot of surprises in this SUPERB story from Lindsay McKenna. Please read it! You'll be glad you did.

Ms. McKenna has at last granted her readers of the Morgan's Mercenaries stories the intriguing Inca's story! If you've followed the stories of Morgan Trayhern's warrior men and women of Perseus, you will be familiar with Inca, the Jaguar Goddess of the Jaguar Clan of the Amazon jungle. Inca has made an appearance in many of these stories, both as a warrior woman and healer.

Morgan Trayhern must send one of his mercenaries to Brazil to help the local military find their way through the jungle to take out the compound of a major drug lord. The only person who can lead these men safely through the jungle is Inca, and she is being actively sought by the commander of these men, Colonel Marcellino, to be shot on sight for what he believes was the murder of his eldest son. Trayhern enlists the help of Roan Storm Walker, a lone Native American warrior, who is the only person he knows who can work as a liaison between the guide Inca and Colonel Marcellino to get the job done.

Thus begins a treacherous journey for Roan Storm Walker and Inca. This is a very exciting story with non-stop action. Inca is a proud and skillful warrior, but she is also an innocent and beautiful woman. She has a lot to teach Roan Storm Walker, but a lot to learn about the feelings that can grow between a man and a woman. I loved the development of love between these two very special people.

I also discovered quite an education in this book on the plight of the rain forest and its native people from the greed and destruction wrought by drug lords, loggers and miners, and on the beliefs of the people of Peru in their Jaguar Clan of healers and medicine men and women. This was a fascinating story on many levels and I highly recommend this book.

Ladies and Gentlemen find yourself a comfortable reading area and a box of kleenex, before you start Lindsay McKenna's new MM: "Heart of the Warrior" book. I have read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is Inca's story. Now you all should know who this Absolutely Mystically, Magical Woman/Warrior is, because she has had cameo appearances in some of Lindsay's other novels. To lay it on the line this is one gut wrenching emotional read. From the get go Inca and marvelously sensitive Roan catch your attention. You wonder who this Roan Storm Walker is that I have mentioned. Well, he is a mercenary who works for Perseus, which is a top secret organization. Roan is the liasion or the middle man between Inca and Colonel Marcellino, during a drug operation to get the Valentine Brothers. The Colonel would just as soon shoot Inca as to look at her. To find out about the situation between the Colonel and Inca and how it changes you must read this marvelous book. In this story you will learn the truth of Inca's birthright. Along with all the other powerful emotions of this story, you also get to watch Inca and Roan fall in love and trust each other enough to marry. There are a lot of surprises in this SUPERB story from Lindsay McKenna. Please read it! You'll be glad you did.

Inca has been one of my favorite characters from past Morgans Mercenaries. She has always been so mysterious and powerful. I was hoping as we got to know her, she wouldn't lose that mystique. ALL'S WELL! Inca and Roan both walked a fine line between power and emotion. They were a fantastically well matched pair. The only way to describe these two is, PASSIONATE, STRONG, AND DETERMINED!

The mission to destroy drug labs in the amazon basin was definitely only a mild diversion. Even the bad blood between the Colonel leading the mission and Inca (their guide), barely caused a ripple. The focus is firmly on Inca and Roan just as it should be. This story is more 'mystical' than the previous Morgans Mercenaries. Some people may not enjoy that as much but it was perfect for a story about Inca. TERRIFIC!

This book is awesome. A great combination of elements of a romance, a thriller and the mystical. It's great to read about women's power traditions being honored, as well as those of the america's indigenous peoples, without being preachy. The love scenes with Inca and Roan sizzle, and Lindsay writes convincingly about healing, telepathy, teleportation and other fascinating subjects. Great to see a couple of immortals making an appearance as well. Keep up the good work, Lindsay, you're helping to raise our consciousness.

Very sad, but an honest depiction of a part of Guatemala that we were exposed to during our recent visit. The poverty seemed crippling, and children in work roles were very common.

I love this book. Working in a library, I've been happy to be able to show it to so many people. The hero has a hard life and a mother who doesn't love him. But he has a roof over his head at his grandmother's house, and a simple determination to work, to help, and to learn.

There's an indescribable feel to this book, almost a scent, different from any other book. It really is a masterpiece.

I am from Guatemala City and currently living in the US, I read this book with my daughter and she loved it, this book has helped me to explain some of my culture to her. She knows that "anyplace can be the most beautiful place in the world..."

