Ashton Books

I am an avid manga collector and had been wanting to check out Mars for a long time since I saw a write up on it in Newtype magazine. It did not disappoint. The artwork is lovely and the storyline isn't skimpy or cheesy, it is a manga with substance and relatable charaters, I am 20 and love this manga. I currently own volumes 1-6 and am looking forward to number 7! :)

I thought this is a great romantic seires. Kira and Rei a weird couple yes. Shy and sweet quiet artist girl to Dangerous bad boy that does what he wants. But I loved how the started the first volume. It already showed so things that will come ahead to this couple. Some people look for the art in manga but it wasn't like that for me. I liked the art and this a old manga but has been proveing to this girl that many has loved this series for the beauty of it's story and art. For romance I recommend this book. They already get this couple in some very sweet moments :). I get lost in this series every time I read it. To know more about the series I so recommend buying the fullength series which is 15 books. I love reading them over and over. I hope you find yourself swept away as I was when I read the first book then I couldn't stop reading after that I had to the next one then the next one. You get so later yo.

GREAT MANGA!!!!
I'm in my twenties and this is one of the best mangas

this book rocked. Not gonna drone on like the rest of my reviews except to say read this. I loved how you could tell just how different these two were. Short book, but had me on the edge of my seat all the way. Finished in twenty minutes, but came back to read my favorite parts. And the picture when they kiss and they're sparkling! AWESOME ART MAN! Get this book.

This is Jumaane

If you dig love stories and like manga, this series is a MUST READ. The artwork is very good and the characters are expressed very well, the plot is insanely good, and its fifteen volumes long, meaning that there's a lot more to love! And, the main character drives a Ducati Monster, the awesomest bike in the universe. What more could you ask for???

This book is duende! I come from Gypsy stock- and this book tells it all about our wonderful culture and passion for life. This book oozes passion, so be prepared for reading it beginning to end - it will be hard to put down!

I've always been drawn to stories about those mysterious wanderers known as the Gypsies. Although often portrayed in literature and in movies as conniving hucksters and campy fortune tellers with bad eastern European accents, author Alison Mackie's "The Gypsy Chronicles" captures the truly passionate heart and soul of the enigmatic Roma. Are you a hopeless romantic, longing and searching for meaningful prose in a age of bawdy sexuality and violence-themed literature? Then go out and get this book! Your only regret will be the words, "The End."

The Gypsy Chronicles is a crisp, energetic work that happily ensnares the readers into a world of love, passion, and beauty. The back drop is southern Spain and the culture of the gypsies. The stories convey a message of love and that sex without love and respect is not a worthy life path. This is so refreshing as our popular culture seems to deliver an opposite message, which degrades both women and men. Thank you Ms. Mackie for an enchanting book and I can't wait to read the next book!

The Gypsy Chronicles may be a Fairytale but the feelings it created were very real. And that is why at just under 180 pages, with illustrations, this book is maybe more like an appetizer than a main course.
It ended far too soon and so despite all the charm I felt a little short changed by The Gypsy. Even so I am eagerly looking forward to read the next book in the series.

Alison Mackie has created a modern day fairy tale. The Gypsy Chronicles is a story of passion, love and a wonderful bed in which to experience both. Within the book there are charming little tibits: quotes, photographs and artwork. Ms. Mackie brings us the gypsy life and culture and through her words we can almost taste the wine, hear the music and feel the pounding of the flamenca as she taps her way into your heart and mind. This is a delightful read and anyone with a little "gypsy" in their soul must experience it!!

fantastic plot and characters, but i like the anime a little bit better. but then the only thing wrong with the anime is that it stops at 12 episodes whilst the manga continues. however, both are wonderful and should be watched/read.

Loveless is one of the best manga ever. I loved it so much, that I rushed to buy every one the bookstore had one sale. Ritsuka is hilariously cute. Soubi is just hilarious in general.

Everyone around me seemed to be reading "Loveless". I finally gave in and read the first volume and I'm glad. The storyline was very unique and the artwork is beautiful. It is all around a good piece of work and is enjoyable to read. I couldn't put it down!

I don't think my review matters any, seeing as this book gets 5 stars all the way across!

