Clay Books

I enjoyed this book and its unpretentious step-by-step procedures for making miniature houses out of polymer clay. I would have liked to see a bit more variety in the projects offered, but there is certainly enough technique demonstrated that an imaginative reader would have no trouble extrapolating whatever design he or she can dream up.

As a beginner I was looking for a book that gave detailed instruction. I never thought that I would find such great instruction and pictures. This is a superb helper and will make my first attempts look like I have been using polymer clay for years. Author is to be commended for such fine and detailed instructions. I highly recommend this book.

I borrowed this from the library and had to buy it. I am waiting on its arrival impatiently. The details are great, the instructions are clear and the pictures couldnt be better. The only real problem I have is the pattern placements could be better. From the fourth project on, many of the pattern pieces are located near the spine, not the outer edge of the page, so they are difficult to photo copy, and even tracing a few is challenging. But I still think this problem is small and the book is well worth the money.

This book has great details and instructions in how to make miniature houses. It also was extreemly inspirational to go on from the author's instructions and create better and more detailed houses. I highly recommend this book.

Everyone loves miniatures, especially miniature dwellings...Ms Ritchey offers text and so many step by step photos - all of which make it easy to make your very own tiny abodes. Simply charming.

This odyssey attempts to articulate that which quietly is in all of us - the longing to discover and embrace our unique place, individually and collectively, within the boundless whole of space and time. And standing here (the Northern Plains)- amid exquisite beauty (of the earth, of the heavens, of our souls)- can take us ever-so subtly, yet boldly, to that place.

Message on the Wind is the diary of a successful white male who is trapped in an artificial world yet yearns to find his spiritual center and integrity. He finds himself on the wind swept open spaces and bluffs of the Great Plains where he can let down all of the guards and just be himself for a while.
This book is a must-read for understanding the challenges of being male in today's society and, I believe, an invitation to men to explore their more spiritual longings, perhaps on the open plains.

To journey though this book is like being on a train. You will come to the end finding you have traveled parallel tracks. . . One is the scholarly exploration of ideas and questions. The other, a man's life filled with colorful friends and experiences. Both a book of essays and a memoir. This duality is the magic that makes the book. Even the writing balances between direct and lyrical, functional and sublime.

But, what I liked most about Message on the Wind was the personality of the man telling the story. That he could make bold pronouncements and just as quickly point out his own foibles. As when he says, "Just how a man driving a tractor whose tire he could not change if his life depended upon it can feel marvelously independent is not clear, but that is the unmistakable mythology of the place. And I swallowed the whole hog."

Back to the train: Wallow in the sheer joy of being carried away on an adventure. Or, examine the tracks and ponder the method. Either course will result in many delightful hours of reading. Reading, perchance to think. :-)

Thirty years ago I left the plains of Western North Dakota for the woods of Central Minnesota. I lasted six mohths. Clay S. Jenkinson expresses the reasons why I came back and why I have stayed. It is almost impossible to express to someone not from here what the badlands and the prairie can mean, but the author uses imagery that evokes a strong sense of place and spiritual belonging, much as N. Scott Momaday does. The people are real and the places are too. It is good to have someone who can say what I can't. This book is delightfully humorous and at the same time profound.

Having grown up and lived my fifty-plus years in North Dakota, Jenkinson has captured my response to this place of the Plains at a very deep, thoughtful level. It is hard to explain to a "mountain", or "ocean" or "forest" person just what the prairie and badlands evoke, but this book is among the best I've read to describe it. The people portrayed in this book are people I know or very like people I know. But most especially, his challenge to those of us who live in this place to treasure it and to branch out of our great tendency toward provincialism confirmed and gave words to many of my own long-held feelings.

This book consolidates the information from a number of her videos... and is a cost-effective way to explore these techniques. And you don't have to watch Ms. Hughes roll her eyes and practice alternative pronunciation of words in an attempt at humor. Her alternative vocabulary takes a bit of getting used to but once you figure out what she's referring to, there is quite a bit of great info in this book. Thanks, Ms. Hughes, for this alternative!...

