Games Books

In addition to Tim Brisko's incredible photography, Matt Alt and Robert Duban provide a brief history of Japanese toys that explains how these toys fit into the grand scheme of things. Recommended!

I bought this book for my husband because he's obsessed with transforming robots. He squealed when he read it. The photography is wonderful and it is like a history book for the ultimate transforming robot fan.

Hi, this is hubby James writing this review...

I just got SUPER #1 ROBOT and it totally rocks. As much as I thought I knew about J-bots, this really showed how much I didn't know. Even if you are well-versed in "super robots" and anime mecha, expect to be surprised by some really far-out machines you've never seen, from shows you've never heard of (but wish you had)!

The photos are wonderful, shot from a proper low perspective, giving these tiny giants their respect. They look like huge works of art here, which in some ways, they truly are. Great work! I am looking forward to Alt's next book very eagerly.

It's about time an American book in english came out on this subject, authored by people who know what they're talking about and thankfully NOT including tin and wind-up robots from the 60s and earlier. This little paperback is what chogokin collectors would humorously refer to as "robot porn." It's a glossy, high-quality picture book that causes salivation and drooling with the turn of every page. Unfortunately it is by no means a complete encyclopedic manual for all toys diecast during the 70s and 80s, but that can't be expected, considering such an undertaking would produce a book (or morelike a series of books) far heftier than this little paperback. Since that expectation is unreasonable, it is entirely forgivable since this little tome covers quite a chunk of the chogokin, vinyl and plastic market, and a nice variety, as well.

First off the book construction is sweet - small and easily handled, it's like a mini coffeetable book with a glossy softcover. I wasn't expecting such a nicely made little book. There is minimal chitchat and all the talent is poured into the photography of the most mint-looking chogokin robots I have ever seen. I think the thing that I was most tickled about was there was a picture of a mint Tetsujin 28 in the front of the book, and a beat up, played-with, broken and paintchipped version of the same robot in the back of the book. The wear on the used robot shows more as a sign of how much that toy was loved, not abused, and anyone who loves collecting chogokin, I think, would get the same tingly warm feeling looking at that beat Tetsujin 28 as the shiny minty one.

There are a few vinyl robots included in the line-up, and I could think of quite a few chogokin that were left out that could've taken up the pages of the vinyls, as I'm not much of a vinyl collector myself; vinyls are a whole other collector market and I can see why they were included in the book, but then again, I would've preferred that they weren't. Vinyls were usually monsters, but the ones that depict robots were the ones focussed on. All in all they don't take up a lot of space. Also the book is an almost even mix between the comical/humorous chogokin like Robocon and Robodachi and the more serious robot gladiators and team robots like the Godaikins; again these are (more or less) two different collector markets and not everyone collects both. As well, there are some Giant Machinders included, which is not even a scratch on the surface for them since there are quite literally hundreds if not more to collect in that category, but this book is really not meant to be a catalogued record of every robot ever made. Even though one will be able to think of some robots that were left out, all the major ones were included. The only complaint I have is that a lot of them are shown not holding a weapon, when many of them are known for their specific or characteristic weapon(s). Some are shown with a weapon, like Garbin, but too many are just robots standing weaponless. Again, though, this book isn't meant to be an official catalogue, so don't expect accessories to be featured.

If you want lists and cataloging of every robot ever made during the 70s and 80s, there are plenty of online sites that attempt to accomplish such a massive undertaking. But if you want to flip through a nice hefty little book just to get the tingly warm feeling of joy gazing upon the robots of your childhood, this book is totally worth it. It's a little window peephole into the past, but man is it worth peeping.

My love affair with Japanese robots began with the Transformer toys of the 1980's...those generation one beauties that were at least part die-cast metal compared to the plastic versions of today. But as a collector my obsession grew once I found out there were Japanese Transformers that were never released here in the states, or were variations on the American versions such Twin Cast a re-colored version of Blaster which cold hold two of the mini-cassettes instead of one, or Sound Blaster which was an awesome black repaint of Soundwave. But as I started to get into collecting these Japanese versions I started finding other interesting toys...Macross I had been aware of for some time, mostly as model kits. And I knew that Takara had licensed a version of the transforming Valkyrie that would be called Jetfire. But then I discovered Popy, Bullmark, and Takatoku, among others and began learning about Mazinger and the Jumbo Machinders and so many others.

