Science Fiction Books

SWORD AT SUNSET BY ROSEMARY SUTCLIFF: The late Rosemary Sutcliff was a prolific writer from the 1950s through the 1970s, publishing a number of children's books, including the Eagle of the Ninth series and a series of Arthurian novels, as well as over twenty other children's books on historical subjects. She also penned nonfiction works and adult fiction, including Sword at Sunset, originally published in 1963 and re-released on May 1st of this year.

Sword at Sunset features an introduction by Canadian author Jack Whyte, writer of the successful Camulod Chronicles, a nine-book series beginning several generations before Arthur was born. Whyte freely admits that when he first discovered Sword at Sunset it changed his life, which becomes all too clear when one has read both authors. The characterization, the tone, and the painstaking attention to historical detail and accuracy are prevalent in both works, to the point where one might think Whyte owes Sutcliff more than an introduction and homage.

In Sword at Sunset, Sutcliff creates a world where the Roman legions have left Britain, yet the sense of Romanitas remains strong, especially in the noble characters of Ambrosius and Artos the Bear. They retain not just the armor, style of combat, and the Roman military organization, but a superior, almost arrogant sense of belonging to something that was once great and could be again. Sutcliff's early medieval world is not as "dark age" as normally depicted in fiction, but thriving with trade and societal infrastructure across Europe still seemingly intact. Artos the Bear spends the beginning of the book traveling to southern France where he looks to purchase strong breeds of horses to bring back to Britain to create a strong cavalry force to fight against the invading Anglo Saxons and maintain the British control and rule.

While it is not completely clear how Artos the Bear has risen to such great prominence, he nevertheless has the backing of the people, which spurs him on to defeat the Saxons in many battles. Sutcliff introduces many familiar characters from the Arthurian world, though there is no Merlin or Lancelot (the latter originally an addition made by Chrétien de Troyes in the twelfth century), but an important appearance is made by Arthur's incestuous sister Medraut (or Morgan). Sword at Sunset reads like a historical military text with its calculated and descriptive battle scenes that make the world come alive, to the point where the reader may indeed believe such events transpired in the fifth century, leaving the common storylines of romance and chivalry out of the story completely, much as they were in the original time of Arthur.

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I loved another book by Sutcliffe but this one disappoints. The doom and foreshadowing is so relentlessly drummed in that I could never begin to care about the characters. The subtlety that she is skilled at is overdone here, and the heart of it seems hollow. Battle scenes roll by, in extravagant detail; crucial personal scenes flit past in a couple of sentences. Artos' wife is hard to love and rarely seen.

It seems like Sutcliffe was desperate to avoid the overdone, often covered traditional plot elements of the King Arthur story. She keeps only the doom and very little of the honor or love.

I have read most of the variations and book series on the King Arthur legend (Jack Whyte, Bernard Cornwell, Mary Stewart, Stephen Lawhead, etc) as well as a good deal of background information and theories. This edition intrigued me because Jack Whyte has written the forward and he has been my favorite writer on the subject ... to a point (up to the end of "Uther"). But Rosemary Sutcliff, by far, has set the standard for the conclusion of this legend. It is realistic, and most importantly, believable. You want to know the people in this book. You can see, feel and hear what they are experiencing. Her style is intelligent, interesting and true to history. And curiously, she wrote this before any one else did. THIS is how this story should end.

