Cochran Books

What more could one ask for to feed your inner nerd than chess, spies, and a good dose of Hindu mysticism? While the authors may have taken some license with all three, they wove them together into an enjoyable, engaging read.

I haven't read this book in over 20 years. The other reviews written here say a lot for the way this book finds its way into your life. For me, my kung fu teacher gave it to me to read. One memorable line that has stuck with me permanently was when Justin asked his Buddhist teacher if he knew any magic. The teacher told him to look around, all that he saw was magic.

If I need its lesson again, I'm sure the book will turn up.

Yes. this is my second copy of Grandmaster..... this book hits a satisfying spot inside me. It's intense, a great combination of spy thriller and eastern mysticism. I can read it every 2 years or so, and love it every time. Too bad the new edition has such a cheesy cover compared to the original paperback issuance. It looks like a chess manual, which it certainly is not, although chess plays a serious part between the two main characters as they meet again and again throughout life. Get it!

They were born on the same day on different continents as Justin Gilead is an American and Alexander Zharkov is a Russian. They first meet at ten years of age over a chess game. However, that night Justin watches assassins kill his father in a seedy Paris bar. He is rescued from the same fate by monks from the highest mountains in Asia who were looking for him as they believe he is the latest reincarnation of Brahma. For the next decade and a half he lives and studies Buddhism under their tutelage.

However Russian troops attack and burn down the remote monastery. Justin survives but is filled with rage and a need for vengeance against the Russians. He obtains work for the CIA enabling him to focus on his target Zarkhov, the chief of the Russian top secret espionage elite unit Nichevo. The life and death chess game between two masters will leave one as the GRANDMASTER and the other dead.

Readers will quickly understand why this novel won an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1985 though the Iron Curtain has since fallen, turning what was contemporary back then into historical especially the insight into the life and death of grandmaster chess as played by the Russian Bears. Justin moves the action-packed plot forward as his Buddhist trained skills enable him to accomplish seemingly impossible achievements; on the other hand Zarkhov is a vestige of the Soviet Union adding to the sense that this is a historical thriller. Fans will marvel at how newlyweds (at that time) Warren Murphy and Molly Cochran gifted their readers with a novel that remains tense and exciting though the perspective has changed.

Harriet Klausner

I found this book for the first time in a box of family give away books. I read it and loved it. That was several years ago, and now I re-read it every time I run out of books to read. Warren and Cochran do a great job of relaying the eternal struggle of good and evil alongside the modern storyline of international spy-games. I didn't want to stop reading this book when I reached the last page. I was happy to find that Warren and Cochran wrote High Priest to follow where Grandmaster left off. Both of these books are quick reads that often times go too quick.

Marissa is erudite, quick, fun, funny, committed to social justice and truth, and and an acute observer of human behavior. Her friend Johnnie Cochran describes her (in the introduction!) as "a prosecutor's prosecutor. She is full of zeal for her profession and possesses an insider's knowledge of the criminal justice system." She's also devoted herself to Buddhism for over 30 years, as well as to the mastery of the culinary arts. All of these elements figure in her very unusual book.

Besides telling three compelling and hair-raising tales, Marissa shares aloud the unspoken rules of the courtroom, and offers appreciative and insightful looks into the lives of law enforcement professionals, and denizens of South Central LA and the gay demimonde of Hollywood.

As a skillful storyteller, she is compassionate without becoming maudlin, and righteous without losing her sense of humor.

I am looking forward to her next book, which I understand is under way!

Marissa has the heart of a warrior. Her stories are classic story telling with spell binding revelations of what the truth is when it comes to crimes and the criminal mind. Her attention to detail, coupled with a sense of the world of the victim, allows the reader to be a prosecutor seeking justice for the people. The criminal procedural aspects of the criminal courts are cleanly explained with no chance of misunderstanding that lawyering is still an art when done with a heart. Marissa injects the calmness of her buddhist philosophy into the psyche of the reader to allow a deeper appreciation of the law and the victim equation.

As a criminal defense attorney, I usually avoid "true accounts" written by prosecutors as they tend to be one-sided, self-serving renditions of cases that could be won by a first year law student. The usual story involves a clear cut case where the District Attorney is representing the forces of right (the good people of the State) while the defense is usually some bad dude who deserves a long vacation in Prison. Of course the good guys prevail and the prosecutor is the hero. Good and Evil, Right and Wrong are clearly defined and everybody leaves happy. Not so with Ms. Batt's book. Besides her personal disappointment at the result of one of her cases, she manages to show that all is not black and white - urban life and particularly the criminal justice system present a myriad of situations where the lines become blurred. Her cases are interesting in that there are victims - individuals who by virtue of their own life choices are often viewed as not deserving of protection by the law and the system. Besides showing the underside of life, Batt also manages to forcefully demonstrate the maxim that "no man is above the law and no man is below it."
A great read, colorful, fast paced and real...I loved it.