While long time collectors may know all the history that "Super #1 Robot" relates, less knowledgeable collectors will certainly find it valuable. The book spans the history from 1972 to the early 80's and covering the first Popy toys right up to Bandai's Valkyries. These toys first started appearing on American toy store shelves in the mid-1970's but under new names with new background stories created for them. We knew them as Shogun Warriors or Micronauts. The book traces the history of Japanese robot toys which began to take off after WWII as weapons factories were re-tooled to make toys. Popy, a division of Bandai, would introduce the first Chogokin Mazinger Z toy in 1974. Made almost entirely of hefty die-cast metal, with bright enamel paints and real firing missiles and fists, they took Japan by storm. By 1977 there were over a dozen giant robot shows on Japanese TV and over two dozen makers of toys.

The book provides a brief history on the main players such as Popy, Bullmark, Ark, Takatoku, and Takara. Popy introduced the Jumbo Machinder in 1973. Standing two feet tall and made of sturdy polyethylene these giant toys would become Shogun Warriors in the states, complete with a Saturday morning cartoon and comic book from Marvel Comics. But the real robot craze would begin a few years later with Takara's Diaclone series of transforming vehicles which would eventually make their way to our shores as the Transformers.

Some 250 pages of full color photos trace the history of these robot toys from 1972 to 1982, just before the arrival of the Transformers. The photography by Tim Brisko is absolutely stunning and is worth the price of the book alone. Each photo has the toy name and number and the manufacturer. So what's pictured? Here's just a brief list: Getter 1 Chogokin, Great Mazinger, Robocon, Robo Meka, Black Raideen, Getter Ryger, Robo X, Gakeen, Dangard A, Buildplan Daikengo, Gokai Dragon, Tetsujin 28, GoLion, Royal Comination Daiojya, Combat Armor Dougram, VF-1F Super Valkyrie, and the Destroid Tomahawk.

This is simply a fabulous book and one that needs to be in the collection of any die-hard Japanese robot collector or fan!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

It's really about the "Bubble Thing". The book by itself is interesting, with lots of pictures, descriptions and history but you really have to get the "Bubble Thing". I'm in the business of (very) fun camps for children and although when I first had the thought of including a program on bubbles there were those who suggested it wouldn't work, wrong (Big Time Wrong). Kids love it. If you have children you won't regret investing in the "Bubble Thing", I don't.

I'm over 50 years old and, while visiting my Mother, I started playing with some bubble making toys she had left out for the kids. Bored, I started making some make-shift bubble wands out of coat hangers to see how big a bubble I could make. It was a lot of fun but, because of the bubble solution, I was limited to bubbles of about a foot in diameter.

I went on line to try and search out some "secret" bubble solution formulas and was eventually directed to "The Bubble Thing" book. The price was right so I bought it. I did not know at the time that it came with a "Bubble Thing". My God!...I was making these HUGE bubbles in my living room, four and five feet across before my wife walked in and stopped me. (She's not my boss or anything. I'm the Boss in my home, PERIOD!...I know this because she said I could be!)

Anyway, everywhere I go with my "Bubble Thing", I'm the undisputed center of attention. Kids and Big Kids, like me, go nuts over this thing! It's amazing and incredibly fun. I've had to order two more books so that I don't go without everytime it's "borrowed" by my neighbors and friends...you know, to show their kids. ;)

This book is the best ten bucks you'll ever spend! Kudo's to it's author and inventor of the "Bubble Thing"! If you were to get paid a buck for every smile or shriek of laughter and delight created by your invention, Bill Gates would have to leave town.

Many thanks,

Jerry

John Cassidy and David Stein did a great job on this book and the "Bubblething" that come with the book. I have a little girl who loves bubbles and this book and toy have been great fun. The truth be known I am having as much fun blowing these HUGE bubbles as she is chasing them down and popping them. I should warn you though all the kids on the block will be stopping by asking you to blow bubbles for them.

This book, the Unbelievable Bubble Book, is about a toy that produces the biggest soap blown, amateur-created, bubbles in the world.

After the instructions on how to use The Bubble Thing, the book covers all aspects of bubbles (history, science) in an entertaining styling accessible to children and young adults. And older adults, too, whoever cares to open it.

I really enjoyed this book, and guffawed at the author's humor. John Cassidy is an amusing writer. He courageously writes humor right alongside scientific fact, and pulls it off. His writing skills have obviously developed past those deserving a bunch of rotten vegetables thrown at him.

The inventor of the Bubble Thing, David Stein, has an interesting and personal story to tell about his invention. You get the impression from reading his story that there was no financial incentive behind the work he put into making his incredible toy. But he knew what he wanted, performance-wise, from the start. He cared about getting the best bubbles he could, but to entertain his baby daughter. Through trial-and-error, that was just what he got.

