Bean Books

If at all possible, I always like to preview the Table of Contents of a book before purchasing it. That gives me a much better idea of whether or not the book addresses information I'm specifically interested in reading and learning about. So, I really appreciate it when I can look inside a book to see the TOC as well as read an excerpt from the book I want to possibly buy.
This book is very instructive and arrived ahead of schedule and in the condition as promised by the seller. I would recommend buying this book as well as buying books from this seller.

In the first chapter it mentions that you can substitute hot lights for many of the setups, yet it never shows the varriations. I am nearly half way through this book and I have yet to see a setup that doesn't involve a softbox or flash unit set. Maybe it's in the second half, but it would be nice to have the possible changes for different lighting.

The other drawback is that many of the images have been touched up and changed in Photo Shop. On some of the images they tell you directly, but on others (and there is a small blurb about this in the book), they claim the touch up was too minor to warrent a mention. This makes it difficult to know if the resulting picture is due to the lighting, or do to a computer photo editing program.

I worked for a photography company a while back and haven't really worked in studio since. I had hoped to gain some new techniques and ideas from this book, but I have yet to find anything very useful for my lighting setup. I find myself with many of the examples wondering, "will this really work with my setup and if so, how?" Even the lighting ratios are geared toward flash units. Not once have I seen any direction on how to create the same look with continuous lighting (hot lights). That's not the kind of direction I want from a book.

If you have invested in strobes, studio flash units or softboxes, then this book might just work for you.

This book is awesome. Easy to follow, well set out and very professional. Great examples and photography, not the cheap, boring and outdated photography you find in a lot of the books out there. This book is filled with exiting ideas and in-depth explanations. Highly creative lighting tricks and loads more. I would highly recommend this book to any serious photographer.

The biggest pluses for me in this book are:

1) The diagrams of how the lighting is setup and accompanying sample images.
2) Inclusion of men's lighting.

There are so many books out there about lighting and a lot of them do not explain lighting in terms of gender.

This is a good starter book. It begins with basics of lighting and begins to introduce more and more complicated setups.

It helped me understand the basics of lighting equipment and how to use them and this is particularly true for some of the initial lighting arrangements in both the womens and the mens sections.

My biggest criticism of the book is that it great to learn the craft, but not the art. Do not expect that this is your last lighting book if you're going to be serious about fashion and beauty photography.

My key takeaways were basic lighting arrangements for women and men, reliance on makeup artists, and basics of equipment. It's a good way to learn by copying---"If you want a shot like this, do this". The "cookbook" phrase in the title is a very correct claim. It will not teach you how to create a new recipe, but if you know what you need, it will tell you how to make it.

There's a show-offy feel to some sections which I could do without.

Someone who reads this book will be able to then move on to more sophisticated portraiture books like Grecco's Lighting and the Art of the Dramatic Portrait. I found it far easier to understand subtleties in Grecco's book after I had thoroughly read the cookbook a few times.

Description from the back of book:

Owner of the wildest, loneliest ranch this side of the Rockies, Luck MacKenzie hadn't laid eyes on Carla McQueen for three years. Not since they day he'd sent his best friend's kid sister storming from the Rocking M Ranch and out of his life -- for what he thought was forever . . .

Now Carla was back, lovelier and even more desirable than in his burning memories. But Luke knew he could never give in to the raging need to make her his woman. For he'd made a vow long ago -- one that he was determined to keep -- that he would never fall in love with Carla McQueen. No matter how badly his body and soul ached for her . . .

* I wasn't a fan of the first book in this series but I have to admit that I enjoyed this book much better. I wasn't big on the hero's reasoning on not wanting to fall in love but I overlooked that & tried to focus on the rest. Looking forward to the next 3 in this series. Although I don't recommend Reckless Love I think I could recommend this book without needing to read the first book. It didn't have hardly anything to do with this book. That being a historical book & the rest of the series being contemporary.

