Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

now that I have all the Last of the Jedi books, I can finally read them.

This is the eighth in a series of 10 that is actually one novel.
It is well written and moves well. I believe it is good reading for younger set and not bad for an adult. I have read every Star Wars novel with the exception of Invincible and this rank high on the list of all the stories.
While each story can stand alone it is better if read together book 1 to 10.
By the time you get to this book you want to get to the end that you don't want it to end.
Because of the period it is in there are a lot of threads that are left to be followed. Although a conclusion of a sorts is written it is not as satisfying as it could be.

I loved this series. Just sad to see it end. Jude Watson is a fantastic writer. I have her other 2 series . I hope she has another series of Star Wars soon. Marianne Shinmon Mshinmon@cox.net

These 10 novelettes could have been put together into one normal sized novel. Brilliant to sell them separately. They are all very well written and only get better as the series progressed, culminating with this volume (10). Wonderful story...EXTREMELY well written. I was honestly sad to see the series end. I came to like Ferris and the other Jedi immensely. This series could be made into a feature movie easily. hmmmmmm.

highly recommended.

Now . . . having read all 10 books of Last of the Jedi, I have come to the conclusion that THIS is the best work Jude Watson-san has ever done, really ! ( Um . . . my second favourite is Jedi Quest, by the way. )

Well . . . to be frank, I was already on the verge of tears when I was only half way through the story . . . and . . . I was really crying ( silently ) while I was reading the last 1/3 of it because I vaguely knew exactly what was coming which was inevitable ! *sniffles*

Hmm, I believe this "Reckoning" IS filled to the brim with unconditional love, friendship, hope, betrayal, sacrifice and TRULY unexpected turn of events ! *sobs, facedesky* And I couldn't help but read the very last chapter, playing Princess Leia's Theme in my head because they really do match.

Anyways, I really loved the ways Ferus chose to show his affection and love for Trever at the very end of the story and THAT made me cry some more and more until my nose got completely stuffy !! ; _ ;

Arigatoh SO MUCH for creating all these wonderful characters of LotJ, Watson-san !! *bows*

First off, major kudos to the reader of this series. He does a great job of changing his voice to separate the characters and keeping the mood of the series. The sound effects were decent as well. They did a pretty good job with the abridgment, unfortunately they cut out many of the little things that made the originals great instead of just good. Anyone new to the series wont notice a thing and us veterans can add the missing paragraphs and ocasional chapter ourselves. With 2 more voice actors, a little better sound effects and the full text this would have been a great buy... As it is, it's still a good series that you can spend a long time listening to.

This is the final book of the trilogy, has lots of action lots of the clans. Comstar finaly shows who the will support and romanno finaly gets whats coming,hehehe. this is an awsome book that everyone will enjoy.

With this book Stackpole concludes the invasion of the Clans.
The final confrontation between Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht of ComStar and ilKhan Ulric,along with Kai and Deirdre getting in love with each other (FINALLY!although it requires
almost half a year in the wilderness),only to break up again.
I LOVED the fact that SOMEONE puts an end to Romano Liao's life
(the whacko had started to get on my nerves),and Victor and Galen.......oh,well you'll see.This book, alongside with the rest of the 'Blood of Kerensky'trilogy is impossible to put down!I,personally, finshed the trilogy in two weeks.It is , simply the best of the best.READ IT!

Lost Destiny has an extremely compelling storyline. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down, reading until 1 AM from 10 PM, then finishing the next evening! (At that point, I was waaaaay tired). If you're a true BattleTech fan, then you've read this. If not, GET YOUR HANDS ON IT!!!

The book is very good. I learned alot about the clans byreading this book. The glossary is very good. The book even includes a map to pinpoint the worlds mentioned. The BTech universe is brought to new heights with this book. The drama was good, and Romano Liao's death was an interesting twist. All in all, a must read.

My daughter has now read through Volume 5 of the series. She really enjoyed the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid", so I ran upon the Bone series when looking for other graphic novels. She enjoys the humor and has shared the books with her friends.