The book and the toy are all-around great, and I thoroughly recommend them. Try out the Bubble Thing, it's as good as what you fantasize it could be. The bubbles it makes are HUGE.

My husband received this book several years ago as a 50th birthday present. It sat in it's wrapper for a couple of years-what does a grown man need with a Bubble Book? Well he has resurrected it and has had so much fun with it this summer. We took it to our family reunion, on vacation and to a chorus picnic, kids big and small are fascinated and want to try it. Give it a try--you will be hooked.

came on time and in great condition. Still prefer 1st ed and 2ed over 3rd ed and up any time.

I've found some of this book unique enough and copious in content.... Well, there's a section on pole arms in this book which is outstanding, filled with [historical] data. In geocities/timessquare/dungeon/9939, you'll find a pole arms section in which I've taken the time to post this out-of-print invaluable material. [And there's a link at the bottom of the page. =)]

This is an outstanding book, and is worth almost any pricetag for its original and truly unique content. It litereally is unearthed arcana.

This book is one of my favorites from the original edition of AD&D. Unearthed Arcana is an excellent source for ideas for any campaign, and gives that small touch of detail to magic.

The only thing that bothered me was the (optional) addition of the Comeliness stat. It really isn't necessary, and actually creates more havoc with dice rolling than it's worth.

My copy of Unearthed Arcana has long since come unglued at the spine and fallen apart (I eventually tossed it out), but the book is one of the few AD&D 1st ed. references that I would suggest, regardless of what edition you play as a PC or run as a DM.

This is the book that changed a casual passtime into an obsession for me. It adds a new layer of depth and magic to the D&D system. It was here that Dark Elves became player characters, the barbarian was introduced. Paladins became the horsemen they always should have been. Here are advanced spells, weapons & armor, character classes (thief-acrobat, higher level druids, cavaliers, and more), and races. At last you could be more defined that simply "elf" or "dwarf." This book loosened up the system a bit and allowed for player individuality and choice. I love this book so much that I still prefer to play 1st edition D&D-- though I have played many many other systems-- because this book allows for so much freedom and creativity.

I KNOW this book is good, because someone always ends up stealing my copy (the true mark of a book's greatness), but I always replace it-- and it's worth whatever I have paid for it.

It's so good, I think it would make interesting reading for a non-gamer. I gave it five stars because they don't allow six.

Highest possible recommendation.

This is the final piece in the puzzle that is the AD&D rules - Gary Gygax's last major contribution to the game system, before the diluted 2nd edition came out, is displayed in its full glory here. It's obvious that this is a work for intermediate and advanced players, since some of the races and classes here (and the attribute-rolling system!) are over-powered for easier, beginning campaigns. In addition to the dark races (such as the Drow, Duergar, and Svirfneblin), and the advanced classes (such as the Hierophant, Acrobat, Cavalier and my fave, the Barbarian), there's also new weapons, hundreds of new spells, hundreds of new magical items, the deities of the demi-humans, and much more. It's sure to add an entirely new level to your campaigns!

Sara Corbett, who wrote this book, had the opportunity of traveling with the winning U.S. Women's Basketball Olympic team from their early tryouts in April 1995 to their glorious gold medal in Atlanta in 1996. She was there when they for the very beginnings and the selection process; she was there for their rigorous training under their coach, Tara Vanderveer; she was there during meals and long boring flights.

Through a series of in-depth interviews, as well as 14 months of personal

observation, she has written the book that defines the major milestone in women's basketball gaining the public's awareness and acceptance. Each of the 12 women on the team as well as their coach are skillfully profiled, and their stories credit, Ms. Corbett, kept the focus on the game. She lets the player's hopes and dreams and divergent personalities emerge through the sport. Of course we get their backgrounds too. We see Sheryl Swoops and her adoring husband, we see the explosive personality of Dawn Staley who likes to make side wagers on everything; we see Rebecca Lobo having trouble keeping up with the training; and Lisa Leslie's love for dressing up. But most of all, we see them play basketball.

In 1995, there wasn't even a basketball league for women. But during the time of their training for the Olympics, the possibility of two different leagues emerged -- the WNBA and the ABL. This was the major source of conflict between the members on the team during the course of the year. They had to put their disagreements aside though, and play basketball.

And that they did. They played and played and played, wining every single one of the games they played during that year. The women's college teams were easy, but they struggled with the team from China and the team from Australia. They constantly traveled, and the fatigue and frustrations of a life on the road was clearly examined.

