Fantasy Books

Occasionlly I find a book I never want to end. James Byron Huggins is a new writer for me, but I'll be on the lookout for his books from now on. I was captivated by the bravery of Saul, King of the Hares, and Wingate, his friend. I was in awe of Aramus, the great silver wolf, as he overcame his fears and uncertainties to follow the Lightmaker even though it meant a battle to the death against the Dark Lord and the dark council.
A beautifully written story of the epic struggle between good and evil. Some books are to be treasured, savored, and read more than once. This is that kind of book. A Wolf Story is a keeper. Strongly recommended.

[...]
In each life there comes a time when we must choose who we will follow. Will we stand up for what we believe in or blend into the crowd? A young wolf is forced to make the life-changing decision. A Wolf Story will remind readers of "White Fang," or works by CS Lewis. While the lead characters are animals, the reader will easily see human traits. The plot is powerful, filled with action and searing emotion. James Byron Huggins has captured the essence of sacrifice, love, and giving of one's self. Well written with strong Christian values, A Wolf Story will become a family favorite.

Reminds me (in a good way) of a great many favorites: White Fang, Watership Down, Call it Courage, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. Great characters that are well-drawn. Interesting dynamics between the different types of animals. Great spiritual element that doesn't overwhelm a fun adventure story. Wonderful themes that you want to share with your children - honor, courage, faith. Put down Harry Potter and read this to your kids tonight! You'll enjoy it as much as they do.

Huggins is one of those authors I discovered by chance a few years ago. I have read most of the books he has written, my favorites are Reckoning and A Wolf Story. Both are worth your time and effort.

A Wolf Story is an allegory in the style of Narnia or Lord of the Rings. In part it is a coming of age story, and part the story of good vs. evil. Long long ago, the inhabitants of the deep deep woods were given a choice. A choice that each of them in turn must make for themselves. Those who were about to make the choice would always face trials, temptations and fears. This difficult choice was either to follow the Silver Wolf and his lord, the Lightmaker or else they would join the dark Council and become part of the forces for evil.

The choice has become all the more difficult for the forces of light have been decimated, and the Dark Council is at he door of eternal victory. It is the story of a young wolf, who must choose and has been left alone to make that choice.

In this epic final battle between good and evil, the questions becomes is it really a battle of strength vs. strength, wits against wits, wills against wills. It is a path to the future but will that be a future in darkness and oppression or a path to peace, a peace won through sacrifice and pain. A peace hard won. Tis story is an allegory of the Christian life, told in a way that will captivate readers both young and old.

James Byron Huggins was born in 1959. He is a novelist, journalist, religious activist, and police officer; all these titles appear on his resume. A graduate of Morgan County High School, and Troy State University, Huggins began his career as a journalist with the Hartselle Enquirer. In the late 80's he smuggled Christian materials into Romania. He was a beat cop for 5 years before returning to writing fulltime. His first three novels Reckoning, A Wolf Story, Leviathan were Christian best sellers. Then he broke into the main stream science fiction with such books as Cain, Hunter, Rora, Nightbringer, The Scam, Sorcerer. Both Cain and Hunter have been optioned to be movies and are suppose to star Stallone and Willis respectively.

I read this when it first came out and it has continued to be one of my favorite books. I see it as an allegory, beautifully depicting the spiritual struggle between God & Satan in the form of the animal world.

Unforgettable characters make this book easy to read and keep you on the edge of your seat. They include the wise old hare king Saul and his colony; the brave Windgate, Saul's good friend who becomes king after Saul; young Aramus, the silver wolf still learning to live his faith who meets Saul under terrible circumstances yet that meeting changes him forever; the king of the gray wolves, Giavanel, Aramus's father, strong & wise; other brave creatures who all serve the Lightmaker and because of their faith are under constant attack from the evil Dark Council, servants of the Dark Lord.

This story captures you from the beginning and has you feeling & fighting with its characters along the way. Yet it is also laced with wisdom that can be applied to our own lives. We need more books like this. Harry Potter can't touch the life and death, good and evil struggles that Mr. Huggins has portrayed in "A Wolf Story".

Every family needs to read this book to their children!

Someone on Earth has put a spell on Score. Helaine and Pixel must return there friend home, and defeat the spell before it kills him. This story is so good it makes me anxious to the read rest of the series

John peel created a work of art with this book. the other books in the seiris don't even come close to this. you have got to read this one!

The action, the plot...
John Peel has a way with words!
What really is surprising is how the relationships are curving between characters!(You'll have to read to know, Sorry!)
I sure hope a movie is coming!(According to my scrying pool)

Diadem is one of my favorite series along with Mindwarp and Animorphs. It is a great mix of suspense and fantasy. Once you start reading you can't put the book down. You just have to keep reading. The books actually make you feel like you're there with Helaine, Score and Pixel. The only thing that angers me is that John Peel stopped at book #6 and left the series hanging! Mr. Peel, please write more!!!! :(

John Peel is one of the best authors in the world! This is my favorite book out of the diadem series, and it was really hard to pick a favorite. If you know that he's going to be writting more books, please E-mail me. And take my word for it, after you read one of the books, your hooked!

My only complaint with this book is Lindskold didn't develop certain concepts fully enough - my main reason for only 4 stars. This book begs for a prequel or perhaps to be longer and fuller. How did the Athanor come to be? Please, please, Jane, write more and explain Harmony! I believe the author has all of this within her, but perhaps it wasn't until the wolf woman series she was mature enough as a writer to fully expound on the world she's creating.
The Changer will remain a favorite literary character from now on. Evolutionary science's theories about a last universal common ancestor (the LUCA) plus myths of a universal spirit of nature seem to meld in the novel's hints that his and his brother's lives go back to that wonderous beginning. Jane has the unique ability to write from an animal's point of view without giving us merely anthropomorphized characatures of coyotes, wolves, etc. In the hands of a lesser writer, the athanor who in the past were the gods of Olympus, the Germanic, African, etc. myths would probably be pretty shallow and the story trite. In all fairness, a few don't live up to her abilities. But on the whole she gives you, as alway, a fresh, beautifully creative tale; food for your dreams. I devour fantasy, yet have never come across another protagonist like Changer -- completely original, a deep soul, fully developed as both a person and a coyote. Jane obviously loves, respects, and takes the time to know these animals. Don't leave The Changer out of your fantasy collection.
Also Read: MUST READ: Memory, Sorrow, Thorn series by Tad Williams; also: all Redwall books; Lois McMaster Bujold; the Grande Dame of sf/fantasy: Ursula LeGuin and fantasy supposedly only for kids.