This book is totally horrible! The "manly" hero spends most of his times treating the woman he supposedly loves worse than most people treat their worst enemies. The totally gross thing is that she keeps coming back for more--a perfect example of abuse! The guy is unlovable & mean, the girl is pathologically stupid, the whole plot line is the usual stupid Lowell pattern of some cowboy getting the hots for an underage girl, holding off long enough to make sure she's still a virgin, seducing her & getting her pregnant & then the frail flower deciding that her life is complete as long as she gets to stay on the ranch servicing her much older husband (usually at least 10 years older, of course) and being thrilled that she gets to have a baby at an age when most people can't even balance their checkbook. This is the type of novel that a patriarchal Afghanistan warlord would hand out by the dozen to his prospective wives to teach them how real women should act. Eccchhhh!

Based on a love story, Fire and Rain is full of history, funny moments, and love conflicts. The story takes place in the "Rocking M:, a ranch out in the Midwest. Luke, a man destined to love and care for his land is the main character of the novel. His history with Carla (his love), is not all that great. On her trip to the Rocking M, Carla is now 21 and reencounters herself with Luke. A few days stay at the ranch results in a whole 2 months stay as the maid and cook around the ranch. It is during this stay, that the reader finds out the history behind the ranch and both Luke and Carla's life. Through Lowell's use of imagery, characterization, and motif, the reader learns of the main character's maturation and love for one another.
Lowell's use of imagery engages the reader in the beauty of the ranch and the characters. "Her vibrant blue eyes" and the description of Luke's ruggedness with soft edges helps the reader envision the story. Through this description, the reader learns of qualities of each character, Carla's hard working and perseverance, as well as Luke's focus and self-control. Lowell's use of characterization enhances the characters and evolves with the story to show a mature Carla and a more soft-hearted Luke. Lastly, the motif of the rain and the Rocking M adds to the conflicts they both have because the Rocking M comes to symbolize a prison for Luke and a sentence to unhappiness. Reading about both of their struggles to keep their love alive as well as the ranch was very interesting. I would recommend this book to teenagers who like romance stories as well as those who like to read books for its literary elements.

I was not too impressed with Fire and Rain. I didn't particularly like Luke's attitude towards Carla...he almost seemed cruel. Not exactly what I look for in a good hero.

Some of the issues seemed like they weren't explored enough as well. And some of the things that happened were a little redundant. He built a cradle for the child he would never have? Some might say that's sweet, but in the context of this story, it seemed very predictable.

The book was good, but I have issues with some things. I think her longer novels were written better, but Fire and Rain was average and would recommend people read it only if you are an Elizabeth Lowell fan.

This is the first in the series. It is a wonderful book, love those Western Love Stories. It is about a woman named Carla who has been in love with her brother's best Friend Luke since she was a teenager.Now she is all grown up and hasn't seen him since he broke her heart at age 14. She ends up losing a bet and has to work for him on his farm for the whole summer. Trying to resist temptation is not easy and Luke loves her, but keeps trying to push her away by being down right rude. It is interesting to see how much they fight to stay away but seem to not be able to.

This book reads like a lecture, and no wonder--Wagstaffe teaches a university speech class. The text brings back the horrors of the most soporific lectures you've endured in school, as Wagstaffe drones on about the "three Ms of good storytelling" ("It must be meaningful. It must be memorable. It must be moving.") and then moves on into the even more enthralling "ABCs of good storytelling" ("A for Apt, B for Brief, C for Chronological").

Then there are unintentional howlers, like this advice on giving a eulogy: "The fundamental rule...Do not speak ill of the dead." Well, duh!

Maybe this stuff works when you've got a captive audience of students who need a good grade to satisfy the requirements for their degree. But here in the real world, it'll put most people to sleep. I feel that the money I spent on this book was wasted.

Thought this was an excellent book - really helped me with my public speaking skills.

This book offers step by step help for those who are just plain not good at or afraid of public speaking. It helped me give a toast at a birthday party for a good friend which was well received. I don't think I would have even attempted it without having read this book. Also learn how to communicate more effectively with family members and co-workers. It's full of great tips for learning the skill of cocktail party conversation. People will like and remember YOU if you apply the skills in this book. The book is built on personal experience and useful for students, spouses, and employees who find themselves in all kids of unfamiliar or uncomfortable social situations. Also clearly and concisely written by someone who knows how to teach.

