Allen Books

All the "Seth" books are nothing short of stunning. They are also gripping, mind boggling, unforgettable, and life-changing.

But to read this you had better be prepared to throw away a whole bunch of worn-out beliefs, and pick up a whole bunch of crisp new ones.

It's important to realize that this book is as much about the individual and the power of the individual to control (or partake in chosen) events in immediate surroundings as it is an offering of insight into the nature of "mass events." As usual, Seth points to the power of the individual in the context of the individual's deep connection to "all that is." The revelation that we are not powerless in a world gone berserk (from a subjective perspective) is comforting and downright empowering. This is evolved thought at its best. All that is left to the reader is to experiment with vigor the value system presented. In my mind, this book taken as a whole, was one of the best presentations of the Seth ideas. Read it, practice it's teachings and change your life for the better.

"You create your own reality".

This is the central message of the Seth material. Far from being the helpless victims of circumstances that have been thrust upon us, we are the masters of our own destiny, even though most of us are unaware of it. But if we all create our individual realities, how come that there are events that influence a great number of people simultaneously, like elections, natural disasters or epidemics? How could one possibly believe, for example, that the 6 million jews who died in the holocaust all individually chose that fate for themselves?

It is at the intersection of individual and mass reality where Seth's message indeed appears to fail the reality check. Not so, according to Seth, but it takes a whole book to explain why. 'The Individual and the Nature of Mass Events' carefully elaborates how the individual and the collective consciousness work together in a grandiose balancing act to create a shared reality that serves all the invididual development needs, simultaneously. Seth illustrates his points by discussing some of the great mass events of the time, such as Watergate or Three Mile Island. Of particularly significance in this context is Seth's statement that public health announcements and prevention programs, by their suggestive nature, create more instances of the diseases than they prevent!

'The Individual and the Nature of Mass Events' represents a cornerstone of the Seth material, as it reconciles Seth's principal message with our common sense perception of reality. It helps the reader to make sense of seemingly senseless events, and it shows how each of us, individually, can make a difference.

Why do we have world events, disasters, weather, etc the way they occur? This book address these questions. Reading this book, one can see how we create our realities as societies, cultures, countries, etc. We can gain additional, if not totally new, insight on this matter. What you will find out may surprise you, it may even make you angry or just make you not believe what the book says. To gain further insight, read The Personal Nature of Reality also which will show you how we create our own immediate reality. To me it was difficult to read but others that I know had no problem. Possibly it was hard to read was because it was packed full of information? I give it 4 stars because the way it was written. I think it could have been written so that it is less verbose and easier to understand. This book was written in the 70's when this kind of information was new and hard to find.

Don't get me wrong. All the Seth books by Jane Roberts are worthwhile. And given recent global events, this book is more timely than ever. So I highly recommend that at some point you purchase this book so that you can read and reread it many times over. You should definitely aim to have all the Seth books as part of your personal library. I surely do. And I can pick a Seth book at random, turn to any page, and come away with a fresh insight. But if you are not sure who or what Seth is? Then this book may only confuse and perplex you. If you are new to Seth, I highly recommend that you start with "The Coming of Seth," followed by "The Seth Material," and then the must-have-Seth-book-of-all-time, "The Nature of Personal Reality." Then you will most surely want to read "The Individual and the Nature of Mass Events." My only complaint about this book? The "current" events referred to in this book may seem like ancient history to some. Oh, how I wish Ms. Roberts were alive today for Seth to comment upon such things as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the more recent terrorist attacks. But indirectly, this book will help you come to terms with all these events and more. So in this respect, it is more important now than ever before. And one of the reasons that I include it on my list of "Timely Tomes for Troubled Times."

I purchased this book as a gift for my mother. Her grandfather is featured in one of the pictures "Saddleing a wild horse". It turned out to be much more than I expected. ALOT of beautiful photography and alot of great historical information. I was so impressed with the book I just purchased 3 more for my Aunt's and myself. Very reasonably priced.

I purchased this book with the help of an Amazon tel customer service rep. I was looking for an amazing book of images of the west for a gift. This book was perfect and I was very satisfied. It is a coffee table or collector's type of book,

Great collection of the first pictures of the way West, a library treasure.

Has anybody noticed the goats on page 64? Are these domistic goats, or a wild goat no longer with us?