...of the L.A. justice system. I won't repeat the other reviews, but two or three things deserve note. First, Johnnie Cochran wrote the introduction...high praise indeed. Second, the appendix - "Twenty-five rules for giving effective testimony" - is interesting reading in itself. Overall, the book is not compelling reading, not forcing you to read it in one sitting, but it's interesting and varied. I consumed it in three sittings if memory serves. The pace is generally good, although I felt the Buddhism dragged a bit, but that was only a couple of instances. So - recommended - *especially* if you are a fan of mysteries set in Los Angeles! I await Marissa Batt's next work with more than a little interest.

What makes this book so compelling is that you get to hear the perspective of the actual prosecutor in the cases described. Through Marissa Batt's words, you get a virtual tour of the way the Los Angeles legal system works, or in some cases doesn't work. You are introduced to characters that actually inhabit Los Angeles, who actually went through the situations described - cases that are so intense and bizarre, they seem unbelievable. Through it all, you get a comprehensive version of the legal system mirroring human lives and decisions, as seen through the eyes of a person who does their job with integrity, intensity, and strength of character. READ THIS BOOK! It is a thorougly enjoyable read though shocking and extremely upsetting at times.

After reading this book several times to my 4-year-old daughter, I am starting to believe this is a children's book for adults. I challenge any current or former pet owner to read this book without shedding a tear. This book is beautifully written and illustrated. It is the rare children's book that touches both kids and adults. Believe me, as a father of two I have read hundreds of children's books, and this one is special. My 4-year-old has been asking about heaven and what happens when people get sick. This book helps answer some of those questions in a very touching, memorable and thoughtful way.

My son (a 1st grader) does not like to talk about emotional issues. When our beloved dog died, he didn't say anything about it for 24 hours. The next day I read him this book and we both began crying mid-way through. The lovely story enabled my son to open up and talk about the grief he was feeling. I like the message that we keep the memory of deceased loved ones in our hearts and memories.

The Forever Dog helps children [and the child within us all] feel the painful loss of a beloved pet and move on. Cochran is a masterful wordsmith who makes us chuckle at how such a mangy puppy could become such a beloved and loyal friend to his young owner. And the mother speaks words of profound healing as she gently helps her son understand that his inner pain can be transformed by love into something that he will have forever, just as promised.

This book belongs on the book shelf along with "The Fall of Freddy, the Leaf" [Leo Bussaglia] and "The Dead Bird" [Margaret Wise Brown], to give to someone who is suffering with grief after the death of a loved one.

And veteranarians across the country will be wise to stock many copies of this book for their clients [of all ages] who lose their beloved pets!

Caroline Boynton, LMSW, MA
New York City

What a wonderful book, perfect for anyone suffering a loss, young or old. When Corky dies Mike is sad and angry. His mother gently reminds him of all the wonderful things he shared with Corky and that the memory of those things will live in his heart forever. Lovely illustrations also.

Corky was the best dog ever. Mike got him as a puppy and taught him all he knew. They took walks, Corky slept on Mike's head, and lots of other fun stuff!

One day, Corky got sick and had to go to the veterinarian's clinic. The next morning, Mike's mom had sad news: Corky was too sick for the doctors to save.

Inspired by his own experience, Bill Cochran brings children a gentle story about losing a favorite pet. For many people, this is the first time they must deal with death and grief. As children, it can be hard to understand that a beloved friend isn't going to return, and even more difficult to understand the onslaught of emotions. Cochran's approach takes young readers through the steps without letting on that it's what adults call the "grieving process." All the kids know is that they can identify with how Mike feels about losing Corky, and then see how he comes to accept it.

Hand a box of tissues over with this book when gifting it to a grieving child. Tell them it's perfectly okay to cry, and even a good thing. And if they're not ready, they will be. This is a wonderfully sweet book for such an occasion. Of course, it's a nice story even if there hasn't been a loss, as it can also encourage children to learn compassion toward others who are having a hard time.

I highly recommend THE FOREVER DOG to anyone who has feelings.


Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
08/18/2007


(This review is dedicated to Dandy, Tinker, Chrissy, Dillon, Middie, and Alice.)