...to the reviewer who took the time to say that the book was boring but then referenced many specific points out of the book. "A reader" has shown that even if you do not fully enjoy anecdotal writing you will still remember it. The points that Mr. Wagstaffe makes in his book will no doubt help one become a better speaker. It takes little more than remembering his acronyms and focusing on them to become a better and more confident speaker. Just remember, even the reviewer who did not enjoy the book still showed that they remembered the points.

Romancing the Room is a fun book filled with anecdotes, but I feel that the true value of this book is the confidence that the reader can develop when following Wagstaffe's advice. Public speaking is a challenge, but with Romancing the Room, one can develop the art of public speaking and basic communication to any person/people. As a college student in South Bend, I am often faced with the task of presenting my work to fellow classmates. Wagstaffe has helped me earn the A+ that I was looking for. Help yourself develop confidence, public speaking ability, and charisma with Romancing the Room, by James Wagstaffe.

Utterly Me, Clarice Bean I read that book at the start of the review and got it at my library. Lauren does brillant on the Charlie and Lola series, as well with Clarice Bean. She's like me (mostly) and I'm a boy! It's good so far!

My daughter (8) and I appreciated the humor and thoughtfulness in the complexity of the problems Clarice Bean encountered, from not getting the part she wanted in the school play, to unfair treatment from an unreasonable teacher, to a friend struggling with an absentee father. Clarice approaches these difficulties with wit, compassion, and perserverance, attempting to approach each obstacle with the keen problem solving methods of her fictional hero, Ruby Redfort. With chapter titles like," It is Hard to be Happy for your Best Friend when you are Utterly Disappointed Yourself" and "Sometimes when you Need Things to Get Better They Just Get Worse" writer Lauren Child understands that children can face issues as morally complex as adults. Clarice is remarkably clever and the antics of her friends and family offer lots of comic relief. Clarice's commentary on her challenges in preparing for the spelling bee is a delightful bonus. Clarice must make a difficult choice at the end of the book, one that has stiff consequences for her. While some may disagree with her decision, I admired Clarice's attempt to make a choice that included both understanding and compassion.

Do you want to go on an adventure just right in your school well then read this book. It's called Clarice Bean Spells Trouble by Lauren Child. It's about a girl who hates her teacher and gets a new one. Well she can't have too much fun because she has so much going on like her good friend hates her and she has a spelling bee to win. It will make you feel like your in the book. If you like to get lost in your books then buy this book.By Kathryn

It seems like all Clarice Bean can do lately is get into trouble. She doesn't mean to--it just happens. Of course, much of her trouble comes in the form of her teacher, Mrs. Wilberton. Every time Clarice spells a word wrong or lets her mind wander, Mrs. Wilberton is there to catch her.

A lot is happening at school. Clarice and her best friend, Betty Moody, are in the school play, and Clarice has been practicing for a spelling bee that is also coming up. Her other friend, Karl Wrenbury, is working on the play, too. This is the best side anyone has seen of him, as "he is the naughtiest boy in school."

When big trouble happens, Clarice will have to make a hard choice of whether to get herself out of trouble or to take a stand for a friend. Clarice's favorite junior detective, Ruby Redfort, would know what to do. But will Clarice?

Girls will identify with Clarice Bean and her antics. Lauren Child's engaging style entertains even as the story unfolds. Doodles and font-effects throughout will amuse young readers. In this story, Clarice has to make a big decision that will make readers think about the meaning of friendship and sacrifice.

This chapter book is a good pick for young girls (some boys may like it too), especially reluctant readers.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
12/06/2006

Absolutley gorgeous, a continuation of the character of Clarice Bean from the picture books by Lauren child. Clarice Bean is a hugely appealing character, she is quite witty, always child-like, with the same child-like fascinations and complexities.

In this second book in the series Clarice Bean has a series of problems - there is a spelling Bee at school and Clarice Bean does not like spelling Bees, but in actual fact finds out that she enjoys finding out about words and the meanings. There is a lovely scene in the book where she speaks in Q words, and her mother and father do the same. It is great fun. There are serious things in the background which tend to fly over children's heads. Clarice Bean's friend Karl Wenbury has tracked down his missing father, but is clearly disappointed by the response. While we never actually see this happening Clarice Bean witnesses the aftermath of it all.