I have read this book aloud to my first and second grade students for years. It is an excellent story, well told, with all the realities of a different culture in a different situation than USA children. However, it is painted with the strokes of deepest, realistic love that a family can have. This is a great story to teach and talk about the struggles of families everywhere, the world and it's differences, and the importance of character "no matter what". It is the book my second graders yearn to read on their own and therefore is a super motivator. It is rich in geography.

The story that I read was really snappy and cool. It's called The Most Beautiful Place in the World By Ann Cameron. There was a boy named Juan and his grandmother. There was also Juan's mom. It takes place in San Pablo, Guatamala. The problem is she leaves him for ever and his mom doesn't let him visit her. He really loves his mom after his dad left them.Some one would want to read this book because its really sad and who ever loves tragedy or not it's a really good book.I recommend this book to people of any age.

I bought this in paperback in England. The store had a pile of them so I assume it's in print there. I read it on the plane home. What a perfect book for a nervous traveler -- for the first time in my life I forgot to give my whole attention to keeping the plane airborne! All the way to New York, all the way home, with the warmest, happiest chapters at the end to finish off with when you get back into your own familiar territory. But now London is familiar territory, too. Read this and know a city as one who loves it and grew up there. The Blitz scenes are worth the money alone! Funny, moving, profound,unsentimental, humane. This is a big novel, with a big generous heart. I would not be the first to compare it to Dickens. Peter Ackroyd, Dickens's and London's biographer, has compared Moorcock to Dickens and has given lavish praise to MOTHER LONDON, as have many London literary critics. Another London novel KING OF THE CITY is also a great read, though very, very different. Read MOTHER LONDON and see the city at her best, dauntless under the Nazi bombing raids, her ordinary citizens not only surviving and making the best of things, but making the quality of their lives better through sheer old-fashioned grit and determination. A lesson for all of us who never experienced our home under constant daily attack, but a heartening message with an old-fashioned up-beat celebration of ordinary human beings. Wonderful!

A stunning book, in which the city speaks to us like never before. In this book, we see just how powerfully the city moulds the lives and characters of its inhabitants, and in turn, how the inhabitants mould the city. War and destruction inflict damage on city and citizen alike, but life and the city continue. An inspirational tale.

Why this masterpiece is not in print in America while so much lightweight BritLit fills the stacks, I cannot explain. The London online Guardian has just done a discussion group on this book and it is fascinating to see how the writer, in the Q&A, describes his intentions -- working inwards and outwards from the key Blitz scenes which are at once the most terrifying and uplifting of the whole novel. This novel doesn't let you in easily but once you are there, you have to let it seize you and carry you along. When you do, you find that you are experiencing something both warm, magical, humane, profoundly funny and with a respect for the under-dog we have not seen in this country since Steinbeck's generation. Maybe an English Don DeLillo ? Really, there's no comparison. Moorcock is as modern as today's Middle East and as compassionate as Mother Therese. You won't regret taking the trouble to read this once. And you will find yourself reading it again and again for the rest of your life!! Ask those of us who have been rereading this since it came out! A genuine modern classic.

I too picked this up in London, where it's commonly available along with the paperback of King of the City, and while I am not a Londoner, I felt I was one after reading the book. If you read this and Peter Ackroyd's LONDON; A BIOGRAPHY you will have a tremendous sense not only of the city's living history, but of her contemporary heart. A great city, largely free from violence and the problems which trouble our American cities, and one that is constantly changing with fresh waves of immigration. This is a book primarily about human beings -- and very fine human beings most of them prove to be. Heartening, intelligent, with a sharp eye for human wickedness, as well as virtue. (...) Read it over Christmas if you can. It will remind you of Dickens and you will feel a whole lot better about the world, in spite of its troubles. It ends with a big party. You will love it.