It's a great book, it's new and interesting. I came into this having seen the entire anime series first. I noticed that Ritsuka is more outwardly expressive in the manga series. I liked that a lot. It didn't make Soubi seem like such a perv in that aspect.

It's a great story, romantic, funny at times, adorable. Just a great book.

New to manga/anime/yaoi/shonen-ai/shota, as of about four months ago, I encountered Loveless very early in my quest for the secrets of this amazing literary form, and I must say I got the impression all anima/manga was as profound and exquisite as Loveless. I saw the first episode on the Newtype free DVD and have been screaming and weeping and clapping my hands ever since. In spite of the ethereal beauty of the anime in vol.1 (or because of it), the suffering seeps through immediately. You know this child (Ritsuka) is abused one way or another, and that there are real secrets here as moving and significant as in any great work of literature. You know what you've got to work with as an empathetic viewer/reader: BIG HEARTACHE.

The longing is tremendous, and manifests in the yearning for each other among the other characters as well(Yuiko, Yayoi-san, the teacher and the therapist, Koya and Yamato, not to mention Ritsuka's poor mother)almost as much in the dance of relationship (whatever its nature)between Ritsuka and Soubi. There is throughout constant pleasurable tension in which the heart slowly breaks. This is not frivolous stuff. The lightness and humor which appears often only draws us into greater identification with the characters, and enriches the story.

The magical/fantasy element in the series suggests the truth of psychological struggle in the realm of the unconscious, and yet the action of story takes place in the world of realism, of believable emotional and social conflict. And while there are many conventions of the anime/manga I've seen (fighting with magical or scientific powers, high school or Jr. High social interaction, the necessity of loyalty and partneship in war, the awakening of love) Kouga takes these conventions to a level both more realistic and more sublime.

While Ritsuka's suffering is all-apparent and heartwrenching, I found myself worrying a lot about Soubi. He has lost Seimei, the Beloved, and will not have him back, however Ritsuka may have awakened him from the breakdown Kio describes. We also suspect he will not get what he really longs for however things turn out, that he will be the most tragic figure of all in this story. In addition, he is the so-called adult, who must not show his suffering, who must appear cool and mature as a model for these younger children. Soubi's role is in a way sadest and most sympathetic of all.

I did not at first know Earthian was also Yun Kouga's work. The contrasts and similarities are intriguing. In my opinion, the style of the art work in Loveless is much more beautiful, or perhaps just more to my taste. I will have to go back and check out the complexity I know Earthian contains. I want more Loveless and I'm afraid the next manga is all we're going to get. However, vol. 3 of the anime left things delicately open-ended, so maybe we're not going to be frustrated. Maybe Kouga-sensei will make some more gorgeous, thoughtful works of her beautiful art.

I searched everywhere for this book, and when I found it, I practicly lunged at it, and it was beyond worth it. Step into the life of the young sleuth, Lili, as she uncovers mysteries by finding the birthdates of the victims and the suspects, so she can use her mothers ring to solve the cases. I love the series; I bought all of the books within a month. Enjoy!

This is a very good series, despite being so short. I love how the mysteries are incorporated with tidbits of astrology. It's really very interesting and engrossing. Another thing I love is the blossoming romance between Lily and Hiromi is so fun and you'll be screaming for them to get together the whole time. Lily is an astrology whiz who has just taken over her missing mother's job; Spica. Spica is a detective who uses her secret ring to call upon the spirits of each sign to help her solve the murder or mystery. The little spirits are adorable and each has a distinctive personality based on their representative sign. Throughout each book their will be author's notes telling you about the sign being investigated at the time. The mysteries themselves are varied and some (as in later in the series) can be downright frightening! This isn't a book that will scare you, however. It's a story about mystery, lost love, a missing parent, and fun. There are many funny bits to lighten the story up. The art style involves a lot of shading and screen tones. It is very detailed. This is a great series all around and I definitely recommend it!

This is a good series. It's about Lili, a high-schooler who solves crimes with the help of a magical ring containing the spirits of the zodiac signs (Virgo, Scorpio, etc.), who give her clues to track down who did the crime, and how.

The art is pretty good, but not what I would call remarkable. The story is mostly meant for younger kids, so a 10-year-old would probably like it a bit more than a teenager. If you're trying to get a friend of yours interested in manga, (or want to find out about manga yourself) this is a good choice for fans of Nancey Drew and Encyclopedia Brown.

