E-Books Books

these books are a delight to read. i first read them to our sons (the oldest is now 40). this set is for my grandson. charming, well written stories, all with an underlying moral.

These books are classics. I bought them for myself, but plan to read them to my children as they grow older. I had read "Charlotte's Web" in grade school. It was a pleasure to read the others!

So many kids books are written so poorly, and with such poor structure and weak story lines, they make it hard to convey any sense of flow or emotion to your kids. To pick up these classics reminds one of the golden age when authors wrote stories with meaning and impact. Glowing descriptions, scene setting introductions to chapters, polite conversations recorded in proper English, all this is the heritage of EB White and these books. Highly, highly recommended - your kids will not want to stop reading and listening...makes bedtime each night a joy because they can't wait to find out what happens next.

Louis is the main character and he is a swan. He can't talk to other swans. Sam Beaver, a boy takes Louis to school, where he learns to read and write. But this isn't work to other swans and actually Louis was in love with the beautiful swan, Serena, and she spurns hin because he was defective. And Louis's father, the old cob, does a difficult thing. He stoles a trumpet so his son would be able to win his love. Louis wins on his love and pay the trumpet money.

My 6-year-old daughter and I throughly enjoyed all three stories.

Most Creative Story: The "Trumpet Swan" because of the way White takes the reader to different places and settings through the eyes of Louis the Swan.

Most Profound Story: "Charlotte's web". Of all my years of education it took this simple book to grasp a real appreciation of nature and the web of life.

Funniest Story: "Stuart Little". Most of us have on more than one occassion laughed ourselves to tears upon reading, hearing, or watching some funny event. My last time occurred when reading about the trials and tribulations that Stuart had to endure in order to wash himslef in the morning (Picturing him swinging a mallot to turn on the hot water was for me hysterically funny!). I found the Stuart Little of this book much more cute and amusing than the one in a recent movie with the same title.

This book has interesting pictures for small children as well as the scripture each "story" is taken from. I grew up with this book and now read it to my sons most evenings. It is a nice starting point to jog your memory on so many great adventures from the Bible!

I had this for my kids when they were young and loved it. Later gave it to my married daughter, but it got lost when her house burned. I was so glad to find this book again. So I purchased for my grandchildren. You never get too old to teach little ones about God.

My grandmother read this book to my father, my father read it to me and I read it to my children. The bible stories are real--captivating and true to scripture! What an awesome way to pass down a heritage of faith!

If you are looking for a well-written Bible story book, Elsie Egermeier's is an excellent choice. Even adults who know and love the Bible will gain new insights as they read this book. Two equally good Bible story books are by Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut and Pearl Buck.

Friends in California with three young children recently wrote me that their kids LOVE the Egermeier Bible Story Book. They read stories aloud each Sunday as they drive to church.

I had this book read to me numerous times as a child, and I read it myself as a teenager.

About three years ago, when my wife and I were expecting our first child, I was looking for this book and couldn't find one ANYWHERE (out of print) - my sister has the copy we had as children and absolutely WOULDN'T part with it (her kids are older, but they still read from it daily).

In despair, I was planning to digitally photograph each page of the copy my sister has and try to have it printed and bound somehow, but I finally found one used here on amazon.

If you want the very BEST Bible story book every written; buy, this one TODAY while you can find it!

I LOVED this book! It is quick paced and wonderful.

Edith Pattou is one of my favorite authors.

This book is great for fans of Tolkien, Nix,etc. With great plot, charactors,a little romance and a big suprise at the end, you will love this page turner, males and females alike!!

This book is great for fans of Tolkien, Nix,etc. With great plot, charactors,a little romance and a big suprise at the end, you will love this page turner, males and females alike!!!!!!!!!!!

when I first took out the book from my library I did not know what to expect. but from the first page on I was excited that I picked this book. I am not your average reader. my thrill for reading depends on the book. if it don't capture me by the first page .. I will put it down. but the Fire Arrow was every hard to put down. Brie's quest for revenge and quest for perpose I think was just like my own .. five stars is not enough for this book .. and now that I read it 3 time before my time was up to bring it back to the library .. I am reading the companion book Hero's Song witch is also a great one ..now that I am half way through this book I am afraid I won't find any like them . and it is true now I been at the library two days and I am not having any luck in finding anything to compare it to Fire Arrow and Hero's Song ...my only hope is to wish Ms. Pattou could wirte another one for her fans...