This is a classic texbook. If you collect introductory statistics textbooks, this is a "must have" for your collection.

This book review all common technique of statistical methods - from t-test to factorial design and regression. Also, it also introduces non-parametric statistics. Detailed examples in each chapter are helpful to read the book.

This was the core text for both semesters of my graduate level statistics classes back in the '70s. The text was very understandable and the examples were most helpful. I am now an MD doing clinical research at a medical school and this is STILL the best statistics reference I've ever come across. ...

I found the writing clear and easy to follow. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an excellent introducory text in statistics.

Snedecor first wrote this excellent elementary applied text while at Iowa State (late 1940s or early 1950s). When Bill Cochran arrived in Iowa he helped out with the revision. It was very popular and was revised by Cochran many times even after Snedecor died.

Well written and often used in elementary courses this book is also a good reference source for statistical methods. Empahsis in applied statistics in those days was in agricultural experiments and that is the reason statistics was prominent at Iowa State University in those days.

This set is a must have for all Tales from the Crypt fans everywhere. It is well put together and contains every Crypt comic book ever made. Granted the art is in black and white but its still beautiful. Great stories! (remember these were the 50's). Dont let the price or the Cryptkeeper scare you, its well worth it!

The comics as originally published were in color, not black & white (the first customer-reviewer may've been thinking of the 1960s Warren comics magazines such as CREEPY), and it's a pity that this series didn't replicate the colors, garish as they sometimes were.

This is it. Miles ahead of the mixed-bag television show, mediocre "Demon Knight," and god-awful "Bordello of Blood," these dementedly funny tales of violence and depravity ruled the comic book industry in the early 1950s until they were banned by the government in 1955. Vampires, werewolves, and mummies were not an uncommon sight in this magazine, but it was best known for vengeful walking corpses, live burials, and sadistic concepts. It was a very innovative and original publication, inventing and perfecting the horror-comedy genre later seen in movies such as "An American Werewolf in London." Story plots include:

-A living voodoo doll menaces a man who left his partner to suffer at the hands of a Haitian cult (remember, this was almost 50 years before "Child's Play")

-A practical joker accidentally causes his doctor's family to tradgecally die, only to be unwittingly given capsules with barbed hooks and tickled to death so he'll "die laughing"

-A murderer tries to evade prosecution by making his victim a human missile and "bombing" him right on the little square where Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado meet so the states will argue over who should prosecute him

-Plenty of great vampire stories, including one about a restraunt full of vampires, a vampire who fools a victim because of different time zones, and the unforgettable taxi cab nightmare, "Fare Tonight, Followed by Increasing Clottyness"

Read it from the beginning and you'll see that the style of this comic got more and more bizarre until it was perfected. Great artwork and a sense of harsh justice are another advantage here. You can't call yourself a horror fan and not read "Tales from the Crypt." It's just too entertaining (not to mention influencial) to miss. If you like this comic, then I'd suggest you also checkout its sister publications (also by the legendary publisher EC) "The Vault of Horror" and "The Haunt of Fear."

Let me start by giving a short description of the set, since Amazon lacks any for this item. The set is very large and heavy, the box sleeve about 10" wide, 13" tall, and 5" deep. The 5 books are all hard cover and contain 5 comics, which each have a few stories. There are also some inserted pages inbetween, with odd little one page stories and such. The stories start off with obscure deaths and people killing people and then wander more into the supernatural later in the series. The artwork also gets more detailed and stylistic. The comics are black and white, except the full color front page of each comic, just as they were in the 50s. I recommend this set to anyone who liked Tales from the Crypt, or who even just likes cool creepy stories. The set looks beautiful, one of those you'd like to show to friends. Flipping through the pages staring at the art or reading the stories late at night, I say it was worth every penny.

Let me start by giving a short description of the set, since Amazon[.com] lacks any for this item. The set is very large and heavy, the box sleeve about 10" wide, 13" tall, and 5" deep. The 5 books are all hard cover and contain 5 comics, which each have a few stories. There are also some inserted pages inbetween, with odd little one page stories and such. The stories start off with obscure deaths and people killing people and then wander more into the supernatural later in the series. The artwork also gets more detailed and stylistic. The comics are black and white, except the full color front page of each comic, just as they were in the 50s. I recommend this set to anyone who liked Tales from the Crypt, or who even just likes cool creepy stories. The set looks beautiful, one of those you'd like to show to friends. Flipping through the pages staring at the art or reading the stories late at night, I say it was worth every penny.