Frontier photographer Len Huffman worked in the late 1800s to capture the American West on film during an era where images of the open range and Indians were rare. He produced works from Montana which defined the public perception of the West, and well deserves the extensive celebration of his life and achievements that L.A. Huffman: Photographer Of The American West brings to modern readers. An oversized presentation and pages packed with his photos - some 500 - accompanies text introducing his characteristic style and approach. If only one definitive Huffman coverage were selected for a discriminating library collection, it should be this.

Este es un libro perfecto para el principiante que comienza a descubrir la verdadera edentidad y la verdad de nuestra vida. Este libro es muy bien recomendado.

In a search for the philosophies in the modern world, this book is an interesting theory. If You can try this model of working mind, You could feel a sensation of re-born in your life, because we needs a change in our behavior in the XXI century, Try to apply like an excercise and you will note a difference in your family, work, social group, Only one thing, it is really difficult try to explain to others in a religious group, because in theory of many religions a lot of acts and thinking form are a dogma. You could be tagged like a NEW AGE seeker.
This book talk about an ancient tribe in Mexico and its way to take their life many years ago.

THE BEST LATINAMERICAN AUTHOR OF CENTURY 21TH
MIGUEL RUIZ IS THE MASTER OF LOVE OF THIS NEW AGE!!!
DO NOT MISS TO READ ALL HIS BOOKS!!!
JUST THE BEST LOVE BOOKS EVER!!!!

Al igual que los anteriores de Miguel ruiz como los 4 acuerdos es super sencillo este libro, hay veces que de tan sencillo en mi caso hay que hacer paradas para recapitular, es de muy buena compania en tu buro y por supuesto de los que no hay que dejar de hojear y regalar a cualquier persona que uno estima

Leer este libro fué como si alguien me dijera por primera vez con palabras claras algo que había yo intuído desde hace tiempo.
Miguel Ruiz expone con extraordinaria claridad el funcionamiento de nuestro sistema de creencias, y el mecanismo mediante el cual este nos ata a vivir sufrimiento y miedo.
Iniciando con la alegoría del arbol del conocimiento, la serpiente y Adán y Eva, Miguel Ruiz muestra como nuestras creencias nos son enseñadas mediante un sistema de premio/castigo, y como nuestras emociones responden a estas creencias.
Este libro me ayudó enormemente a reconocer que puedo escojer mis pensamientos, y que puedo elegir dejar de pensar pensamientos que van en contra de mi mismo. Aprendí tambien a usar mis emociones como un sistema de alerta sobre el contenido de mi mente. Como resultado de la aplicación de este conocimiento vivo más tranquilo, amo más y disfruto más de mi camino en esta tierra. Tambien he observado que en la medida en la que he logrado hacer paz con migo mismo, ha aumentado mi fortuna y han mejorado mis relaciones con los otros.

Definitivamente vale la pena leer este texto, y de paso "los 4 acuerdos (the four agreements)" y "la maestría del amor (the mastery of love)" del mismo autor.

Otro buen libro que acabo de descubrir, que hace muy buena sinergia con este, es "The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing"

Such a profoundly touching collection of letters expressing the bond between human and animal that transcends physical limitations... highly recommend!

Boone lived - and no doubt still lives - what he believes. He believes what he learned from a receptive and appreciative relationship with a very special dog. Because of reading Boone, I've greatly enhanced my relationships with All Life and it has become easy (most of the time) to love and appreciate life for itself - no matter what shape it comes in. But it is still somewhat difficult to fully love centipedes, for example. Not only are they fast-moving crawly beings whom we cannot keep out, but they are moderately toxic to our cats - all of whom are hunters. So the cats invariably catch the centipedes and get bitten in the act of dispatching them to centipede heaven. Our flies stay out of trouble by staying just out of reach, although a huge moth lost a battle a couple of days ago! I've had communications from many of my animals who have passed out of physical form but who are definitely still alive, as is Strongheart. In my list of Strongheart's (and Boone's) qualities are those that have taught me to hear more clearly what my animal and human friends are sharing with me from the "other" side. My life has been - and is still being - greatly enriched.

I read every pet-loss book I could find when my beloved dog, an 11-year cancer survivor on all natural remedies, died in my arms at the age of 19.
This was one of the very few books that truly spoke to the depth of my pain and provided solace. It gave me a way to be with my grief without plunging me face first into it.