This is quite simply the best dark ages historical fiction novel ever written. "Sword At Sunset" tells the story of Artos the Bear, the war leader who will one day be known in legends as King Arthur, and his valiant struggle to fend off the invading Saxons, Angles and Jutes who are descending on Britain in the wake of the Roman evacuation in ever-increasing numbers. Sutcliff avoids the swords-and-sorcery of the Arthur legends and focuses on relating an amazingly accurate and realistic-seeming tale of what the TRUE Arthur must have been like. This book is in some ways a sequel to "The Lantern Bearers", which tells the story of a Roman soldier who chooses to stay behind after the legions depart Britain in the early 5th century. Here Sutcliff's magnificent prose reaches its zenith as she describes the struggles of Artos and his "Companions" to rally the populace and raise, train, and feed their army. The language crackles with authenticity, the battles are gripping, the historical detail is uncanny, the characters are all complex and multi-dimensional. Arthur in particular is portrayed as a admirable but flawed man whose failings as a husband and father are as much a driving force of his persona as his ability to attract and lead men into war. The book also touches on Arthur's negative light in many of the saint's lives, by describing his conflicts with the church over provisioning his war band. You will not find a more believable or poetically written tale of the dark ages, though Wallace Breem's "Eagle in the Snow" comes somewhat close. This one has it all and will not disappoint true fans of historical fiction looking for a realistic, well-written novel of this fascinating time.

As close as possible to depicting the real King Arthur. Beautiful, gritty, based on history and archeology. No silly fantasy here -- no Merlin, no magic, no Camelot, no Round Tables, and no damn Wiccans dancing in the moonlight.

The idea behind this story is what intrigued me to buy it, and I am really glad that I did.

Shusterman has creates a world were a human being can be viewed simply as valuable parts. Unwinding is the outcome of a war based on the pro-life and pro-choice debate. Unfortunately, unwinding means different things to different people. For some it has become a huge money making business, to the kids it happens to, is a horror and for some parents and some parts of society, it is a nice convenience.

The story follows Conner, Risa, and Lev and how, for different reasons, they all have been selected to be unwound. Conner and Risa hate the idea of being unwound and have been selected against their wills. However, Lev has grown up knowing that this was his path in life, and he looks forward, with trepidation and conviction, for being offered up as a gift to God because of the unwinding. Due to an accident caused be Conner, Risa and Lev end up joining Conner as he tried to escape his unwinding. Together and apart, their fears and hopes are tested as they strive to stay alive in a world that believes they shouldn't be. The answer is, will they make it?

I would recommend this book to people for different reasons. First, I think that Shusterman did an excellent job in keeping the storyline going; there were no parts that I become bored or wanted to skip. Second, he makes the characters very realistic, and not without flaws. These are kids going through a horrific event and I fell that they acted true to real human nature. Third, the idea and premise behind the book is so intriguing and horrifying that you can't help but want to read the whole thing. All the way around it was an excellent book.

Neal Shusterman's harrowing new novel, UNWIND, is set in the years following the Second Civil War in the United States, also known as the "Heartland War." Shusterman imagines a world in which today's debates over abortion ultimately lead to armed conflict, in which pro-choice and pro-life armies clash.

Just like today's wars of words over the abortion issue, however, there can be no clear winners or losers in such a conflict. Instead, at the close of the war, the two sides come to a compromise that fails to adequately address the situation. As a result of the agreement, abortion is outlawed, and there is a place for every baby, wanted or not --- either at one of the State Homes or on the doorstep of other families, who are legally obligated to take care of each of these "storked" babies.

That is, until they are 13. At this point, any children who are unwanted can be, effectively, retroactively aborted. They're not exactly killed. Instead, their body parts live on, thanks to recent medical advances that enable every single body part --- from hair to feet to internal organs --- to be donated to others who need (or at least can afford) them. From the age of 13 until 18, millions of kids are at risk of undergoing this procedure, of becoming "unwound."

No one knows the dread of this situation or the contradictions inherent in the new social order better than the three teens at the heart of Shusterman's thought-provoking novel. There's Connor, a troublemaker whose parents find it easier to sign an unwind order than to deal with his disruptive tendencies. There's Risa, a ward of the state whose excellent piano playing abilities are not quite enough to save her from unwinding in the face of budget cutbacks. And there's Lev, whose parents are unwinding their tenth child as part of the church's mandate to tithe, or to give one-tenth of their earnings back to the community.