At the same time there is the school Play and clarice Bean desparately wants to play Leisl from the Sound of Music, only she is given the part of Nun 4, and then relegated to Nun 7.

Lauren does children and their reactions and idioms beautifully. what she also does nicely is natural justice, which is something very difficult to teach, But sometimes bad things happen to good people, and sometimes things which are true cannot be said and so on. Its a lovely reflection of life for which children 5-9 will find appealing.

Just like the picture books, Lauren Child books are appealing to adults, or this adult at least. In Clarice Bean, Child has created a well-rounded and interesting character, and a fun story - all based around the sortsof things which children do experience.

this book is useful to those starting out in modeling. if you already have a contract i wouldnt reccomend it so much, but it has useful tips throughout, and anecdotes from real life models

It's fitting that art and crafts book publisher Lark Books should then move to a book on photographic modeling, Complete Guide For Models: Inside Advice From Industry Pros: it's a logical transition and offers the power of an art book publisher paired with the expertise of a fashion photographer and fashion editor. Models will learn all the basics of what it takes to become a model for the artist; from posing for commercial print ads to special opportunities for men, women and child models. Complete Guide For Models could have easily been featured in our 'Business and Careers' section, but is profiled here so artists and art library holdings will catch sight of it: it's an important, recommended instructional guide for the reference collections of artschool, artists and sculptors.

It was really informative hearing from a model who has modeled for 50+ years. I recently saw Carmen Dell'Orefice in a runway show in NYC, and she looks great. Great interview, great photos.

A must have for anyone who is wanting to become a model. This book offers insight information that is both vital and informative. The authors, Eric Bean and Jenni Bidner illustrate this book with fantastic photographs and beautifully written compositions of what should be expected by models and what is expected of them. I absolutely love this book and recommend that anyone who is even faintly interested in the subject manner should read this book. It is truely a fascinating read.

I live in a small town in California, and i want to be a model. I always dreamed of going to NYC and being a runway model. I asked a few of the agencies in nearby towns, but they didnt know much about NYC. I got this book, and it answered alot of questions i had about modeling. The modeling schools near me charged alot of money, to take classes, but i learned just as much from this book. I can't wait to go to NYC now.

I enjoy a creative cook book but this is concept is a bit cheesy. Trapping a man with dinners, etc.--whatever. He either likes you or he doesn't. You can be the worlds worst cook and he'd fall in love with you regardless. Seems like yet another desperate attempt to "beg for a man," now through food, lovely. "I will cook for you, please pick me. I MUST have a man." C'mon women, if you have to try that hard to fuss and impress someone then "he's just not that into you." Hmmm, where have I heard that before?

I picked this amazing book from the airport book store the other day. I thought that it was written in the most witty and fun way. I must admit that I was drawn to the book and all the different types of males out there ( did not know that so many exist ). Me, being a combination of all the different males, actually thought that it's so great that you can have a nice fancy dinner with the girl that you wish to get lucky with and after a tasty dinner with some wine or cocktails the road to heaven is evidently much shorter.

Fire your chauffer.

Henry Sebastiann Hirsch.

What a delicious treat! This unique and clever book informs,inspires, and reminds me of the pure pleasure of creating and sharing an ambiance with a new man-in-your-life that involves all of our 6 senses! Mimi Bean has hit the mark with her suggestions for a prelude to love! As an avid foodie as well as a believer in "playing to your audience" this book is a must for anyone that needs a little inspiration and direction. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't mind if "Mr. Right" whipped up a few of these dishes for ME.(hint hint)that is, as long as his first name isn't "I.M.Always".....Bon Appetite! YUM.......

Below a veneer of witty banter, and tongue-in-cheek advice on ambiance and fashion, this book serves up a plethora of challenging recipes that are sure to please anyone from the most rigorous gourmet to those with the simplest palettes. Excitingly fast paced, this cookbook reads like a chick-lit novel but doesn't shy from dishing on what is most important on a dinner date, a creative and exciting menu. Don't forget to try the deserts, the truffles and the champagne sorbet are heavenly.