"Hero's Song" failed to get much of a response from me at all, aside from mild annoyance at the abundance of cliches and flat characterizations. "Fire Arrow" improves on some of those problems, but still has some deep flaws.

After destroying the Wurme in the previous book, Collun and Brie are living peacefully at his father's old home. Until, that is, Brie receives an alarming fortune from a wyll (wise-woman), and a summons from her aunt and uncle. Her old nurse is dying, and leaves Brie a mysterious golden arrow that becomes fiery when she touches it, and gives her visions. It also brings back her strong desire for revenge against the Scathians who killed her father, including a one-eyed man.

She sets off across the land of Dungal, and spends some time in a fishing village with a crazy wizard and a Ellyl waystation. But when danger comes closer, Brie must leave peace behind, and finds out who killed her father -- and about the impending invasion that threatens Dungal and Eirren.

In many ways, this book improves on the previous one. Pattou shows a greater sense of atmosphere, and is better able to sustain suspense and mystery. She also expands Brie from a stereotyped woman warrior into a more three-dimensional character, and is able to make the conflict seem more epic and realistic than ever before. Sago is an exceptionally-written character, a wiser-than-he-looks wizard who utters nonsense rhymes much of the time. Collun displays more depth and recognizable emotion than the-gardener-who-wants-to-go-home, with revelations about his family that hint at a possible future instalment.

Unfortunately, most of the cast of the previous book -- including the charming Taliesin -- is abandoned;; Silien and Collun are barely there, and Nessa and Taliesin are gone altogether, except for Collun briefly mentioning his sister. Ciaran the talking horse and Fara the Lassie-like Ellyl pet are more present than the characters that I was more interested in. There is a silly coffee joke early in the book, that Pattou refuses to let drop; also, a reference to chocolate in a mythical early Ireland. We are treated to a retread of Collun and Brie's bloodless romance, after Brie flirts aimlessly with a very boring fisherman, and Pattou introduces a long-lost-royalty cliche late in the book, that any adept fantasy fans will have spotted long before.

Brie has developed substantially from the previous book, in that Pattou effectively displays her conflicting feelings and her thoughts on revenge, whether it's wrong or right. Collun is, oddly, more intriguing when we see less of him; I would have preferred to see his fights with the Scathians instead of page after page of Brie in the fishing village. Silien is good, for what little there is of him; we see him taking an active stance against the Scathians. Hanna, the weather-woman, is an effective and interesting character, while the cowardly, nervy Monodnock sucked all the magic and mystery out of the Ellyl.

Despite this book's flaws, it remains a good read for fans of Celtic-themed fantasy, and plucks out some intriguing plot threads that will undoubtedly make any future stories intriguing, especially if Ms. Pattou brings back Talisen and dispenses with the silly coffee jokes.

I am the wife of a Fire Captain and I could relate to so much that Susan writes about. Thank you Susan for telling such a wonderful story! I read this book over a 24 hour period, no easy task with a 7 week old baby and a 3 year old, and with my husband at the fire station. I could not put the book down and didn't want it to end, I laughed and cried and totally enjoyed every page. This is a must read for any wife, or family, of a fireman.

Loved this book. It was past around for the wives of the fire academy to read. With my brother on for a few years, I thought I knew a lot about what this journey would entail. But this book was insight, funny, heart wrenching. It was a easy, quick read. I will know give this to all the new wives entering this department. It really opens you eyes on what to expect, from the shift to your husband's second family. Worth your time.

This is one of the best books that I have read! Susan really knows how to express what all fire wives feel. This book made me laugh, cry, and say "yep, I've seen (heard, felt, done) that!" so many times. I think anyone married to a fireman would love this book. I really appreciate the awareness it has given me. I only wish I read it sooner. As a 9-year fireman's wife myself, I highly recommend it!

This book was given to me by my firefighter fiancee soon after he proposed. What a Godsend! I consider this my "bible". Susan summed up the feelings we as wives have about our firemen husbands and does it in a funny, thoughtful and wonderful way. I recommend this be required literature for every fireman to hand out when they decide to propose!! LOL. Thanks Susan for sharing our side of the story!