This was a great book. Not your ordinary chick lit. It was funny, and romantic, but it also dealt with serious issues of loss and family dynamics. The book was a fast read, and very well written. I would definitely recommend it.

A real story about real human people. At times funny, at times frustrating, at times sad, but always authentic and full of genuine insight into the human condition. And isn't that what great writing is about?

Well done story, excellent heroine, fascinating characters and relationships. Much more than I ever expected at first glance.

I loved Cochran's first book - Mean Season - but Jonah Gray is perhaps even better. The complexity and subtlety of the charachter development is every bit as rich and fascinating, yet she explores emotion and the human condition in an entirely believeable and enthralling way. Like Mean Season, it delves into emotional issues without feeling bleak or gratuitiously depressing. I finished it in two days and was hugely sad to see it come to an end, because it's the kind of book you're constantly drawn into. A fantastic story. A fantastic read.

It had the perfect balance of humor and drama from start to finish. The lead character, Sasha, is someone you connect with in the first 25 pages and from that point on you don't want to put the book down. All in all a wonderful read.

Writing-wise I can see that Stacey has spent a lot of time editing this book. I noticed some redundancy in narration, but not too much. I was impressed with the active voice he used. That's something I initially struggled with when I wrote my first book, Paraworld Zero.

Story-wise, Amber Page is not what I expected. From the cute little girl on the cover I was expecting something like an elementary school book for young girls, but I soon discovered that the reading level is much higher than that. Lots of fighting and action. Imagine a seven-year old girl beating up grown men with Matrix-style moves.

I did enjoy how Stacey brought everything together at the end. The interactions of the father at the end were probably the best writing in the book, although it might have been nice to introduce him a little earlier (perhaps in a phone call or something).

Stacey Cochran has the makings of a best-seller with "Amber Page and the Legend of the Coral Stone." It is a thrilling, action packed adventure that keeps the reader entertained, enthralled and hooked from its opening paragraph to its last words. Readers of all ages will fall in love with Amber Page as she transforms from a sweet first grader to a crime-fighting, superhero with the power to save her family and the world. Cochran has created characters that the reader will undoubtedly identify with and root for, whether it's the Amber, the heroic Rio, the hard-working Donna or the well-meaning Mike. I look forward to more adventures from Amber, as well as "Amber Page" the movie starring Dakota Fanning as a slightly aged Amber. A job well done!

As an adult, I really enjoyed this book even though it is geared toward younger readers. It was thoughtful, fun, and well written. Can't wait for his next book. Give it a try!

I agree with David Morrell that this is one heck of a good idea for a novel! In a nutshell, it's a "James Bond" type tale with a climax reminiscent of "The Matrix's" flair for bending reality and it's really hard to put the book down after about page 20. With all the action scenes, running gun battles and explosions this story has all the makings for an action packed, big-screen movie. Before you start reading this one, make sure you have a large bucket of popcorn and a large drink at hand.

I just received my copy of this last week and devoured it in one sitting. So you can tell that I really enjoyed it. It's a very engaging story that made me laugh in places, cry in others and left me satisfied at the end.

If I can make one criticism of the book it's that there is the odd error in grammar or spelling. The one that really grated is the use of "shined" instead of "shone" in places. There were other minor errors but only a few and I've seen worse things slip by in traditionally published works.

Still it is well worth reading and I do recommend it.

My only major gripe is that I have to wait until Winter 2007 for the next volume.

Lots of useful info and background, particularly useful if you are trying to run a campaign on the magnificent world Babylon 5 created for all of their fans.

It is a pity all the game supplements are so hard to find, I would love if someone reprinted them.

Lots of useful info and background, particularly useful if you are trying to run a campaign on the magnificent world Babylon 5 created for all of their fans.

It is a pity all the game supplements are so hard to find, I would love if someone reprinted them.

Lots of useful info and background, particularly useful if you are trying to run a campaign on the magnificent world Babylon 5 created for all of their fans.

It is a pity all the game supplements are so hard to find, I would love if someone reprinted them.

Lots of useful info and background, particularly useful if you are trying to run a campaign on the magnificent world Babylon 5 created for all of their fans.

It is a pity all the game supplements are so hard to find, I would love if someone reprinted them.

This sourcebook is very important if you have any EF personell as characters. Furthermore, it adds more equipment, skills and charactaristics. More importantly, it includes the Starship combat system for the Babylon Project. I like this system, although I have not had a chance to play it yet. It is fast, easy to understand and tactics are important. Moreover, it is one of the very few starship combat systems I have seen where ships obey the Newtonian Laws of Motion (except gravity drive ships, of course). The weapons chart was accidentally omitted from the book, but it can be downloaded from Chameleon Electric's web site and it was included in the Gamemaster's Screen, below.

Agnes greets me each and every day (she's on my toolbar)...what better way to share with my friends, then to get them a set of this special collection of the heart warming and fun adventures of Agnes and Trout and all the life's lessons they impart on us. Do yourself a favor...make this your coffee table book...your guests will thank you!

Tony Cochran has his finger on the pulse of his heroine. He is witty, sardonic, wise and hilarious. In fact, I think he has a camera pointed at a friend, who I was sure had a unique personality. Now I find that the author knows her too. Agnes is charming and frustrating at the same time. Her view of life never wavers, unless it suits her needs. Her friend, Trout, has a hard row to hoe, but she is faithful to their friendship in spite of it all. Her comments always bring things back into focus. I find myself nodding my head and laughing at each page.

The second book of collections from the comic strip by Tony Cochran is just as brilliant as the last. I love his characters, especaily Agnes - a spunky young girl who makes best she can by using her resorces of wit and sarcasm. The best part of the comic is the writing. Sharp, realistic, and fun. Can by enjoyed by all ages.

I bought this one never having read a single Agnes cartoon before, just because I liked her pointy little toes and frizzy hair...she just had to be wonderful. I was right. Agnes is smart and funny and kooky and this book is refreshing enough to read a second and third time.

Agnes: I Have Tampered With The Divine Plan is cutting-edge humor in the form of an Agnes comic strip collection. Agnes is a young girl with a name far older than she is; she is given to deep thoughts and lengthy ramblings, when she is not gluing Froot Loops on hats, or practicing a dance number in a vain attempt to impress a teacher asking her to multiply 14 x 13. As a strip, Agnes is a much-needed antidote to overly warm and fuzzy scenarios flooding the newspapers, as its young heroine does not enjoy the security of many of her comic strip peers - she lives in a trailer with her elderly grandmother, who tries to stretch diminutive family funds and enrich quality of life through culinary creations a la spam. Agnes' personal poverty, not to mention her biting insight into the world around her, limits her friends circle of friends to one person: the tomboyish Trout, named after one of her father's favorite hobbies (she was only a few numbers away from being named "Powerball"). Together, this duo of unlikely girlfriends produce a dynamic reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes, particularly when one contrasts Agnes' contemplative albeit self-absorbed musings to Trout's more practical and simple realism-based approach to life. Yet Agnes is a unique formula all its own, one in which the quest for self-identity, rather than rampant misbehavior, is the central tenet of the main character's personal struggles. And it's sidesplitting, milk-snorting, feel-sorry-for-the-goldfish-drowned-in-tomato-sauce-but-can't-help- laughing-about-it funny. Highly recommended.

I can't stop looking at the lovely pics. of all Chet's 60 guitars. And the stories in his own words. The best book in the world.

This is a ghost written autobiography of Chet and his various guitars. It has outstanding photography and provides insight into the character of the man.

At first I just meant to thumb through a few pages but Chet's easy-going and enjoyable writing style sucked me in. The next thing it was 2 am and I'd finished most of the book. Although I suffered the next day at work I didn't mind it a bit.

If you like vintage guitars or Chet Atkins' playing I can't recommend this book strongly enough. It is full of beautiful color pictures and behind-the-scenes descriptions of the development of some very interesting and historic instruments. Chet's stories of the people he played with, the guitars he played and the music he made are wonderful and totally engrossing. Buy this book today!!

As I Chet fan, I am always wanting more photos, information etc. on Chets's life, guitars, equipment and technique. This book is fantastic!! The book quality is superb and the photos are exquisite! I am very well pleased to have this book in my Chet collection.

Chet relates the story of his life and describes the guitars he owned and helped design in an easy-going, yet informative, manner in this book, which is lavishly illustrated with photographs of his guitars. As a country music enthusiast, I found Chet's story to be very interesting -- he had much more contact with some of the early artists (such as Karl Davis and Bill Carlisle) than I'd realised. Chet's narrative is characterised by his modesty and generosity to others: for example, he relates how Mother Maybelle Carter and her family fought some elements of the Nashville establishment to ensure he was permitted to play in Music City; and he is very complimentary of other guitarists (e.g. to Australia's Tommy Emmanuel).
I have no hesitation in recommending this book to any country-music enthusiast or country guitarist, though the book also has a much wider appeal.