Even Lev, who might agree with unwinding on a philosophical level, finds it hard to accept the reality of being unwound. And when he, Connor and Risa learn the stories of countless others who face the same terrifying outcome, the three teens become desperate enough to seek any alternative to what appears a certain, horrifying fate.

Shusterman's extrapolation of current political tensions into a horrific dystopian vision results in a riveting portrayal of a future that could, however terrifying, still seem a real possibility. His comprehensive examination of a world in which a single moral issue results in countless questionable moral actions gains a human face in the person of these three young people, whose compelling personal stories will draw readers in. In fact, this human dimension is one of the reasons UNWIND is simultaneously enthralling and repelling, as harrowing descriptions of capture and unwinding procedures result in a narrative that will engage readers with every fiber of their bodies --- shocking their hearts and emotions even as it engages their minds.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

This is a brilliant, disturbing, engrossing young adult novel, not to be missed. Shusterman paints a frightening picture of a society in which parents can sign orders to have their unwanted teens "unwound," or salvaged for their body parts. Three runaways make a harrowing cross country journey to escape their sinister fate. If they can survive to age eighteen, they'll be free. Shusterman knows how to construct cinematic, emotional scenes, and the plot takes many surprising, unexpected turns. I highly recommend this book!

Unwound is an interesting premise, but the book itself has far too many holes in it to be enjoyable. My biggest problem with the story is the fact that the premise of the is simply too unrealistic. The thought that within 100 years or so that the human race would become so indifferent towards a living person that they would allow him to be carved up for parts against his/her will is just too far of a reach.

It is a terrifying prospect, to have your life taken from you while young, and one that has been previously addressed in stories such as Logan's Run. The difference is that Logan's Run was set in an indeterminant time, so far in the future that it was essentially an alien culture. If Unwound had been set 500 years in the future or perhaps in an alternate reality, the story might have worked better.

The book seems to try too hard to provoke thought about the right to choose/right to life debate. Also, there are several instances where you can see plot points and and complications coming from a mile away. Foreshadowing is one thing, but to be so ham-handed in technique is disappointg.

Just so that this isn't a totally negative review, I did enjoy the evolution of the two lead male characters, though again it was pretty obvious about where things were heading.

This book might be enjoyable to younger readers who can look past the short comings or who might be more startled by the "coming to get you" premise. But for older readers, adults, or those who enjoy a good Sci-Fi yarn, you are going to be disappointed.

Imagine life in the future. The Second Civil War, also known as "The Heartland War" has been fought and eventually resolved by certain constitutional amendments known as "The Bill of Life." So while human life may not be touched from conception until the age of thirteen, a child may be retroactively aborted between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. This process, known as "unwinding" doesn't technically end life, but separates all the body parts to be used for medical transplants. In this futuristic society, unwinding alters the meaning of life.

Unwinding is the fate set for three teens that meet by chance. Connor has always been a troublemaker, and his parents have finally had enough. Risa is a ward of the state, and budget cuts have forced Risa into this situation. Lev is the only one of the three who doesn't see unwinding as a terrible thing; rather, as a tithe, he accepts that being unwound is his purpose in life. In a deadly car crash, these teens escape the fate that awaits them at harvest camps and flee for their lives (although Lev is more of a kidnappee). In this incredible and thought-provoking novel, Neal Shusterman questions what it means to be human and the value of life.

Unwind may see like just a unique action novel, but it is so much more. The desperation, danger, and running-for-your-life sequences may thrill the action lover, but the story is more profound than that. It was actually quite difficult for me to read this novel because of the horrible atrocity called unwinding. Half the time, I couldn't even believe how inhuman some of the characters were to commit these morally wrong acts. What relieved me, though, was that for every bad thing, there was something good; the random acts of kindness strangers performed for the fugitives sometimes brought tears to my eyes. This novel revolves around the controversial topic of the pro-life/pro-choice debate, because it focuses on the sacredness of life. However, Shusterman does not take the topic from a religious or scientific perspective, but bases this book around moral everyone should have: everyone deserves the right to live and not just in the scientific sense that all your body parts are functioning, but living as a whole. All this was channeled into the lives of runaways who were slated to be unwound in this unforgettable story.