The only drawback off this TPB is its length - this comics is simplistic so you go through the book fast. But the story is great, characters are engaging and you have to wait for the next volume.
Note - this edition is colored and is really beautiful. Can't imaging it in any other quality.

This volume of the Bone adventures picks up where the first one left off, and is equally fun and interesting. It would be hard not to love the Bone series, with the wonderful characters and humorous situations. This is great stuff, and I highly recommend it to graphic novel lovers.

Again my son loves the Bone Series and it helps encourage him to read because he enjoys the books so much.

Wow! There is something truly amazing about the images and words of "Bone". At heart, it's a fairy tale, but one that appeals to the child in the adult and the adult in the child.

This is a fun, light story reccomended for children of all ages, and for parents looking for a decent laugh.
The narrator's insane foreign uncle shows up at his door (He could be Norwegian, because of his dog's name or the sort of tea he likes to drink, but he also has a vaguely Yiddish accent in the audio edition I'm familiar with, and tells stories that sound vaguely like Aesop's fables) and trains the narrator as a time tourist, a person capable of traveling through space and time, and the narrator tells of a series of madcap adventures (Think "Pinocchio","Hitchhiker's guide", or "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen") through outer space, having a dog swear at him,watching an energy being looking for planets to devour, or watching his uncle zapped into another time.
The way Pinkwater reads aloud his books, the characters all talk differently but you can still understand what they're saying.
Great fun for the whole family.

I was first introduced to Daniel Pinkwater through this story between 4th and 5th grade, when my aunt who owned the book read it to me. I recently got it out of the libraray and love it even MORE than I did then, though I'll be going into highschool next year.

This is a brilliant tale of a boy (Melvin), his dog (Fafner) and someone who claims to be somehow related to the family, but is called "uncle" since they don't know quite how (Borgel). I highly recomend it to the young, and old since it is such an awesome book.

I may be getting a new pet soon... and I plan to name it Borgel, just becuase I hope it has just as hilarious of personality and such a care free disposition.

And as a warning- if a popsicle is dancing around and you can't stop being happy and feeling the effects of it... you probably shouldn't eat it :)

Whenever I read any of Mr. Pinkwater's books I am amazed at the range and intelligience of this humorist.
"Borgel" has become one of my favorites. From the first chapter I was hooked. The arrival of Borgel ,a flaky, casual genius, to the home of Melvin and his family is like a spark to dry wood. The world that "Uncle Borgel" takes his "Nephew" is fantastic but oddly comparable to our own (though I don't believe you'll be able to get any french fried meteorites in your local McDonald's).
This story moves along with a series of events that keeps one's mind sparked and one's lips twitching with laughter.
Mr. Pinkwater's "Borgel" flows like melted popsicles.

Borgel is a classic example of Daniel Pinkwater's very imaginative, creative, and captivating writing style. A very good example of that indeed , I enjoyed it thoroughly. The basic story is as follows, a boy who lives in a relatively boring, normal family, one day is startled by a man at the front door claiming to be a relative of the family and in need of a place to stay. The family obliges and the man comes to live with them. The man (Borgel) takes the boy (Melvin Spellbound) on a long trip and they have many unexpected adventures. Good words to use when talking about this book would be unique, interesting, funny, fantastic, goofy, unexpected, ingenious, weird, and that's just to name a few. If you like hearing about new, interesting, people, places, and things, then this is a great book for you. They encounter all sorts of amazing and intriguing people and things. Everything from giant popsicle museums , to bloboforms who own root beer float stands. This book is less of a book than an experience, one must however, enter with an open mind, because without an open mind, one is doomed to monotony, which this reading experience does not provide. It instead provides a colorful, exciting, (as much as this may sound monotonous), imaginative new perspective of things. The physics of time will be revealed, the dimensions of space will be unveiled, the very reasons for life will be explained to you in this book. Someone who wants to learn about how to plant azaleas however, should read something else. I actually found this book rather refreshing, because instead of dealing with the corruption, indecency, and everything dragging our country down a moral sewer, or people going insane from war, or how hard it is to leave home and everything you love, this book shines as a golden ray of light in a mire of depressing, monotonous, dark books. Frankly, I was getting sick for a second of all those books they make you read in school about conspirators killing people and mothers killing their sons. I was ready for something new, and this was the book for me. I think it will be the for you as well.