My honors class read Changer, and it was fabulous! Jane Lindskold actually came to our class. I was very critical of the book because I liked it so much, but she had answers for all of my concerns! If you can get your hands on it, read Changer and the sequel NOW!!

Marvellous - sheer magic - enthralling. Elegantly and cleverly written, original, well thought out. The characters were consistent throughout, no random changes to aid the plot, which was clever and interesting. Characters had believable motives, reactions, etc.

"Changer" inspired me to find out about these mythicial characters - Anansi, Morrigan, Gilgamesh and them all. Fascinating stuff! Anansi particularly so, tho' this may be a reflection of my liking for Anson, who I think is the best character: I wish there had been more of him!

Definitely worth the read. Gripping and thought provoking. Jane Lindskold engages the reader's attention from the beginning, and the emotions shortly thereafter.

...to read this book in one or two sittings. I guarantee you will not want to put "Changer" down for any length of time. The story's central character is Changer, aka The Trickster or Coyote, who is the oldest of the "Athanor" an ancient race of legengs, including such a King Arthur, who walk this world today. Changer has to join forces with Arthur in this tale, which pits his inhuman values with those of the human King against a common problem.

Lindskold's writing style is graceful and lyrical. While Changer doesn't on the surface appear to be someone we all have a lot of common ground with, the reader forms a strong bond with him and Lindskold's other characters quickly. The plot also sweeps you along.

As I said in the opening sentence, be sure to have plenty of time set aside to read this book. You will not want to put it down. I envy that you will be reading "Changer" for the first time.

The coyote Changer returns from the hunt one evening to find his mate and pups killed by ranchers. But Changer is no ordinary coyote; he is one of the immortal anathor and a shape-shifter. Enraged, he takes human form to seek his vengeance. The trail quickly points to another of the anathor, and so he goes to Arthur Pendragon to register his vendetta. Arthur is the king of the Accord, a government of sorts for the eclectic mix of immortals that make up the anathor: shape-shifters, sorcerers, animals and mythic creatures such as yeti and fauns.

Joining forces, Changer and members of Arthur's court find that the murder of the coyotes is just one facet of a much larger plot. Changer tries to protect his one remaining coyote pup while digging further into the mystery of who instigated the slaughter of his family. In the meantime, Arthur and his court are beset with their own share of difficulties, including pranksters, assassins, human reporters, and political turmoil. The hidden anathor, the ones that cannot pass for human, are increasingly agitating for the existence of the anathor to become public so that they can live in the open. The threads of trouble are woven together deftly; saving the Accord will stretch Changer, Arthur and the others to the limits of their abilities.

The idea that ancient gods, legends and myths were all sourced from individual immortals is interesting and author Jane Linskold does a good job of tying together similar archetypes from several different cultures. Her various incarnations of Arthur Pendragon, the hero king, include King Arthur, Frey of Norse legend, the pharaoh Akhenaton, and Gilgamesh. Linkskold also manages to inject humor into the mix, imagine sasquatches and satyrs chatting over the Internet or the idea that Elvis was also Dionysus.

I liked this book a lot. The plot grabbed me immediately and the characters are interesting and complex. Even though the characters are immortal, they are by no means portrayed as perfect which makes them easier to identify with. It was easy to cheer on the good guys in their defense of the Accord. But it was also nice that not everything dealt with in terms of pure black and white. There are several shades-of-grey issues dealt with in the book including the needs of the hidden ones and whether or not the anathor should interfere in various current problems such as the destruction of the rain forests.

Like others reviewers before this, I'm rather surprised how obscure this wonderful, quirky book truly is.

The story revolves around Toseland, a young child who goes to live with Mrs. Oldknow. He goes to live in a big manor in a country estate (think the estate the Pevensies go to live on in Lewis' THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDOBE). He soon realises there's something odd about the house, and is puzzled why Mrs. Oldknow talks about the history and past inhabitents of the place like they were around only yesterday. It turns out the house is inhabited by children of the past, and he learns of an evil gypsey named Green Noah who he ultimately must confront. This final confrontation is rather scary, and Green Noah is one of literature's most memorable villains that I've encountered in a long time.

The book is a rather charming blend of supernatural meets reality, and there is something very delightfully English about the whole affair. The author's Catholocisim is rather apparent n the book, and she fits a lot of different allusions to literature, music, and history.

For those looking for good Children's fiction, this is a powerful story. It's too bad it's not well known.

I found this to be an excellent novel not only for children but also for adults. There is enough intrigue to hold the reader's interest throughout the novel as well as being a lovely, warm family story.

I first read this book when I was a child (in the 60's) and immediately fell in love with it. It has everything I adore in a book; a little magic, a little ghostliness; an English castle; lovely animal companions; characters from times past; people with manners, morals and down to earth values and last but not least--love. I have re-read this book many times and have just finished listening to an audio-version. This is forever a beautiful and enchanting book.

The book I'm going to talk to you about is called; The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston. I didn't really like this book. It was a little confusing and hard to understand. There just wasn't a clear point. There was not middle, or a climax and resolution. I thought this book was about a mystery or a ghost story, by the cover and the blip from the back. I was very disappointed in the ending, and that it was appoint-less fantasy, that bored me half to death!

