Shadow The Books

African Shadows (1933) by acclaimed Italian silouette artist Ugo Mochi is one of the most charming and simple art books I have read. Mochi's genius is expressed in the amazing black animal cutouts shown against a white background. The left-page text describes each animal shown on the right page. Disarmingly simple and yet quite moving. This is wonderful book to read to children.

This is a really good book, I reccommend you check it out at your local library.

All Blood Is Red ... All Shadows Are Dark! is about behaviors that condition and dehumanize people into commonly accepted, rigid racial categories. A mixed-race family from Cleveland, Ohio, describe some of the issues that present themselves to such a family as theirs.

EVERY mom in the world needs to read this book. I had so many "me too" moments while reading it. He captured and verbalized so many of my "motherhood" stresses and made me realize that I am not alone in this job! FABULOUS!

Stormed Fortress is book 5 in the second arc of the War of Light and Shadows. For long time fans of Ms. Wurts this represents a significant closure of many different facets of a series that has been many years in the crafting. This is not a starting point in the series despite a good summation of the previous books at the beginning.

Ms. Wurts has been developing a running conflict between the two half-brothers Arithon and Lysaer. This conflict has been exacerbated by a magical curse placed on the brothers to ensure their enmity and assure that their cooperation doesn't allow for a complete solution to much of the world's problems. This conflict finds a significant culmination as allies of Arithon are exposed for the role they have played in undermining Lysaer's interests. The results of this major engagement and the events leading up to it are the meat of the story.

The more important undercurrent of Stormed Fortress is a continuation of Wurts' discussion of how faults and character weaknesses can be exploited. This has been an on-going issue throughout the story, but it rises as a major subplot when characters are repeatedly twisted into actions not of their choosing because of their own flaws. This leads to some really interesting examination of how our purest motivations can be twisted entirely out of the scope of our intent.

For those who are looking for the final chapter, I am sorry to see you denied. Stormed Fortress represents a very acceptable resting place in the story, but it is far from the end. If you have enjoyed the series thus far, then that's not a bad thing. Many important, seemingly underdeveloped storylines are brought to a successful conclusion and there are also sweeping changes effected on many of the persistent supporting characters. Some of this is saddening, but other changes and the comeuppance that certain factions endure are gloriously satisfying.

What I enjoyed most in the story has been the evolution of Sulfin Evend. A central figure to the forces of the opposition to the protagonist, his evolution from blinded, fanatic, to enlightened, knowing catalyst in support of the good in his twisted master, has been very well done. This is not a simple wave of the wand from bad guy to good guy, but a knowing, painful transition between ignorance and knowledge. Great stuff.

The writing is very vocabulary intensive. Don't expect weak descriptive terms that are used over and over again. Ms. Wurts doesn't skimp in trying to give description to experience and events that would normally defy the attempt. How do you describe the breath-taking harmony of a musically based magical event that affects and entire battlefield? Well, she does.

Stormed Fortress has been worth the wait and seeds a happy anticipation of what is still to come. Buy this book, even if you have to get it from Amazon.uk because it's that good.

"An Ambush of Shadows" is book five (of seven) in "The Pelbar Cycle."

Stel Westrun, having aided in the release of the "Dome" people (see "The Dome in the Forest," which is book three), is attempting to recreate the steamboat, based on knowledge they have provided from before the "Time of Fire." As is all too common in the interface between science and politics, however, there are factions in the city of Pelbarigan who see not a process of trial and error, by which he is improving each subsequent model, but a series of embarassing failures; failures which reflect poorly on the city. His wife, Ahroe, is also embarassed, and her role as Pelbarigan's chief delegate to the Heart River Federation, which is attempting to reunite the scattered tribes of Urstadge (known a thousand years ago as "America"), only adds to the tension threatening to tear their marriage apart.

Because of this tension in the family, their daughter Raydi decides to stow away on the steamboat for its first long distance trial run -- a decision that will lead to her being kidnapped and brainwashed by the Tantal, and will lead to Stel almost single-handedly destroying their corrupt culture. Once again Stel shows how a man utterly devoted to peace can be a rock upon which the intentions of more violent groups can be shattered; not to mention the wisdom of the advice "Never piss off an engineer."

From the back cover:
"For years after their disastrous defeat by the Pelbar at Northwall, the slave-holding Tantal had kept their distance.

But once the Pelbar moved northward to colonize the shores of the Bitter Sea, Tantal forces were always on the attack.

Then one day they kidnapped the young daughter of Stel Westrun, Pelbar master craftsman, re-inventor of the steamboat--and, suddenly, the single-minded foe of all things Tantal..."

The choir gives its usual 5 Star performance. It's good to see them accompanied by their own symphony. Great arrangements too. It's good to see a history of the pioneer movement out West to begin new lives due to religious persecution.

I am the author, offering you my experience with AMONG THESE SHADOWS. The title is taken from a saying, "It is hard to follow one great vision in this world of darkness and many changing shadows," by Black Elk, an Ogala Sioux Priest.

Sam, part Indian and the protagonist, moves from college innocence into lessons of social shadows when, by a quirky trail of events, he meets Ella Hansen, a victim of abuse and confined in an insane asylum. She, in his view, is lively, intelligent, and intriguing, but after he learns of her underlying despair, he moves to help her, which leads him into a quagmire of Shadows perpetuated by our society.

It took me a long time to write this novel and to get it right. I've always been disturbed by injustice and often, when brave, stood against it. AMONG THESE SHADOWS follows Sam into a long life of being forced and/or choosing one life-trail after another. He hopes for the trail that will lead him back to his "great vision", but, as Black Elk says elsewhere, "Men often lose their way." Sam loses his way and the Shadows keep coming at him until in the end, he gets it right--just as I did.

I give this novel five stars based on the telephone calls I receive from people who have read it and want to share their excitement. Many say things like, "This book is a classic." "It's eye-opening." "Thought provoking." "A page turner." "Wonderfully written." "I so wanted to know what happened to Sam."

I hope you will wish to buy AMONG THESE SHADOWS and enjoy my effortS.

Elaine Olsen Thompson

Moving Under Fury

What a continuation of a Great Story-Barkley is able to duplicate and even out do the first volume of the series. This is a historically accurate portrayal of one group of brothers harrowing journey through our nations Civil War-It is a must read for historical lovers as well as adventure enthusiasts-Can't wait for Final Volume.

As a spanish woman it's good to see a spanish author I can identify with and my god daughter and nieces can too appreciate. My family love the illustrations...can't wait to see the author write another book.