Jack Williamson Books

Larry King is humorous. I read this book in 1 day I couldn't put it down! If you want to understand prayer from a wide range of people from different faiths and beliefs then you should get this book. I read it free from the library years ago and for some reason I just thought to myself maybe I will buy it. lol....hope you enjoy this book as I did.

This book is going on eight years old as I write this review, but I suppose it will always seem timely. Larry has quite a knack for just telling it like it is. As an admitted agnostic he has no agenda in passing along this delightful collection of tales and interviews with those who [mostly] have belief in God. And mind you, this is not a book on religion. True to its title, the book relates prayers - moments - that have moved others to prayer. In some instances it is the circumstance which catches your attention, and other times it is the prayer itself that provides the power. And Larry's personal asides are even more delightful.

All in all I was always interested in reading on to the next page, person, or prayer. This is an "un-fussy" book and a wonderful read.

This book will open your mind if you are agnostic, and it may make you angry if you are set in your conventional religious beliefs. This is not a politically correct book, and King takes some risks, but it is worth a good read whether you are spiritally inclined or somewhere in the middle.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.

Mr. King delved into the foundation of Spirituality and Religion and made simple an otherwise complex and controversial issue. The book focuses on the individual and his or her communication with God, while setting aside religious beliefs. I would like to recommend to friends who are too formal about prayers and to those who maybe agnostic such as Larry King in his book.

This was the first book by Jack Higgins that I read. The plot grabbed me by the second page and didn't let go until the end. The characters were all very well developed, with no loose ends in their various encounters. The particular development of Martin Fallon was very interesting...Higgins established his "death wish" in a good manner, but kept me guessing to the end just how Fallon would resolve all of his issues. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

...This novel was a little more touching in its direction and somewhat more of a moving story than all action of his other books. I found it as good as always, but I am a fan, so make your own opinion.

I first read this book about two decades ago. I think I can best describe the book by describing how that first encounter with APFD went. I had borrowed the book from a friend. I read it at one sitting - it's a quick read - and felt compelled to share it with others. In the week for which I had the book, I loaned it to four other friends then read it once more before returning it. Since then, every two years or so, I'd have an urge to read it again and I'd go out and find a copy. The book can almost be called a classic.

I must have read this book five years ago-- probably more like seven. In any case, it wasn't my copy-- we were renting a cabin, and it happened to be on the bookshelf-- I picked it up, and could NOT put it down until I read the whole thing, at the expense of my vacation. Not that I minded, mind you. ;) In any case, Higgins' tragic tale will have you aching over every moment. In fact, this novel is nearly perfect-- except for a couple of sexually explicit scenes, which I skipped quickly over. Due to that fact, this is not for sensetive readers at all, and usually I'm one of those-- but, frankly, after all the books I've ever read, this one was in my life for a mere twenty-four hours, and I remember it as one of the best.

I was first introduced to Jack Higgins with 'The Eagle has Landed' and 'Storm Warning', two WWII era stories. I enjoyed his ability to develop characters while keeping the action moving and suspenseful. However, it was this book, 'A Prayer for the Dying' that made me a lifelong fan of his writing. Actually written before he exploded into popularity with 'The Eagle has Landed' this tale is deeper and more moving than any of his books, before or after. Each character, both good and bad, have demons to overcome.

The story is about Martin Fallon, an ex-IRA executionor, who has bailed out on the movement after an tragic miscalculation caused a bus-load of school children to be blown up. We find him in London trying to leave the country and being chased by both his old comrades and Scotland Yard. He is blackmailed into killing one crime boss by another, and is seen by a priest Father De Costa. The story takes Fallon from executionor to hero as he is forced to protect the life of the priest at all costs.