I can't really explain how amazing this novel was; you'll just have to read it for yourself to understand. Just know that although most of the novel was pretty depressing, the story ends on a hopeful note. Fans of The Host by Stephenie Meyer, the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, and Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer will also enjoy this novel.

Don't let the title of the review throw you off. When I say "unusual," it usually means it in a good way. In the case of Varjak Paw, it is unusual because the story line is very cool, and the drawings are very, very weird and crazy. I loved this book, and if you liked the Warriors series, then Varjak Paw is a must-have for you.

This is a very good book, about Varjak Paw, a Mesopotamian Blue kitten who never has fit in with his snobby, self-centered family. One day a strange Gentleman with two black cats arrives and he seems to be dangerous. Varjak Paw is sent on a quest to find a dog to save his family. On the way he meets several other cats, some good, some bad, and he learns about the struggle to fend for yourself. He also learns the Way-a secret martial art for cats-from his ancestor Jalal in his dreams. The book is well written, with lively, detailed characters (Holly is my favorite :D) and an exciting plot. The only bad thing is that (spoiler! spoiler!) I don't understand what the Gentleman does to the cats that Vanish. Does he turn them into robots or stuff them or what? If you have read Warriors (my favorite book series-I love cats) I recommend this book, even though personally I like Warriors better. But Varjak Paw is great. Read it. And when you're done - read The Outlaw Varjak Paw!

When my grandaughter, Robyn, purchased this book for *me* with her own money, I had visions of creating a cassette for a virtual, long distance, bed-time read Unfortunately, after reading it, I think it is a bit too "dark" where it refers to the "vanishings" and the [mini-spoiler alert follows] taxiderm-esque feel to it.

Being sensitive, and a cat-lover herself, she still cries about her "lost" cat, Mork, and I think this would give her other scary thoughts about his fate.

It is a well-written, a "coming of age" adventure, and an easy read, which earns it 4 stars -- but the caution is what I wanted to speak to, and I hope it is taken with an appropriate grain of salt, among these raves. Thank you for including my .02 for free.

Varjak paw is a good book. It is good because it has a lot of emotion and action also all the charicters are cats! It is a good book if you like cats. It is kind of like the warriors series because it has a whole lot of action. I think it is a 5 star book.

One thing in the book that I liked was when Varjak had to catch the pidgeons it showed bravery because Varjak could have died.

This book was wonderful to read it was so cool, I liked it because the writter added a lot of details in this book. My best part was when varjak saved the other cats! I would love to read this book again, I thought this book was interesting to me because varjak has to save his family! I liked reading this book and I hope you will to!

In true form this book was a wonderful read, most difficult to put down.
Action all the way, as the books say you'll never view the weather as before, makes you wonder!! The next book is a must read!!

Love this whole series. This author is just great. Rachel Caine came highly recommended by Jim Buthcher, author of the Dresden Files. If you've read any of her Weather Warden series, you just have to read Book 4 to keep up with the characters and find out what happens to them.

Rachel Caine's 4th entry in the Weather Warden series is a page-turner deluxe, and a highly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. The scenes depicting Joanne's job at the TV station make this book well worth your time, even if you were to skip over the magic, romance, intrigue, and humor. One of the things that makes this such a good series is the rich cast of supporting characters, added to in this book with the addition of Joanne's sister. This is almost becoming as humorous a series as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum's series!

I have been putting off writing this review since February. Why? I didn't think I could put into words how amazing and fantastic this book truly is. It wipes the floor with the three previous Weather Warden books, which is a feat in itself as those books are among the best ever written. Windfall is even better.