Now, just a few years after the Olympics we take the WNBA for granted. American women now have an arena to play basketball professionally after college without going to Europe to play. The experiences playing for the European teams were usually unhappy. They were alone in foreign countries with a cultural barrier between themselves and their teammates. They were treated poorly, and sometimes punched and sexually intimated by their male coaches. It was never a pleasant experience.

The women were proud to be on the Olympic team, but the pressure never let up. Each game was a different kind of challenge. I loved the descriptions of the games, and even though I knew the final outcome of each game, found my heart beating during the play by play action. The game became more than just an unidentified player running around the court. It was Sheryl and Teresa and Katrina and Dawn. It was Rebecca and Jennifer and Lisa and Carla. I followed the action. And I was right there on the court with them.

One of the greatest things about this book, too, was how much it stirred me to learn more. My experience with basketball is limited and so I found myself screen. I therefore found myself going outside the confines of the book, asking questions of the basketball experts in my life, and looking up each player on the internet to find out where she is playing now and how she is doing.

I loved this book, carried it everywhere and couldn't put it down. I was right there with the team all the way and shared the very real swells of emotion they were experiencing . I shared the pain of their injuries, the strain of their training, the adrenaline rush during the games. I shared he plays that didn't make it and the plays that did. I heard the roar of the crowd, felt the strain and the pain, and experienced the glory of the victory.

The story of women's basketball is more than the story of this individual Olympic team. it is about the real opportunities that have opened for women in the world of sport. And, as a whole new generation of little girls are growing up with these possibilities now a reality, it is about the future.

Highly highly recommended.

This book has become one of my favorites. Telling the story of the 12 women who made up the 1996 gold medal team, Corbett went in-depth which each player. The book created a personal veiw of what the team went through. From a 30 year old vetren, to a 20 year old not yet graduated, you are able to get a real sense of each player!

Venus to the Hoop is a motivation to every kind of athlete. If you have ever played basketball you may be able to understand the situations these women athletes were put in. The detailed descriptions of the players and their coaches and staff allows you to understand the atmosphere they had to play basketball in. If you want to read a good book and also get some posative thinking out of it, read Venus to the Hoop. This book has really helped me keep a positive attitude about sports, teammates and life. I loved the way the competitors from the past pulled together and played as one on the same team. The way they helped eachother out in games and off the court helped me realize that they loved playing basketball. Keeping a positive attitude is important to me, and this book made me look at my life more positively.

Author Sara Corbett was granted exclusive access to the 1996 US women's basketball team, and this amounts to their authorized biography. Corbett is a good writer and manages to convey a series of themes: the tenuous existence of women's basketball in the US in 1995 when the team was formed, the heterogenous backgrounds of the players and coaches, the incipient rivalry between two nascent professional leagues for the allegiances of the players, to name a few. And Corbett is to be commended for managing to integrate this disparate material into a single narrative. But in basketball terms she is a "homer" -- and one wonders whether the exclusive access that she was given, implicitly or explicitly, informs this relentlessly positive depiction of the team. That said, it is probably a very good book for teenagers of either gender interested in basketball.

My two daughters are junior high basketball players, and I picked up this book on a whim at a bookstore recently. I was gripped from page one and couldn't put it down after that. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to CALL Sara while I was reading this and tell her, "This is a great book!" But I trust other people have done that. You really get a sense of what being on that team was like, and I enjoyed this book immensely. It's on my list of all-time favorite sports books.

i was given this cd by an aunt, and my first daughter was only 5 months old when I started playing it in the car. It was the only thing that kept her quiet in the car seat. She would holler until I put the cd on. By the time she was 18 months old, she knew all the songs and sang them! Now my daughter is 4 and my other daughter is 2 and a half. The poor cd wore out and I bought another one off amazon in the meantime, and that one is starting to skip too now. They need to make cd's for kids more durable since these cd's are going to be played over and over and over again! This cd was the best thing that happened to us other than the children

I bought this when my daughter was around 18 months she just loved following along with the fingerplays. Hours and Hours of entertainment.

We bought many children's song for my son, and this is his favorite. He loves to buzzz when he hears the bee comes, and claps his hand when he hears "clap you your hand as slowly as you can ...". He didn't talk too much before, but this tape really makes him much more vocal then before. The music is so soothing and he listens to it every day before he goes to bed.

I bought this while my daughter was less than two years old. She still likes to listen this even after she is four now.

Many songs are very popular and also taught in school. It is good for parents like me, who may not know what exactly their kid is singing, to also enjoy these songs with your kids at home. It comes with a book for parents with the instruction on the fingerplays.