This is Boone's timeless, poetic, and insightful journal, which documents his inner journey while outwardly, he travels and observes the world after the passing of his beloved dog, Strongheart. It left me feeling comforted, introspective, and no longer so alone. A beautiful and wise book, one I have given as a gift to many.

I read this book when I was in high school, and it changed the way I interact with animals, and my outlook on life. I couldn't find it until I looked for it on Amazon.com. 25 years later, it still inspires me the way it did then. Now I'm excited to share it with everyone I meet. It teaches the unconditional love of animals for the humans who are willing to share their lives with them and learn from them. Everyone should read Letters to Strongheart.

If you love animals, most of all pets this is a must read book as it reveals insight about how to communicate
and understand your pets with respect and love. Boone's timeless book was published in the late 1930's and because of his British background his use of words may seem 'dated' to some readers. I found this to be a wonderful book. I recommend it.

This book, along with Practicing the Presence, will introduce you to the principles and practices of the mystical teachings of Joel S. Goldsmith. After reading these two beginning texts, read The Infinite Way, Foundations in Mysticism and Thunder of Silence. Then find Joel's tapes and look for books published before 1966. Joel died in 1964 with a few books ready to publish. However, as time passed, more and more of his words were changed or dropped. Please find original works whenever you can if you are serious about this work. Each book is a compilation of transcribed lectures. As time passed the extreme editing made the works less and less Joel.

The following titles are also original texts: Consciousness Transformed, Rising in Consciousness and Conscsiousness in Transition .

May each word take you closer to your true identity and may God bless your journey.

If you had to pick a single Goldsmith book to read this is it (followed closely by Practicing The Presence). This book presents a clear and concise view of how a human being should live this life with a view to what reality with God is.

To follow the path of the Infinate Way is not easy, but I have found it to be the most rewarding spiritual study of my life. It will shake your perceptions, turn your life upside down, and then set you back on your feet....on your true path. I reccomend this book to any and all spiritual seekers, as Joel's teachings are not exclusionary or judgemental, just earth shattering. This is the place to start reading, to begin learning the principles of the Infinate Way as revealed through Joel Goldsmith, and to start living a true, marvellous, spiritual existence.

I have been a great fan of Joel Goldsmith for some time. He is a remarkable teacher. For those who would like to deepen their experience, I would highly recommend a book called The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle. Our 10-year Joel Goldsmith group has been studying Eckhart and listening to his tapes and they are most remarkable. If you love Joel you will love Eckhart.

I imagine when Joel Goldsmith first wrote this book he wanted people to realize there IS an infinite way to live and this wonderful 'Way' became Joel's way and the way for millions of people today who follow Joel's teachings.

This is a small book, packed tight with mind-boggling TRUTH. It will open your eyes if you're receptive. It will change your life if you let it. It will answer some of the most deepening questions of your soul. It will leave you with new peace. It will set you on a beautiful, fulfilling road you never knew existed.

Living the infinite way means seeing everything with new eyes; with spiritual perception. It means giving up past indoctrinations and false teachings of God and man perpetuated through time.

My book is hardback, purchased over 20 years ago. It got me started on my own journey, which has been a reward I'll never give up. We can all live the Infinite way when we realize who and what God is. I recommend this book and all Goldsmith writings.

Gail Gupton, Author: The 31-Day Diet of Spiritual Enlightenment and Seekers of Truth

Maybe I'm just a sucker for great conclusions, but this is my favorite of the trilogy (and not because it's over). I feel this is the most epic of the bunch, and Tolkien's passionate writing blew me away.

This is the book where everything comes together in the light of day, when I found myself cheering the hardest and caring the most. This is the book we want, with tragedy, happiness, and romance.

im sorry but there is nothing i can say about this that hasent been said in the 100000 reviews for this book on amazon! BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!I LOVE YOU TOLKIEN !!!

If you were trusted with a dangerous object, would you use it? A young hobbit did, and it nearly cost him his life. Frodo Baggins was given the One Ring and was told to travel to mount doom to destroy it. The theme is friendship and strength. An example of strength is when the armies of orcs attacked the last fortress of Rohan, Helm's Deep. you will have to read

Peter Jackson has created an OUTSTANDING masterpiece in it's own right with his interpretation of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy... but Tolkiens books are some of the best literature of the 20th century.

