Third Watch Books

This book, 3rd in the series, is about Acorna's daughter. It is like the other books in the Acorna series, filled with time travel, the Friends, and a people once again in Peril. Well worth buying if you like the original Acorna series.

I have read the entire Acorna series as well as her children's series. I enjoyed this particular book very much. I actually have enjoyed all the books. The only negative thing I can say is the ending seemed very rushed. I like that all loose ends were tied up but the solution seemed so last minute and easy that it just didn't feel believable. They went thru all the trouble to find the cause of the plague and cure it only to have something completely different solve everything. And all of this done in the last 6 pages of the story! I would have liked to have seen a little bit farther into their future as well. But for an ending, it was alright and satisfying in itself, all criticism aside.

I am a avid reader of Anne McCaffrey, as such when one of her books comes along I read it. As always I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can recommend it to any sci-fi reader, and if they havent read any of her books before, maybe this one will tempt them to read her others. I am happy to add it to my collection, and look forward to the next book.

The plague has decimated many planets and the federation has collapsed due to loss of personal. Khorii, the daughter of the revered Acorna, has stopped the plague but it now has mutated into organisms that eat up inorganic matter. Planets and populations lie in ruins and Acorna is helpless to assist her daughter because she has symptoms of the plague and is in quarantine with her husband.

It is up to Khorii and her twin Arriin to find the cause of the plague and figure out a way to stop it. The sisters travel back in time to the homeworld of the Ancestral Friends, a self-absorbed, long lived shape changing and space faring race that used the unicorns from earth to create the Linyaari race. There they find mutable homes that change shape and resemble of the symptoms of the plague. The key to saving the galaxy turns out to be figuring out why the material from another planet turned deadly and analyze it to find a means to eradicate it.

This is the third and final book in the "Acorna's Children" saga and its space opera at its most entertaining. Typical of an Anne McCaffrey plot is the arrival of surprising twists that readers will enjoy and know there is never a dull scene in this enthralling tale. All the loose ends are tied up and all the questions are answered. Although part of a trilogy, THIRD WATCH is a stand alone thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Third Watch (2007) is the third SF novel in the Acorna's Children series, following Second Wave. In the previous volume, Coco the pirate chieftain was disappointed at the lack of treasure on the Estrella Blanca, but accepted Mikaaye onboard the Black Mariah as a healer and pirate trainee. Khorii and Ariin returned to Vhiliinyar to visit their parents and friends within the quarantine pastures.

In this novel, the twins and Khiindi the cat travel back in time to the wardrobe of Akasa, Ariin's former mistress among the Friends. Of course, the Friends know Ariin as Narhii, the name they bestowed upon her at birth. Since they look alike, Ariin wants Khorii to replace her so that she can go investigate something without the Friends noticing her absence. Khorii acts differently than Narhii, but the Friends would never notice.

First the twins travel back even further in the past to drop off Khiindi with the Ancestors. He should be safe among the unicorns while Ariin does whatever she intends. Since this latest time is prior to the birth of the twins, Khiindi once more becomes the shapeshifting Grimalkin and makes friends -- as a unicorn -- with the female Ancestor Halili.

Returning to the closet, the twins separate. Ariin hides while Khorii distracts Akasa. Khorii -- pretending to be Narhii -- asks the Friend to show her the way home as a ploy to get the Friend out of the house. Then Ariin sneaks out and goes her own way.

Once outside, Khorii notices that the front door is shaped and colored as an eye. In fact, the whole front of the house looks like the upper half of Akasa's face. Akasa is pleased with the effect, but Khorii wonders at the degree of vanity that it indicates.

In this story, Ariin gossips with the Friend technicians while Khorii wanders among the Friend hoity-toity. Ariin learns some interesting things, but Khorii meets the Friend Odus and learns that he is odious.

Ariin travels through time to join the Friend Pircifir in his historic voyage of discovery. Pircifir is a venturer, traveling through time and space looking for items that might interest the Friends. Grimalkin -- as Khiindi -- returns to get Khorii and they too join Pircifir on his voyage.

Eventually, the group finds a planet that contains snakes and tubes. The tubes are able to change their shape. When brought back to Vhiliinyar and properly trained, these tubes become the mutable houses of the Friends.

This tale leads Khorii, Ariin and Khiindi to the source of the plague and finally to a way to eliminate it. The tale also suggests an origin for the Linyarri. This volume probably concludes the immediate series, but Acorna's children will almost certainly return for further adventures. Enjoy!

Highly recommended for McCaffrey fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of the Linyaari, time travel, and mysterious plagues.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The writers draw you into the book with the descriptive accounts of the people within the book, making you want another chapter to see if this person they have so aptly descibed finally meets up with the Savior and is healed or helped. Very informative because it expands on what we already have read in the Bible with what could have happened and never recorded in the scriptures. Exciting because so many were helped and healed and finally found the Messiah in their lives.

This book was very exciting for me. Alexander and his son Hero, illustrate that, regardless of how lost we are, or how far we might have rejected Christ, He will always accept us back into his fold, with UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

Again, this series is remarkable.

The AD Chronicles keep coming, and they are fabulous. Ancient Rome has never seemed more real, than when you are reading these books. Keep em coming and if you haven't read them, give them a try, or any Thoene books for that matter!

The Bodie Thoene books just keep getting better. By entertwining Biblical history with fictional elements, readers keep learning more and more about Judeo Christian heritage. Her ability to tell a story and teach at the same time is unsurpassed.

I agree with John Davidson, the Thoenes need to finish the Zion Covenant series, then we'll talk about me buying new series, until then...NO.

There are not a lot of watch collecting/information books on the market, and of those few, only a handful really stand out. This is one of those few. Covers quite a lot, has some in depth information for beginners, and is still a great reference for the experienced.

The book starts showing briefly how the different type of movements work and ends with a photo album of different wristwatches divided in sections (automatic, manual winding, sports, chrono, repeaters, electronic, etc) showing brand names as Omega, Jaegger Le Coultre, Zenith, Rolex, Movado, Girard Perregaux and other big names. Photographs are in B/W mainly, but the few that show the timepieces that open some of the chapters are colour. The comment on each timepiece includes an estimated price, although this information varies through time it can be useful as a reference for the beginner. There is a chapter dedicated to the SWATCH phenomenon, including descriptions and photographs of some timepieces. The book includes very useful tips on how to start collecting, store and keep timepieces; being an excelent introduction at a good price, recomended for who likes wristwatches and might become a collector

I must of clicked on the wrong book. What good is a price guide to 1985 prices if it gives you nothing more than the price?! That's all you get here. Save your money and put it toward a clock!

The book reviews American antique clocks only. You cannot tell this from the cover or the write up.

If you know nothing about clocks and want to learn more before you seriously invest time and money, this is not a bad reference. Ignore the title (it was published in 1985!) and most probably worthless as a price guide...and unless you are from California and can't read...it only covers "American" made clocks. It's an easy reference and somewhat informative...for beginners.