As much as I love the concept of Moorcock's Multiverse novels, I have to admit that it takes a lot of searching to find the gems amidst all the rest, since many of them were written when he was a lot younger (and often very quickly) and have a bit of a slapdash quality to them, so that the concept is clearly there but it's also all over the place. His best books are the ones where the vision is clear from the onset and he manages to sustain across the entire work, like the Jerry Cornelius novels. And this one. This is probably his most famous work to non-SF readers, I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's "mainstream" because even though there aren't people with giant black swords cutting everyone to pieces and invoking ancient gods, it's still very clearly a Moorcock book. This is probably the best novel to recommend to people who want to get into him but are scared off by his other novels because it's self contained and more or less "normal". Basically it's his love letter to the city of London, through the eyes of three characters, Mary Gasalee, David Mummery, and Josef Kiss, all of whom were involved in avoiding getting bombs dropped on them during the Blitz and who we follow as the story reels back and forth in time, as the characters wander all over the neighborhoods of London, running into the people there and commenting on the changing times. Moorcock evokes the spirit of London through the characters, both literally and figuritively (Mummery is compiling notes about the city, Gasalee and Kiss are both mildly psychic I think), in the same way that Ulysses gives you a tour of Dublin and Lanark represents Glasgow (on that note, has there even been a definitive novel of NYC . . . Dos Passos' Manhattan Transfer?) in a way that lets an outsider like myself get a feel for the city and it's movements but at the same time I think you'd have to truly be a Londoner to understand it all . . . by making the foundation of the novel rooted in the Blitz and having everything either proceed from or regress to there he centers it on what is probably the most defining event for most of London, and contrasts both the great uncertainty and fear of those days with London's nonchalance and ability to survive . . . the shockwaves of it continue to resonate throughout the book, like echoes that haven't reached their targets yet. And due to the characters being psychic, interspersed throughout the narrative are the jumbled thoughts of the people of London, giving voice to the millions that live there, adding a different texture to the proceedings. Moorcock throws everything he can into the novel, giving us a city and a people that are comic and tragic, mundane and grand, all at the same time, creating a story that could only happen in one place, hinting that the only way to really survive is to create your own myths, and run with them. What you get there isn't so much a tightly plotted story but a series of images cascading one after the other, putting together a picture of a place that you'd never understand completely unless you lived there, but since most of us don't, this is the closest we'll ever come. I don't know if it was ever published in the US, but it's certainly out of print here now, though I'm sure used bookstores and UK-related websites have it, since it's definitely still available there I'd recommend snagging it. It shouldn't be the only Moorcock book you ever read, but if you have to start somewhere or if you really only want to read one, this would be it.

When I was a little girl my parents read me this book and I, reportedly, loved it, so when I found it on the shelf I was thrilled to read it again, particularly about the pig "mucking about." The story goes like this: Mr. Gumpy goes for a ride in his punt on the river, and a lot of animals and children ask for rides, and he gives them strict instructions for boat behavior, which they eventually grossly violate, and then they all go in the drink. And go home and have tea. Yes, the story is a wee bit British. What strikes me as an adult, reading the book, is the casual loving way with which the children are included along with the other animals -- pigs, dog, children, goat, etc. It is a very sweet book and Benny and Sadie love it and find it hilarious. Publisher's Weekly's review of it presents it as a moral tale on boat safety. What a bunch of loons. ;D

My eighteen-month-old son brings this book to me half a dozen times a day. "Read Gummy!" No higher recommendation.

Truly a classic, this one is a joy to read and kids just love it. The accumulative tale combined with glowing illustrations elicits preschool giggles every time!

This book falls firmly into a very specific genre of picture book literature. The old, if-one-more-person-gets-into-this-boat/mitten/car/etc.-bad-things-will-happen genre. Jan Brett's "The Mitten" does it. The more recent "One Dog Canoe" does it. But one of the first stories to have done it (and have a moral to boot) is the 1970 story "Mr. Gumpy's Outing".

Mr. Gumpy (who is not grumpy in the least) lives on the banks of a river, and owns a boat. As he goes for a boat ride, two children ask to come along. Mr. Gumpy gives them instructions on what not to do, and they join him. Next a bunny comes along. Mr. Gumpy tells it what not to do, and it joins him. As Mr. Gumpy poles his boat down the river, more and more animals join the party, each receiving a stipulation from Mr. Gumpy on what behavior is appropriate. After the boat fills, the animals suddenly ignore Mr. Gumpy's requests and begin to misbehave. As a result, they all topple headlong into the river, retiring to Gumpy's for tea.

Originally published in England (and if Mr. Gumpy isn't THE most English picture book gentleman you've seen outside of Paddington Bear himself, I'll eat my hat) the story is incredibly civilized. There's nothing like seeing a sheep delicately sipping from a straw to drill home the essential manners and protocols essential to everyday interactions. The illustrations are especially nice. Mr. Gumpy never looks particularly upset or angry by anything that happens to him. As he poles his boat a black and white pen and ink drawing on the left pages shows the boat and it's inhabitants. On the right page is a colorful drawing of the animal(s) asking to be allowed to join. The book, despite the whole falling into the water bit, is calm and peaceful. Just the kind of fun story you'd expect to be read on a cold rainy day. Highly recommended (especially with crumpets and bit of toast with marmalade).