This manga is great! It has comedy, mystery and action. And the art is beautiful. Its too bad that there is not much on it on the web... Cause it never got turned into a tv show, and so it is not known very well :( I recommend that you buy this and introduce this to your friends, make them read it even though they might judge the book by its cover! my buddies say that they didnt like to read this because of the cover T_T! its a good manga!

I LOVE Zodiac P.I.! It's wonderfully written, with a awesome cast of characters and catchy plot! I've read all 4 of the books so many times that I accidently ripped the spine of the 4th volume...oopps.

~The Characters~
Lili (NOT Lily) Hoshizawa is a 13 yr. old astrologist on a search for her mother,Kaoruko Hoshizawa,who disappeared 2 years ago. In the meantime,she busts mysteries under the alias Spica P.I. and leaves the police, along with her own father, scratching thier heads as to who she is. She solves crimes with 2 things: the birthdate of the victim and the help of 12 zodiac spirits who give her clues and guidance from Lili's summoning of her Star Ring.
Hiromi Oikawa,however,is another story. Good-looking,yes, Hiro is also a detective(much to Mr. Hoshizawa's annoyance) and deals with the mysteries in a logical manner. At times, he's a regular pain in the behind. Hiromi is also allergic to girls, including his own sister, Megumi(whose vainity is VERY annoying..I'd like to do nothing more than kick her and Michelle/Sailor Neptune over a cliff. They're so AIR-HEADED...) I find that very funny.......poor Hiromi!!

Compelling, uplifting and utterly absorbing, this book must certainly have been inspired by God. It stands alone in a yet-to-be-determined class, and must, in time, surely be regarded as a classic. HIGHLY recommended for readers of all denominations - including unbelievers!

Compelling, uplifting, and utterly absorbing, this book must certainly have been inspired by God! It stands alone in a yet-to-be-determined class, and must, in time, surely be regarded as a classic. HIGHLY recommended for readers of all denominations - including unbelievers!

I have just finished this book. Now I can hardly wait for the new one. The whole story kept me spellbound and I just didn't want it to end. The writer puts a lot of herself into all her books, and this, as well as everything she believes in, is portrayed in some manner in them. That's what makes them so special. I felt as though I knew right where everything was taking place. I could see Johannesburg on the map and just routed out from there.

I know that I know that I know that this is a good book! I have read many others of this period, and I find this one well written, excitingly paced, with charming characters. For me it's on a par with The Sound of Music in making belief in God attractive and real. Well done!

Thank you for being such a good writer. Your thoughts and the way you express them are pure beauty. Your novels contain such valuable ideas and are so well expressed that the deepest ones can reach the soul. Congratulations! And keep on writing. The world needs you!

I've been an avid CAS reader for over 30 years. I happened on the Ballantine Books "Fantasy Series" paperback edition ZOTHIQUE when it was first released in the 70s, and have long wished for a compendium of his work.

CAS's style is very dense, and reflects very careful construction of prose as well as plot. His style is as evolved as Lord Dunsany, Morris, and Tolkien, and is entertaining in it's own right. Don't let this scare you off - his stories are all eminently accessible to casual readers, and numerous wry turns of phrase indicate a well-honed (but bone dry) sense of humor.

When compared to his better-known contemporaries, H.P. Lovecraft (Cthulu) and Robert E. Howard (Conan) I find CAS to be more a "readers writer." CAS is a master of phrasing surpassing HPL - his stories are less eerie than HPL, and don't slather on the dread as heavily. CAS is (usually) less swash-buckling blood-and-gore than REH, but doesn't shrink from characters hacking each other to bits when the story requires.

The only fault I can find with this series is that stories are ordered by date of publication. (Perhaps this was required by the copyrights issued to the three Ballantine collections assembled by Lin Carter.) My preference, though less academic, would be to collect the tales by story cycle to facilitate READING rather than STUDYING. Nevertheless, these volumes are without question well worth the investment - like a collection of Poe, you will find yourself returning to them many times.