But now I'm finally writing the review. Expect it to be rambling and full of me gushing about how much I love this series and this book in particular.

I love Windfall so much, I've borrowed it from the library four times in succession, and even got an overdue fine because I didn't want to take it back. The books aren't available to buy here, so I have to rely on the library. But it's worth the fines and the borrowing since the book is so damned good.

If you've read the other reviews, you'll know the basic plot - Joanne has moved back to her hometown of Florida after quitting the Wardens, has a new job as a TV weather girl at a local station, and is trying to find a solution to her problem. What's her problem? Her Djinn lover David is draining her power. In Chill Factor, he was turned Ifrit, and is slowly wasting away to full Ifrit state. On top of this, Jo has a police officer from the Las Vegas police department on her case (he wants information about his dead partner Quinn from Chill Factor), master Djinn Jonathan has given her an ultimatum - heal David or else, her older sister Sarah turns up homeless and wanting to shack up with Jo (and meets a "cute British guy" who is not what he seems), Jo is still pregnant with a Djinn child forced onto her by David and she is forced to wear stupid foam outfits at her job and is continually hit on her by her sleazy weatherman co-star.

All these plot elements add up to one fantastic story - and this is only the tip of the iceberg. This all escalates into something much larger as the book goes on. It seems like too many storylines to follow at once but it's all woven together easily and will keep you riveted.

On the character side of the things - all the favourites are still around. I was glad to see that Lewis still had a major part in this story, he's one of my favourites. I'm also glad Rahel is still in it, and I'm surprised at how much I like Jonathan (I hated him in Heat Stroke & Chill Factor). The new characters are great too - even though Jo's sister Sarah is annoying, it's hard to hate her. Cherise, Jo's sidekick in weather presenting hell is one of the best new characters introduced to the book in ages! She's cute, perky and hilarious. Her and Jo's banter lightens the more darker serious tone of the book (I'm so glad she's going to be in Firestorm!). Eamon, otherwise known as "cute British guy" (a name given to him by Jo and Cherise) is a two dimensional character who is very very interesting. What disappointed me is that Marion was left out of this installment, and that they brought Kevin back. Kevin REALLY annoys me, he's so tiresome.

Some scenes of Windfall left me in tears - especially most of the (limited unfortunately) scenes with Jo and David. I'm a David fan, so to see him transform into something horrible is just awful - their relationship is heartbreaking and one scene near the end of the book had me crying. I'm kind of worried that it's over for them now, but we'll find out in Firestorm. This book is much darker and much more serious then the previous books, and is full of action. It's non-stop, there's no boring scenes. The humour is still present - most of Jo and Cherise's adventures at their job are amusing, and the "great mall expedition of 2003" bit had me laughing.

Well, I did ramble and say how much I loved this book. I truly do. It's the best of the series (maybe to be surpassed by Firestorm?), and Rachel Caine continues to impress me with her writing skills. The Weather Wardens are my favourite book series of all time, and Windfall definitely is one of the best books I've ever read. You absolutely need to read the previous books before cracking into this one, they provide backstory for the events of this one.

I'm eagerly anticipating Firestorm (September 5th!), and more from our fiesty heroine Jo. Well done Rachel Caine!

This book is the cause of great tiredness today - I tried to stop reading it at 11pm last night when wanting to go to sleep but it had become so exciting that I couldn't sleep and had to pick it up again, finally finishing it at 1am.

Book 4 of this excellent series is slightly different in that some time has passed since the end of book 3, rather than it being a non-stop roller-coaster ride of Joanne's life. She's now working as a sidekick on a weather channel, living in a nondescript flat and not using her weather powers at all to prevent a power lobotomy. David, her seriously weakened lover/Djinn, has to spend almost all of his time in the bottle as he's draining her powers and is on the verge of becoming an Ifrit.