I think that this book is well designed. One thing they can improve is to have the book more colorful. Otherwsie, considering its low price, I think that this is a good buy.

My cousin gave me her children's old Wee Sing Bible Songs and I played it for my daughter one day. She really liked it, more than the other children's music I've played for her. I bought several of the Wee Sing collections and my daughter loves them all.

They seem to all be classic children's songs sung in their original format (as another reviewer said, with none of the TV character weird versions) by children.

This one is her very favorite, though, and we have listened to this almost daily since she was one (she's now almost three). There are fingerplays that go with many of the songs. My daughter has learned the words and actions to most of these..... some of them, like the address song, the counting song, and the ABCs have even been educational!

The CD comes with a songbook, too, and my daughter really enjoys hearing me play the songs on the piano for her (they only give the single note treble clef part - but that's enough to make my daughter happy - and it's all I could play anyway).

This whole series is really wonderful and I highly recommend it for young children!

This is a cute story about whiteblack the penguin, a curious and optimistic fellow that sets out to wander the world in search of stories for his radio show for Penguinlands radio station W.O.N.S. He gets into trouble a few times but manages to keep his optimism through out his trip.

There is publishers note at the end of the story that explains this was actually an uncompleted work that the Reys carried out of Paris when the fled from the Germans in 1940. For some reason it was sent back for revision and it was forgotten probably due to the other Curious George stories. After Margret had passed, the manuscript and drawings were found and it was decided to publish the story 63 years after it was written.

Overall the story is on par with Curious George and it passed muster with my little girl.

A worthwhile addition to any child's library!

...YES, THAT'S ALL THE "EXCITEMENT" THERE IS TO THIS ONE. IT'S A CUTE BOOK, BUT NOT ONE I'D WANT TO READ MORE THAN ONCE. 'SPOTTY' & 'PRETZEL' ARE MUCH BETTER.

Margaret and H. A. Rey wrote the children's book, Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World. They are known for their famous series Curious George. Their works are very distinct because of the illustrations. In Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World, H. A. Rey uses bright vivid colors and black outlines to express emotions. The color yellow signifies safety and comfort while darker colors signifies lack of security. In the beginning and end of Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World, the color yellow signifies a sense of comfort and security. In the beginning, Whiteblack is at home, Penguinland, and the color yellow is very prominent. H. A. Rey also includes deep blues for a sense of comfort. This is a home-away-home story; and children consider home to be a safe place. Therefore, the color yellow signifies comfort and security. For example, when Whiteblack is leaving Penguinland, the color yellow was illustrated. Also, when Whiteblack arrived at the desert and was accompanied by the camel, there is a sense of safety and comfort, and yellow is illustrated throughout this page. The end of the story is illustrated with yellow, because Whiteblack has returned home. While Whiteblack is on his adventures throughout the story, the colors change because he is either in danger or sad. When Whiteblack first left, his boat hit an iceberg and wrecked and he was in the ocean alone. The color of the ocean is now a shady green and looks scary, therefore giving a feeling of helplessness. There is a huge cruiser heading his way and you think it might hit him, but he climbs aboard. H. A. Rey illustrates the color yellow because he is rescued. When Whiteblack is on his way home, he is riding on the top of an airplane and tumbles off and dives into the sea. There the colors are darker and yellow is hardly seen. Near the end, Whiteblack is in the ocean by himself pulling a net of fish for his friends in Penguinland. Whiteblack is struggling and his strength is almost gone. Here the colors are dark and yellow is not shown clearly, but on the next page, his friend, Seal, is coming to his rescue. The color yellow is being restored but still a little shaded, this gives some foreshadowing to what might happen next. When Whiteblack and Seal reach Penguinland, they both jump for joy. Obviously there are feelings of happiness, comfort, and security and the color yellow is very vivid. In the article, "Laughter in Literature", Lonsdale states "Curious George's creator...combines text and illustration to make George a lively and likeable little monkey. The illustration in strong, dark colors, full of action, on white paper mirror the agility of Curious George. The text and the illustrations move at a breathless pace"(77-106). The color yellow in Curious George signifies a sense of comfort and safety. The man with the yellow hat is always there to keep Curious George safe. The color yellow is the same dynamic in Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World. Both of the Rey's works illustrate the color yellow and it always gives a sense of safety and comfort.