This is a thoroughly delightful book. The simple story engages small children, and the illustrations are first-rate. I have read this book countless times to my two pre-schoolers, and have enjoyed the experience very much. This book is an excellent way to get children interested in books. Finally, I recommend the hardback over the paperback because of the higher quality of the illustrations in the hardback.

All I can say is that is a wonderful book! My kids and I enjoyed it very much!!!

Eight stories designed for bedtime reading or relaxing newly independent readers will find appeal in a wide age range. From a flying pie to elves on shelves, A Necklace Of Raindrops And Other Stories is packed with whimsical scenarios and fun moments.

I am thrilled to see this book back in print after so many years. I read it when I was a kid and even after 3 decades I still remember the story of the girl who gets a magic necklace of raindrops and the story of the cat and his wishing mat made out of a gray dress. The new illustrations are nice and I like the fact that it is in hardback, because it will last longer.

My copy was inscribed to me when I was six, in between Dr. Seuss and the Phantom Tollbooth. Looking at it again now, I marvel that it was only eight stories. Bits of them have stuck in my mind ever since: the necklace of raindrops, each with a special power, the girl who had to be washed with her dress on and hung out on the line to dry so it wouldn't shrink past her, the train station in the desert, the cat who ate the yeast, the quilt and the camels and the traffic lights from Beirut. Get a copy and wear it out, then read Joan Aiken's other marvelous books.

I happened upon this book once when I was in grade school. It made such an impression on me that I have searched for it ever since. It was a wonderful journey of exciting adventures. Making me feel like I had left my life behind and embarked on an incredible expedition. The fun and adventurous stories take the reader around the world. Fun and suspense are around every corner.

After adopting a kitten recently, I began to be haunted by a Tomi Ungerer book from my long distant past. I finally recalled - No Kiss For Mother - our little Grey Poupon looks exactly like Piper, LOL. Thank goodness he did not get his personality!

What a nice thing to have this book come back to my memory. I went through a period in my early 20's where I adored Tomi Ungerer. In my day, children's books featured families nothing like my own, and I think books like this were as good as a therapist once I discovered them. All Ungerer's books have the truth drawn into the corners, where a bedtime reading parent will note them, but they also have the basic child friendly story on the surface. I think children see what they need to see and are ready to see in them, which is so different from the vulgar fare they are often treated to now. No Kiss For Mother isn't pretty (hey, and there's not much kissing in it either!) but it is real, and the author/illustrator has a genius for making the real funny, even for those of us who are doomed to live it. On top of that, there is always the child version and the adult version of the same story, which are often very different in Ungerer's books as in real life.

No Kiss For Mother intrigues me to this day and my kids, a girl and boy, are well into their thirties and still marvel at this book. In some ways, this is a very violent book. MaMa Kitty actually slaps Piper, her beloved son. She has a terrible day and loses her temper and makes a bad mistake in her mothering--MaMa Kitty is flawed! MaMa Kitty, even though she adores the ever-misbehaving Piper, is not the perfect mother. This simply stunned my kids, especially my son. Piper "withholds" his kisses out of spite, Piper holds his mom hostage emotionally, Piper willfully deceives his father, Piper "acts out" in school--my kids' eyes were HUGE! Piper is a bad boy, but Piper is also a REAL boy, and he's a caring boy, too. My son so loved this book that if we went to the library and it was checked out, he was devastated! I have bought several copies of this book for my kids and their friends and nearly everyone I know who has grandchildren. It actually sort of gives kids "permission" to be their real, flawed selves and still be forgiven and loved. It's extremely honest and complex, as is life. It has value well into adulthood, in my view. LOVE IT!

This little gem of a children's book addresses the sometimes difficult relationships between parents and children with a dark humor that is hard to ignore. I have owned my copy of this book for years, and it has enough complexity to provide new meaning each time I read it. I have always found Piper Paw's world somewhat grim--perhaps the smudgey, black and white illustrations have something to do with this. His relationship with his parents, teachers and schoolmates is so antagonistic that I begin to wonder what made him so incapable of love--this of course is a conclusion I have reached recently, and not when I first read the book as a pre-teen. But Piper comes around at the end, if not completely, at least to a level of compromise that he can live with, which includes no kissing. Because of Piper's antics and some of the more bizarre illustrations, I would recommend this book for kids 9 years and older.