The Children of green knowe was about a boy named, Tolly, who was the age of 8-11,whose parents die (they don't say how),so he was sent to live with hisGreat-Grandmother in Penny Soaky. Her house was called Old Knowe.
Three children, Alexander, Toby, and Linnet, died in Tolly's(the boy's name), Great Grandmother's house many centuries ago. They started appearing around the house just days after their death. They played with Tolly, and went on great Adventures. Enjoy one of Granny's stories every 20 pages, and learn about Tolly and Granny's love for the flute andthebirds.

Other reviewers have praised the book. But then, they also liked Harry Potter, and "Series of Unfortunate Events" as well, so that clearly showed me, as a College Prof, now HS dad, that I might not like this book, as the excesses of sardonic humor, death, magic, and evil, are all too prevalent in this day and age, to encourage the reading of fiction to stuff yet MORE garbage into my children's (or my!) head. As it is said, "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof...".

But Green Knowe is different- perhaps because it was written in a gentler, kinder time. While there is fantasy, and a sense of the blurring of the dimensions (ghosts that are not evil, a world within our world that has connections to the past, and the interpenetration of them all) overall, this work has as much depth as Potter's does for the adult reader, without all the preachiness of 'PC' dogma which has so marred Rowling's later writings, and has influenced all of the film treatments. One really does not need to rehash Shirer's work on WWII in a Children's fantasy novel, which is all Rowling's works have become at the hands of her American editors...

Boston's world is alive- with literature, history, music, and artistry, which Rowling's is not. For adults, the references to the Restoration, Cromwell, Purcell's music, Anglican Church, and British Christmas customs provide a wealth for any HS parent discussing the period 1660-1700. But, as another reviewer noted, she never GOES anywhere- unless just BEING is enough. Her world is one to inhabit, not to holiday through, as if it were an itinerary of sights to check off. The ONE confrontation is scary, and could frighten younger audiences...but a vision of a redeemed world shines through. I was reminded while reading Boston, of Jame's novella, that Britten set to music in the opera, "Turn of the Screw." NOT "cheery" stuff, that!

If I seem ambivalent, it is because, while there is much to recommend in her writing, and the pictures she paints are very vivid, and full of life, the theological issues of the spirit world interacting with the real world, the malevolent curses of a gypsy long dead, and the subtle hints of either a strong genetic lineage, or a nascent reincarnationalism, coupled with clear Christian imagery and pious sentiment (Do ghosts really sing Christmas carols, without malevolent intent?) bothered me.

Is the book magical? oh yes, in many ways. Is it troubling, as say, Wind in the Willows is not? Oh, yes.. in equal measure. Is it a good read? Definitely. But the rest? I'm not sure....

Containing an excellent portrayal of Worf, this novel manages to pull together a number of loose ends of his life after the war, and coming to terms with the death of Jadsia. He is now a diplomat for starfleet, and is sent to resolve a conflict of a world which is under Klingon rule, much to the dismay, and anger of this worlds inhabitants. His old friends on the Enterprise make an apperance as they escort him to his mission, but do not take part in the mission byond that. Worf must manage to pull off a settlement which is agreeable to the Klingons, who will accept nothing less than Klingon rule continuing, and the factions on the world who will accept nothing less than freedom, and Klingons leaving thier planet for good. Among this the constant harrasment by other Klingons and challenges of his honor are present. A good read.

This may be DeCandido's best book so far. The plot is intricate: Worf has to find a middle path between the demands for independence of the natives and the political necessity of keeping the Klingon Empire intact. The Captain of the Gorkon doesn't trust him, the local governor is a ruthless, arrogant incompetent, and the natives are less than ecstatic to discover the Federation representative is a Klingon. There is a fair amount of action scenes in this book, both space and ground combat, and they are very good, although not to the level of the best in the Gorkon books. The dialogue and the character interaction are where the book really shines. The language is witty and incisive and wonderfully entertaining. All the characters are vividly and thoroughly portrayed, including several that lack such vividness in the Gorkon series.

After a long string a reading mediocre books (like Do Comets Dream?), I find myself looking at one that is truly a pleasure to read. Keith R.A. DeCandido has certainly outdone himself here. This was the first time I've had the experience to enjoy his work, but I will definitely be getting more of his titles, namely the upcoming I.K.S. Gorkon duology and Gateways - 4 of 7 - Demons Of Air And Darkness.

Now, there are two main things this book is about. One is to introduce (I think anyway) the I.K.S Gorkon crew, which is a new ship in the Klingon fleet. The other is to show some of Worf's new challenges as Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. For the former point, Keith goes past the typical Klingon archetypes and really makes this crew come to life. In fact, the Captain (Klag) reminisces about how strange and unique his crew is compared to typical Klingon vessels. The crew is very likeable and is engineered so that interesting and natural conflicts arise throughout the story (and, no doubt, future stories). For the later point, we get to see how Worf deals with the losses of the Dominion War and accepts the new challenges that await him as ambassador, which provides a lot of rich character development throughout the story. Even in diplomacy, his honor and his ability to remain a warrior are constantly tested. It's interesting that a quote from season 4 (spoken by Curzon) says, "The only people who can really handle the Klingons are Klingons". That is very true in this book, making Worf a very logical and natural choice to handle the intense diplomatic situation that unfolds.

What makes this book really special is not just the plot (which is very good), but that it's true to the characters (old and new). When you read the words of Worf, Martok, Riker or any of the other characters, you can really hear the actors speaking the dialog in your mind. Keith goes much further than that, though. While the story remains in the 3rd person, Keith does a great job letting you know how the characters think and reflect on the situations around him. Even Riker's experiences aboard a Klingon vessel in TNG's season 2 are of key importance to his actions in the story. Most of the time, I couldn't help but smile as I was completely absorbed and convinced that these characters were exactly as I remembered them from TNG and DS9.