Whiteblack the penguin hosts a radio program for everyone in Penguinland. He's the resident storyteller and is well liked and admired because of his marvelous stories. However, eventually he runs out of stories to tell!! Thinking that an adventure would give him new ideas, he and his friends construct a boat, give him some rope, and send him on his way to adventure. What adventures he has! His boat is struck by an iceberg, he hitches a ride on a Navy warship, manages to get shot from one of it's cannons, helps baby ostriches to hatch and even crosses the desert on a roller skate! Whiteblack is delightfully cheery at every turn, changing what otherwise might be a total disaster into yet another tale for his radio show. "Besides," he says as his boat sinks down out of sight, "I've always wanted to be in an accident!" Talk about the power of positive thinking!! The Rey's are, of course, most famous for their creation of the Curious George books. This work was originally written in 1937 when Mr. Hans Rey was working at a Paris World Fair booth across from a penguin exhibit. Somehow, though, it never made publication and was merely mothballed in a trunk before the Rey's left Paris. Discovered 63 years later and published in the year 2000, Whiteblack is immediately identifiable as a work of the Rey's. The yellows of the book are the exact same as those we're used to in the Curious George series. The same thick outlines and comfortable, fun illustrations are here as well, including what looks very much like a cameo appearance by the Man in the Yellow Hat!! The book concludes with a brief history of the Rey's and the fortuitous discovery of the long-forgotten Whiteblack manuscript. The book is wonderful fun in both it's text and illustrations. The crazy adventures Whiteblack gets himself into and his cheerful outlook on life ("besides, I've always wanted to fly" he says to himself after being shot out of the Navy cannon) will delight children of all ages. Whether you're a fan of Curious George or merely love fun children's stories, "Whiteblack the Penguin..." is an excellent story and a definite to add to your collection!!

Whiteblack the Penguin, Chief Storyteller on W-O-N-S, the Penguinland radio station has run out of stories. So he decides to take a vacation and see some of the world, because "travelers always have lots of stories." Off he goes in a little boat, on the adventure of a lifetime. And what adventures he has. First his boat sinks after hitting an iceberg. Then, after being rescued by a large cruiser, he decides to take a nap in one of their cannons and is accidently shot out the next morning. After soaring through the air for miles, he lands in the water and swims to shore where he meets ostriches, crosses the desert on a camel, rides in an airplane and unfortunately, falls out over the ocean. Each time he faces adversity and the unknown, he happily looks at the new situation as a learning experience and wonderful tale to share. At last he is rescued by a fishing boat and finally makes his way back home to a hero's welcome with lots of new stories for his radio show..... Who would have thought that after their deaths, an unpublished, completed manuscript, by Margret and H.A. Rey, would be found? This delightful story about a brave and always optimistic little penguin, will charm and amuse young children, just as their Curious George books have done all these many years. Mr Rey's wonderful and expressive watercolor illustrations, compliment his wife's text perfectly and together, they've created a treasure that's sure to become a classic. Whiteblack the Penguin is a timeless, enchanting story that your kids will want to read over and over again and a MUST for all home libraries.

The French Defense has been used by stronger chessplayers than Wolfgang Uhlmann, and has seen its fair share of action in World Championship matches. But there has never been a player so loyal to the French Defense as GM Uhlmann. He is a hero for all devotees of the French (like myself), having faced many of the World's best and never shying away from his pet defense. Has he ever played anything else against 1.e4?

The French Defense can be played as a stodgy, defensive weapon, or as an uncompromising, counterpunching system. I have played countless games in both styles, and both are valid depending on one's temperament/mood/tournament situation. Uhlmann's book is comprised of 60 games played in the second style. It is true that some of the variations nowadays are *possibly* not the best, but there is much to be learned in terms of how the opening can be handled, and the kind of chances available to the second player.

The book has chapters delineated by variation, so it is easy to find ideas (abundant!) in the particular lines you are looking for, and features games played from the 1950s through the 1990s. Uhlmann also admits to using subvariations not favored by theory, but that he has faith in. And I daresay, if Uhlmann has faith in the lines, so can we! Even Botvinnik, Smyslov, and Petrosian did not live and die by the French as much as Uhlmann.

Each French player has his or her favorite books, but this is one most of us agree on.

GM Uhlmann is certainly an acknowledged specialist in the French defense. I for one decided to buy this book to deal with problematic variations as black (i.e., Tarrasch variation and KIA) I found more than I could possibly hope to find in the book. For one, this is not just an insuferable encyclopedic treatise bound to be outdated the minute you buy it. It isn't a pedantic presentation of lines with no logical sense but a concise and fun explanation of IDEAS commonly used in the French. GM Uhlmann promises in his book to show you what's typical and how to find your way out from unknown situations over the board and gives you an arsenal of weapons to enrich your French defense.