I can't understand why this book has such rave reviews. This is the reason I purchased it but was very disappointed and sent it back. I think it is a waste of money and maybe my view is based upon the fact that there are so many good polymer clay books that followed this one. If I hadn't sampled these newer books maybe I would be like the other consumers here, giving it five stars. In all honesty, save your money for something better.

Polymer: The Chameleon Clay was the first polymer clay book I bought. It's not really geared toward beginners, but I've never been afraid to jump in with both feet. I'm glad I did! Victoria Hughes is a pioneer in making polymer clay look like just about anything. While I've since seen alternate techniques that make creating faux bone or stones simpler, I've never seen an technique that does it more realistically than hers. I regret I've never had a chance to take one of her classes.

In addition to the wonderful techniques for mimicking other materials, this book is inspirational. It showcases wonderful art or Hughes and a number of other talented artists. Exciting techniques, a wide variety of projects and beautiful photography combine to make this book remain one of my favorite books on polymer clay--and I now have quite a library of them!

I have gotten frustrated by books that only show a person how to make product "X". This book teaches the reader several techniques and how to apply them. From the beginning of the book the reader is encouraged to consider the creative process and experiment with their own techniques and designs. While you are learning specific techniques, Tori Hughes also points out that changes in color and style will also work well. Through this she is teaching the reader, not just showing them how to do a project. That alone makes this book a valuable asset to a book shelf. I highly recommend this book.

I am new to polymer clay and have never taken classes, or even heard of this author prior to the purchase of this book. May be on my way to an addict. I have gotten a pasta maker. So provided you are into things that far, I think even beginners with a reasonable amount of intelligence can deal with this book. The author is very specific in explaining how to imitate different natural mediums with polymer clays (some premo, some fimo, some combinations of the 2). I don't have a great deal of inventory of clay, but was able to emulate most of the techniques, represented with what I had - even if the colors were off a bit. I have gotten a couple other books, and polymer can really get outrageous, complicated, time consuming,and just plain dissapointing when the end result is not perfect enough. This book seems to take things slow and specifically enough to follow and enjoy. And, the nice thing about simulating stones, and natural things is that they are inherently defective, cracked, uneven, and irregular. Even when you mess something up a bit, it can look like it was done on purpose. For the price, I considered this book a good buy for my money.

I often read the beginning of a book, and then skip to the end. I couldn't do that with this book; I had to read it all the way through. In fact, I read through the night to finish this book; I could not put it down. I was completely caught up in the story of this family, the children and the parents. This book is a timeless story of a family living during the depression, but more than that (for me) it was a window into the life of my father, who also grew up in Idaho during the depression. This book gave me added insight into what it must have been like for him, and a deeper appreciation for what his parents had to do to provide for their children in those years. Though the circumstances were different, the struggles, the desires and the feelings were the same. What a gift!

I wish that I had the money to place a copy of Reed Moss's THE POTTER AND THE CLAY in every teacher's mailbox throughout America. This text is an 'across-the-curriculum' jewel...linking past with present, from depression through WWII to the why's and why nots of family life today. Reed Moss's text is the 21st century sequel to Harper Lee's TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. If the current U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, now wants the U.S. schools to teach character values, this is our new curriculum source. No student or their parent will be able to put it down from the first page to the last. A must Book Club read, THE POTTER AND THE CLAY will undoubtedly be Rober Redford's next Sundance film winner! Bravo, Mr. Reed!

A heartfelt story full of love and loss, extreme happiness and debilitating sadness and true miracles. "The Potter and the Clay" is a wonderfully written account of a families search for the meaning of life. You can feel the joys and pains of this family through the author's words. The story of the incident at the Grand Hotel will live forever in my mind and as Mr. Moss so eloquently states, "God does all things well."

I love books that tell a bit of history mixed in with a real story about people I can believe in. I grew up in Idaho so of course I was interested in this book, which tells about a family and its struggles during the depression. But mixed in there is a touching story about trusting in God amidst great challenge and loss. I found myself sitting with Lael as she wrote her name over and over, and wondered if she knew she was "different," and I especially related to Lael's mother, as I have experienced my own loss. Mr. Moss writes with a sensitivity to true feelings that parents, neighbors, families, and friends struggle with in any era. I couldn't stop reading. I cried more than once. I learned something about the depression era in Idaho, but I learned something about faith and perseverance also, lessons I will not soon forget.