I love the writings of Clark Ashton Smith. He was the quintessenstial poet. BOW DOWN, I AM THE EMPEROR OF DREAMS. I Crown me with the million-colored suns of secret worlds incredible and take their trailing skies
for vestment. His fiction is also clothed in words that are poetry. His only peer is Lord Dunsany.I corresponded a little with Smith and owned one of his strange sculptures. I welcome this renaissance of interest in Smith (if that is what it is).I wrote a short story influenced by his writings which he critiqued and added one sentence. I lost it, if you ever come across it, the title is THE COMING OF THE BLACK NEBULA.

`The End of the Story' is the first of five volumes of Clark Ashton Smith's short stories. The stories are arranged chronologically by composition. The stories in this volume were written between 1925 and 1930. The stories are:

The Abomination of Yondo
Sadastor
The Ninth Skeleton
The Last Incantation
The End of the Story
The Phantoms of the Fire
A Night in Malneant
The Resurrection of the Rattlesnake
Thirteen Phantasms
The Venus of Azombeii
The Tale of Satampra Zeiros
The Monster of the Prophecy
The Metamorphosis of the World
The Epiphany of Death
A Murder in the Fourth Dimension
The Devotee of Evil
The Satyr
The Planet of the Dead
The Uncharted Isle
Marooned in Andromeda
The Root of Ampoi
The Necromatic Tale
The Immeasurable Horror
A Voyage to Sfanomoe

Most of the stories are of the `weird tale' sort, but some veer to straight Horror and some can be classified as Science Fiction (although always with a horror angle). Smith was a very flowery writer, and some of the stories can be tough going, but that's the beauty of short stories, they're short.

This first volume in what promises to be the definitive collection of short fiction by Clark Ashton Smith is nothing short of a literary treasure. For those who have previously had to satisfy their craving for Klarkashtonia by seeking it out in scattered and hard-to-obtain tomes, The Collected Fantasies of Clark Ashton Smith is a blessing nonpareil. Do yourself a favor and get it while it lasts.

As established here and reinforced by the second volume, all five books in this series are essential to anyone interested in Smith's work and literate fantasy as a whole. Connors and Hilger have followed earlier textual studies by Donald Sidney-Fryer, Steve Behrends, and others with extensive studies of their own to restore as much of the glory to Smith's texts as is currently possible - and what glory! Smith is one of the few fantasists capable not only of creating multiple fantasy cultures, but with investing each of those worlds with its own distinct atmosphere, tone, and use of language. Many earlier versions of these texts toned down the richness, eroticism, and grotesquerie of these stories in order to appeal to what Smith's editors deemed was acceptable to the lowest-common-denominator among its readership. Scores of deletions, simplifications, bowdlerizations, and other alterations which have served to remove the sheen from these works have here been corrected through painstaking attention to all available manuscripts and correpondence. Here, at long last, is Smith in all his mordant, coruscating splendor. If one considers all of this, along with intelligent introductory material; alternate endings; unpedantic notes to each story detailing its composition, publication history, and its place within the larger context of Smith's work; as well as Jason Van Hollander's inspired integration of Smith and his sculptures into the macabre and affectionate cover art; Night Shade and these editors have presented to all lovers of fantasy an edition of the master's prose fiction which will serve as the benchmark for many years to come.

Hi,
OK! This book is just toooooooooooooooo CUTE!!!!!! I've read the whole first series twice!!!!! And this just happens to be one of the sweetest EVER!!! You HAVE to buy it! For those of you who are on the first books and LOVE Ichigo {and no her name is not Zoey}you will love the ending of this series! Also mew mew continues in Tokyo mew mew A La Mode!!! So if I were you I would keep reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh boy, this is the best book yet! I LUV Kish, he's soooo HOTT. I'm so mad at Ichigo for liking Masaya instead of him. If I were her, I'd consider myself lucky. I cried when Kish died, it broke my heart that he would die to save the girl that doesn't even love him! ANYWAY.......I HIGHLY recomend that you read this book.

By the way, im not a kid. Im just a girl who used the kids review so i wouldn't have to log on. im 14, seriously. Luv ya!

-Rezurii

This book was great. I've read it over 5 times in the first month I've gotten the book. The book is great, and the petite mew mew and extra pages are great!

I loveddd this book it's probably the best book out of the series. It seems so happy until the suprise twist. I'd really like to tell you but it would destroy the suprise part. Read IT!!!!!!!