The book's format is simple: Anotated games by Uhlmann full of comments, variations, ideas, and opinions. I found it interesting to see that GM Uhlmann shows a remarkable objectivity when mistakes by him appear on the games. With utmost professionalism he warns about his mistakes, suggests an alternative approach, and implicitly tells you how to fine tune the opening. I have applied many of the ideas presented on this book and can say that I feel more confident each time I play the French. GM Uhlmann makes you fall in love with the French by exposing the ideas behind each variation and how to thrive when facing unknown situations.

I must forewarn anyone reading this review that the book is very specific in the variations covered: Tarrasch closed and open (with an isolated queen pawn), Winnawer, Advance, KIA and exchange. Do not expect to see the classical variation among the lines covered or any other non-fashionable lines. GM Uhlmann has worked the above repertoire of the French defense and since those lines are his specialty you will learn them thoroughly with him.

In regards to negative aspects of the book I can say that I would like to see a more thorough discussion about the pawn structures that result commonly and how to play the resulting endings. This is of course very subjective and it is just my opinion on how to deal with the study of chess openings. In spite of that, I believe that discussing pawn structures resulting in the French would make the book just perfect. However, I am giving the book 5 stars because it delivers what it promises to the reader.

I have almost every french book published in recent five years in my collection, but they are primary the books about openings and its many variations. But one can feel strong emotions about this book, feel the love and mastery of its author about this particular opening, he never shy away from. This book is not too big or too tick, but it has covered almost every subvariation of french nicely. There are even 5 fully anotated game vs Kings indian attack, very annoying for some french players, and even 4 games in exchange variation. I am using this book when i need refreshment and inspiration in french. Best collection of french games available.

I have over 500 chess books, and this is one of my ten favorites. I keep coming back to it again and again, unlike the hundreds of supposed classics that sit on my shelf un-opened. Many say that games collections annotated by the GM who played the games are the best teaching tools. The problem that I often have is that there is no connecting themes between the games. I play the French as black. So, I would like to have a games collection of games in the French. The Korchnoi Best Games book is great because there are quite a few games where he plays the French. And of course there are books by and about Nimzowitsch and Botvinnik where a few French games are featured. But here we have a unique book by Uhlmann. In all 60 games of this book, he plays black in the French. The annotations are brilliant, concise, and instructive to follow, without being too dense or over-the-top, as are annotations by Nunn, Speelman, and Timman. Those are all good authors, but they do not write for the masses; they write for top-flight GMs. This book has a directness and an instructive theme that is lacking in those other works. It will inspire you to play the French, and will inspire your chess in general. It is one of the best chess books that I know.

This one by Uhlmann has the special something that separates art from the mundane. It brims with love and care about his French Defence, yet it is objective too. He does not smirk at white's various lines, such as the King's Indian Attack. He treats chess with respect, and he does not make ridiculous claims, ala Watson, that the French will give black an edge in every line. This book is a keeper, and I don't even play the french!

I enjoyed reading this book, and caught myself chuckling all the way through. Even though it's written with women in mind, it gives excellent advice for men as well as women and gives examples for why they advise it. I'd suggest it highly for men, women or teenagers who are interested in meeting people online. Great advice and with the space where you can write in your own information, it's easy to apply. I especially enjoyed the analyzing sample letters section.Too Cute!

From "The Bookwatch," a review from the MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW,

"Wired Not Weird incorporates personal anecdotes, a hefty dose of common sense, and simple, easy-to-understand advice and strategies about what to expect, what to stay away from, and what to say or not say during the first meeting in person....highly entertaining, with plenty of appraising observations to carefully consider--even if you're not interested in using the Internet to find love."

Wired Not Weird is very well written; clear, concise, organized. I found it easy to read, understand and apply. This book gave me the courage to venture onto the web in search of that special someone! So far I've corresponded with several intriguing men and have actually met and dated someone very special! I'll be sending copies to all my single friends for Christmas this year!

THE MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW'S publication "The Bookwatch"
praises WIRED NOT WEIRD,A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO DATING ONLINE.

"Wired Not Weird incorporated personal anecdotes, a hefty dose of common sense, and simple, easy-to-understand advice and strageties about what to expect, what to stay away from, and what to say or not say during the first meeting in person...highly entertaining, with plenty of of appraising observations to carefully consider..."