Warning! Warning! This book tends to cause overflowing sinuses and tear ducts. A most touching and vivid account of the hard times and high times of growing up in a small farm village on the frozen tundra of the high plains in Eastern Idaho. Highly recommended.

After buying Ms Piper's Batik book, I found she had written this wonderful book on dolls. I gave it to all my nieces for Christmas and I got so many thanks. Everyone loved this book!! The processes outlined are so creative, not copy-cat. The photographs are glorious. My family is now planning a reunion to visit the Kansas City Doll and Miniature museum so we can see this amazing woman's work.

Wow! I had no idea one may create dolls in so many various ways! Eloise Piper teaches fabric, modeling paste, and polymer clay doll-making with patterns included in her book. She includes plain Amish children, fancy dolls, wig creating, sculpting facial features, decorating and dressing the doll. She even includes patterns for their tiny clothing! She gives embellishment ideas as well. Furthermore, Eloise has a very delightful style of writing that brings her dolls to life! I greatly enjoy authors like Eloise who present their art in a down-to-earth and humorous fashion. Not only does one enjoy creating the dolls and their adorable wardrobes, but one may count on a chuckle or two from Eloise's light-hearted humor.

This book is a keeper for those who are looking for resources which address the multiple and various techniques of creating dolls.

Happy doll making!

I have the author's other book on dolls,which is also excellent. What the author shows is that using one simple to construct cloth doll body you can make literally thousands of different style dolls, by simply sewing/adding joints, lengthing patterns, changing outfit, hair, etc...
beautiful photos of dolls for play or show; simple face designs take headache out of creating the doll.

Also shows how to "deconstruct" old clothes to make new clothes for the dolls-very imaginative. This book also goes into using clay-but with a beginner in mind. I definitely recommend!

Just received this book today and I can't put it down! The book is the most complete how-to book I have ever seen. Eloise has put the book together from beginner to advanced with a lot of thought for the inexperienced doll-maker. Every aspect of doll-making is completely covered and I would highly recommend this book to anyone !

I'm new to doll making. I am enjoying this book. I also recommend a doll book for fun reading, Dolls Aren't Just for Kids.

For Clay Jacobsen, the media is nothing new. I've read all his stuff, and I'm not disappointed. If I had to pick, I'd personally say that "Interview With the Devil" is his best work. Now he's back with a new publisher, along with a new idea, and it still has me sweating just a bit! Clay takes on the Reality Show world, and Clay has spoken. Randy Singer did a similar theme this year in "The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney", and they both deserve attention. This is good stuff!

I can't imagine doing my job, just hammerin' away at whatever I'm doing and having my life possibly change... BOOM!!! (I said possibly, no guarantees, ok?) just like that. But that does happen to Jack Forrest. He tells his varsity football team to hit the showers, they hit the showers all right... and here comes this chopper! "You want the chance for 10 million? Come with us. You have 1 minute to decide." What would you do? To say the least, Jack takes it. Oh, and by the way, his job is on the line as well! OH, who are you taking on? Well come on now! You have a couple of babes, one cocky son-of-a-gun, the strategist, a few others come into play... AND YOU.

Is this really just a game? You are being tested. You are on some strange island, and you don't even know WHERE that stinkin' island is! Huh? What's going on here? This isn't like the other reality shows we've seen. And on top of all that, YOU are the Christian, the one who's supposed to make a difference in a world gone mad. Can you really stand by what you believe? You don't exactly like some of the challenges that are being presented to you, but you press on. With 10 million on the line, you hang in there. Don't worry, you have people praying for you back at home. There were a couple of drawn out places where I myself had to hang in there, and to say the least a little of it was too perfect. When I say that, I give nothing away, although the ending had me feeling just slightly cheated.