The book is also true to established continuity as well. There are many times where Worf reflects on the death of Jadzia or Kah'lar, as they have a direct and significant impact on the story itself. Worf's history in Starfleet and the aftermath of the Dominion War are also big events that this story has drawn from. It makes everything fit into place very nicely as you get the feeling that the story is a logical consequence of these events, yet interesting enough that you'll want to read about it.

Commander Riker and Dr. Crusher also make appearances, as they do have a history with several of the crew members of the I.K.S Gorkon. Rather than some books just putting them in for the sake of familiarity, or perhaps for marketing reasons, Keith takes a different approach. Since this is a book about Worf and the I.K.S. Gorkon, the author makes sure he develops the *right* characters. In each case, Crusher helps bring out the passions of B'Oraq, the Chief Medical Officer aboard the ship, and likewise, Riker helps make Klag into more than just a one-dimensional character (which seems like a one-purpose adversary to Worf at the beginning of the book).

Another aspect that I really like the book is that every paragraph is important to the plot or its characters. I'm not a big fan of books that use so much description that you could just remove it from the book and it wouldn't change a thing. I think the English language can be somewhat clumsy if it's used incorrectly, trying to describe every detail as if you were really trying to show a picture or a movie. But no, Keith doesn't do that. Every paragraph is relative to the plot or explains why the characters are reacting or thinking the way they do. Every plot point is intelligently graphed into the whole. I guess the best to describe it is that it's efficient yet emotional and captivating at the same time, which is typically the writing style I enjoy best.

So if you haven't read Diplomatic Implausibility now, you should definitely pick it up. While I'm not sure if the plots in this novel correlate to the Left Hand of Destiny (which I'm reading that now), there is lot to like here and it's an excellent addendum to the shows. This could have been very well been a real episode, as there was no indication that it was a case of bad fan fiction or contrived storytelling at all. This is one is great.

This novel is great for a couple of reasons. First is Worf's great portrayal. I liked his discomfort with the Ambassador title and him dealing with his diplomatic responsibility. Second, the wonderful crew and captain of the IKS Gorkon. This crew, especially Cpt. Klag, grew on me, and as a result I became a sucker and went out to buy the other adventures of the IKS Gorkon in the Brave and the Bold Book 2 and the other two Gorkon books.

DeCandido is a great author. I first read Demons of Air and Darkness by him, and then a couple SCE stories, and then went back to his first book to check out where Worf had gone after the DS9 finale. In fact I read this book knowing it was, in sorts, a continuation of DS9 in the Relaunch form. Having read up to the Gamma books, it was a welcome change to see another DS9 crewmember that had gone a different way. (Now where's my Rom story!)

The plot deals with Worf having to confront his allegiance between the Federation and Martok and the Klingon Empire. My only confusion is why Worf would have overall command of the mission being a Federation, not Klingon, representative.

So Captain Klag is an awesome character that prompted me to wanna read the rest of his adventures. His crew is interesting, and the Klingon characterizations are fitting. Worf is particularly spot-on, especially with some of his classic one-word responses.

The story and characters flow naturally; nothing is forced. The battles are good; the story is decent when compared to awesome plots like in the DS9 "Millennium" Trilogy. The conclusion sort of came on me too fast to appreciate it, and the lack of twists or climax is what made me rate this a 4 and not a 5. Keith should have written another 30-50 pages to create a totally unique, intriguing conclusion.

Characters from the Romulan prison that Worf rescued are on board the Gorkon... as well is Worf's mind-altered brother Kurn, now Rodek. His pathetic character makes one want to know wtf is bugging him, which is another reason to buy the other Gorkon books. It was great seeing Worf in his holosuite program from Season 1 TNG, seeing Beverly with an old Klingon radical doctor, and Riker reunited with Klag getting hammered despite taking an alcohol-suppressant. Passed TNG and DS9 characters are well integrated and feel natural and not forced or over-the-top like in other novels. Oh, and then there's Martok's pathetic son who Worf beat up on DS9... his character is intriguing. I also liked the continuity with the Emperor of the al'Hmatti and how he didn't just have a miraculous change-of-heart, but fit in with his character until his end.
The good thing is the tension between the crew, just as I would expect from a unique Klingon vessel with distinctive people. Most evocative is Klag's distrust of Worf due to his perception that Worf got his position only for being in Martok's house. It's also good to see Worf still mourns Jadzia's loss. The thing about DeCandido that I've come to realize is you really get into the heads of his characters, and for those we have seen on the screen, you will have no problem visualizing the different people speaking (in their unique voices) the words Keith has written. Kudos to the author indeed!

All in all an excellent cast of new and old characters, with a decent plot and some fun solid action. Reading it definitely makes one want to keep reading the adventures of the crew of the IKS Gorkon, especially with its one-armed Captain!

One missed opportunity: More involvement from the Enterprise crew with Worf. They were pushed to the background, but seeing as this is a Worf novel it was somewhat suitable. However, it is excellent to see that Worf, alone, solves the crisis on taD, and that no one from the Enterprise comes to his rescue. Chalk one up for Worf the Diplomat.

Oh, and those claiming this should be a DS9 book and that it was labeled TNG cause it sells better are mistaken. DS9 is hardly in this novel; TNG is. And in all fairness Worf was aboard TNG longer and keeps joining the TNG crew in the movies. So shutupa yer face about marketing ploys.

In conclusion, I recommend this book for TNG, DS9, Klingon and Worf fans. But also, surprisingly, for non-Trek fans, since the author does a good job recounting the crucial parts of Worf's history in a continuity that is quite suiting for the novel.

This work, though easily read as a standalone, does feel like a pilot book introducing the IKS Gorkon. But for me, that's okay, because it makes me want to read more about them. I'm glad characters weren't fully developed and resolutions didn't just appear out of thin air. I can hardly wait to read more from Keith in the future. I do agree the Rodek-Kurn/Worf relationship needed to have some conclusion, even if not complete, because it does beg one to ask what Worf felt about the whole situation. I sincerely hope it is resolved, or at least addressed in future novels.