It was a great book, but it was sort of sad. I mean, Kish dies and he really loves Ichigo and all that. It does have it's happy moments, but in my opinion, it is just plain sad.

This book is very readable and has been a great aid in home schooling our elementary school age children in ancient history. It delves into the whole topic of aligning the historical events of the Bible with the secular accounts of early civilizations. Great tool if you believe as I do that early civilizations followed the dispersion of people at the Tower of Babel.

Egyptian history can be very confusing when one first undertakes the study of it. In fact, the more you study it, the more of a riddle it becomes. The biggest problem in the history is not so much what happened as when it happened. The issue becomes even more compound if one tries to synchronize the Bible with Egypt's chronology. David Down and John Ashton do a great job of setting a realistic and greatly reduced time frame for the land of the sands.
When I first begin to gather info on biblical chronology I looked to Ussher. Although, Ussher does alright with later history there is so much that Ussher does not explain. Furthermore, most of the names given by Ussher are not even known to us to have ever been pharoahs. I became discouraged until I saw this book. Once I picked it up I was hooked. Here was all things that my history prof taught me but with an altered time frame. The evidence for a new chronology is quite convincing and Downs is not the only one to adopt it.
Downs who has been an archaeologist for some 50 years lets his audience know that in fact, the chronological order of Egyptian history is far from settled amongst those in his field. A greater number of archaeologists are realizing that history needs to be rewritten because a great amount of empirical thinking has beefed up the time frame of Egyptian dynasties by about 500 years. Downs believes that by reducing the time frame we are better able to understand what happened and answer many questions.
Downs also believes that the only way to gain an accurate account of Egyptian history is to compare it with the history of the Hittites and the Israelites. He believes that by a revised chronology the 12th dynasty becomes the catalyst of semitic sojourning and offers evidence for an exodus. His case is well supported by solid facts coming from all different archaelogical studies. He believes that there is evidence to suggest that Hapshetsut may be the queen of Sheba and that the 18th dynasty is much later than first thought. His belief about the Hyksos is a radical departure from classical history but if his time frame is correct it seems to make perfect sense. He also seems to place Rameses in the eighth century. I thought that was a little crazy, but the evidence he offered for that proposal is quite outstanding.
I have to admit that Downs ideas are very progressive but seem to be very tight at the same time. I do not know what Ashton's role in all of this was since it is obvious that Downs is the one who has done the bulk of the homework. Dr.Downs is also very appealing because of the way he presents himself. He seems like a pleasant man who is neither arrogant or brash. He presents his thoughts and ideas in a clear non-agressive format that has an allure to it. It is well substantiated, and when all the evidence is brought together it is clear that Downs knows his game. My only complaint is that I wish the work was much larger because it is obvious that Downs knows much more than he is telling you. I been so fascinated by Dr. Downs work that when I transfer to the University for my Bachelors in History I think I want to minor in Classical Archaeology. The book is groundbreaking to say the least. It is a must have for any student of the Bible or the land of Egypt.

My only complaint about this book is that it is too short. It is obviously based on compendious knowledge and research, and is as up-to-date as anyone could hope for, bringing a number of discoveries since the year 2000 to bear, and also a good summary of the revised chronology arguments. Although this book is very robust in aligning the history of Egypt to a biblical timeline, its real aim is showing how this is the chronology that best fits all the known facts. And it does this very well. I was surprised at the radical adjustment of the period between the 13th and 18th Dynasties, but the end result was very compelling. I think anyone not wedded to the "Old Chronology" beyond reason (as frequently happens in academic circles, before the final collapse of an old order) will have to agree that the 12th dynasty is the precise timeframe for Joseph and the period of oppression in Egypt, with the Exodus fitting in at the end of that era. I would have welcomed a bit more discussion of the Exodus itself, including the range of possible Red Sea crossing sites and location(s) of Mt Sinai; also perhaps an attempt at synchronisation of the invasion of the kings in Genesis 14 - perhaps for your next book, gentlemen?

Having before realised that the present archaeological position has the pyramids existing before the Noahic flood, which is an untenable position, this book brings the answer.