Jackson takes several liberties with some key points of the story line, not the least of which is making Frodo a "Naive Young Hobbit" when in fact, Frodo and his companions didn't set out on their quest to Rivendell until AFTER his 50th birthday. Little inconsistencies like that between the movies and the books aboud, reason enough to pick up copies of the books to see Tolkiens original narrative.

'The Return of The King', by JRR Tolkien is the continuing adventures of the remaining members of the Fellowship as they draw together to meet the coming of the War of the Ring. The power of Sauron, the Dark Lord is stretching out over the land, and the great city of Minas Tirith has fallen under siege. Yet even as those in Minas Tirith struggle to surviv, and Rohan musters for war, Frodo and Sam draw closer and closer to the end of the journey. Yet in the darkness of Mordor the ring grows stronger, and in the gathering darkness Frodo has begun to fall to its influence.

RD Williams, author of 'The Lost Gate'

This is the first book I have read from this author, but will not be the last. I sat down for a short break, thinking I would read a chaper or two, and ended up reading the entire book in one evening. I simply could not remove my self from the world of Honoria. If you are looking for an escape, this is it!

I think the part of this book that hooked me was Honoria's energy towards everybody around her. In a time when many people still looked at black people and assumed they were nothing more than hired help, Honoria hired May as her personal assistant and treated her as an equal from day one. When the son of Honoria's best friend comes to her for help (wanting to prove that his fiancee was murdered, and didn't commit suicide) she reluctantly agrees to ask around and see what she can find. Toss in her loyal housekeeper, Mick (her Russian lover who everybody thinks is her husband), and a smattering of other characters and you've got a great story. Aside from the actual story, I liked the fact that the author kept the number of characters minimal so that you didn't have any trouble following who was whom.

Mood Indigo is my favorite book. The writing is excellent.

Mood Indigo is brilliant; it kept me guessing "who did it" until the end. Usually in mystery books I can tell right off the bat who the killer is. But not this time. And usually I can say at least one thing I didn't like about a book. But not this time.

I highly recommend Mood Indigo to anyone who wants to read a mystery with exceptional characters in a time before the internet and cell phones. I guarantee you will not be disappointment.

Charlotte Vale Allen has written many books, all different, and Mood Indigo is no exception. She makes you care about the characters.

Mood Indigo is a must read for mystery buffs. Once you've read the book you will see why it's my all-time favorite book.

Wonderful as always, Charlotte develops and then allows us to explore vivid and complex characters. She weaves an amazing tapestry of a book, starting with only a few colors then leading us on with the promise of more and brilliant additions, and she does not disappoint.

The pace of this book is exactly as a novel should be paced -giving us time to savor yet propelling us to turn the page. There are valuable insights into the reality of abuse even in the setting of the great depression. Add to all of this a perfectly consummated mystery and you have MOOD INDIGO.

The book starts off lightly, like an evocative Blues song -with a couple of instruments playing, teasing us with a hauntingmelody line. We 'witness' the crime and are introduced to some of the main characters. We don't know them well at this point, but they are intriguing enough to keep us reading, wanting to know more.

In Blues tradition, as each new segment of the song is played, more instruments are added, a few at a time, adding depth and power to the resulting sound, and we don't even realize how subtly we've been drawn into the heart of the music. So it is with "Mood Indigo". These are people we'd like to know (most of them, anyway!), and their lives, both past and present, form a rich tapestry which comes to life as we share with them this frigid winter month in the heart of New York City during a year when a lot of us weren't even born yet. The settings in which they operate and the clothes they wear, as well as the language they use, draw us back into that era.

As the rhythm of this story picks up momentum, all of the players are now in place, interacting with each other in fascinating, surprising ways, giving us entrancing 'solo' action at unexpected moments. Their individual 'melody lines' weave in and out, all headed in the same direction, but traveling in their own unique way. Honoria, who occupies the pivotal position in the story, is all at the same time strong and vulnerable, in control and at the mercy of, loved and feared - wonderfully, powerfully human. She is the rich, underlying 'melody line' throughout the piece, and her commitment and loyalty draw the remaining players along with her, including us as observers to their drama. We follow eagerly, gratified to be involved.