So, is this Clay Jacobsen's best? Not in my opinion, because it SCREAMS "Ultimate" and that's what I expect with a title like that. People like Clay Jacobsen deserve a pat on the back! Always giving 110%, despite what the odds are is always worth something to me. That's what keeps me coming back!

he Ultimate Reality Show by Clay Jacobsen is a Christian novel whose plot centers on the hit TV Reality Show whose concept is to fulfill a selfish wish of the Director to meet a woman from his past and to get to know her son whom he has heard lives by his Christian standards. He wishes to put him to the test and devises some amazing events to prove his moral fortitude. The novel is written in an interesting manner and boldly teaches concepts of chastity and honesty and living uprightly even when you don't think you're being watched and even against great odds and temptations. The central figures go through many trials and have a happy ending with an unexpected twist. An enjoyable read and a good book for teens also.

Jack Forrest didn't count the cost when he decides to compete for a ten million-dollar prize. Author Clay Jacobsen gives readers a glimpse into an ultimate reality game show that in the end deals with eternity. In this well-written novel, opposing forces set up camp. On one side are the ordinary lives of Jack and his fellow contestants. Across the way is the lure of a huge amount of money that could make those ordinary lives extraordinary. The only catch is that to win the game, the players must dodge danger, deceit, and a bit of deviltry. And the only rule is that there are no rules.

Jack Forrest is a committed Christian and he brings an entirely new slant to the challenge. It is inspiring to see how he smoothly revealed his worldview through his actions and dialogue. His wit and wisdom make him stand out in the crowd, but readers will have to wait until the last page to see if he wins the jackpot!

Operating on a parallel line to the story is the personal life of Jack and his mother. Their steadfast faith in God is tested when a secret from the past threatens their future. This bit of mystery is smoothly incorporated into the main plot to give it an additional layer of interest.

These pages offer plenty of action with a strong emotional appeal. The lure of a grand prize is cleverly contrasted with the most important things in a person's life. The excitement of the game show steadily builds until the final pages when the true victory is revealed. The Ultimate Reality Show is an undisputed winner! -- Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com

I have several things I would like to say about this book. First and foremost if you love action then this book is definitely for you. However, it seemed more than a little trite. THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE was more like FEAR FACTOR, SURVIVOR, and THE AMAZING RACE with a little JERRY SPRINGER thrown in for good measure. And, was I the only one that noticed Kathryn's last name changed from Williams to Thompson in the middle of the book? That was certainly a newbie-writer flub (and I know Mr. Jacobsen is not a new writer). That SHOULD have been caught by SOMEBODY in the rewrites. Also, the constant head jumping is really annoying. I'm all for different points of view but not jumping from one person to another in the same paragraph for goodness sake! It really throws you out of the story. All in all, it was an interesting book and I would recommend it for those who enjoy fast paced action but if any of the above annoys you you might want to skip this one altogether.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Most of the time in books and movies, Christian characters, or characters of moral standing and fortitude, seem dull and one dimensional. Not so with this book. I could fully relate to Jack's predicament and never once did he seem weak, boring, or "religious."

Using a fictional game show as a plot device was brilliant and allowed the characters to face all kinds of bizarre and sticky situations without it seeming contrived. There were many plot twists. Some I saw a mile away and others that caught me completely off guard. Again, this was very well done. If you like reality shows such as Survivor or Biggest Loser, then you will love this book. If you think these shows are interesting, but ultimately a waist of time, you'll love this book. Where typical game shows are shallow and pointless, this book has depth and meaning that those other shows lack.

My only problem now with this book is who to loan it to first. I get to share this wonderful gem with many of my friends and family. Sometimes that's the best part of reading a great book.

One last thing: When does the movie come out? Surely someone must be looking at this book as a script for a movie. It'd be awesome!

This is an excellent book covering a topic that affects anyone who watches TV or access the Internet. This book provokes thinking about what we view on TV news and "news magazines". What is newsworthy content? How far can and should the media go in terms of invading privacy by broadcasting private moments? Is shoving a camera into a grieving person's face newsworthy, or is it an invasion of privacy rights not worthy of First Amendment protection? What about secretly videotaping an accident victim's on-the-scene agony and broadcasting it later on TV without seeking the victim's permission?

The author notes that the First Amendment was designed to promote participation in our democracy, but much of the content provided my media outlets today actually lulls viewers into a voyeuristic mode, suppressing the will of people to participate. Still, most of what we see on TV is protected by the First Amendment, even when the result is contrary to the desired effect of promoting an active and involved democracy.

When reading this book, you might find yourself questioning court decisions, but you will also question the alternatives. This book provokes thought, as a good book should. I highly recommend it. You won't see the news or "news" magazine shows in the same light again!

I loved this book so much I gave it as a gift! Doctor Calvert is a gifted writer, and noticing that he is a professor at Penn State University, I have no doubt that if the classes he teaches are half as interesting as this book, it must be nearly impossible to get a spot in them! I reccommend this book whole-heartedly!

Clay Calvert defines mediated voyeurism as "the consumption of revealing images of and information about others' apparently real and unguarded lives, often yet not always for purposes of entertainment but frequently at the expense of privacy and disclosure, through the means of mass media and Internet."

The author has an exquisite grasp of the obvious (or maybe I've just read too many books on this subject), revealing in the first half of the book such profound truths as: the more willing people are to give up control of information that affects them, the more mediated voyeurism thrives; and, TV news has become a commodity used to gather an audience to sell to advertisers.

The book makes some interesting points on media coverage of politics, for instance, by focusing on politicians' strategies (for staying at the top of the race) instead of substantive issues, the media contributes to the politics-as-voyeurism phenomenon and alienates voters. Also interesting was Calvert's discussion of the case law related to voyeurism. His description of some of the pertinent and precedent-setting cases was enlightening and alarming.

On a more negative note, the book is self-referential to the point of absurdity. The author's habit of incessantly telling the reader what he just told him, what he told him back in chapter 2, and what he's going to tell him in the next section or chapter becomes very irritating.

And one bit of false advertising: in the introduction Calvert promises that the book "can at times be sarcastic, if not flippant, in tone." I noted one (possibly two) instances of sarcasm and none of flippancy. It would be more accurate to say "the book can at times be didactic, if not tedious, in tone.

If this book interested you, you may also be interested in Tuning in Trouble by Heaton and Wilson. It only deals with talk shows, and it is not as in-depth as this book, but it is a bit more readable.

As transnational broadcasters rush toward privatization, calls for more democratization and transparency by more laissez-faire governments, Clay Calvert's Voyeur Nation should be thoughtfully considered to prevent a "race to the bottom" by sacrificing cultural tastes in the pursuit of greater audience numbers.
A lawyer as well as a professor of law and communications and co-director of the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment at Pennsylvania State University. The latter credit is important because Calvert does not believe the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution-an international model for liberalized news and entertainment-should not protect "mediated voyeurism" rampant in the U.S., Asia and Europe. The argument is as important as it is provocative.
Calvert lays the groundwork for his argument with a recitation of what the mass media have done to damage the concept of privacy rights, often willingly abdicated by "victims" seeking fame and fortune, their fleeting Warholian 15 minutes of recognition-both in front of and behind the hidden camera.
The author decries the rise of "reality" shows on U.S. and European television where cameras go along and confront various miscreants and straying spouses. Those caught in the glare of camera lights almost never are advised of their rights to an attorney and often react badly-which, of course, is "good" television. In some cases, especially on tell-all/show-all programs like the Jerry Springer Show or the Ricki Lake Show, participants are asked to bare their most private thoughts on syndicated TV. The result is a growing class of exhibitionists performing in real life for a growing class of audience voyeurs, he says.
Calvert cites uses and gratifications theories as a reason people tune into such programs as The World's Most Amazing Videos, Cheating Spouses Caught on Tape, Cops, The Osbournes (a new entry into the voyeurism field where the camera follows rocker Ozzie Osbourne and his family around all day long-and showed in real time the family's reactions to the wife's newly diagnosed cancer) and dozens more. This voyeurism even has a game-show flavor as demonstrated last summer when Maury Povich and Montel Williams each aired a series of shows on "Who's the Father?" Using DNA testing, unwed mothers with babes in arms found out which among three former lovers were actually the father of her baby while a cheering live studio audience made their own guesses. The programs drew huge audiences, which, in the Western media tradition, resulted in huge company profits. Legal scholar Robert Bork must have had programs like these in mind when he wrote Slouching Towards Gomorrah.
The Internet has pushed the envelope on voyeurism, Calvert writes. Some of the more popular sites on the web are those featuring webcams or surveillance cameras that catch participants in various aspects of day-to-day, from bed and board to bath in real-life Truman Shows, including their most intimate minutes. Sexual voyeurism is one of the more popular Internet activities worldwide, whether some cultures are willing or not to admit it, he says.
The public's right to know is limited to officialdom, not to their neighbor's bedroom behind closed curtains. While "peeping" might be a human "want" it is not a human "need." Mediated voyuerism involving the space band spectrum opens the door for regulation, he says. In that regard, Calvert might be suggesting a role for governments or critical discussion by community in the mediation process. Communitarians such as Robert Putnam and Amitai Etzioni would heartily agree since they would consider mediated voyeurism contrary to the best interests of a civil, community-based society.
While building a strong case of greater government influence in broadcasting of programs that violate privacy rights, Calvert limps out of the argument at the end, suggesting instead self-governance by media outlets by redefining broadcasting ethos and codes of conduct.
Despite the weak ending, Calvert's work raises key issues for transnational broadcasters and is worth a read by students seeking an understanding of what could happen to transnational programming if ratings races become their raisons d'etre.

Mr. Calvert is clearly an authority on media law. The book is so well-written as to be accessible anyone who is interested in communications law. Contains a comprehensive discussion of the law, yet one which is easily understood by all. High marks for the author's use of plain language to convey ideas which could otherwise be quite difficult to understand. Worthwhile reading for the practitioner or layperson.

This is the story of a man who knew what he wanted to do very early in life and actually did it... proving that you CAN do anything you set your mind to do if you have the passion for it and persistence. The book is full of details about the particular series of flights in the X-15 but also contains much evidence of a full, well lived life. [...]

This is a different book about an era that much has been written about. William Bridgeman's "The lonely sky", Pete Everest's "Fastest Man Alive" and Yeager's bestselling autobiography all talk about the same era - the development of supersonic aircraft in the late 40s and early 50s. The perspective is different, Crossfield was a new breed of test pilot - an engineer with the "Right Stuff". For one he was a NACA (now NASA) pilot from the beginning at Edwards AFB. The others were Air Force and manufacturers test pilots. He then left to join North American to push the X-15 program (a much needed research tool) to its completion. Great descriptions of both personal and organizational challenges, the preparation, design and flight testing associated with the X-15. Read "At the Edge of Space : The X-15 Flight Program" by Milt Thomson (who flew the X-15 after Crossfield had tested it) to see how well Crossfield and North American Aviation suceeded in their endeavour to make an unparalleled air vehicle. Some of its records held till the Space Shuttle broke them.

This book does not deserve a good rating. 2 stars is perhaps to harsh, but it is actually not well written at all. - On the other side I don't regret that I bought it. Because it contains a lot of information and opinions with regards to high speed and high alltitude flight from this Golden Age Of Aviation. It was of historical value for me to get a feeling of this periode. - But it seems that Scott Crossfield was pressed by a publisher to write for two audiences, and one of the "audiences" may have been the housewife of the late fifthies. (I soon discovered that I had to browse through the first 100 or 150 pages of the book.) - If Scott Crossfield had sat down today to rewrite the story, I believe it could have become a great aviation book.

Always Another Dawn tells the stort of A. Scott Crossfield, a pioneering test pilot. His greatest accomplishment was being an integral part of the development and initial flight testing of the X-15 rocket-powered research aircraft, and it in this area that the book concentrates. It is well-written, however a bit dated. I felt the technical aspects of the airplane's design were lacking, even for the average reader. Any aviation enthusiast will find this to be a great addition to his/her library.

I must admit to being a little prejudiced in my review. For, fortunate for me, the author is my Godfather. My own father, Arthur Olderich, Jr., worked with Mr. Crossfield during the 1950s and, over the past few years, has shared many of his personal accounts of those very special moments in Aviation History. This book chronicles, in vivid detail, so many of the facinating incidents, milestones, and major events that colored the lives of those pioneer aviators at Edwards AFB. I treasure my autographed copy !

This is a fantastic book.....very well written with a great story and wonderful characters. The setting and secondary characters ("Mud"!!) add to what is already a book for the "keeper" shelf.