Higgins takes the time to develop each character in this story into very complex people. Beside Fallon and De Costa we're introduced to Jack Meehan, (the crime boss with a twisted sense of fairness), his brother Billy (the original thing from under the rock), Miller (the frustrated Scotland Yard Detective), and Anna de Costa (the blind niece). Each character has wonderful and surprising quirks. A great example: Jack Meehan is an legit undertaker with many non-legit sidelines including prostution, gambling, and drugs. However, he is also VERY protective of the elderly, feeling they are always being taken advantage of. He actually crucifies one of his employees for trying to swindle an 87 year old widower out of 20 pounds.

To go further into the plot would spoil all the great surprises and twists. If you're a Jack Higgins fan you MUST find this book and read it. It's out of print but any good used book store will have it and it's well worth the trouble.

I am amazed at the brilliance and positive approach of Jack Canfield.

This collection of works by the various authors offers the listener an opportunity to have an easily accessed master mind group in the field of human growth. The morning commute's blahs are a thing of the past when the driver plugs in a tape or cd and visits with the likes of Jack Canfield, Marianne Williams and the others. Each offers a conversational monologue which address basic human perceptions and attitudes. Whether at home or on the road, each tape is a treasure of information which offers the listener tools to reshape basic views of life. These tapes are well worth the value. They are like good traveling companions. You welcome their presence, and delight in their gifts. I strongly recommend it to anyone.

This collection of works by the various authors offers the listener an opportunity to have an easily accessed master mind group in the field of human growth. My morning commute's blahs are a thing of the past when I plug in my tapes and visit with the likes of Jack Canfield, Marianne Williams and the others. Each offers a conversational monologue which address basic human perceptions and attitudes. I have listened to all the tapes at least twice and will listen to them again and again. Whether at home or on the road, each tape is a treasure of information which offers the listener tools to reshape basic views of life. These tapes are well worth the value. They are like good traveling companions. You will welcome their presence, and delight in their gifts. I strongly recommend it to anyone.

This set of tapes is diverse enough to keep me interested and also very inspirational and hopeful.. Makes a long drive feel more useful!

According to Alexei and Cory Panshin, in the critical work The World Beyond the Hill, Star Bridge's genesis goes back to 1944 or so. Jack Williamson, inspired by Isaac Asimov's Foundation stories, decided to do his own "managed history/galactic empire" novel, with the working title of Star of Empire. Williamson had problems making the idea work, so that it took 10 more years plus James Gunn's assistance to finally make a story out of the idea.

And what a story! I first read this novel at the age of 9, just a few years after it came out, and have periodically re-read it every so often since then. I outgrew much of what I read in my teen years and before, but this book is one of those stories that I still enjoy now as much as I did then.

This story succeeds on more than one level. Most obviously, it is a fastpaced adventure story. On another level, it's one of those stories where things aren't quite what they seem at first glance. Or at the second (third? fourth?) glance. That, I think,is what keeps me coming back to this novel -- the thought that I may see something in it that I missed on the previous reads.

One thing that completely perplexes me is how unknown Star Bridge is, even among science fiction fandom. It is in the top rank of Williamson's work (that goes for Gunn, too), yet I find that even big fans of Williamson often have never heard of it. Hopefully there will be enough demand for used copies of this book that someone may do another reprint. I think it's about time -- and it would really be cool if it were to be made into a movie.

A great novel with (at the time) revolutionairy ideas of travel via 'wormholes'. The character is typical of Sci-fi writing of the time, and there is a leading character that has to be an early personification of 'Giles Habbibula'.
Well worth the read, and great book from THE Grand Master of Sci-fi.

I first read "Star Bridge" in sixth grade at the age of 11; I'm now almost 43, and I still hold this as one of the greatest SF books I've read.

Williamson's imagery and wordcraft set the standard for many of today's modern masters. His antihero Horn, the eccentric man-with-a-secret Wu, and his decaying human empire are shown in high relief, and the imagery evoked burns itself into your mind permanently.

Find and read this book; do what you must to acquire a copy, and savor it slowly. Horn's passage through the Tube and hyperspace is one of the most stirring examinations of consciousness I've yet to read; it still moves me.