My mother used to love to read this to me when I was a kid; we still have one of the earlier issues.

I'm glad it was re-released. It's a classic: recommended for adults as well as children.

This is my absolute favorite Children's book! Growing up as a child, I would read this several times each summer and would laugh for hours at the expressions and the illustrations. The illustrations are brilliant. I think that deep down, we all share the desire to be as mischievous as Piper.

This book is a very good book for a third or fourth grader. It tells about all of the family and where they are and then it brings them together with various means. this is a great book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Watch out below!" Thats the sound of the little boy named Junor Blossom about to jump off the top of the barn. This little boy has a lot of problems with his family, he has a big sister named Maggie. Her problem in the family is she has to take care of the family and run things but, she can't go shopping.(her favorite thing to do is shopping) Junior also has a big brother named Vern, a grandpa named Pap, and a dog named Mud. They have a mother too but, she's out on a rodeo circuit. His granpa and his big brother are in jail for disturbing the peace and their dog Mud has ran away. See...this family has a lot of problems. There's just one question to ask you? Do you think that the Blossoms will solve their problems? Now if you read this book I don't know if you wil like it or not but, to tell you I sure did. This book was put on my favorite book list after I got done reading it. The book is realistic fiction so if you don't like realistic books I wouldn't read this book. The author is Besty Byars. She has wrote a lot of books most of them are mystery and romance but, hey she is a really good writer. So are you going to read this book?

When Pap Blossom goes into town that's when it all started. Breaking into jail, jumping off the roof, missing mom and lost dog are some of the interesting things that happen to the Blossom family. If I could I would give it a hundred stars. I think this book is a 4th, 5th, and 6th grade book. Now you know what it is about so go get the book NOW!!

Go into the world of funny things with Betsy Byars and The NotJust- Anybody Family. It's filled with trouble, mischief, and fun! The trouble begins when Pap goes into town. Somebody falls of the roof, someone goes to jail, someone breaks into jail, and people go to trial. Also, there is a runaway dog. All these funny and exciting things plus a teaspoon of sadness fit into this book. I hope I got your attention! P.S READ THIS BOOK!!!

The Not-Just-Anybody Family is a book my whole classroom enjoyed. It has action, humor, a missing dog, an out-of-town mom, and a grandpa in jail. The children in the book are very real and my students could relate to their feelings and difficulties. The settings change from chapter to chapter and Betsy Byars writes just enough about each situation to keep you wanting more. This book helped my students learn the meaning of "suspense" and almost all of them gave the book a rating of nine or ten on a one to ten scale. I plan on ordering the audio version for some of my students next year.

The works by the late Dr. Velikovsky have generated a LOT of controversy in the scientific community, including vicious attacks by the renowned, late Dr. Carl Sagen. This book, however, cannot be attacked so easily by the scientific community because it deals with a subject that they tend to abhor ... mythology.

Velikovsky, an internationally acclaimed author (some would label him a genius), makes a scholarly analysis of the Oedipus myth of the Greeks and how it relates to the Egyptians. He proceeds to draw many parallels between Pharaoh Akenaten (Tutankamen's father) and Oedipus.

Whether or not Velikovsky is correct in his analysis, I cannot say. But reading this book caused me to expand my thinking about how mythology might get started based on actual, historic events.