This story focuses rather more on Joanne and how she deals with different situations without using her powers. The usual list of characters are there - Lewis, Jonathan, Paul, Rahel, Alice, David and Ashan, but we also meet her sister, her sister's new boyfriend and a policeman who was a former partner of Quinn's.

There's a kind of subtext in this book about good and evil - yes, Quinn was evil but he also had some good. Another character who appears good turns out to be evil, but he also has some redeeming features. Although overall this series might come across as a battle between good and evil that's not always the case - yes, the wardens are manipulating the weather to prevent loss of life and damage through natural causes, but we learned in the last book that the Ma'at believe that the wardens have actually increased the problems from the weather due to their interference. We learn more about this at the end of the book as we discover the underlying reason that things are going wrong.

The romance between David and Joanne is still there in this book, as is the little surprise that David left for Joanne in the last book, but the story focuses more directly on Joanne. When the book finished I found myself breathless, waiting for what was coming next (I have several more months to wait for it to be published, unfortunately) but also slightly disappointed in the direction Rachel Caine had taken with a couple of the main characters. I shall wait and see how the follow-up pans out and if she brings these new threads into the story in a satisfactory way. Somehow I think she well, she hasn't let me down so far.

Overall this is a very good book; the dialogue is perhaps a little less sparkling than normal, but there's plenty of action and the characters keep growing, including Djinn who are so difficult to understand, Jonathan being the most impenetrable of them all. I recommend this series highly, although I think it's probably best to read them in order.

The book is AWESOME.It's a must have 4 all BtVS fans.It is from Xander's point of view and has his thoughts and feelings about what's going on. It's divided into chapters/sections-here is how it goes starting after the Acknowledgments: Tonight,Part1;Teacher's Pet(6 chapters); Tonight,Part2;Inca Mummy Girl(7 chapters); Tonight,Part3;Bewitched,Bothered,And Bewildered (7 chapters);Tonight,Part4.There are also great pictures in the center of the book.I hope I haved helped you out!

Just like on the TV show Xander delivers scarcasm and humor that only he can do. He tells 3 tales of his strange supernatural romance (Teachers Pet, Inca Mummy Girl, and Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered)and proves that Buffy isn't the only one with a twisted life. I liked reading about Xander becasue he's pretty much the typical male, except a whole lot wittier, and the occasional vampire slaying. I reccomend this to any Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or Xander fan!

Only recently have I become a buffy fan (but boy, when I fall I fall hard) This was the first buffy book I read, but it was definately worth it! Especially the last story Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered made me laugh so much I have the stiches to prove it. This book made me stop thinking Xander was boring. Definately a must to read for any buffy fan!

In order to understand the entire buffy novels,one needs to understand Xander.This book details probably the most intimate things anyone will be able to get with the character.From his feelings for his best friend Willow to chrush unfulfilled Buffy,dating and romance in Sunnydale is truly humerous.....for Xander it's the most harzardous thing to do. Full of laughs and deep thought,to understand buffy,you need to understand why she does'nt just crumple from the pressure of slaying. Because Xander will always be there...laughing at the world.

This book is a novelization of three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first Teacher's Pet is a homage to the big bug movies of the late fifties. Inca Mummy Girl revives the curse of the mummy and Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered explores the magic of love. In each story Xander falls in love with dire consequences. His heart is pure and his intentions good but the results are both frightening and humorous. I recommend this to all Xander fans. It could be a dating manual for the new century.

Agnes Pflumm and The Stonecreek Science Fair is a phenomonal book! This book helped me learn the scientific method through a rap. After I learned the scientific method, my science fair project became a lot easier. This book also gave me some ideas for another science fair project. I think this book also helped my other classmates with their science fair projects. Everyone on the earth should read this book!

Agnes Pflumm made me like science so much more! I had already loved ELA --it's my favorite subject! It helped me improve on my science fair. It helped me feel myself with more confedince than I already had! I am a very friendly person, but it helped to improve my friendship so much more!!I loved the Agnes Pflumm and The Stonecreek Science Fair Book!!!