A funny, insightfull, and often scary look into the life of a firefighters wife.

Great! Book was received in perfect condition and in a timely manner. Thanks you!

Harrowing, at times bleak, but a superbly written memoir of a very special lady and the historical times she helped create.

Aside from being a celebration of the human spirit, Ms. Holland's Memoir offers a fresh, interesting, and unique glimpse into the early days of the Civil Rights Movement. This focus alone, I believe, renders the book meritorious.

Ms. Holland tells the civil rights story from the perspective of individuals born and raised in the muck and mire of Mississippi's lethal brand of white supremacy and racial hatred. Through her eyes, we get a close-up view of what had to be overcome; and, what was required of ordinary folk brave enough to get involved in a situation that could and DID, literally, cost them their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

These unsung heroes deserve national attention and recognition if the story of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States of America is to be told in its entirety. But, if this isn't reason enough to add Ms. Holland's book to your 'must read' list, I believe the author's superior craftsmanship will certainly convince you her work is worthy of the acclaim she is sure to receive once her book gains a wider readership. And, above all, the Memoir is a magnificent read!

Usually, I find it awkward and sometimes unnerving to read books written in a black, southern, vernacular. However, as in the case of Zora Neale Hurston, Endesha Ida Mae Holland writes with such a pure and authentic voice, I found myself falling effortlessly into her rhythm.

I'm a voracious reader and the authors I most enjoy are great storytellers. My current favorite is Barbara Kingsolver, and my all time favorite is Zora Neale Hurston. Endesha Ida Mae Holland 'puts me in the mind of' both these writers.

She also reminds me of Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes & 'Tis). Like McCourt, Ms. Holland transports you back to her childhood and growing up years with such seamless ease, you find yourself sharing her heartbeat through every single experience she lives to tell about. Almost immediately, I found myself caring deeply about her; I grew to love her mother, her child, her neighbors, her friends; and, I found no strangers among those who populate her world.

What an exquisite gift of storytelling she has! I certainly hope she plans to write more 'from the Mississippi Delta,' because her talent is as rich and fertile as her source.

Obviously, I've become a devoted fan of Ms. Holland and her work ~ a designation I'm hoping you and I will soon share. Who knows, your reading experience with Ms. Holland may inspire you to join me in asking Oprah Winfrey to feature the author and her book on the Oprah Show, as well as making 'From The Mississippi Delta,' an Oprah Book Club selection.

I was moved to make this appeal to Ms. Winfrey because I believe we all benefit from an increased national and international exposure to brave and talented women like Ms.Holland. These women are profoundly inspirational and deserving of our applause and recognition.

Endesha's story, rich in its southern dialect is a remarkable story of triumph, and a testimony that affirms regardless of our past, our pain, our short-comings that within each of us is a tiny seed waiting to blossom. Her ability to surmount the many obstacles growing up in the Mississippi Delta (a black girl) in the 60's serves as a beacon of light for African Americans who are today experiencing the pitfalls of poverty and injustice. Endesha has shown us how a committed spirit can burst forward to claim all that the Almighty has in store for us. Dr. Lady, thank you for pioneering the way. Keep writing!

'Inspirational' has become one of those watered-down adjectives like 'brilliant'. Though we know certain words might signal something monumental, perhaps our frequent usage of them has lost some of the grandeur in their meaning. We no longer arch our backs or allow a goose bump to rise. Behold, along comes a work like From the Mississippi Delta: A Memoir. Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland turns the term, 'inspirational' on its ear. What is most remarkable about 'Delta'? Is it the phenomenal story itself or is it Holland's gift for unrelenting and witty story-telling? Holland never abandons humor even at the crux of tragedy. Her pen is as brazen as it is impeccably descriptive. She writes with an immediacy to jar the reader's sense of time so that we relive her most defining moments with bated breath. From Emmett Till's death to Dr. Martin Luther King's visit, Holland's simplest daily encounters mark turning points in American history.