This book can be read separately from Velikovsky's other famous and controversial works like Worlds in Collision, Ages in Chaos or Peoples of the Sea as it is not dependent on the chronological sequence of the others. The reign of Akhnaton is considered one of the most interesting periods in the history of ancient Egypt and has inspired many books, but this work by Velikovsky still remains the most fascinating. As far as we know, the religious reform of Akhnaton was abolished, his line died out and his city was abandoned. Velikovsky attempts to elucidate the end of this king, the fate of his two young successors Smenkhare and Tutankhamen, the decline of the kingdom and the fate of Thebes, at the hand of the legends that came down to us from the Greeks. Although his work is controversial, in this book he makes a very strong case for the origin of the Oedipus myth being the true history of Akhnaton and his family. The mysterious relationships, the enigmatic sequence of events and the strange finds in the graves are no longer secret and obscure when illuminated by the legend. The known history in fact ties in perfectly with the details of the legend. Furthermore, the Oedipus legend does not fall into the category of myths that reflect events in nature, because its human character is too obvious. Whatever you think of Velikovsky's alternative history, this book is beautifully written, highly engaging and never less than fascinating in its scope and detail. He even identifies Antigone as Meritaten, the half-sister and wife of Smenkhare, partly based on a beautiful poem inscribed in gold foil that was found under the feet of a mummy in an undisturbed tomb. This moving prayer or word of parting ends with the lines: "Give me thy hands that hold thy soul/I shall embrace and live by it/Call me by name again, again, forever/And never will it sound without response." The text is illumined with 40 black & white plates, including limestone heads of Nefertete and Meritaten, gold coffins and masks of Tutankhamen, the sphinx and the Memmon colossi. "Oedipus and Akhnaton" is a must for those interested in ancient Egypt, in alternative history or in the origin of ancient myths and legends.

For almost any other historian this book would be a masterpiece. Various lesser historians who are nonetheless better known generally fail to mention it, or when they do are dismissive and ignorant of its contents. Bob Brier actually refers to it in footnote, saying it should be taken with a grain of salt, as he builds a non-existent case for Tut's murder (see below).

It was Velikovsky's work on this topic (actually a paper he was writing on Freud's "Moses and Monotheism") which led him ultimately to his multi-volume chronology revision, to the catastrophism documented in "Worlds In Collision", and the persecution by supposed scholars who have turned out to be -- shall we say -- less correct than Velikovsky. Even models which follow or mimic his works pale by comparison, and ultimately fail where they disagree and of course where they disavow.

This book could serve as a sort of introduction to Velikovsky's other books. Once you've read it, you may not be able to read just one.

See also Velikovsky's other works (new and used), David Rohl's "Pharaohs and Kings", Peter James' "Centuries of Darkness", and Bob Brier's "Murder of Tutankhamen". "Giving Goliath His Due", but suffers from the author's reliance on the conventional pseudochronology.

Oedipus and Akhnaton, the first book I ever read that was written by Immanuel Velikovsky, the person often accused of creating pseudo science, is an excellent reading. One need/should not believe everything he writes; but to see how he correlates different issues and facts and analyzes them in his own style is fascinating. Perhaps many of his conclusions are inaccurate, but so could be many of the so-called "scientific" findings.

Science or Pseudo-Science, this book opened my eyes to many interesting issues. For example, it points out the possibility that Akhnaton (Akhen Aton or Amenhotep IV) could well be the person who introduced the concept of monoatheism to (at least, his part of) the world.

I also learnt from this book a feature common to many saviors or heroes: A tyrranical king, who embarks on a infanticide, following a divine prediction, to avoid danger; a child separated from his family and drifted away to a far off land for his safety; the kid's return as a grown up to his own land to educate or rule his people etc. Velikovsky mentions Jesus Christ, Oedipus and Akhnaton; but I would also like to add the name of Hindu god, Lord Krishna, to the list.

This book is full of parallels between the lives of Oedipus and Akhnaton. I don't know how many of these are true or accurate (for example, Velikovksy's reconstruction of Tutankhamen's murder episode is perhaps not valid anymore); but it's an excellent reading.

At the beginning of this book Immanuel Velikovsky asks the intriguing, and quite reasonable, question: Why does the Oedipus legend have a sphinx outside of the Greek city of Thebes, when the sphinx is not part of Greek mythology? He then points out that Egypt, which has a very famous sphinx, also has a city named Thebes. Could the Oedipus legend be a Greek retelling of a historical event that took place in Egypt? From these speculations Velikovsky goes on to present an immense body of data and convincing interpretation of such data, to show that events and people surrounding the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh, Akhnaton, correspond to the major elements and characters in the Oedipus story. This is one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I realize that many scientists are highly skeptical of Velikovsky's books showing various allegedly mythical stories to have a basis in historical evidence. I am a scientist with 43 years experience at a major research laboratory, and I find many of Velikovsky's positions to be both logical and based on sound historical and archeological evidence. Velikovsky was not a crackpot as some would claim; rather he was one of the most brilliant thinkers of the 20th century.