Find out why one man can move an empire...

Why has this book never been made into a movie? It has it all...adventure, romance, a Metropolis-like futuristic empire, the idea of near-instantaneous space travel.
Well, that part of the book was probably the inspiration for the original Star Gate movie. But this book's plot was much more coherent than the revolt against the sketchy, androgynous tyrant of Star Gate. The character of Wu is one of the best executed and most thoughtful in the history of the SF genre, IMHO.

I expected this would be a good book when I first picked it up, but it turned out to be way better than I expected. It's written with the savvy and competence which you expect from such professionals, but without the hard edge. It's got lots of real heart. Where they go beyond is in creating for me the clear sense of their compassionate understanding as well as in offering concrete ways for constructive and healthy resolution. It's really very positive. I also very much appreciated the design of the book, which made it very accessible and easy to read and use. Totally first class in every way.

I read very few books--unless they're about golf or business. But this one grabed me. It makes sense and gets to the point quickly. As a divorcing man I thought many of my thoughts and feelings were unique to me. Some of my behavior has been destructive. I've never met the authors but they must know me somehow because my experience and feelings are in every chapter. It's been a big load off my mind to know I'm not alone in how I've been reacting to messy divorce. But now I'm learning how I can do much better. It's like my friend threw me a life raft when he told me to take a look at this book. This is the best help I've received since the bad times of my divorce began almost 9 months ago.

Wow! This is the most helpful and practical book on Divorce I've read. And God knows I've read as many Divorce books as diets I've been on. This is an easy read and yet it goes deep. I cried through the first half and smiled the rest of the way. This is first one I've seen that doesn't bash either the male or female gender. It creates a welcome approach to understanding--and it's about time.

This is a must read for people who are serious about putting a smile back on their faces and boltstering their self-esteem in healthy ways.

I'm passing this book on to 2 of my friends going through divorce, one male and one female.

I first read this book back in 1981 when I was in high school. A group of us were into the SCIFI/ Fantasy thing. Since then I have read hundreds of book in these genre, but I always considered Brother to Demaons Brother to God to be one of the best ever. I am lucky to have found a copy of it via Amazon.com after having searched for over eight years.

This love story centers on human beings struggle against numan and and muman mutuations after man has minipulated his DNA. These mutants have a lot psychic powers that enable them to live like gods. In their lore there was a prophecy of a new breed of mankind that was destined to put an end to their tyranny. After trying to elimate the parents of the new man, the "god" found that they were helpless, even after the death of the expectant mother of the new human.

It is definitely a book to be read.

This is one of the first sf books I read (after happily stumbling across one fourth of it in an Analog magazine). It's the story of the struggle of humans to survive a world that is inhabited by better creatures--creatures that humans had shortsightedly made. It is also a love story. It is also a story of self-discovery. Williamson's philosophy of self-empowerment and humanism comes through in what can sometimes be a dehumanizing genre. I recommend this book to everyone!

One of the best things science fiction can offer is a fresh analysis of what it means to be human. This books delivers on that analysis -- in spades. Ordinarily, a review shouldn't provide a synopsis, but since one is not provided by Amazon.com, I'll provide a brief one.

The setting is Earth, one thousand years in the future. The world is populated by humans ("premen"), genetically perfected humans ("trumen"), genetically modified soldiers ("mumen") and gods, who are part human, part celestial matter. Many centuries prior, premen had created these other beings, who have now nearly displaced the premen. By order of Earth's god, they are to be relocated to a distant and inhospitable world. Two premen children, a boy and a girl, struggle against their deportation and discover that they may have the key to fighting against the gods, if only they have enough time.

This book is more than just action and kaleidoscopic settings. It's about what it means to be human, what rewards and suffering struggle brings, and about friendship, loyalty and hope. Think of it as s.f.'s equivalent to "The Shawshank Redemption."