Notably, 'Delta' celebrates the tenacious spirit of a true woman-child. Holland narrates from a clever perspective that never quite chooses between the wise narrator looking back and the rambunctious girl reaching forward. This devise is poignant. Arguably, young girls (in particular, young, black girls) are some of society's most disenfranchised members. When Holland employs that voice, the reader is humbled. One is reminded of Anne Frank's influence. When the worst aspects of humanity are articulated through the voice of a little girl, we see ourselves so clearly--vulnerable, restless, but especially hopeful. Thank you, Doc. Your struggle is instructional. Your literary prowess is an inspiration.

The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards
Accurately explains the physics of all pool shots and techniques as the basis for teaching each shot. The only book that actually teaches how to make bank and kick shots without the usual mumbo-jumbo and mysticism contained in all other books. All teaching is immediately useful. If this doesn't improve your game, nothing will. Has serious, no-bull training on correctly using English. Book has links to free mpg demonstrations of all principals.

I would say outright the easiest billiards book I have came across. It goes from the basics to the strong techniques. A step by step program to improve your game. My game has increased dramatically using the simple guidelines in this book.

I bought this book for myself last year. It is an excellent reference for everyone from the beginner to those who would like to learn and refine more complex shots. It explains the physics of pool, and best of all, there are links to a web site where you can see every shot demonstrated. That was invaluable to me, as I can see exactly where the cue is positioned on the ball, how the stroke is delivered, and the end result in cue ball position. I highly recommend this book, and bought it this year for my brother-in-law, so he can be better competition for me (smile).

Win at Pocket BilliardsRack Up a VictoryRunning the Table: The Legend of Kid Delicious, the Last Great American Pool Hustler

I'm returning to pool playing and found this book helpful. It's a lot more informative then the books from the 80'. I learn something on every page. Even stuff that I already thought I knew about pool after reading 99 Critical Shots.
I would recommend "rack up a victory" for kicking and banking and "Running the Tables" about Kid Delicious's life as a Hustler.
I'm looking forward to purchasing "Win at Pocket Billiards" for more information on Kicking and Banking.

I was surprised at the rather low price being asked for this book, but after receiving it, it became perfectly clear that I had been mislead into believing that all instruction was included with the book, including a CD.
If you don't have a High Band Width computer hook-up, your really going to be surprised that the only way to get what you thought you had paid for is to send an addition $18 to $24 to get the CD or DVD.
The book was fairly well written, but the CD/DVD business left a bad taste in my mouth.

Our 6 year old as well as us (2 parents), love these stories. While other books we've read are very worthwhile (Wiz of Oz, Little House, Polacco books, and more), the Children's Favorite Stories series (Japanese, Chinese, and Korean) is a good change. They offer divergent themes, varying settings, and an interesting incorporation of magical elements. The stories in the books are fairly short, which makes them adaptable to bedtime or day reading. We have the two Japanese, the Chinese, and Korean story books. All are very good.

I recently purchased this book for my granddaughters who recently moved to Japan. The book arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. The book has very colorful and fun artwork and the stories are very interesting. Was great to see a different style of storytelling.

My grandparents, who had lived in Japan, had this book at their house and I loved reading it everytime I visited. It just was a wonderful escape where the stories were so foreign, unique and amazing to a child - and still appear so in my adulthood. I'm convinced it's what made me a world traveler.

This book, in my opinion, should get 4.5 stars because it is interesting but also a bit confusing. It was fun to read the first few times, but after awhile the stories seemed predictable. Occasionally, the stories were random and confusing. The pictures aren't very detailed, but they show the point of what they are discribing. I also like the book because of the creativity of the authors. I know that as a writer you must construct creative and understandable stories and I am almost overwhelmed by the uniqueness of these stories. I recommend this book to younger children who enjoy reading simple fantasy stories with adventure.

This book is very special to me as it was a dear part of my childhood growing up in a Japanese American household in the early 1960s. When I was about three years old, one of my "uncles" gave this book to me with a pink hardcover and it has stayed dear to my heart since. I was quite delighted to see it still in print and being offered here on Amazon. What's even more amazing, is that from what I can tell by the image previews for this newest edition, the illustrations are the very same ones as my forty-some-odd year old book. This collection of stories would be similar to a Japanese Grimm's Fairy Tales and were also part of my father's childhood in 1920s Japan. Overall, they are quite simple and to the point and have a cuteness typical of Japanese stories. In recent years, my ex-girlfriend had enjoyed listening to me tell her these stories at bedtime even from my 40 year memory. I'm sure I've mangled some of them and combined them into a hybrid monkey, ogre, old man, cookie tale. I've been meaning to find my original copy, but now I know I can relive my childhood with a fresh new copy.