The end of the 'song' is approaching, all the 'players' are in full swing. The mystery has drawn us in, full of surprising twists, giving us clues, so far, but no answers. We proceed quickly, devouring paragraphs in great gulps as the story expands. We attempt to take it all in, not wanting to miss anything along the way. Once everyone's part in the performance has been disclosed to the fullest (in a song), and the characters' roles have been defined, giving us the answers to our questions (in a story), the individuals begin to slowly withdraw from the inner circle, backing away one or two at a time, leaving Center Stage to the one with the lead melody line. "Mood Indigo" follows this path. The music slowly fades in our heads, and the book is reluctantly closed, because we're not yet ready to be finished with either the entertaining 'song' or the remarkable people whose lives we've shared.

From the haunting picture on the cover to the last typewritten line, "Mood Indigo" will captivate its readers, as it gives us yet another pearl to add to our string of Charlotte Vale Allen treasures. I laughed out loud, cried real tears, and was disappointed only by the fact that the end of the story came so soon. My thanks, once again, to the author!

This version is out of print. Please see the "Nudist Among Us Revisited" for the current print.

Nudist Among Us Revisited contains the work of Nudist Among Us and A Mouse Among Us, along with some new material. It is a much better version and is half the cost of the other two books.

Thanks for your support and God Bless.

Allen, the author.

...to his writing. It's to the point, enjoyable, and just absurd enough to be both believable and funny. Highly recommended.

A Mouse Among us is Allen Parker's second book and the second book of his I have had the pleasure to be exposed to. Not only did I read them quickly because they have that can't put it down quality to them, I appreciate his gift for physical dark humor,which to me is hard to write. Much like the I LOVE LUCY episodes we rerun to get a laugh, Parker is the master of the ridicuous exaggerations that get you giggling as you read along. Three cheers for book one and two...better be more of them coming.

Humorist Allen Parker brings delightfully zany Christian nudist Chester back for more hilarious antics in this sequel to Nudist Among Us. Along for the ride are Chester's long-suffering wife, Karalyn, and amiable son, Ajay. This collection of short stories is guaranteed to not only entertain the reader but to evoke smiles, if not side-splitting laughs. The stories ramble through Chester's childhood and adulthood, with Parker's unique sense of humor shining through to perfection. It is suggested that the reader may want to keep this book near at hand for those times when a good laugh is needed. Is laughter the best medicine? You'll definitely feel good after reading A Mouse Among Us.

During our daily lives, we all do embarrassing things that we hope no one will find out about. But let's hope they are quite as bad as Chester! It's like watching a rerun of Lucy! You know Chester is in for it, you just don't know how and why. This is an affordable and very funny book right in time for Christmas. I laughed out loud during the book but especially at the mouse story for which the book was named. What a great stress releaver! We just know we aren't as dumb as Chester - or are we?

This version is out of print. Please see the "Nudist Among Us Revisited" for the current print.

Nudist Among Us Revisited contains the work of Nudist Among Us and A Mouse Among Us, along with some new material. It is a much better version and is half the cost of the other two books.

Thanks for your support and God Bless.

Allen, the author.

I especially relish reviewing Nudist Among Us, for it was written by a friend of mine, Allen Parker. When I was first introduced to this southern gentleman, I was told he had a way with anecdotes. This fact is confirmed by any reader of Mr. Parker's book, Nudist Among Us.

On a visit to Allen's house in Virginia, he handed me a manuscript he had put together. He told me it was a collection of his humorous anecdotes. What he didn't tell me was that it was in the hands of a publisher and destined to come out as a book just months later.

Allen is one of those people who can turn the most mundane experience (at least the way he relates it) into a thigh-slapping yarn. Whether it's a story of his substituting on a paper route as a boy, or as an adult husband and father on a camping trip, Allen invests each story with his own particular brand of comic timing. Each yarn has the unmistakable flavor of the South. You can almost hear Allen's Virginia drawl as you read. Were these stories true? Probably. Have they been recorded accurately? Probably not--at least totally. But that's not the point. The best part of the story is in the telling, and Allen performs that task admirably well.

Allen's style is straightforward and without unnecessary decoration. Often, he's the brunt of his humor, sometimes his long-suffering wife and son. But the humor is never hurtful, or unkind. When you finish reading one of his rambling mishaps, you feel as though you had just listened to him tell the tale first-hand, while sitting in his living room with a cup of coffee.

My advice? Pick up Nudist Among Us, make yourself a cup of coffee, curl up in your favorite easy chair and let this facile storyteller charm you with his wit and homespun humor. When you've read the last chapter, you'll wish the book were longer.