Wired Not Weird: A Woman's Guide To Dating Online begins with a ominous disclaimer: the reader must assume all responsibility for personal decisions or actions, regardless of whether they are influenced by reading this book. It is an unfortunate consequence of our unpredictable, sometimes dangerous, and unquestionably litigious society that such a warning must be so boldly declared, but the disclaimer also doubles as sound advice for life in general. Wired Not Weird dares to tackle a subject that is at best made light of in vapid comedy movies, at worst demonized with horror stories: online dating. Collaboratively written by Christy Clement and Kay McLean as a guide specifically for women, Wired Not Weird incorporates personal anecdotes, a hefty dose of common sense, and simple, easy-to-understand advice and strategies about what to expect, what to stay away from, and what to say or not say during the first meeting in person. Wired Not Weird's suggestions are also directly relevant to placing personal ads in the newspapers, which is basically the low-tech local equivalent of using the Internet to look for a date. Wired Not Weird is highly entertaining, with plenty of appraising observations to carefully consider -- even if you're not interested in using the Internet to find love.

As mentioned in the previous reviews this book is for the entire family and for all ages. My three-year-old daughter loves the illustrations in the book and wants us to read the book to her. So with a little tweaking she enjoys the book and participating in word play with us. Michael Kline's creativity is incredible. This book will not only improve your verbal skills but also your visual imagination. If you have never had a creative block this book with certainly help you out. I use some of the word games in my classes to increase my student's abilities to visually communicate.

Michael Kline has hit the hail on the nead with WordPlay Cafe. It's an invitation to look at and practice language in a completely different way. It takes some practice but I guarantee, once you let the imagination go, you will want to keep delving into the world of wordplay and punzles!

In WordPlay Cafe Michael Kline's banquet of word fun and lively illustrations guarantee a feast of food for thought. This guy Kline says a mouthful. He knows language and he knows how to make children want to eat their words.
-- Richard Lederer, author of Pun & Games and The Circus of Words

First there were words. Then the words were made fun. And in Wordplay Cafe author Mike Kline shows you, oh so successfully, how to make more fun with words. This interactive book teaches kids of all ages the power of words and ways to be creative with their meanings and sounds. It's a great way for kids and parents to have quality time with each other.
Mary K. Baumann and Will Hopkins
Art Directors, Kids Discover magazine
New York, NY

Kline has a wonderful sense of humour that can be appreciated by any age group. He really challenges kids (and adults) to look at language in a different way - the fun way! The book reads like a rollercoaster ride...or maybe a better analogy would pinball machine: it bounces off topics and tangents in a delightfully free-wheeling manner. Not for ADD kids, this book is meant for children who are willing to engage with subject matter for a wonderful reward. Kline's book belongs in the category of "children's books" the way that Bloom County belonged in the same comics section of the paper with Funky Winkerbean and Family Circus. This book truly works best when the whole family joins in on the fun. The activities are perfect for getting fun discussions going between children and adults. A highly recommended read for anyone (at any age) who wants to re-discover language and have fun along the way.

I am not a World of Warcraft gamer, but the beautiful art in this book drew me to it the moment I saw it on the shelf in my local book store. This book is filled with page after page of gorgeous renditions of highly stylized creatures and monsters that entrance the viewer. Discovering some of these artists for the first time was a treat for me, so much so, that I had to go online to find out more about some of them. This is a wonderful book with some great art in it. I highly recommend it for both WoW gamers and non-gamers alike!

I was looking for the perfect book to display the beautiful works of art I had seen in the world of warcraft franchise. This book certainly delivered. There is nothing low quality about this book. It included many of the pictures I'd already seen on the internet and many beautiful paintings I had never seen before. I'll let each buyer see for themselves, but the book is organized in a very simple and interesting way. It is so full of paintings, even after a month, I can look through and find a painting I'd never noticed before, and as an amateur artist, I find plenty of inspiration. A valuable book for any fan of warcraft or fan of fantasy art.

I've been looking forward for a book like this for quite some time. It gives me the chance to study styles and guidelines for the trading card industry. Thanks to this book now I know what to work with for my next portfolio review. Luckily future book are going to have my stuff too!!! ;)

I love the book. I collect every "art of" book i can find and this is definitely one of the better ones. It has a full page of art on nearly every page, and a few shots of process, like pencil sketch to painting on a few pages. Artists like Todd McFarlane, Puddnhead, and Greg Staples are some of a few in the book as well as many other amazing artists.i reccomend it highly, it's very inspirational.

This is an awesome book...The variety of work is great, different styles and techniques, not to mention the characters are really fun to look at. As an artist, it's one of those books that you crack open to get the creative juices flowing!!!