This book is a very readable book, although I'd have liked to see a bit more depth. It does however manage to put the chronologies of Velikovsky and Courville and the like into one coherent chronology and ties this in to the Biblical History, something that I've struggled a bit with, not being an Egyptologist. It provides a really helpful overview that is easy to read and is hence a good starting point to launch out into deeper studies. An excellent book.

This book was given to me years ago by my grandmother. She loved the story when she was young and gave her copy to my sister and I when we were old enough to enjoy it. Not only did I enjoy it as a high-school teenager, I still go back and re-read this book occasionally. It is a beautiful tale of selflessness and love. I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a romance novel that not only entertains but also inspires the reader to become a better person.

This book not only leads you through Maion's lonely life, but also through a wonderful heart warming romance!! I definately recomment this book!!!!!

I know that this book is rather predictable...but it kept me up reading 'til the early morning one Christmas Eve when I knew my brother would have me up to open presents in a few short hours!!! My copy is actually my grandmother's...and is a/b to fall apart. Still, I really treasure it. I had never heard of Grace Livingston Hill before being given this book, and now I love her work. Crimson Roses is still the best one I've read, though. Marion is the girl we all dream of being one day!

I really liked this book. The plot was predictable, but I very much enjoyed the journey to the happy ending. Marion is an excellent heroine and a great example of Christian love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Alone in the city without money, without friends, parents gone after long illness under her nursing care, her home sold over her head by casually-well-meaning but obtuse older brother who expects her to be lifetime unpaid servant - Marion Warren decides this is make-or-break time. She finds department store employment and boarding house quarters and starts her own adult life.

Jeff Lyman is behind her in line for season concert tickets - her lone financial splurge - and seeing how much it means to her, arranges to get seating just behind and across isle so he can watch to see if there really is a young lady who cherishes such things. He puts a single crimson rose (of the title) on her seat before each concert and arranges to meet her at church and work, as his effort to get to know her develops into romantic pursuit. On Marion's part, the roses are merely received as counterpoint to bleak and lonely life. But once Jeff convinces her that his intentions are honorable, they are swept along to grand conclusion.

Well first of all I really did like the entire series. I read it till the end. I will not give it away for anyone else reviewing these comments, anyway. I love the series and I got the final manga volume like last week. It is worth all the money I spent -_-; anyway please note this is a manga meant for older teens. But to those who feel bad about that there is going to be a novel version that comes out in Feb.2007 that favors more Shinogu. It will be calling it Hot Gimmick S. and they are thinking of making a Azusa version too.

This was a great issue with an ending I did not expect. I can't wait for Volume 12 to come out!

I have been reading this series from the beginning. It has several unexpected twists! Hatsumi is a quiet teen who ends up in a "relationship" with Ryoki, who seems to be a jackass. As the volumes progress it begins to seem as though he really might care for Hatsumi but then there are two other guys that could be her main squeeze too! Even by the end of volume of 11 you just aren't sure who will get the girl. Though it looks like it might be Ryoki my vote is for Shinogu OR Azusa(I don't think he is really as bad as he wants you to believe!)

I can't wait for vol. 12 to find out if she really goes running back to Ryoki!

Hot Gimmick is my #1 manga and I have been a faithful fan to it from the first volume. The story is so exciting and the characters are so beautiful.

I like Shinogu much more than Ryoki and I kinda hoped that Hatsumi will end up with him instead of Ryoki but it seems that it is not going to end up this way. But hey, did Hatsumi really slept with Shinogu? It is so scandalous and juicy :D. Shinogu is so hot and if I were in Hatsumi's place, I would have gone for him.

I am so looking forward to have volume 12, but I cannot hold my horses here :D. What is going to happen? I think it is going to be the last volume of Hot Gimmick, which is a total dismay to me and to Hot Gimmick's fans :(.

Miki Aihara brought us a wonderful manga and I don't think that you can find a better manga out there. Her other manga "Tokyo Boys & Girls" is good but not as much as Hot Gimmick.

Recommended for fans of Miki Aihara

I have been a faithful fan ever since Hot Gimmick first started coming out! In the 11th graphic novel Ryoki and Hatsumi had just broken up and Hatsumi's ADOPTED (and totally hot) brother Shinogu wants Hatsumi to see him as a man and not just her brother. This series keeps on ketting better and better and more intense.

You've got to read the whole series bcause I know you'll love it!

PS: Root for Akane and Subaru!