When I read that book it made me think of a real science fair. Your book is unbelievable to read because it has so much figurative language. You use so much feeling in all of your books. I want to know what the next book is going to be called by you? This book is so funny and it makes me laugh. I hope you have a great time reading my review. The book has a great title and a great cover. I have another question to ask you: Did you have any help writing this book?

Agnes Pflumm helped me appreciate science because it made it seem fun. It also helped me with my science project because it went through the steps of the scientific method in an easy and fun way. This is a great book if you love science and even if you don't. This book also helped me get along with others by sharing ideas. I would suggest this book to anyone, it's the greatest book ever.

Agnes Pflumm helped me appreciate science because it made it seem fun. It also helped me with my science project because it went through the steps of the scientific method in an easy and fun way. This is a great book if you love science and even if you don't. This book also helped me get along with others by sharing ideas. I would suggest this book to anyone, it's the greatest book ever.

I love fact-based works of fiction like this. The whole time I was being entertained by an adventure involving fast boats, Hollywood Celebrities and tropical locations, I was also introduced to Mayan Archeology, dolphin research and theories about the year 2012.

I highly recommend this book to people who consider themselves on a spiritual journey. The Aquarians is a novel filled with hope for the future... a future that we can co-create for ourselves and this planet!

-Mike

The Aquarians reasonated so deeply within my soul. Every fiber of my being was on fire. From the moment Rebecca observed the miracle of the dolphins with the autistic boy, I was spellbound. Completing reading the book within a matter of hours over the course of two days, I read its' pages up to the last minute of heading out the door to commitments because it was so riviting.

Eric Rankin may categorize this exceptional book as fiction, however, it is to the phenomenal Mayans and their December 21, 2012 calendar what the Da Vinci Code was to the Holy Grail. Every chapter I read was more breathtaking than the previous.

Every child, youth, and adult needs to read this book. The message/meaning will take your heart/soul to a different vibrational frequency. It will inspire you with hope, with healing, with an abundance of love and light. You will gasp with the magnitude of knowledge and spiritual understanding from within its 193 pages....a wealth of wisdom awaits you.

This will become a movie....it will become mainstream conversation....it will be known throughout Mother Gaia and change our World....I can feel this in every fiber of my soul/being.

Thank you Eric Rankin for spreading hope to the masses and raising the consciousness of our ascension.

Are you ready for the year 2012? This question is presented to the reader in The Aquarians, a fiction novel by Southern California author, Eric Rankin. He credits many local marine-oriented establishments and scientists as sources of his research for this riveting novel that lends intrigue and credibility to the storyline. Rankin himself has traveled around the world studying and swimming with dolphins, both wild and tame. The novel is about how a southern California TV celebrity is thrust into an ever-expanding mystery of coincidence and discovery. He is about to learn how his professional involvement with a US Naval officer, dolphin trainer and a marine scientist at Sea World in San Diego relates to dolphins, an ancient Mayan prophecy and the very fate of humanity. Together, they learn that the Mayan calendar--the most incredibly accurate time-keeping device ever created--predicts that time as we know it will cease to exist on December 21st, 2012 at 11:11. What comes into question during their adventure is the literal definition of the end of time. Were the Mayans envisioning an apocalyptic nightmare, or did they foresee a hopeful new beginning for humanity? The Aquarians answers this question by incorporating scientific fact, respected theory and a true phenomenon currently sweeping the globe into an enlightening work of fiction with an attractive, mysterious cover to really pull you into the book.
Kathy DeSantis, Reviewer for Awareness Magazine (May/June 08 issue)

This book really allowed me to center on the realities of the Mayan calendar and the influence it has on the lives of all of us.

December 21, 2012 is a date that we all need to come to terms with, and as is revealed in this fast-moving and compassionate novel, we are the ones who will determine the true of meaning of the end of the calendar.