I picked up this book the other day, and literally couldn't put it down. Mimi Bean has hit the nail on the head with this one! What girl hasn't wanted to wow her man with the perfect meal and the perfect setting, but it's hard to pull it all together. At least it was before this book. Mimi takes all the guess work out of it and gives you everything you need, start to finish. All you add is the man and the outfit, and you're there! I'm buying copies for all my single friends!

As there are many stories portraying the good there are perhaps just as many quite the opposite. In 'Dark Force' you will learn of a family who encountered such negative entities that it changed their lives forever. They came away with a positive message which I feel is crucial to these types of cases. It is ultimately our choice at the end of the day what to do with the negative around us. It is all subjective however; I firmly believe we are here to learn and must come away learning how to cope and move forward from such an experience. In turn, Bill and his terrifying story will engross you from it's own fear, at the same time will enlighten you because of that same fear. There exists today a compilation of cases such as Bill's and this one truly pushes away the negativity pulling the reader out of the dark and literally into the light. We are all the same but our fated paths are a mix of predestined happenings, self control and awareness that further propels what direction our souls will go in. How we live our life can and does affect what 'Dark Force' surrounds us everyday. Learn from this case and take away from it the positives which is your key to survival in a situation such as the author's.
Growing Up Haunted: A Ghostly Memoir

Glen Burnie is a suburb of Maryland located ten miles south of Baltimore in northern Anne Arundale County. Originally founded in 1812, it is a placed steeped in history and legend but for William and Patricia Bean it offered an opportunity the couple could not pass up.

The three-bedroom ranch house stood alongside its mates like an unattractive dog at the pound but Bill Bean Sr. was able to look past the superficial faults of the house at the promise it held below its surface. A skilled carpenter, Bill immediately began to envision what his prowess with a hammer and nail could do to transform the pink, ugly duckling into a home fit for his family.

In 1970 the Bean family had settled into the place off Ritchie Highway and almost immediately things began to happen that would set the family of five apart from their neighbors.

Dark Force is the true story of the Bean family nightmare as told by Bill Bean and outlines the events of a family under siege by diabolical forces.

What began with a creeping sense of unease in the eldest child, Patty's bedroom, would soon escalate to the physical destruction of an above ground pool. In the dead of night heavy footsteps would be heard emanating from the attic, faucets would suddenly turn on to flood the bathroom. Made beds would unravel to the astonishment of Patricia.

"I guess we have a ghost," She said.

For all intents and purposes the phenomena could be attributed to a classic haunting but for the Bean family these rather innocuous exhibitions were just the beginning of a series of events that would spiral into physical and psychological terror that threatened to undo the very fabric of their beings.

Loved pets would up and disappear while intense episodes of oppression and depression would infiltrate their daily lives driving them to the brink of madness, despair and homicide.

Witness in these pages the firsthand destructive nature of paranormal events that would drive a family apart yet strengthen the resolve of William Bean Jr. (Bill) until he, barely a teenager, shoulders the armor of God and wields the sword of faith against the dark forces plaguing his family in a climactic supernatural showdown- and if he fails, it will finish off them all...

"Dark Force" captures the reader into the terror filled lives of a family destroyed by the intent of a malevolent and destructive ring of spiritual entities. This family was that of the Author, Bill Bean. Bill puts into words only what some of us would consider having been our worst nightmare and yet through his faith in GOD he "survives". Bill shares with us his most personal moments of fear as a young child to his adulthood where he devotes his life in helping others by sharing how he overcame such powerful evil. "Dark Force" is a must read to believe how the paranormal can come full circle within your life and you can become that survivor. "Dark Force" is so compelling one can not put the book down until it has been completed therefore reliving the life of this family destined for conflict with evil.

Deborah Collard, RN OHN
Author
Paranormal Investigator
Member of the Parapsychological Society

I met Bill at OmegaCon where I was lucky enough to receive a copy of his book from a member of the paranormal group I am the co-founder of. Once I began reading the book I couldn't put it down. I set out to read 2 chapters a night before bed and would end up reading 4 - 5.