This novel was written I believe in 1988. As it says in the back of the book, it took the author 7 years to write it. Much like Gone With The Wind, it came across to me as a once in a lifetime book and I guess this author has not written anything since. A real shame. As my title said, this was my second reading of this novel. The first perhaps at least 15 years ago. I think I even liked it more the second time. I read mostly at lunch time and while waiting for traffic to pass, so that I can get home as fast as possible. For this novel however, I kept on sneaking just another paragraph or two in between sales calls all day long and many times I had to reach for the hankerchief to wipe my eyes. I happen to love multi generational novels that take 30 to 100 years to play out such as Jeffrey Archer's "As the Crow Flies". This novel which starts in 1871 japan and goes to the end of WWII has everything that you would ever want in a novel. I would have to rate it as one of the best books that I have ever read. If you can find a copy buy it without haste.

This book was purchased for me by my DH. It is the best book I have ever read. The contents are historical and Richard must have done a tremendous amount of research in order to write this book. I could not put it down. I would highly recommend it.

This is my favorite book of all time. I borrowed it from a friend and read it years ago. I absolutely loved it, but a good friend always returns borrowed books! When I tried to buy it myself, I was told it was out of print. I was thinking about it recently and realized that I could probably find it on this site. Duh!!! Well, I just ordered it and cannot wait to receive and read it all over again and lend it to people who I know will appreciate it.

It's not just a story about love, it's about family, honor, sacrifice, friendship, culture and of course WWII from many different perspectives. I learned a lot, I laughed, I loved and I cried and when I was finished with this book, even though the ending was as happy as it could have been, I felt like I was losing my best friend. I remember when I was finished, I just sat in my room holding the book, silent in thought for almost an hour. Strange. It is a must read!!

I'm from Spain, so I read the book traslate to my languaje. That's no give me a good reality of the book, but buy it was my best idea. It've all for the lovers of japan culture and its peoples, in a dark time from the occidental culture. Richard McGill write like a big master.

I am very picky about what I read and only "go" into a storyline if it will increase my knowledge and thoroughly entertain me. This book did an exceptional job of both. I read Omamori about 5 years ago and picked it up again because I was out of good things to read (imagine that!). I knew very little about the effects of the war on Japan and loved "being there".

Whenever someone tells me they are in a reading, author or genre slump, I suggest this book. It is the best time I have ever had reading.

The footnotes for each episode are by the far the best part of this book.

I was exposed to this series in reverse!! I read the books, then saw the BBC shows, and finally heard the BBC radio show. There are subtle and not so subtle differences in all the different media, but they are all pure Douglas Adams!!! The radio scripts are an essential, and clarify (At least for me they did) many things that were not co clear. Not everyone is drawn to the scripts of the favorite shows/broadcasts, but as I have all the scripts for the Monty Python shows, it works for me. Especially if you are a fan of "British" humor, most of which lies in the dialog, it is pure delight to read through these scripts!!

So, you've read the books... bought the tv series on dvd, gone through all the special features (including the comment captions on the film)... read the biographies... and hunted up collectors items on ebay. What next?

Get this book. "The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts" contains many scenes not in the books and, if you've already heard the radio series, many lines that were trashed for time. There is also commentary after each episode by Perkins and Adams.

Some things will seem eerily familiar, then zoom off into a completely different direction and, in my opinion, a better direction. Of course, some things are missing that make the books equally essential.

You can currently get this at a pretty good price used from amazon. Get it now before you can't get it at all.

Although it requires a fair amount of effort to sift through the directions and radio-style writing, the reward is some stuff that I, frankly, find much funnier than much of the Hitchhiker novel series. Recommended to anyone who wants a good laugh, and especially to Hitchhiker fans.

...life forms are required to use a seldom-exercised ability called "imagination" which, with effort, allows the user to paint a mental tapestry that is superior in many respects to any computer generated image or subjective image of perfection.

(takes a breath)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy goes on a bit about the relative superiority of radio as a medium that stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain, but it also notes several references to various works that endure in a medium regarded as deader than the telegraph.

The Hitchhiker's Guide is not only proof that radio is still a viable medium for drama, but that Douglas Adams is a genius. The show, scripted week-by-week by DNA and Geoffrey Perkins was easily translated to books and television with minimal edits. Yes, the second series is a bit off the ultimate track, but it is quite original and the foot notes from Douglas and Perkins are very insightful. These footnotes exist as a log of what took place when it all began and, sadly, as the only memoir to them.

If you can find it, get it.