This new parenting resource, by the current president of the American Psychological Association and director of the Yale Parenting Center and Conduct Clinic, is THE MOST PHENOMENAL PARENTING BOOK I'VE EVERY READ! As a pediatric nurse and parent of an anxious 9-year-old and occasionally defiant 11-year-old, I was searching for ways to decrease conflict and stress in our family. I checked out this book from the library and thought I'd read a chapter or two that evening, but I ended up staying up until 2 am to finish the book because I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! The next morning, I purchased copies of the book for myself, my brother-in-law, and my mom (who's a child therapist). Very easy to read and refreshingly down-to-earth (even funny at times), Kazdin's book is ABSOLUTELY REVOLUTIONARY in his approach to help parents understand WHY certain discipline methods are ineffective and WHAT parents can do to really change children's behavior WITHOUT THE USUAL POWER STRUGGLES, YELLING, OR HARSH PUNISHMENTS. Also, my kids are very excited about the positive changes in our family! "WOW!" is all I can say! I will HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to family, friends, coworkers, and parents of my patients at work. THANK YOU, DR. KAZDIN!

This is a very well written book. It is surprisingly lighthearted considering the content. I found myself chuckling several times over situations that were covered in the book because I felt as though Dr. Kazdin had been sitting in the corner of my room observing me and my frustrations and then wrote this book to show me all hope is not lost!!!

Dr. Kazdin's methods follow a very logical (and scientifically based) approach that lead to some very solid advise on how to handle not only extreme children, but also "typically" developing ones.

I have three year old twins, one of which is considered to have developmental issues, the other is considered "typically" developing. I have been able to apply The Kazdin Method to both children successfully.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with children that display any level of defiance. I'm guessing that would cover most kids, but I will allow for that small percentage who feel their child is perfect.

This is a wonderfully helpful book on behavior modification in children and, for that matter adolescents, teens and adults, All new parents should read this before their child is at the stage when behavior has to be modified !

I bought the book after seeing it profiled in Newsweek, more out of curiosity than out of some deep seated problems with my kids. I have a 5 yr. old, and she's pretty easy going, the 2yr. old is also mellow. However, I had the usual battles over showers, bedtime, brushing teeth etc. that make parenting so frustrating and that suck the joy out of every day family dynamics. I started implementing the ideas as I read them, and I have to say that applying the method just once a week has worked amazingly well. The rules set for one day a week spill over to the rest of the week, and it has really made parenting a lot more enjoyable. Before, I thought that my interactions with my children were limited to hammering them about things they needed to do, and now, it's almost as if there's more time to do fun things because their responsibilities are accomplished without struggles. In a nutshell, my daughter has become aware that the better she behaves, the more rewards she gets, in little material rewards, and more importantly, positive attention. I'm a believer. I enthusiastically recommend it.

This book has turned around our three and four year old children. I wake up now to happy kids who want to get up and get ready for the day and go places. We have gone from feeling like we are on a parental battleground for tasks just to get out the door to having mutually rewarding relationships and conversations with our kids. Mom and Dad are happier and feel more in control of our lives. The book teaches PROVEN research how to get the behaviors we need and want in our kids. It works. If only the court systems, social services, lawyers, and judges would read it and recommend it!

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the play on words in the title (paradise/pair-a-dice). After the first few pages, it is obvious that the title is very appropriate. A serial rapist/killer stalks the environs of Las Vegas, terrorizing the city to ever increasing levels.

There are several sub-plots to this mystery, and the reader can't help but anxiously turn the page to see how each of them plays out. In the end, the intricately woven story comes together in a flash of brutality as disturbing, as compelling, as the rest of the book.

Mr. Griffin's knowledge of police work and crime investigation is readily apparent. No amateurish guesswork here. It's as if you are reading from his own journal of experiences. This makes it all the more pleasurable to read.