This story puts you in the moment, you feel like you are a part of the family as they experience the activity. I must say this account is one of the most amazing stories and I hope this book can help others who may be going through something similar.

We recently had Bill on our show Southern Ohio Paranormal Radio and I must say this man is a very genuine person and his calling is true. Make sure you pick this book up, I promise you wont want to put it down.

At times, I have a difficult time finding a really good book that holds my interest. When I started reading "Dark Force", by Bill Bean, I honestly could not put his book down. Each page I turned had one horrific event happening after another. It leads us to understand how powerful the spirit world can truly be, harming us and even helping us.
This is a "true" story about a closely knit family who moved into a new home in Maryland, soon finding out they were not alone. The evil that roamed through their precious home had one goal, to torment and terrorize this family and anyone else who dared to go inside. These entities at first made themselves known, showing themselves, than later committing even crueler acts, such as, mind control and strangulation. The horror this family went through for so many years was horrible, breathe taking and life changing.
For anyone who has interest in paranormal or just loves a truly good horror story, this book is for you. I highly recommend it.

I got this book for my brother, an active hunter and outdoorsman, for Christmas. He absolutely loves it. As a cook and book lover myself, I could see why - each recipe comes with a story, making the book much more personal and engaging. Even though I'm not a hunter I found myself wanting to try a number of the recipes, including the "camp" section of foods to make when you're on the trail.

My brother also remarked that the book is obviously written with actual game and fish in mind - not just regular recipes reworked to replace "beef" with "venison." Game meats need special handling and this book reflects that need.

Great gift for the outdoors person in your life!

I have had this book for at least 20+yrs and every time somebody tells me they won't eat wild game or duck I go to the L.L. Bean cookbook and find a great dish that is easy to cook and that same person always loves the dishes. When I lived in Oregon I used the book mostly for venison but now that I live in Texas I have cooked wild turkey, duck, fish. I have also used their brining recipe and used a stovetop smoker to make smoked turkey breast. YUM.

This book does everything. It looks good on the shelf, is interesting to read, has nice illustrations, and contains much more information than just recipes. Oh, it also has a lot of fantastic recipes. It's not even close as to what I would keep were I to only have one game cookbook. This one's the best. Makes a great gift - I know, that's how I got it and I think of the person that gave it to me with warm thoughts every time I use it.

If you don't hunt or fish, you may think The L.L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook would have no appeal for you at all. You should know, however, that besides being the gold standard for the genre, it's one of the most readable and sophisticated cookbook classics you could have on your shelf. Although I've only used the fish recipes, I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the stylish Game section..

Take a trip through this wonderful book and you'll be convinced. Here are some of the highlights, by chapter.

RED MEAT:
We learn that any gamy taste is caused by "improper handling of the game animal when it was dressed, butchered, or transported." A key to method of preparation is the age of the animal and there are some excellent tips for determining age.

Take note that moose "skinny from the rut" are best larded.

If you avoid these pitfalls you can reward yourself with a fine Buck and Bourbon; Venison Chili; Moose A La Mode; or Blanquette of Antelope. (Rejected out of hand by the reviewer: A Highland Haggis, starting with red deer tripe and lungs.)

You could, of course, substitute a more familiar meat in many of these recipes.

SMALL FURRED GAME:
Here you find a wealth of information about proper prep.

On the beaver: "Its preparation involves a bit of doing" -- cutting out musk glands, soaking. Roast it whole, with sage dressing sewn up inside. Or the possum: "Remember a possum should be handled first to last just as you would handle a suckling pig." Roast Possum With Yams can be your reward.

GAME BIRDS:
This chapter begins with an excellent overview of handling and hanging, and removing shot pellets from game birds. The authors' warning to the cook: "Shooters cleaning a number of birds get careless about this sometimes, so the cook may have to exert quality control."