Awesome book - have recommended it to all of my friends. Check it out - you won't regret it.

Peace out.

BW

I loved this book!! Did I say, I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was unique, interesting and a page turner. I never read anything like it and that's why I think I picked it up. After reading a few pages, I could not put it down. There are a few things going on, but the author kept it simple but detailed. The ending was GREAT!!! I totally recommend this book. My book club will enjoy this one!!

the entire series is awesome, and not just for kids. i liked the first one and the third one the best. went to see Eoin Colfer at a book signing and he is awesome too. i read all his works. try the Supernaturalist.

This series are a joy to read and pass on to the grandchildren. The storyline keeps ones interest to the very end. When a new book arrives it is a joy to both myself and grandchildren.

The Artemis Fowl series are indeed great, showing a wonderful scheming and wit in order to conclude each adventure. Fowl is certainly a criminal mastermind, but i like the way his character develops thoughout the series, as well as the development of cap. Short.The first 3 books are necessary to enjoy the whole series.

This is an excellent book. I like since it has a good detailed story line but is not so detailed it is 700 pages long. It is also is a more interesting read then Harry Potter,ETC... since he (Artemis) relys on a plan instead of magic. It is also a good book since it makes for intersting series.

This collection is books 1-3. All are action filled and wonderful. Both adults and children love them. I can't wait for the last AF book!

I bought this book with "The King's Stilts" (see my review). I think this is one of the best kids' books ever, and my kids loved it when they were small. It was a sad day when our record of it got buckled by being left in the sun. Unavailable as a book when my kids were little, this is a delightful story with a typical Dr Seuss moral ending - change is not always for the best and novelty is fraught with peril. Get it for your kids, or your grandkids - they will love it, just as I, my kids, and my grandkids do!

This book was one of my all-time favorites when I was a kid! It was so exciting... very mysterious and magical. And full of goo! What kid doesn't love goo? Every kid needs a book like this.

An excellent item and although the cost to get it here quickly was expensive, it was worth it. Thank you

I had loved the book as a child myself. So I bought it for my neice. We read it together and she loves it as well. I haven't met a child (or adult) that doesn't like Dr. Seuss!

This was a gift for my niece. The adults in the room enjoyed it as much as she did.

I used to read Bony Legs when I was little. I was so excited when I saw it on Amazon. It's a silly story about a girl named Sasha and a witch who wants to eat her...good verses evil. Sasha helps some creatures along the way, and it turn, they help her escape the evil witch.
It's a quick read and it's lots of fun!

I have purchased this book for my neices usually around Halloween time.
It is a book not many have heard of, but always enjoy.

Tracy

This book by the Magic School Bus author is really fun to read. It is a russian fairy tale of a witch named Bony Legs who likes to eat children. The story is about a little girl who escapes because of all the good deeds she has done to help others -- a cat, a dog and a gate. My kids (5 and 3 years) really enjoyed it.

My four year old son REALLY enjoys this book. It's a fun read and reinforces the value of being kind to others. It's also a great introduction into Russian folklore.

I wouldn't normally bother to add a review when so many others have already written reviews, but I do have some noteworthy information for people considering buying this book. I'm a teacher advisor for a large public school program serving kids in grades K-12 who are out of regular school due to medical conditions. I have to tell you--this book is a HIT! It's an easy reader, but it's not babyish at all. I've had kids in grades K-8 like it, including middle school kids who are poor readers (often for ESL reasons). The story is just scary enough to be intriguing, but it has a happy ending; there's also an excellent theme of how kindness pays and a fantastic chase scene at the end. As a fairy tale connoisseur, I'm convinced that Baba Yaga--from the Russian tradition--is THE coolest, scariest witch ever. (For a longer variation of this story, see Baba Yaga and Vasilissa the Brave, retold by Marianna Mayer and illustrated by K.Y. Craft.) I only wish there were more stories told this simply and effectively, with this kind of broad appeal.