Worf is definitely one of the most interesting Trek characters, yet in reflection I find myself comparing this novel to Garak's, "A Stitch in Time", and I find that as standalone novels basing itself mainly on one main character, Garak's novel is vastly supreme. Then again it is much longer. Thus, it is with great difficulty that I rate this novel a 4 and not a 5. Had it been slightly longer, I know it would have given me reason to rate it perfect.

PS, the glossary of Klingon terms is reason enough to buy it!

"Diplomatic Implausibility" is author, Keith R.A. DeCandido's first full length novel in the Star Trek genre. From his work in the Star Trek S.C.E. (Starfleet Corps of Engineers) e-Book series one could tell that he was going to become a major influence in the Star Trek genre which has proven quite true given his breadth of work since this, his first outstanding Star Trek The Next Generation novel.

DeCandido's work stands out with great flare as its originality in the story telling is quite clear, his knowledge of the Star Trek universe is extensive and most importantly, the story is extremely well balanced between pace and narrative!

Pocket Books has done a great job over the last few years in bringing in authors such as Keith R.A. DeCandido who are not only authors but fans of Star Trek which, in this reader's opinion, is quite integral in the pursuit of being able to write a decent Star Trek story such as this novel.

The Premise:

Fresh off the heels of the events depicted in Star Trek Deep Space Nine's final episode, "What You Leave Behind" where Lt. Commander Worf, after defeating the Klingon High Chancellor Gowron and giving the Chancellorship to General Martok, is then offered the opportunity to be the Federation's Ambassador to Klingon which he gladly accepts.

Some two hundred years ago, a mineral rich world known as taD was conquered by the Klingon Empire and its inhabitants became slaves of the Klingon Empire. When the Klingons were mislead by the Dominion into attacking the Cardassians the people of taD, seeing a shortage in Klingons guarding their world, seized the opportunity and retook their world for their own and called upon the Federation for assistance however, the Federation could not and would not intervene due to the potential political ramifications.

With the end of the Dominion war came the Klingons retaking of taD and its inhabitants renewed efforts to gain protection from the Federation comes the need for Ambassador Worf who is now called into the situation to negotiate between the Klingon Empire, the Federation and taD's inhabitants...

I highly recommend this numbered Star Trek The Next Generation novel as you will find it to be among the best of the numbered novels and in it, a truly knowledgeable and crafty author who stands out in the genre. {ssintrepid}

this is a great source and reference book for drawing dragons.
it's also extremely cool for little kids and big kids alike.

Good book. Some what hard to read and understand in certain areas but very interesting.

This is a great book. I loved it but it was very short for the price I paid.

My son and his friends are nuts about the dragonology series. This handbook has stickers, puzzles, lore, and fantastic illustrations. The entire book is made to appear as a relic from 1893. I love the "oath of a dragonologist" included in the front. My son very earnestly inscribed his name here: "I ___ ___ do solemnly swear to conserve and protect those dragons that still remain and in no way to harm them or reveal their secret hiding places to those who do not believe in them or would wish them anything other than good fortune." It's a real treat!

Great for kids with a great imagination. My son has all of the book created by this author and loves them all!

I read this book when I is was in 8th grade but I still like to go back and read things over it is a wonderful book if you like fantasy dragons and a girl hero.

Since I am not good at explaining things I will type what it says on the back of the book:

There is a story about Kara and dragons. When she was four, she came down with vermilion fever. Her parents, thinking there was no cure, left her in a cave to die. A month later she walked back into her parent's home as healthy as if she had never been sick. It is said that a mother dragon lived in that cave, and she nursed young Kara back to life. Now, eleven years later, the only reminder of Kara's illness is a small scar on her cheek. Of her contact with the dragon, there is more. Her eyes, which once were blue, are now green. And she can call down birds, which many believe is a sign that she can also call down dragons, for the two are distant cousins. Only Kara has her doubts. How can a beast as huge and terrifying as a dragon be related to a sweet, gentle bird? But could this explain why the king has sent for her? Does he think she has powers over dragons? For Kara, the answer to this question means life or death- not only for her, but for all the dragons, also.

I loved this book. Susan Fletcher has done it again. However, I did prefer the first and third books to this one. But this book is very important to the series, and it's amazingly good, too. This is the best trilogy ever written!

:-)

The story is about a young girl named Kara,who is sick as a small child and was brought to a cave to be buried. Instead of dying,dragons fed her milk,which nursed her back to heallth. This milk also gave her speial powers. Kara meets the royal family ofthe land of Krag because of her powers, which throws her into the middle of a of a blood war between dragons and this royal family. Kara has mant adventures as she
tries to do the right thing for the family and the dragons. The prince of this
famly,Rog,threatens to kill two childrenif Kara doesn't sumomon dragons for him to kill. She gets help from the kiing and his army,the birds that she summons,and her friends. They defeat Rog,and her falcon flies off with dragons. Kara goes back to the king dom of Krag with king Orrik as his summoner.
I like this book because there are plenty of suprises. It issuspenseful and exciting.

I enjoyed this second book of the Dragon Chronicles more than the first for several reasons.

Susan Fletcher does very well with the first-person narrative of Kara, and the language used by the character makes the story all the move believable. Its a more intelligent read than the first book, with a more interesting range of vocabulary. Also, Kara as a charcter is much more interesting to read about than Kaeldra. Kara's pride and her fears, and even her hypocracy at times, make her a real human being. And what's more, she has a fire-cracker temper that I found refreshing after reading about the droll,ho-hum, stick-in-the-mud Kaeldra.

In this second book, there is a bigger cast of characters and Fletcher does well to make sure these people all have personalities of their own. (The first book, had more character 'types',and less characters with personalities.)

I agree, the book's main relationship is a little stale. It wouldn't have been if we had not seen a similar build up in "Dragon's Milk"'s major relationship. If they had not been mirror images of the same stormy and mistrusting courtship then I would have been much more entertained.