I discovered the works of Daniel Pinkwater through one of my nieces, who happened to name her two cats after two characters from "Borgel." Daniel Pinkwater possesses a sheer, mad comic genius. He spins tales that are wildly funny and entertaining, and yet manages to squeeze in a lesson. (Even if that lesson is that animals are stupid or to never listen to what a fish says.)

"Borgel" tells the story of Melvin Spellbound and his uncle Borgel. Borgel is of no clear relation and shows up one day out of the blue. He stays in his room for weeks at a time and the family children may only enter through invitation, wearing a tie. One night Melvin is invited to Borgel's room and he believes that they are running away. They wind up on an adventure through space-time-and-the-other.

Pinkwater peppers his story with hilarity mixed with reality. Borgel and Melvin's space travels are delightfully funny and deepen our appreciation of the wide cast of characters, including Fafner the dog and Freddie the Grivnizoid, as they search space and Hell for the Great Popsicle. Throughout all his whimsy and witty words, Pinkwater truly makes us care about the characters and wraps up a story that may seem to have wandered so far that there would be no coming back. Just like what would happen in space travel, if the Dorbzeldge was to drift past the road barriers.

Bonnie Pemberton has penned a real gem in THE CAT MASTER!

This book is a great read for anyone, a true cross-over novel, not just to be enjoyed by young adults. I would recommend it to ANYONE, especially those who have a deep love of animals and wonder what drives them to do what they do.

This well-written text with excellently drawn characters makes me eagerly await Pemberton's next novel.

"The Cat Master" shows the reader a world filled with danger that is imposed on man's tamed creatures. These dangers are more often than not created by the very civilization which has tamed them. I found this book an enjoyable read and one that I wanted to ready quickly, but ended up taking it slow. Lots to think about, fun for adults as well as older children.

I can literally spend hours searching for a good book. Sometimes I get lucky. The Cat Master is a fantastic read. Every page is filled with adventure, witty dialogue, humor, pathos ~ and all from the animals' perspective. The conflict rests inside Buddy, the main character who must fight the desire to remain an 'indoor' or seek his rightful place 'outdoor' in the animal world. New author Bonnie Pemberton has created a menagerie of quirky, funny characters, including Orie a lizard who believes himself to be far bigger and better than his small stature represents. I highly recommend this wonderful hero's journey for young and old, a story of good vs. evil, love and loss, failures and triumphs. Buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

Descriptions so real and imaginative they inspire this page turning novel for cat lovers and non cat lovers alike because of their crisp fluidity. Wonderful chapters leave you hanging on by a claw. This story is a fun ride for people of all ages. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing for a fun summer read. It has excellent word choices that will keep YA readers interested until the end. There is just enough spice to lure in the YA readers who may be reluctant to engage in a fantasy type novel. I would recommend this book to my high school students as well as my friends and family. I loved it.

This is the first book in a while that I have read thru at one all night sitting. It has all the elements needed to make it a best seller whether for a child or an adult. it's beautifully written and emotionally engaging. I am anxious to read more from this author

This novel is certainly one I would recommend to everyone. The overall story is incredible and keeps you glued to the book down to the last page. I truly respect Scott McGough for his brilliant literature here. The way he wrote not only brought wonderful (or dreadful) images to your imagination but made you feel like the world and characters actually existed. He used so much detail in everything that it all seemed to come to life. To top it all off, everything he wrote here ran so fluid and was so easy to follow regardless what interruptions would be around you. After having read this book twice now and still enjoying it greatly, I recently purchased more novels by this author. I hope they turn out just as beautiful as this one. This is pure art...

What a great book! One of the few books that I have ever read and literally not been able to put down. Think it took all of about three hours to read this for me I was so enthralled. The entire series is good, but Torment is a shining example of how a rough sketched story can be turned into a true literary gem by a talented writer.

Great, captivating tale.