In my opinion, Dennis Griffin is one of the very best mystery writers of our time. For anyone who enjoys this genre, his books are an absolute must!

In his latest book, Killer in Pair-A-Dice, Dennis Griffin takes a simple story i.e. man stalks beautiful woman and kills her, and kills another, and turns it into a story that makes one read this while sitting with ones back against the wall. I especially liked the profiles of prominent persons living in Las Vegas. Very important information is given by the detective investigating the crime to women everywhere as to ways to react when in a threatening situation. We used to be told to submit to the attacker, but now, even in airline travel, we have to be ready to protect ourselves and others.

KILLER IN PAIR-A-DICE SETTING WAS WELL PICKED AND TITLED. THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH NEW YORK POLICE CAME TO THE FOREFRONT IN THIS BOOK. VERY HARD TO LAY IT DOWN ONCE YOU START TO READ.

CORWIN MCINTYRE AUTHOR OF FOR AMERICA OUR LAST HURRAH

Excellent book! Kept me awake at night...couldn't put it down until I was finished. When I reached the end, I was wishing for more! Mr. Griffin certainly has a way of capturing his readers and making you feel as though you are actually living the story!
Anxiously awaiting this author's next book

The story is rivoting !! Dennis Griffin's book intertwines the real Las Vegas with his fictional story of a sociopathic, serial rapist and killer. You can read of the thinly-veiled political figures, police and geography of the city while following his clues to the identity of the suspect. Once you begin reading, the story stays in your mind until you reach the surprising climax. Read this book, and you'll go hunting for another Dennis Griffin masterpiece.

Before he went on to invent Cybernetics, L. Ron Hubbard was a prominent author of science fiction and eventually launched annual collections of science fiction and fantasy drawn from the best and the brightest in the field. The newest addition to the L. Ron Hubbard "Writers Of The Future" series is volume 18, ably compiled and edited by long time science fiction expert Algis Budrys and highly recommended reading for any fantasy fan and science fiction enthusiast. Included in this outstanding anthology are: The Dragon Cave (Drew Morby); The Haunted Seed (Ray Roberts); Rewind (David D. Levine); Windseekers (Nnedi Okorafor); Magic Out Of A Hat (L. Ron Hubbard); Lost On The Road (Ari Goelman); Graveyard Tea (Susan Fry); Carry The God (Lee Battersby); A Few Tips On The Craft Of Illustration (H. R. Van Dongen); Memoria Technica (Leon J. West); Free Fall (Tom Brennan); All Winter Long (Jae Brim); The Art Of Creation (Carl Frederick); Advice To The New Writer (Andre Norton); The Road To Levenshir (Patrick Rothfuss); Eating, Drinking, Walking (Dylan Otto Krider); Origami Cranes (Seppo Kurki); A New Anthology (Tim Powers); Worlds Apart (Woody O. Carsky-Wilson); Prague 47 (Joel Best); and What Became Of The King (Aimee C. Amodeo). L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers Of The Future, Volume XVIII concludes with "The Year In Contests" by Algis Budrys and "Contest Information".

WotF XIX is a compilation of excellent stories (with a few, notable exceptions) spanning the genre range from historical fiction through horror and fantasy to science fiction. Despite the ever-present copy-editing errors, this was a very good read.

I would put the stories in four categories of excellence (well, three of excellence and one of crap).

Group One: The best

Walking Rain - Ian Keane's tale of supernatural beings in present day America, reminiscent (but not derivative) of American Gods, is compelling. The writing is lush, the characterizations beautiful. Hands down the best of the best. I can't say enough about this story. The book is worth buying for this story alone.

Into The Gardens of Sweet Night - Algis Budrys weaves a fairy tale-like tapestry of words as a boy takes a fantastic journey into the sky looking for the fabled gardens. Sometimes the discussions on freedom get a bit thick, but still great.

Blood and Horses - Myke Cole brings us a story of military sf where rebels riding horses seek the oil that gives life, losing their own blood fighting against a technically far superior opponent.

Group Two: The very excellent (in no particular order)

From All the Work Which He Had Made - Michael Churchman's style is strikingly odd at first, but within a page he had made me a convert with this interesting tale about the development of a humanoid robot exploring the questions of his soul.