All and all, "Flight of the Dragon Kyn" was a better written book with a more interesting array of charcters. Well worth the read.

A Review by Jessica

One day log ago a girl named Kara got Vermillion fever and almost died, but a dragon saved her. This book takes place many years after this incidence. The thing is that Kara remembers nothing that happened. The only things that remind her of the dragon is a name, Flagra, which she screamed in the middle of the night and the gift of being able to call birds down from the sky. A king named Orrick sends for her to come to him, and she dose. What Kara doesn't know is he wants her to call down dragons. The Problem is that Kara has never seen a dragon let alone call one down from the sky. Kara and a group of warriors go out to seek dragons. Kara calls for Flagra and she comes what she doesn't know it that the men are going to kill this dragon, the one that saved her life. As the dragon becomes visible the arrows rise to the deep blue sky and they shoot.

In this book I really enjoyed the suspense and adventure. The main character, Kara tells this story in first person. Susan Fletcher is a great author. One thing I like in her books is there is a little hidden love story within them. There is one in this book. It is between Kara and one of the king's men named Kazan. I also like the extreme detail that Susan Fletcher uses. An example of detail is when she describes a falcon she calls. Kara says, "I steeped back startled, the gray falcon screamed, tightened her grip on my hand. One wing clouted my head, and then she was flying." The vocabulary in this book is not too hard but not to easy. I also found the dialogue to be very easy to follow.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure with suspense and action. It's a real great read! This book keeps you in the edge of your seat the whole time your reading it.

This is the prequel to the Tales of the Otori series although it was written last. As are all the books in the series, this novel is well written and rivetting as are the others.

Heaven's Net is Wide is Lian Hearn's stunning prequel to the Tales of the Otori saga. This book tells the story of young Otori Shigeru and his rise to become Lord Otori, head of his clan, amidst triumphs and tragedy, friendship, love and betrayal. Hearn's alternate historical version of Japan is as beautiful as ever and her writing adds depth and detail to the picturesque scenery carried through all her novels.

I really enjoyed how Hearn stayed true to her multi-character storytelling. Though the story was Shigeru's, I appreciated the chapters devoted to mysterious Tribe members Muto Kenji and Muto Shizuka, and also the background of Lady Maruyama Naomi and the members of the Hidden. Heaven's Net is Wide would be a great starting place for those new to the Otori series, but it is equally enjoyable as the final book in the Tales - bringing the story full circle to where it all began.

This book is up there with the many great books I've read - and I've read a few. Of course it's all down to opinion and taste but I found this book magnificently written - so well written I can't describe it with the acclaim it deserves. It is a HIGHLY, HIGHLY underatted book.

As I had read the first two books in the Tales Of the Otori Trilogy, when the prequel came out I decided to read the series from the start (From the prequel to the trilogy to the sequel). This proved to be a good decision as I (and I know this is very cliched) just couldn't put the book down! Because I had read the first couple of books and knew the characters - or for that matter of past characters that died before book one, to be able to read of things discussed in the trilogy actually happening before my eyes (because that's how well it is written) was an absolute treat.

But what I marvelled at most, was how well Hearn planned out the series. I just could not believe that events fell into place so well at exactly the right time, in exactly the right places.

Hearn creates a world where there are animals you'd find in from Europe to Asia to the Americas. There is talk of creatures like Goblins and Demons aswell as Spirits and Gods of various elements all set in feudal, mythical Japan with a magnificent touch of ancient history - of warlords and clans, of religions and beliefs, and of the struggle the women had and the dominance of the men.

Yet it is written and described quite subtly so that the loyalist of fantasy fans will enjoy it alongside the firm general fiction readers.

I suggest you read the trilogy and also if you want, the sequel first, so you can get the sense of appreciation for Lian Hearn's work and get an even more amazing read out of such and underated tale.

I believe this book alogside the trilogy and sequel, although it has some sex scenes, would be suitable for boys and girls, men and women alike above the age of 12.

Lian Hearn has created a world. It resembles Japan in the 16th century, but with added imaginary elements. The writing is exquisite - elegant, precise, rich and evocative. Once you start reading the Tales of the Otori you don't want to quit.

The ability to project yourself into a different personality set in a different culture and period, and do it convincingly and movingly - that is the mark of a very good writer indeed!

After reading the first four books-- Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow, and Brilliance of the Moon, Harsh Cry of the Heron (which, truth must be told, I don't know if I could read again... I got too angry at the end... Stupid Kaede!)-- I fell in love with the world and the characters. Heaven's Net is Wide is a MOST welcome expansion upon the character and story of Shigeru. He had been somewhat of an enigma in the first book- we never quite knew what he was thinking- but HNiW explains his personality and actions beautifully.

The fact that I can't reread Harsh Cry of the Heron because it is literally too painful speaks volumes for the author's abilities, and Heaven's Net is Wide definitely showcases those abilities as well. Both books made me feel for the characters so acutely it translated into real physical anguish. I knew, from reading the other four Tales of the Otori books, what would ultimately occur, and in Heaven's Net is Wide, I could see the characters make the decisions that would put them on the path to that end, and it nearly killed me. I actually found myself yelling at the book a couple times, as ridiculous as that sounds.

In all, a very well executed return to the beginning of the events in the Tales of the Otori series. Most definitely recommended.

I just purchased my third copy of this book: read the first one to bits, one of my (normally trustworthy) friends jacked the second and no one will be allowed to touch the third. Take Douglas Adams craziness + Terry Pratchetts upbeat humor and imagination = a refreshingly funny novel where mankind is not perpetually cast as overly violent/barely civilized animals or whiny "get in touch with my feelings" emotional cripples trying to solve the problems of the universe. Pompous or pseudo intellectuals need not bother, you will not get it.