That's not saying much considering I don't read a lot, but this book is awesome. The parts with Llawan and Laquatus are kinda boring but they don't ruin it by any means. I didn't really like the ending, but overall the book was 5/5 for me. This is one of the few magic storylines I've actually given a crap about. (The other being weatherlight.)

Even though the Odyssey cycle has been gone for over 2 years, you should definately still pick this book up.

This is my 2nd favorite book I have ever read in my life. This is the 3rd Magic book that I read, and after this I was captivated by the MTG novels, I have now read over 10 of them in only 4 weeks, and these are great books, Torment is my favorite so far. From beginning to end, it is AWESOME. There are a few boring parts when it follow Empress Llawan, but they are all worth it because they lead up to make a valuable point. I reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction, such as Harry Potter or MTG, it also reminds me of LOTR a little bit.

This was a superb read. It is, by far, the best of the three Odyssey block books.

In a nutshell, the first half or so covers the same timespan as Odyssey, just from Chainer's point of view. While Kamahl is off chasing the Mirari, Chainer is developing his magical skills and is rapidly ascending the ranks as the Cabal's best dementist. With the aid of the Mirari (he is the only person so far who has been able to control it), he seems virtually unstoppable. The view into the Cabal's dark intentions is quite entertaining, as we learn more and more about the mysterious Calchexas, the Cabal Patriarch. The book ends in a big climax and leaves readers with an excellent starting point for Judgment.

This book earns a well-deserved 5 stars.

Good story, Dekker rights well. Not what I call a 'page burner', but close to it. I enjoyed it, over all. At times I was frustrated with the characters because they didn't do what I considered to be logical things, but maybe Dekker meant it to be that way. I found myself drawn into the story and interested in what happened next. The book reads as if it is for late teens. It may be advertised as such, but I'm older and enjoyed it just the same. I would recommend the book. I read the Black, Red, White series and there a tie ins. I like that series more, but not a by a large margin. If you read the B-R-W series you would proabably enjoy The Lost Books series.

I preread this book for my son. It is a great adventure. Poopoo to all the nitpickers. I got behind the characters and enjoyed the adventures.

This 4th & final chapter in the Lost books series is a surprise, to say the least. There is quite a jump to the "other earth" that provides humor and perhaps, just a bit of silliness to the otherwise intense book. Some of the challenges experienced by the Chosen are somewhat over-the-top in my mind, but I am not the 15 year old for whom this book is written. I think any young person will find it satisfying and gripping! You can't read the other books without learning the end result! Dekker is, without doubt, the finest author, secular or Christian, out there today!

I can't wait for the next book. Each of these books I've read in a 24 or 48 hour period. I am a stay at home mom of 3, so I've locked myself in my room, popped my popcorn, turned on my reading light and snuggled into bed, shouting periodically through door, "Ask your dad!"

After reading this book I want to turn in my sex-in-the-city-stilettos for a nice leather sheath....for my knife, of course. I want to sign back up for kickboxing and be confident I can take on any thug downtown Detroit. I long for The Great Romance to be what it was like worlds ago. My husand refuses to put on a tunic and answer to "Thomas"

This book as a great mix of action, romance, adventure, and humor all while dealing with what we stuggle with in our own hearts-good and evil. I think this paints a great picture of how evil satan is and how he wants to destroy us...a peek into what that world looks like. We also see the kindness, gentleness and love that Jesus gives us and what that looks like.
I will be first in line for the next book.

The big 4th book of Dekker's "Lost Books" had promise written all over it. I still think it should've been top notch. And with the sprawl and tenacity of "Renegade," I simply thought the best was yet to come. Ted Dekker is blessed that he is nothing less than an accomplished writer. Because I was rolling my eyes through the first hundred pages, and then it thankfully got better. That's a good thing!

So, you have Johnis and Silvie, hanging out in a stolen Chevy...in Las Vegas! But make no mistake about it, books are top priority! Don't get in the way.

Love is in the air, and deception is beyond the reach of nobody! And just when you thought the nasty stench of Alucard was gone, take another sniff. You never thought it could get this crazy, and going out for blood never tasted so good!

Remembering Elyon, remembering a purpose. Dekker refuses to reveal any tricks up his sleeve, but lets us know that we should be keeping our eyes peeled. And please, beware dear reader. Sometimes the end is simply the beginning! Especially with Ted Dekker. Don't forget that.

Get ready for a big kiss, but expect it to get bloody! So expect nothing less than a kiss of chaos.

I really like this book. Choke Hold is the follow-up to "Guardian Angel" which relaunched/continued the Destroyer series that focuses on Remo Williams and his master Chuin (both master assassins working for the US government).

To say Choke Hold is a fast read and vastly entertaining is an understatement (plus Chuin would kill anyone who even tried to say it). I finished this book in hours and found myself smiling the entire time. Authors James Mullaney and Warren Murphy really hit the ground running and pull no punches.

There's a few things that you can count on with any entry in the Destroyer series. The interaction with Remo and Chuin is priceless and often helps the reader laugh out loud. The action is hard-hitting and each book serves up some delicious bad guys that you cannot wait to see get their comeuppance (this time we get maniacal pilots, deadly ninjas, and corrupt businessmen). On top of all this each entry targets and lampoons parts of American life. With Choke Hold we get a skewered view of the tobacco industry and its proponents and opponents...needless to say when Remo and Chuin show up there's smoke and fire...and a darn fun read!

I have been reading Destroyer novels for over twenty years, now, and have about a hundred of them. In the early days, when creators Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir were still doing the books, they were unparalleled, blending action, humor and social/political satire with mysticism and fantasy. Later, various ghost writers took over the writing chores on the franchise, with mixed success. But now, Warren Murphy is BACK, baby! Although Mr. Sapir has passed away, Murphy has teamed with the best of the ghost writers to bring the adventures of Remo and Chiun back to their original glory. While occasionally, these New Destroyer books have been almost too nostalgic, I believe this is necessary in order to remind readers what made this series last so long (37 years and counting). I am still a great fan of the series and the characters, and will continue to read Destroyer novels as long as they keep cranking them out.

This second book of the new incarnation of The Destroyer is even better than the first. The writing is almost lyrical without being sappy, and the story is as engaging as it is timely. The characterizations are spot on. The past masters of Sinanju are brought into the story. The story ties together beautifully, but the real magic is the sly humor and the father-son relationship of Remo and Chiun, which has never been more evident or more genuine than it is in this jewel of a book. I would have no qualms at all in recommending this book as an introduction to the series.
Chiun says, "Perfection is a road - not a destination." This series is a road well worth travelling.

Many books could attempt to mix even-handed satire, side-splitting humor, high-flying action, Chinese assassins, and a particularly lethal plant, but only one will get it right - the Destroyer series, back with a new publisher and a top-notch writing team. If you strayed from this series while it languished at its previous editorial home, fear not; the Destroyer we all love is back, and in fine form. Remo, Master Chiun, Smith, and the rest of the crew are back; annoying squids are not. So if you picked up the series just for giant mollusks, you won't be happy. But if you like fast-paced reads with faster-paced action, great character interaction, amusing quips, and politically incorrect satire, then it's time to re-enter the House of Sinanju. The Destroyer we love is back, ladies and gentleman; join the party if you're new to the series, and re-join if you're an old fan longing for all the elements that make this series so much fun.

I was naive enough to think that Warren Murphy was writing the Destroyer series all by himself after Mr. Richard B. Sapir passed on. Indeed, the internet reveals much, perhaps too much, who really needs to know how the internet works, it just does. Herein is where I learned that James Mullaney was but one of many ghost writers penning the Destroyer series, which cleared up my confusion as to why some books seemed "off". It needs to be stated that James Mullaney was not part of the confusion. Please, no calamari jokes.

"Choke Hold", with ardent fans usually leave off "The New Destroyer", are rejoicing that Murphy & Mullaney have steered the Destroyer franchise back to it's satirical social commentary of the early novels. It's a breath of fresh air when authors look at society full in the face and write about current issues.

Latter novels would have new readers believe that Remo & Chiun were nigh invincible, not so for The New Destroyer House of Sinanju Assassins. It is also refreshing to find oneself literally laughing out loud with what these two scribblers, M&M, have said.