Dark Harvest - Geoffrey Girard brings us a story about what happens when you find your worst nightmare dying in a field, and it becomes a tourist attraction. Excellent writing, and a wonderful story.

Beautiful Singer - Steve Bein's story of a haunted sword is elegant in its way of presenting feudal Japanese culture and characters. Every word of this story echoes with the culture of the samurai. The only thing holding back this most savory of writing from the top slot was the way the ending rushed together (a common difficulty in short-story writing).

A Few Days North of Vienna - Brandon Butler takes us along as a band of thieves join up with a group of vampire hunters to eradicate those evil creatures. The plot is nothing new or innovative, but the writing is top notch, and that's more important anyway.

Group Three: The still excellent (still in no particular order)

A Ship That Bends - whatever Butler lacked in innovation, Luc Reid makes up for in spades with his characters who live on a flat world and must build a bending ship if they wish to sail to the other side without falling off. The ending is its great weakness, suddenly ending the story before it really reaches its climax. Fun world, great writing, but it just stops cold.

A Silky Touch to No Man - a weak ending is also the problem with Robert J. Defendi's exploration of life in the near future where virtual reality has become the only reality. For a murder mystery, it was painfully apparent "whodunit" from the very beginning. But the writing is strong and the world well conceived (almost scary, actually) which makes it fun anyway.

Gossamer - Ken Liu offers a scenario where Earth finally makes contact with an alien species, and has no idea if they can even communicate. Art seems to be the only thing the Gossamers are interested in, but what does that mean? Interesting twist on the first contact plot.

Numbers - Joel Best brings us a stark account of a world where mathematicians can do almost anything, including make animals and people. In this world one woman seeks to create the perfect mate, but learns that perfection (and creation) are about more than doing everything flawlessly.

Group Four: The stories that really don't belong

Trust Is A Child - Matthew Candelaria's overly long story of negotiations with aliens is really just a painful rehash of about a thousand other identical stories, offering no new slants or anything. That alone wouldn't make it so horrible, but the main character is painfully stupid, and the plot has a hole in it the size of a small star system (it has to do with her being stopped by Marine guards while the aliens can just cruise on by and enter her private quarters without explanation). Also, her solution to being stopped is just horrible (apparently the guard is even dumber than she is). Still, with a good edit and re-write, I think it could have been decent, so I wouldn't write off the author.

A Boy and His Bicycle - Carl Frederick offers a story about just that: a boy and his bike. They don't do anything interesting, or go anywhere fun, or give us any reason not to hope that they just crash into a bus and die. The only saving grace is that it's short and over quickly. And to think this story got first place that quarter...

Bury My Heart At the Garrick - Steve Savile takes the prize for plodding, pointlessness. This story of Houdini was confusing, but not in that good way where you want to know what's going on, more in the way where you just don't care and want to skip to the next story. I kept reading to see if it would get better (imagine a short story that took me a week to read!). It didn't.

A Boy and His Bicycle is a great story.
(I put this in so I don't continuously trip over the review by someone who apparently didn't get it. I must offer the disclaimer however, that I wrote that story. It's a subtle tale, and I'm very grateful that the judges understood it and gave it a First Place award.)

This anthology, Volume XIX, (IMO) contains richly tapestried stories, strewn with new ideas or new takes on old ones. I've no doubt that before long, many of the authors will be Hugo winners

While I do not get a chance to read much science fiction, I decided to pick up this book mainly because I enjoy short stories. And I must say that this book surprised me. There are a number of well-written, very entertaining stories in this book. There is also a good amount of variety. As more than 12 authors contribute to this book, if you are not a fan of one story, you can move onto the next. There should be four stories in this book that will captivate you. From the quality of the prose and the structure of the stories, I was at first surprised to see that these are first time authors. Now realizing that these are contest winnners from L Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future contest, it makes more sense. My favorites include Oragami Cranes, Eating Drinking and Walking, Windseekers, and Rewind (for it's writing style).

It's not perfect but I found this anthology very satisfying. When every single one of the stories is able to take me somewhere interesting, then the anthology is worth the money.. Favorite stories: Graveyard Tea, Windseekers, and Origami Cranes.