2007 CAVEAT TO MY 2000 REVIEW. Over the years as I've reflected on this book I've come to realize its moral failure, which is a big one. SPOILER ALERT. The gods are overcome by the Ultiman, the ultimate man, a God-like figure that supposedly combines the best of humanity with God-like powers. However, the Ultiman was created by flawed humans, the same people who created the gods. How long before the Ultiman stops defending humanity and begins to tyrannize the multiverse, just like his predecessor gods?

I have read this book many times, and have come away amazed each time. One of the things I enjoy most about science fiction is the quality of the ideas it explores, and Williamson's are not only outstanding but bountiful. A lot of casual asides and brief exchanges between characters are rich with ideas that could easily require the length of a book to explore. As one would expect from an author who has been writing and winning awards for as long as he has, the plot, characterizations, style, etc. are all first-rate. Find this book and you will be delighted.

I was surprised this book does not have more reviews and a large entry on Wikipedia. The Humanoids deserves a wider audience, it compares favorably to 1984 and Brave New World and is entertaining and suspenseful to boot. It is truly great science fiction. It is depressing though, perhaps that accounts for its lack of popularity. The book is an important commentary on the nature of Freedom. Moreover, those who blieve in God but wonder why (s)he is not more overtly benevolent, would do well to read this book.

Jack Williamson was one of the guiding lights of science fiction during the "golden age". His writing is always excellent. That said, this has to be one of his greatest achievements ever. It's dark, hopeless and tragic, but still filled with the possible triumph of the human spirit. The main story, "With Folded Hands", though, is one of the most touching pieces of writing I've ever read. Please, I beg of you, read this book. It is one of the greats.

This book is great and plus you can learn about the stuff they use in space camp. Like The MMU but you will have to read the book to Know what MMU means. I rate this book two paws up.

Wishbone The Cute Little dog is going where no one has gone before!So are his friends---Joe Talbot,Samantha Kepler,and David Barnes.Its The chance of a life time for dogs and kids alike.This Adventure reminds wishbone of one of the greatest science fiction stories of all times,"The Legion of Space",by Jack Williamson.Where He Imagines himself as the space hero John Ulnar,Who has To battle aliens to save a beautiful woman who is the last hope for mankind

This is a handsome book, well-made, with colorful reproductions on the endpapers of the covers of the old pulp magazines in which the stories originally appeared. Some of these grand old pulps can still be found on auction sites and in second-hand book stores, and they're worth collecting, not only for the stories but also for the wonderful illustrations. The quality of this book and the early Jack Williamson tales make this volume worth its rather high price.

I wanted particularly to read the short novelette Wolves of Darkness, because I'd heard it was the precursor werewolf tale to his later classic Darker Than You Think, and I was not disappointed! Williamson has the skill to capture one's interest right from the first sentence of a story and hold it, drawing one in to read on and discover the mystery and wonder that follow. This book is a must-have for all Jack Williamson fans and all science-fiction/horror fans in general!

Jack Williamson has the skill to capture one's interest right from the first sentence of a story and hold it, drawing one in to read on and discover the mystery and wonder that follow. He has a very visual style and in the title story Wolves of Darkness he provides a scientific explanation for lycanthropy instead of the usual supernatural rationale. He also describes a process that sounds very similar to the way that micro-processors are made today! And this was in 1932, some 20 years before even the transistor was developed, let alone micro-chips! When this story was written even the vacuum tube was still a rather new thing.

Williamson writes in the pulp fiction style of the day, which is somewhat repetitive and tiresome at times, but since the going rate for a pulp magazine story back then was a half cent a word or less, it's understandable why an author would "flesh out" a tale as much as possible! Even so, these stories still hold up well.

This is a handsome volume, well-made, with colorful reproductions on the endpapers of the covers of the old pulp magazines in which the stories originally appeared. This book is a must-have for all Jack Williamson fans and all science-fiction/horror fans in general!