Truth, justice and the Sinanju way indeed.

There are some sequels that are poorly written and badly thought out.I am extremely happy to say that that is NOT the case with this book! Clan Ground is even better and more thought provoking than Ratha's Creature was. The suspense never let up,and I had to be almost literally torn away from it because I couldn't put it down! This book,although short in comparison to other stories,is very deep. It is a harshly realistic example of how power corrupts even those with the purest intentions,and one of the best books I have ever read.It teaches important lessons.Read this book-you will love it,and you will learn from it.

I don't know what age this book was written for but let me say I am well over 40. I ordered this book because of its cover and knew nothing about the author or the story. When it arrived I noticed it was the second in a series so I ordered the first book (Ratha's Creature)and put this one aside. I have been hooked for several years on the Warrior serices by Erin Hunter, and this is equal to it with a lot less neames to remember. It is just a great story that keeps you turning the pages until you are finished. I have the next two books already and have pre-ordered the fifth one. I just hope the author keeps them coming like the Warrior series.

I read this book when I was a kid, but had almost forgotten it. When I saw it was going to be re-released I was very excited. It's a great book for all ages.

"Ratha's Creature" is a marvelous piece of genre writing. It certainly was wonderful to find that author Clare Bell keeps the saga flowing so smoothly with the follow-up publication of "Clan Ground." I find CG to be as engrossing, exciting, and as well-written as the original. I couldn't wait to crack the 3rd book in 'Tne Named' series after reading "Clan Ground."

Clan Ground is the second book in Clare Bell's Named series. It is a fantastic sequel to Ratha's Creature. At the time this series was written, I had never read anything of its like. Since then, I've noticed some other series in the Young Adult section that seem to have the same sort of premise, but Clare Bell did if first and she did it best!

I highly recommend this series, as it tops my list of best Young Adult books ever written. Luckily for potential new readers, they are now back in print!

This might be $40 (retail), but it is worth it. A selection of level-3 rules from Maximum Tech has been streamlined into the tournament-approved rules, like XL gyros, Light/Heavy ferro-fibrous armor, and heavy jump jets. It is the ultimate new edition of the BattleTech Compendium! The stuff is so bountiful, they they had to split it into two books! 'Total Warfare' for play rules and 'TechManual' for design rules. There are so many options its so cool. And it isn't all that convoluted. All the legacy rule-concepts are left intact, but newer areas such as support vehicles and protomechs follow more realistic rules.

It is really nice to have all the rules and regs for Classic Battletech in one book. This has all the play rules you would need to play every aspect of the game. Everything from Battlemechs to the new Protomechs. It also has rules for aerospace fighters and dropships. But if you want to build your own, this book doesn't have any construction rules. For that you have to get the Tech Manual, which is one problem I have with the book. One other thing is it is pretty confusing to find what you need. But if you want all the rules in one, handy place. This is the book for you.

I have been playing Battletech for over 12 years now and have owned most of the core rule books. But this newest book is by far the best rule book ever put out for Battletech.

I've been playing Battletech since the 2nd Edition came out, and the Total Warfare book is in my opinion the end product of people who love the game. While it may seem over the top for new players, old campaigners will find the book a much needed addition to their library as the Classic Battletech universe expands.

Before I get started - this book flat out tells you it is not for new players. These rules will not help you learn how to play.

That said this book is absolutely fantastic - the production work is beyond belief. Every page is full color with photos, the rules are organized in an intelligent manner (finally), and each chapter starts with a brief piece of fiction that covers the universe pretty throughly. Instead of the lineart of the previous editions full color photos of extremely well painted miniatures for the game - not only do you get nice looking pictures but it even helps explain some of the rules of the game.

The rules of the game have been collected, cleaned up, organized in one style, and in general improved upon. These are much much better then the last edition put out by FASA.

If you enjoy Battletech pick this up. If you enjoyed and of the Mechwarrior, Mechcommander, or MechAssault games go pick up the free pdfs from www.classicbattletech.com and see if you like it and then pick this up if you do.