Like I said, Don't be fooled by other reviews on this book. I hate to read since a lot of what I had to read in High School was complete drivel to me and put me off of reading for a long time. Anybody who gave this story a bad review probably loves Henry David Thoreau poems and that was one classic author who needed to be put out of his misery before he published his acclaimed TRASH!
Phil Phoglio is more of an illustrator but also wrote in his own fair right {Myth Adventures, VERY HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED BY ME AT LEAST} but this was a cooperative effort and it paid off. This was one of the few books that I read cover to cover non-stop. Just when you thought you were going to predict what was to come the autors threw something new into the mix catching the reader by surprise. The remarks of the humor being sexist by other reviewers shows the poor level of their understanding of the 'human condition' or cultural behavior. We are all sexist pigs at heart and the idea of a New York street gang taking control of a powerful star ship and being faked out by special forces soldiers described as goergous women in bakinis delivering a huge stack of pizzas fit well. What the hell does one think a bunch of adolesent punks would want when in control of a star ship? Money, Cars, and beautiful women (none of which they could afford or get since they were adolescent punks in New York city). If you want sexist try "Star Trek the next Generation" (granted not a book but a fine example of my point). Captian Picard is a diplomacy spouting liberal sissy boy too afraid to get any woman who threw herself at him in bed blowing around in a galaxy where all the aliens have nothing more than a pat of latex on their foreheads while the second in command Will Riker was falling in love with every new alien they came across in every episode. It was nothing but the Love Boat with Photon Torpedos. Next Gen had more sex (and inter species sex) in it than all of the seasons of the Love Boat put together. At least with Babylon 5 the idea of inter species sex was covered very well. Many times there were compatability issues preventing it from happeneing and other times the non-humans being proposed didn't take it well. It would be like getting busy with a dog to them. To call Illegal Aliens sexist is short sighted. Needless to say I lost all respect with Star trek thanks to Next Gen. Illegal Aliens was refreshment for the mind in a world of mediocer sci-fi. I thought the real good sci-fi died in the mid sixties and yes I read A LOT of paperback sci-fi from the fifties and sixties. Issac Asimov was a brilliant author in his day as was Authur C. Clark so I do feel qualified to rate the quality of this story. Titles like Analog and Sci-Fi weekly should come to mind with any avid Sci-Fi reader and I liked a lot of what they contained. Red Sands of Mars was around long before the movie (which stunk) Red Planet came out. I could go on with the titles of sci-fi books I read in the past but I am addressing Illegal Aliens which was the most unique sci-fi written in recent history. it does not beat an old idea into the ground.
This story was well laid out and flowed evenly with surprise after surprise and many of the aliens were nothing like what any sci-fi autor would describe like the R'porrians. R'porrains are cockroaches with a penchant for destroying other planets' economies and stripping them of all their resources and they are so prolific they were blockaded on their homeworld by the galactic federation. Another oddity was Silverside, an intellagent Death Machine with free will who became a crime lord. What was even funnier was how frustrated the Gee (the galactic police force) got while trying to catch up with "the All That Glitters" {the stolen space ship that landed in Central Park in the beginning of the book} while it was crewed by humans trying to make it to the headquarters of the Galactic Federation.
If anything this is one book that dearly needs to be made into a movie or an animation. This is not Star Trek at all and does not take any political stance one way or the other. This is not what I would consider intellectual reading and if that is what you seek GO ELSEWHERE AND QUIT WHINING ABOUT THIS BOOK'S LACK OF WHATEVER! It was written to entertain and not in the mindless way that many other books were written. It does not cater to the least common denomonator and does not barrage you with so much technical information that it leaves many readers confused. The most technical thing said in the book was a comment the ship's engineer Trell {captured by special forces when the ship was captured from the street gang who controlled it. The original crew hated him so much he was kept locked up in the engine room because he was a pacifist and the original crew would have spaced him if they didn't need him so badly. Trell actually is an intellagent plant. Go figure.}. Trell turned out to be more than willing to tell us about the ship he manned and described the ship's need to be white as "serious mojo that made the ship go really fast" since the explanation was too complicated for us to understand. The story manages to simplify stuff that gives physics majors a bad headace and helps make the story readable.
This is one story that will not leave you behind nor is it mindless. It was written with heart and deserves to be read. The only thing this story lacks is being a more visual experience where many reviewers who had to complain might finally understand. If you need an epic go read "war and peace" and quit complaining. This is no classic like the "Illiad and the Odessy" or "MacBeth" but what the hey, This is not placed in the past or writen in the past and is not intended for scientific reading or gripping social commentery. it is a funny story and nothing else. It was not intended to be openly sarchastic about any one thing in particular. It lacks the dry sacastic tones of Monty Python but it does posses a more subtle hint of it. It is not a social commentary ever so popular to the liberal crowd. It does say some mild things about our society but not enough to detract from the main plot of the story which was us seeking admittance into the Galactic Federation once we found out about its exsistance in a stolen space ship.
Come into this book with an open mind and don't look for this to be a serious read. Nick Pollatta did a great job writing this story and as long as you are not reading this as an intellectual (the bane of entertainment) you will be pleased. You also will be wondering why nobody put this to film yet!

This book might appeal to adolescent, sexually repressed, juvenile males, but if you are not in that category, don't waste your time or money. I had hoped for a sarcastic, well written or "campy" style novel. Instead I got mindless violence, sexist humor, and a complete lack of any intelligent plot. None of the characters are the least bit likeable, so the fate of any of them becomes unimportant. Personally, the distruction of the Earth existing in this novel would clearly be a blessing!

This novel was more fun than I anticipated. Aliens land in New York and the UN first contact team takes over the world to deal with them. This is almost 2 books. The first half deals with the first aliens who land on earth and the second half what earth does in retaliaton to what they find out about people-out-there.

This book sends up tonnes of standard SF stories and is fully tounge-in-cheek. It has a cast of eccentric characters and aliens who really aren't any better or worse than humanity itself.