Want some fun? Read "Nudist Among Us" and fun is yours. Parker has penned a creative uniquely quirky laughfest that makes you think,too... Three cheers for the comedic writing gifts of Allen Parker. I want more...get writing.

This book is laugh out loud funny. It must be really hard being a nudist and an active member of the church! My mother is 78 years old and she doesn't understand that nudity is funny. This book is a great collection of short stories to make you feel less stupid than you feel in everyday life. Also, a nice little paperback stocking stuffer for Christmas. What a hoot!

My copy of Nudist Among Us came with a "Skinny Dipper's License," but it should have come with a 10%-off coupon for a divorce lawyer because I woke my husband so many times from laughing aloud while reading in bed that he threatened to divorce me.

Chester's adventures as a Christian nudist make for the funniest book I've read in a long time and, oddly enough, many of his self-deprecating insights about life, love and family ring completely true, even to someone who would sooner take a beating than appear in public au naturel. Chester is irresistibly endearing, and if there is any similarity between the author and his protagonist, Allen Parker's wife gets my vote for sainthood. But I'm sure she's also glad she has such a fun-loving, devoted husband who clearly loves her almost as much as he loves getting into trouble.

Take a vacation from life's pressures and read Nudist Among Us. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a prayer of thanks on your lips that Chester is not part of your family.

This is a very fun RPG game. Great for one shot sessions. Imagine Logans Run mixed with Monty Python. You play a Clone in Alpha complex. You have six clones. You will need them .The computer that runs the complex is insane. You go on troubleshooting missions for the computer and try to have traitors arrested or killed. You are a traitor, as is everyone else on your team. You just don't know it yet ! It pits the players against each other and the DM runs them through scenarios. Its really fun. And goofy.
The computer is your friend. Hail the computer. Remember happiness is mandatory. If your not happy report for termination.

This is the single most entertaining RPG book on my shelf. As far as reading the material goes, it's a perfect example of what you can do by turning normally frowned on RPG behavior into a drop dead riot of a game. The emphasis here is on the drop dead part.

While the text of the game goes to great lengths in instilling in the reader a sense of how the game is supposed to be played, in the end there are only two rules that need following.

1. The GM is always right.
2. Happiness is mandatory!

It's that simple, and it couldn't be more fun to read this book. Once you understand that every bit of it is cleverly written to convey the theme of Paranoia to the reader, you don't feel like you are being lectured yet again on the proper application of an attack roll. Rather you are learning what it is to be a GM/Player of this great game.

I only hold one complaint which is so minor that it didn't even effect me giving this game a perfect score.

Normally I don't find it necessary to print two seperate books for the core of a game. I actually prefer many games where GM and player information can be easily included together in one well laid out tome. Basically I don't think it's normally necessary to have to have two or more books to play and run a game. However in this case I think I would've preferred a division of the book into a distinct Player's guide and a distinct GM's manual. I think this is truly one of those games where the player's are better served to discover the ins and outs through regular play. In the case of Paranoia, the fun is in the failure.


ADVICE TO ASPIRING TROUBLESHOOTERS:

If you intend on playing this game, take the books advice and don't read the GM only section. Trust me when I say the tension caused by the unknown is the bread and butter of an enjoyable Paranoia session.

If you're the one buying the book for your group, gather the money together from fellow players and give this as a gift to your GM. He'll thank you, and any GM worth his weight will itch to run this game once he gets his hands on it. After all, what's the point of owning a book you are only supposed to read 48 pages of. PLAY THE GAME FIRST, AND THEN AFTER A WHILE BUY THE BOOK FOR YOURSELF. DON'T RUIN THE FUN BY READING TOO MUCH!

All in all, even if you do intend to ignore my advice and read it all, you'll have a blast doing so. I haven't had this much fun reading an RPG in a long time (with the possible exception of Godlike).

STAY ALERT! TRUST NO ONE! KEEP YOUR LASER HANDY!

Paranoia XP is the newest and in my opinion best version of the Paranoia game line. Here are people who need not apply (just to get you guys on to games better suited for your playstyle):

Gamers who like heavy combat tactics needn't look into Paranoia XP. Most of the weapons will kill a clone in one shot.

Gamers who like strategy in character generation or advancement needn't look into Paranoia XP.

Gamers who tend toward heavier systems (D&D, Rifts, HERO, GURPS) probably should tread with caution, as Paranoia XP's system is one die roll-under for everything. The rules are simple: roll a d20, get under Skill. Then if the GM decides you succeed, you succeed.