This is a lovely story. I am not as familiar with the Trinity West series as the rest of the readers, but I think I will haunt used books stores to find the others, esp. Leader of the Pack. Clay was an extremely sympathetic hero and anyone's dream man.

Justine Dare/Davis is my favorite author. All her books are fabulous. Be sure to check out this one and the others in this series as well as all the ones she's written under Dare. Her Hawk books are my favorites!

After hearing so many wonderful things about this book, I was not disappointed! I loved both characters and the writing is flawless. Of course, I had to start searching for the other books in the Trinity West series and I have enjoyed them just as much.

Finally, we get to read about Clay Yeager! I've enjoyed most of the Trinity West series immensely, and this was no exception. I loved the character of Clay and was thrilled to read about the dog, Mud, too. I have to admit that my favorite part of this and every book in this series following Leader of the Pack was hearing more about Ryan Buckhart at the end. If that man really existed, I'd be a very happy woman! Still, it was a good read. I can't wait for her next book.

I've been a fan of S. Clay since 1984, I was 16 and went to London to see Frank Zappa play twice in one day at the Hammersmith Odeon, between shows I went to a record store and picked up my first Zap comix.. it was a 'Z' theme day.. previously my comix universe was limited to the furry freaks only.. I made two very strong friends that day, Victor Moscoso (wait for his book late October) and S. Clay Wilson, I spent many years and varying amounts of money tracing down about 3/4's of what's in this book, only to sell it all in '99 to travel around Asia, now I'm here in TN with this book and the biggest grin this side of Kansas..
But you might not like it.
Typical scene; nine naked demons ejaculating copious amounts of sperm onto a tethered and recently tortured overweight naked woman with star-shaped pupils while semi-naked lesbian pirates and semi-naked gay pirates chop each other up into pieces while assorted mutants populate the background taking drugs and having sex with each other, possibly some very ugly bikers too, doing any/all of the above.
Then again, you might like it.

Here he is, the Dr. Demento of the underground cartoonists, the hero of wackos everywhere. Look, right on the page. Is it a prurient Rorschach? Is it a acid tripping cartoon devouring whoever looks at it? Stop, you're both right. It's S. Clay Wilson, more powerful than a lightning bolt up the kazootie, faster than a speeding Lothario, and s**t like that.

Nobody else does what he does, pardners. Ol' Clay been around since the 70s and kept right on-a goin'. This guy rocks. You want devils with huge, uh, you know, anatomical features? You got it. You want women hornier than the men who lust after em? You got that too. You want morality turned topsy-turvy just so's you can have a rip-roarin' good time? Here she be.

Clay's the guy to read when you don't wanna take drugs no more but you still want that feelin'. Ain't nothin' like some S. Clay to pop your clutch and put you directly into fifth gear. Probably in that order too. Logic? Out the window. This is pure sensuality in cartoon form. Grab it and guzzle like you can't stop, cause you won't be able to.

The cover gives a clue. A big one. Ladies and gentlemen, my man, S. Clay Wilson.

Yes, from Zap to the 90's lots of material you may have never seen before ...and some classic favorites. Place this one on your coffee table and your guests need not guess where you're comin' from.
Actually S. Clay Wilson has "been around" since the '60's and is apparently alive and well (somewhere). "Sometimes I get tired just smilin" -indeed!

Where's volume two?!!?!?!? I know there are some Pervert Pirates stories omitted from this collection!

This book is for all fans of S. Clay Wilson. There are all of the favorite villains and heroes(?) involved in their convoluted adventures attempting to do what they deem as good. This stuff requires a thick skin with an open mind hanging in the residue of a previous or newly found brain energy. The characters are all well developed and sure to entice everyone with their intriguing dialogue and antics. The drawing is superb and should be enjoyed by casual art goers and especially comic fans. Some violence and maybe pornograhy is evident if one is searching for such stuff but it is only such if you think it is. Remember both William Burroughs and J. G. Ballard ("only the truly paranoid are never surprised").

S. Clay Wilson's anthology is a long overdue compilation of some great comic artwork. Wilson has been kicking down doors for over thirty years, along with his ZAP compatriots. Not for the weak of heart but definitly for the strong of mind!