For a fun satire on the whole SF genre this book is a good read (as long as you aren't expecting anything too sophisticated..)

So nice to see this puppy back in print! all you folks selling it for 80.00+ go soak your dirty heads! One of the great stories from TSR's heyday. I read this sucker the first time while a senior in high school way back in 89 and it still makes me bust a gut! Fun,wacky and a great read!update 2/18/06 I guess I should add this book is extremely sarcastic,sophmoric and juvenile(it was intended for teens after all)I do think the way it portrays humankind as self absorbed and unable to accept defeat is right on(its at once a strength and a weakness). I guess if you were teenager reading it for the first time never having lived during the cold war you might rate 2-3 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.

The Circle trilogy consists of the books Black, and Red, and White, and is followed up by Showdown, and House (co-authored by Frank Peretti), and Saint, and Skin. And a new book to be out either later this year or next year, titled Sinner. And the Lost Books consist of Chosen, and Infidel, and (coming out in May Renegade and Chaos.

Yes, Ted Dekker has been quite busy creating his history of Other Earth.

While the Lost Books are marketed in the Youth Fiction genre, it was of course well-known to Dekker and his publisher, Thomas Nelson, that millions of Circle fans of all ages would flock to bookstands to pick up the latest installments. In fact, by marketing the Lost Books as Youth Fiction, Dekker and Nelson stand to pick up even more readers than before, as the appeal of The Circle spreads to younger readers.

I, for one, have been captivated by Dekker's Circle trilogy, as well as many of his other works. A quick browse through my review list will turn up almost every book written by Ted Dekker. But you didn't come here for that, did you? You came here to learn more about Infidel.

I was at first a little confused as to whom the title referred. According to Dictionary.com, the number one definition of the word infidel is "a person who does not accept a particular faith." The several Dekker books surrounding Other Earth are filled with people who don't accept the faith of the Forest Dwellers. It was hard for me, in Infidel, to determine just which character was the infidel. I'm still not altogether sure.

And while I understand that weaving a story takes considerable character development and that several threads of the plot line must be laid in order to get to the culmination, I found Infidel to be a very interesting work, but just not quite up to the standard that other Dekker books have set.

Infidel is, no doubt, critical to understanding the history of Other Earth, and I can't imagine reading the next two books in the chronicles without first reading Infidel, but I just wasn't grabbed by it like I was the original Circle trilogy, or most of Dekker's other works. I found Infidel to be more about laying the foundation for coming installments than furthering the story.

What makes the whole thing even more interesting is the marketing ploy that Dekker and publisher Nelson have developed in order to drive the hype behind the stories. There's a massive online search for the Lost Books of History, with multiple sites and characters created for the sole purpose of guiding readers through the search for the ultimate discovery -- the last Lost Book of History -- and the ultimate prize -- a brand new Chevy Cobalt.

I have, of course, registered for the search, but I haven't been very active in it. I found on the first day that I could easily spend hours of my day just digging and digging through the clues online in search for the Lost Book. As much as the search intrigues me, I just don't have that kind of time on my hands.

But what I do have time for is reading the next Dekker book when it comes out. Adam hits bookstores next month.

In the meantime, Infidel is definitely worth the read, but only if you've read the rest of the epic first.

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.

I have read Black, Red and White, so after that I had to continue reading the lost books. Infidel was a great treat, I love how it combines the first books. I have started reading Renegade yesterday, it just keep getting better and better. Ted Dekker is a brillant author, I love how are this books are tying together. I read all the Left Behind books, and they were great, and I would place this series right up there at the top. If you start reading one, you will want to read them all, believe me.

In this second installment of Ted Dekker's action-fantasy series, The Lost Books, all four main characters --- Johnis, Silvie, Billos and Darsal --- are immediately thrust back into active combat after their celebratory evening. Johnis can't get his mind off the fact that the recovered ring signifies that his mother is still alive. But just how is she living? As a slave? Is she a Horde now? Under what conditions will he find her? Obsessed by this newfound knowledge, Johnis and Silvie sneak out of the city, taking their lives into their own hands and following Johnis's heart instead of his head.

Clearly, Johnis wants to rescue his mother, but there is opposition from both inside his ranks and outside. And complications. The power of the book is also another mystery and a compelling one; when someone touches the book after spilling his blood, something otherworldly and intense takes place. But where does this power come from? Is it a tool of Elyon or of Teelah?

After battling their way into the enemy city with the help of a small Horde girl, Johnis and Silvie do find his mother, but they also become victim to a bigger plot and are trapped. Johnis is given an ultimatum --- either agree to help the Horde find and abduct Thomas Hunter, or they will kill both his mother and Silvie. Johnis's heart is wrenched in two as he tries to wriggle his way out of this no-win situation.

Martyn, the Horde general, outlines the entire scheme to Johnis right down to the lies he would tell to lure Thomas into the trap. With more bravado than he feels, Johnis approaches Thomas and sets the ambush. A forest guard warrior turned traitor, Justin of Southern, with whom the Horde knows Thomas cannot resist meeting, is the bait. Johnis spins a story that Thomas is to meet with Justin in Red Valley as soon as possible. The Horde knows Thomas's interest will be piqued and they're right; plying him with lie after lie, Johnis lures the commander into the desert before abandoning him without horse or water. Riding away, convicted and ashamed, Johnis tries to convince himself that he had just acted on behalf of his mother and Silvie. But thoughts of a stunned Thomas stranded without aid won't leave his mind.

Thankfully, despite his many and frequent mistakes, others step in and assist Johnis, offering both real help and needed mercy before the final stage is set. As the "chosen" one, Johnis learns a great deal about following his heart, using his head, and listening to the counsel of his fellow warriors and friends. With lightning speed action, Ted Dekker delivers another energizing tale that will have readers of this series impatient for its next compelling segment. But as they wait, the multi-leveled plot and theological repercussions will keep fans mulling the storyline over and over.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe