Games Books

Great book if you ever wanted to know how and where the names of some of the most popular booze came from. ie. tanqurey, capn morgans, JD, Vermouth, ect

This is a great book especially for those of us in the industry; i.e. THE BARTENDERS! If you are always looking for trivia to present to your guests at the bar then buy this book and hit them with some fun facts about what they are drinking. I always wondered why BEEFEATER gin got that name and how the character on the label came to be called a "Beefeater".
The book is wriiten in down to earth lingo without a lot of tech talk. It is a thoroughly entertaining addition to a mixologists' reference library.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found the contents informative and entertaining. I have expanded my liquor cabinet greatly due to reading this book. In fact, it made me want to run out and buy a bottle of Booker's at 1:00am on a work night. This book is an excellent way to learn more about the origins of your favorite spirits.

What a great read. Educational, humorus and really informative. Sometimes with the PR, you aren't always sure what's what, but Baime gives you all the good stuff. I ended up purchasing 5 copies for gifts for the holidays.

Take equal parts history, humor, and mixology. Shake well and pour liberally into a slim paperback. The result is "Big Shots: The Men Behind the Booze" by magazine editor A.J. Baime. More than just another bartending book, "Big Shots" details the lives of colorful characters such as Jim Beam, Jack Daniel, and Johnnie Walker, whose 19th-century exploits laid the foundations for today's corporate behemoths.
According to research by Adams Beverage Group, Americans consumed 153 million cases of distilled spirits in 2002. Yet few know the history behind their favorite drinks. Despite barroom legend, the Martini evolved from an 1880s concoction invented in Martinez, California. The French monk Dom Perignon didn't discover bubbly wine, he just made it popular. True tequila never has a worm.
Baime reveals the liquor industry's dirty little secrets (Smirnoff brand vodka is actually as American as apple pie) and answers some practical drinking questions (Just what the heck is vermouth anyway?). He also offers little-known nuggets of knowledge, some of which are surprising (Jack Daniel began making whiskey at the tender age of nine), others less so (Captain Morgan was a murderer and a rapist who drank himself to death). The book's snappy narrative has an irreverent, lighthearted tone that betrays Baime's editorial background with magazines such as "Maxim" and "Playboy."
The impact of Prohibition on the liquor industry is a recurring theme, and stories of moonshiners and rumrunners abound. When the Eighteenth Amendment was finally repealed in 1933, American distillers had to play catch up with their Canadian and European counterparts, who for a decade had quietly grown rich encouraging the smuggling of their products. A British gin maker even used packaging designed to float, so if a few cases "accidentally" fell overboard near the American coastline, they could be easily recovered by thirsty Yanks. Baime explains that thanks in part to this little trick, Tanqueray is still the bestselling gin in the U.S. today.
"Big Shots" is not a comprehensive bartender's guide. Drink ingredients are listed as a sidebar only when relevant to the main text. Differences in related liquors, such as Irish whiskey versus Scotch whiskey, are clarified for the social drinker. The author also gives a crash course on cryptic liquor terminology, such as the strange markings found on cognac bottles.
Even teetotalers will appreciate this clever little book. After all, where else can you find corporate history sharing the page with a recipe for Irish Coffee?

The Everlasting is a great game for both beginning roleplayers and those playing since time began. There is not much you can't do with this game, and you can literally use it for many different kinds of gaming adventures from the medival dungeon crawl to a modern day war with a group of fallen angels. This game literally has everything.

I discovered The Everlasting back when it first came out. Back then, they were great, and I was sad to see the game fold. A few years ago, the game came back, and that was joyous news, but something subtle was missing: the books were still in black and white while most of the big games had switched over to color.

This is fantastic. The game is excellent, the book is beautifull, and the layout is a big improvement. Sample characters have been included and the magick rules are greatly expanded. If you like gaming, get this book. If you like mythology, get this book. If you like modern fantasy or horror, get this book. In general, get this book . . . even if you have the old black and white version, get this book!

The Book of the Unliving, Color Edition, is, as the name implies, a revamp of an earlier book put out by Visionary Entertainment Studios.

The full pictures utilize an etheral style that fully compliments the content of the book. I was especially enchanted with the pictures in the Ghul section, as they manage to be both horrifying and strangely beautiful.

The content is on par, if not better, than the art. The book's set in the modern era. Magic is every where, but hidden from the eyes of mortals, save for a few Fantasts and Magicians. In this world there are the eldritch, the magical races of the world. The Book of the Unliving details the Vampires (Immortal blood-suckers that everyone should be familiar with), Ghuls (Mortals who drank Annecro and earned immortality as zombie like creatures who must feed on the flesh of dead humans or face physical and mental degeneration), Revenants (Dead souls who returned from the grave and possessed another's body), Dead Souls (Ghost's who, for whatever reason, do not rest quietly), and Re-animates (think Frankenstein's monster), as well providing barebones statistics for 10 other Eldritch (which are more thoroughly explored in the other three core books).

Like the other Foundation books of the Everlasting series, the Book of the Unliving can stand on its own, having rules (With variations for freeform, dice, or card draw methods of play), advice for GMs (Or DMs, Or STs, as you prefer), supernatural powers for the various undead, information on the setting, and a flexible magic system (Fans of the Everlasting system will no doubt rejoice at the all new break down of magickal effects by category and magnitude).

This is an all around excellent RPG and should be in any modern fantast fan's collection.

For years the "World of Darkness" has dominated the market in terms of Urban Fantasy but Everlasting, the new contender has everything that it takes to topple that Throne, and more.

I found the rule system light and flexible but still with enough meat to give you a solid idea about your character and what he can do.

The system itself offers several dice and character creation systems, a card based (Tarot or other) system and also instructions for gameing without a game master.

Included is also a way to directly reward or punish players for their actions and also personal Ethos, Beliefs ,Outlooks, Passions and Relations to further define the Character.

The overall Background is a world in between our "normal" World, called the "Reverie"(along with several other Planes of Existance) where supernatural beings of all kind and color dwell and carry out age old conflicts among each other. What appears to us a spooky abandoned house might be a huge Victorian Manor, the palace like dwelling place of a Revenant in the Reverie, a small patch of forest to us is a primeval forest where creatures straight from a fairytale live...

Each of the four foundation books provides an entirely different tone of play, with a set of supernatural creatures described in detail, magic paths and planes of existence that belong to the topic the book aims at.

All the Beings from the other Foundation Books are described
with their basic traits, enough to give the Gamemaster an idea how to describe and play those beings.

The Book of the Unliving introduces you to the dark, bleak, "gothic" world of all things Undead:

Vampires (Predators out for blood who can run the whole range from the beastial to the smooth and refined upper crust "party animal") and many of their "Bloodlines"

Revenants (ghosts that one way or another made their way back from the afterlife by takeing over bodies, living or dead, they sustain themself by draining the life force of others, ageing mortals, withering plants...)

Dead Souls (Spirits of the Dead,Ghosts) and the societies they created in the Underworld

Ghuls (people that drank from an ancient elixir that provided them with both, immortality and a decaying body and/or soul, who must feed on raw flesh to keep their bodies from Degenerating) dwelling in Tunnels and Crypts, living their unlives as outcasts even among the other supernatural beings.

Reanimates (Artifical Beings, crafted from Bodyparts, a fusion of dead flesh and metal, or entirely inorganic like Clay or Stone)

The plane of existence described (beside the Reverie) in this Book is the Underworld, dwelling place of the Dead Souls, with its most important places, rules and basic politics.

To sum it up:
With about 20 years of role playing experience under my belt I am delighted by the style of The Everlasting. The system supports many tastes, rule and background wise, without being too thin on one and too thick on the other. I can only recommend that you give it a try with the foundation book that most suits your taste.

When I received this book in the mail, I was astonished. The artwork alone elevates this product above any of the new World of Darkness material. But the approach to roleplaying is genuinely innovative.

The rules system is either card/tarot based or dice based (which is presented side by side rather than stuck at the back of the book like a forgotten step child).

The presentation and layout is fabulous. The artwork is breathtakingly dark and atmospheric, and the setting is what I've come to expect from modern horror/fantasy: grounded in real world beliefs. As opposed to the attempts made in the new World of Darkness, it has much greater strength IMO.

In addition, the messageboard at Visionary Entertainment is quite active with the publishers interacting with fans. I have since come to find out this is the way it has ALWAYS been. That kind of product support is heartfelt and always useful. This game, in it's first edition, so inspired one fan that he bought the company and has been hard at work helping produce more material.

Highly recommended!

Finally, the circle is complete. After the formative years when RPGs were simple and young, thru the past few years of more, more, more, which included money and rules. Full circle...this is a simple fun game, loaded with freedom and nostalgia. Thank you Troll Lords!

I can only echo what the other reviews here have said... this game is a well done rules light version of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons. This system lets you create a character and be off on your first adventure in just minutes -- no cumbersome combat system to worry about, no feats and skills, etc... just lots of fun old school gaming. Definitely worth buying if you're interested in a flexible, fast game. Buy the books and the modules, you won't be disappointed.

This is beautiful. Buy flowers for your wife. Take your kids out for ice cream. Howl for joy. This is the true successor to AD&D.

And if you're too young to remember, come feel the kiss of what it was like to roll up your first Dwarven fighter. Feel what it was like to realize that here is the magical world of heroes of which you've always dreamed.

This is exactly the system I was looking for... after buying many Star Wars RPG books from Wizards of the Coast, and becoming completely frustrated with the taxing rules & combat system. I realized that when I had gotten the itch to get back into a Fantasy RPG, that D&D 3.5e (that uses the same systems as Star Wars pretty much), wasn't going to cut it. I thought about going old school back to the original D&D Boxed Sets... Remember The Red Dragon Box Set? But that was really taking a step back in many ways. Then I found out about Castles & Crusades. Oh glorious day... it takes advantage of the unified and logical d20 dice element, but it takes out all the extra stuff that burdens down the D&D 3.5e system. What you are left with is a really clean system, that gives you enough rules to guide the game and play it fair and fun, but let's the DM or Castle Keeper as they call it, really run the show with very little need to ever slow down and check rules in the book to run the game. Heck... you don't even need miniatures to run combat... let your games come alive and use your imagination the way RPG's were meant to be! I'm free... I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

I began gaming in 1987 on Star Frontiers by TSR. I soon got into AD&D 1st/2nd edition and played them until 1997. Career, etc... took over and I didn't actively game again until early 2006. I found some guys at work who wanted to get into it, so I went to the bookstore and found that a fascinating new version of D&D (3.5) had come out and I quickly bought a ton of the books. A couple of months into playing, something just didn't seem right. The game seemed to be too much of a tactical board game... it just didn't feel like the AD&D I remembered playing years before. Looking around the web, I discovered that many other people felt the same way and I stumbled onto C&C very recently. I have since bought the Player's Handbook as well as Monsters and Treasure. This is it! This is the something that was missing. It takes roleplaying back to it's roots and throws out the boardgame feel. Playing C&C is just like the good old days. I can't believe how a simple, elegant system like SIEGE can replace 50 million skills and feats, but it does so brilliantly. This game runs like AD&D, but takes advantage of the positive side of d20 (unified mechanic). I find it superior to the new D&D in every way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

This book is your one stop shop for all the Battletech rules. They ommited the construction rules, but if you have like me several different versions already, that isnt a problem at all.
Even the fiction included was of a high level.

I have always enjoyed large menacing mechanical monsters, so Battletech is right up my alley. I remember buying the classic game before it was "classic." I enjoyed the game then and I enjoy it now. It is good to finally see the rules in one volume instead of spread out over several overpriced paperbacks. Hats off to WizKids for breathing life back into this classic giant robot battle game.

The Collector's Guide to Ideal Dolls ID & Values 2nd ED by Judith Izen is another great book by this author. I have been looking for information on a Miss Revlon doll for years and I opened the box and right on the cover is the information I have been looking for. I am thrilled! Any doll collector or lover would love this book. Thanks Judy for another great job! Very fast shipping and a signed copy, it doesn't get any better than this!

The majority of the pages in this 350-page book are loaded with color photos and information on the Ideal dolls manufactured from 1907 up through the 1980s. Most dolls are pictured in their original outfits and some photos are packages of the original outfits. Also included are photos of ads for specific dolls. The book starts with a short history of the Ideal Toy Co., while the back of the book gives more information on issue dates, characteristics, and current prices.

This book is a must have for those doll collectors that want to restore a doll to original condition.

Enjoyed this book and also the prompt manner in which it was delivered to me by userbro128. It was a used book and let me tell you it did not look used at all. Highly recommend the seller and the book to any one intrested.

I truly recommend this book, not merely for finding out your Ideal doll's monetary value, but more as a walk down memory lane. Being 56 years old, I remember growing up with many of Ideal's dolls. I especially enjoyed the brief mention of the Snuggles' doll and rocking horse(which many books on dolls leave out). So, if you are tired of reading dribble..., then snuggle up with this pictorial walk down memory lane.

Fabulous color pictures of all the dolls in the book- tons of dolls you will recognize and some you won't. Also features the manufacture marks you will find on dolls to identify them. Most of the dolls are shown in original outfits- some with original packaging and a small percentage are shown redressed. Complete with price guide.

This resource help me alot with my preschool lesson plans. I can fine any activity for the theme of the week.

I have a 7 year old that I homeschool and was looking for something for my 3 year old. I have been so pleased with this purchase. Both my 7 and 3 year old have so much fun doing the activities that I ordered a copy for a friend. Her and her family are also having a blast with the book. Every one with small children should have a copy of this book on hand. I wish I'd had it years ago!

fantastic resource. very practical, with an abundance of ideas. offers very useful and applicable activitities, also includes an extensive selection of songs, poems, stories to use within the early childhood classroom. i am confident that i can use this resource for many years to come.

This book is a great resource to have in any childcare center. This book provides weekly themes that are broken down into every center. You will have everything you need to go along with these themes.

I have taught five and six year olds for years. This year I'll be working with four year olds. I bought about a dozen books to help with my programming but this really is the only book I needed to buy. It's FANTASTIC! It tells you what to do for morning circle, story ideas, music and movement ideas, a range of learning centres that cater for the preferred learning styles of the children and then ideas for reflection in the closing circle. It does all this on hundreds of themes and then gives assessment ideas too. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down until the last page. The story and the players just gripped me an wouldnt let go. Too bad Justine Dare doesn't write more like this kind of book. I'm a big fan from now on (Thriller/Romance). Hopefully will get more......

This is the first time I've ever felt it necessary to review a book I've read. Justine Dare has written it so well, that it was totally captivating from the first page to the last. Remember how a soap opera's last scene is made so intense, that you just have to see it the next day to see what happened? This is how Justine's chapters end. I couldn't put the book down until finished reading it. And I will read it again. It was that good :) I graciously thank Amazon for referring it to me.

Lake, the Gray Wolf of Dare's WOLF pack, a covert ops group, returns to his home town. Hunting him is one of the villans from DANGEROUS GROUND, but Lake has to face some old demons before he can take care of the new ones. The town of Jewel, CO is holding a grudge for a childhood mistake, and only newcomer, the owner of a local art gallery sees past the outside, with the help of his emotional paintings. This is an intese book, and an edgey thriller, with some very interesting characters. A must-read for suspense fans.

I could not put this book down. The twist at the end was totally unexpected. I liked the fact that the characters didn't fight too long and hard about their feelings for each other. This book is definately a keeper!!

Once again, Justine Dare has taken a tormented hero and given him another chance at love. This book deals with the Gray Wolf of the Wolf Pack -- and his story is completely absorbing. What's really nice too are the heroine's self-reliance and independence, and a sweet love story as a second plot line. You care about these people -- and you understand them completely. It's what I enjoy most about JD's writing.

Just like the title said,this was truly a great book!The Hardys and Nancy,George,and Bess(Nancys two best friends,George is a girl)go to L.A. to solve a case.George likes this guy named Ragnar (what kind of name is that?!!I wonder why his mom named him that)and he and his sister are in danger.They solve the case with a litte jealousybfrom Ned.He and Nancy work it out as usual.But it was still a pretty good book.One of Keene's greatest!

THIS BOOK IS SO COOL. IT HAS ALOT OF NANCY/FRANK STUFF & NED IS IN IT THOUGH. I NEVER COULD HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT MYSTERY. NED AND NANCY GET INTO A SORT-OF ARGUMENT AND NED GETS MAD. AND THE MYSTERY CLUES ARE REALLY COOL. ITS A GREAT BOOK. IT WAS THE FIST IN THE SERIES I GOT TO READ. ITS MY FAVORITE. I RECOMEND IT TO ALL WHO IS A FAN OF NANCY DREW.

This is one great book! it was intruiging and suspenseful. It is one of the best books! This story has all the right points to a great mystery. There is romance between frank and nancy. Although stuiped ned comes into the story. You never no what is going to happen I recommend this book!

i waited 5 years before i finally managed to get a hold of this book and i wasn't disappointed. its got a great mystery and lots of nancy/frank stuff, cute jokes and things. the mystery isn't too obvious-some you can figure out before the end and except for the fact that stupid ned was in it i have no complaints.i definately recommend this to any nancy drew and hardy boys fan

I really like Nancy Drew books, but as I got older, I wanted more romance worked into the mystery as well. When I read Dangerous Games, that wish was granted. It's a really, really, good book, if you like a little romance and mysteries. This book is close to number 1 on my favorite list, and I hope you get the chance to read it!

It startd out as just another run-away investigation. A pretty Paiute girl, sick of her life on the reservation, heads to Hollywood hoping to make it rich in the sex trade. Private detective Jack Lifey won't make her go home to the abuse she faced there, but he does want to talk to her, make sure she's following her own plans.

The invetigation is only one of Jack's problems. His daughter is shot in a drive-by shooting, his girlfriend police detective Gloria Ramirez is havin problems with their relationship and Jack can't seem to get away with his impossible wish to save everyone, even if they don't want to be saved.

Author John Shannon writes a moving tale that goes far beyond a simple mystery. Jack Lifey is a perfect everyman, but also a man who maintains his hope no matter what. The Los Angeles setting comes to life, whether Jack is patrolling the lowest sewers of the porn business or visiting the homes of the elite in Malibu or nearby Rancho Mirage. Fans of Jack Lifey will want to grab DANGEROUS GAME fast. If you're new to John Shannon, you're in for a treat

Whether you're someone who has followed Jack Liffey from his first appearance in print, or a lucky reader who just found this mystery series, you are sure to become a lasting fan. John Shannon brings this character to life with creative writing excellence. Readers are not only caught up in the life and loves of Jack Liffey and his daughter, Maeve, but are colorfully transported in each John Shannon novel through the historic streets of the greater Los Angeles area. This latest John Shannon thriller, "Dangerous Games," keeps the reader emotionally involved from the first chapter through to the exciting end of the read. Don't miss this book. It is John Shannon's best, so far.

First and foremost, Shannon's "Dangerous Games" is a good story well told. The relationships among the ongoing cast of characters continue to unfold around a plot that accelerates to a satisfying conclusion.

Equally importantly, Shannon captures the complexity and contradictions of Los Angeles in a way few writers have. He sees what an ugly and shallow place it can be, and yet still clearly loves it. He recognizes what a magnet it is to the rootless, yet is grounded in its history. He understands what a sprawling megalopolis this place is, yet knows that most of us live in neighborhoods, each with its own character. And, he understands the effects the climate and topography have on our lives. The final scenes, for example, are set in the middle of a Santa Ana condition, so that the edgy danger of the winds and even the color and light in the sky almost become characters themselves.

A good story with a strong sense of place. If you're in L.A. read it before October, when the Santa Anas kick in.

John Shannon's books just keep getting better and better. He's a writer who is not afraid to walk around on the wild side of the brain.

Some books are like candy: you read them, find them delicious, and then hope they didn't leave you too fat or too lame.

Other books are like haggis: they're interesting and intriguing. You like to read about them and you would have liked to have experienced them yourself so you could tell people about them, but when you actually get one in front of you, you don't really want to taste it. Get this thing away from me!

Shannon's books are like a good pastrami sandwich on rye: complex, fun to read, delicious. They fill your brain with wonderful flavors, and--when you are done--you can argue endlessly with your friends about whether this one was as good as the last one and about whether there is a better one out there somewhere or not.

This is a great book. All the books in this series are excellent. They'll keep you pasted to your couch for sure. And they will engage your brain, not just vaguely pass through it as so many mysteries do. All I can say is order one, let the mailman bring it to your table, and sit back and enjoy. I don't recommend you put mustard on it...but to each her own.

This has to be the best book I have read in years. the dialogue is so real you would think you were standing on the corner of Soto and Brooklyn talking to the people that hang out there. I started this and could not put it down until I finished. Shannon is getting better and better.

it covers a wide varity og game and has some interesting ideas

This book has realy been a great help for my husband. It gives him a quicker technic for cutting wild game meat. The book was received in great shape. Thank you very much.

When I came home there was a dead deer on my living room table (yes I was shocked because it didn't belong there) and my husband was looking at it holding a knife. He didn't look so sure what to do. I got this book from the library which explains in very detailed pictures how to "disect" the animal. It worked so great I bought him the book for xmas and we have used it several times for deer, turkey and the great recipes.

The book contains excellent photography making it most helpful; the problem I found with it however was the example shown for field dressing the deer. In my opinion opening the carcass from chin all the way through the crotch area is absolutely wrong. A much better way is discussed in the book entitled, "Butchering Deer" by John Weiss.
Dressing and cooking wild game is an excellent book in all other aspects and would have rated five stars if this area was correct.

One of the most comprehensive books I've ever owned on the subject. This book covers everything from how to sharpen a knife to skinning and butchering deer, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, quail, and coon. There are also several recipes in the back for each of these animals. Good pics, good information, good book.