Gamers intent on character growth and development can find some support for such here, but under Classic rules, characters die often and hilariously.

If you like intra-party harmony, a good idea for nearly all RPGs, shouldn't look here. Paranoia is about backstabbing your fellow Troubleshooter.

If you enjoy having larger than life heroes, don't look into Paranoia XP. Paranoia XP characters are incompetant, ignorant, and insane.

Well, if you're still here, you either don't care about the above, or you're still interested to hear about the game itself, well, here goes:

By the way, you might have noticed I'm not bothering with any "HAPPINESS IS MANDATORY!" or "NOT AVAILABLE AT YOUR SECURITY CLEARANCE!" stuff, because I know it can be quite offputting to those looking into the game. It's an "in" joke, and using it against people who aren't "in" yet is a bit mean and/or foolish.

The game is about a complex, an underground post-modern utopia called the Alpha Complex, which is run by an AI called The Computer. Or it would be a utopia, if The Computer wasn't insane and paranoid, looking for commie mutant traitors. The Computer has security cameras everywhere, and regulates everything in the complex: air, food, plumbing, industry, economy, etc. Everything. But that's not the worst of it.

The mass of population is heavily medicated, usually happy in their existence mowing about the complex and doing their assigned duties. But not the player's characters! They have gotten the honor of being moved up in security clearance, from a lowly INFRARED to the slightly less lowly RED. Their job has been reassigned to Troubleshooter, and they get a laser gun! They go on fantastic suicidal/impossible missions for The Computer to root out commie mutant traitors, secret society members, and other sabateurs of The Computer. There's only one problem...

All the characters are mutants, and all belong to a Secret Society (perhaps even Communists). All the characters are traitors. And it's not like players don't know that everyone is a traitor. Instant mayhem, just add water and stir.

If this sort of game doesn't interest you, Paranoia XP is not for you.

This is one of the best RPG's I've come along in a long time...it's extremely unique, fun, relevant to the times, and hillarious! Imagine a dark, dystopian, 1984-like future...except more comic, more insane, and more deadly. It's worth it to buy just to read the book, it's written very well with a dashing brand of twisted humor. My brother loved it too, and just *had* to borrow it once he had read through a bit.

The rules though, I have no idea about...whenever I GM an RPG, I just skip most of the rules and run things in a more story-based, freeform way. So that I can't vouch for...but even if they suck, the setting should make up for it :)

The new Paranoia XP (PXP) is a refreshing breeze for the game. Well written, obviously very thought out, without the problems of 5th edition. It's hard to give a review without comparing it to older editions, of course. Suffice to say that this might be the edition that brings Paranoia out of gaming limbo.

Everything is well thought out, from mutations to secret societies to the history and functioning of Alpha Complex. The increased use of personal computers, PDAs and the Internet is now reflected in PXP. The humor is present, but in measured doses, and there was (thank goodness) no attempt to go "over the top" with things. No acronyms simply to make funny acronyms, for instance. Character creation is notably different from previous editions (no stats for Strength, Intelligence, etc.), but now characters can improve themselves. With the addition of three play styles - Zap, Classic, and Straight - they may actually live long enough to do so! ("Straight" Paranoia, for instance, presumes a dark, gritty, realistic game, while Classic is 1st/2nd edition style, and Zap is simply "everyone shoots everything and each other".)

The downside? Well, the index isn't as helpful as you might think, and it's hard to find the chapter breaks. Several times when I wanted to look up a specific table or information, I ended up leafing through the book to find what I wanted.

Also, a mention on the artwork. Jim Holloway was the original Paranoia artist in 1984. He's been tapped again for PXP, and it appears his style has not evolved or improved in 20 years. Paranoia purists might enjoy it, but I was hoping for something a little more updated, more in keeping with the times. No, that doesn't mean I wanted a "manga" look, but there have been other Paranoia artists (Greg Guler, Valerie Valusek, Brian Schomburg, Sonya Obrochta, etc.) who might have been used. I've played Paranoia since 1st edition, and Holloway's artwork has not aged well. Unfortunately, the official word is that Holloway's art will continue to appear in PXP products.

Art and index issues aside, this is a good return to the series' roots. Old-school Paranoia fans should be pleased. I hope PXP will bring new fans into the fold as well.