Once you have your bird prepared, there are some truly wonderful recipes offered. Among the most appealing are Roast Stuffed Pheasant With Sorrel; Pheasant Marengo; Partridge or Grouse Pie With Oysters; Wild Turkey Gumbo. This and the WATERFOWL chapter are the most familiar and accessible of the Game section.

FISH:
"Like asparagus and corn, the sooner killed (or picked) and cooked the better." Supporting that advice, the authors advocate catch-and-release, with only enough fish taken for the day's meal.

These recipes stand equal to any you will find in your cookbook collection. The first is the simplest and the most evocative: Trout Sauteed In Butter. Other wonderful offerings are Baked Salmon Fillets Lapland Style; Baked Stuffed Great Northern Pike; Swordfish Chowder; Roast Wild Duck With Orange Sauce; and a mouth-watering Fresh-water Bouillabaisse.

Besides recipes, Angus Cameron and Judith Jones produced a full-service manual for preparing food from the wild -- in the wild. They cover general camp recipes, pointers for handling food, and useful implements.

The spirit of this book resides, I think, in the wonderful advice for would-be camp cooks, which could be translated to cooking in the home as well. "...The hunting camp cook becomes a kind of privileged character...He never bucks or splits or totes a stick of wood; he never washes or dries a dish or a cup; he carries no water sloshing icily on his stagged pants from the lake or spring."

And clearly he--or she--eats like royalty, if this classic cookbook goes along on the trip.

Linda Bulger, 2008

As an avid hunter and fisherman, I am always looking for great game recipes. This book delivers. I have owned it for many years and have prepared virtually all of the many venison recipes, as well as many others. I have never been disappointed. Some favorites include Buck with Bourbon, Venison steak with Porcini mushrooms, Devil River Venison (a spicy casserole from Texas of venison with pinto beans), and the Scottish classic Steak and a Dram (venison steak in a sauce made with Stilton Cheese and just a dash of Scotch Whisky). Another favorite is Heart of Venison Braised with Root Vegetables. Even if you don't like heart this dish will make you a believer. There are also many great ground venison recipes. For anyone who hunts or fishes and loves to eat what they catch, this book would be an outstanding choice.

What a great idea to mix excerpts from stories created by some of the best-known western (US) writers and the recipes mentioned in them. The photography is top drawer and the book in general is a time capsule on how the West was won. Wiseman had to go to great pains to assemble the manuscript and the copyright permissions for the excerpts. Let's hope he can come up with another informative cookbook/historical work like it. The Lonesome Cowboy.

Edited by Bob Wiseman, these are tasty culinary submissions from 68 members of WWA (Western Writers of America). Each recipe is preceded by a brief profile of the author and an excerpt from one of his or her published works - often involving the food for which the recipe is given. Attractive and useful, the book proves Western writers eat everything from posole to butterscotch ice cream...... J. C. Martin

Western cooking has proven to be America's favorite cuisine for its hardy, robust flavor, whether cooked on the indoor or outdoor range. Wiseman has culled recipes from the membership of the Western Writers of America of their favorite savory delights, along with a brief reading from one of their writings and a short bio of current writing activities. For all kitchens of the Southwest flavor. Daniel L. Nutter, Books of the Southwest

This book of recipes has been compiled from 70 members of the famed Western Writers of America. Many recipes presented in the volume played parts in scenes from the different authors' variouls novels and screenplays. Colorado is represented by a recipe from Sam Arnold of the famed Fort Restaurant. Included are recipes for just about anything you want to cook, from jerky to sandwiches. I found the book interesting and intend to try some of the recipes, especially, the Egg Gravy for breakfast some morning. To satisy my husband's craving for pozole, I will certainly have to try the Snake Killer's Pozole. This book is a must for lovers of Wild West cooking and stories. Lynn Stull, C.M., Denver Westerners Roundup

This book is fun! The excerpts from the various authors' writings are thoroughly enjoyable. Some recipes are practical; others are just plain interesting. Our favorite is 'The Bowl of The Wife of Kit Carson' which we have enjoyed many times, just the two of us or with company.

There is a marvelous cover painting by Ed Emshwiller for the February, 1960 issue of _Galaxy_. It depicts a middle-aged woman in shorts and a halter, with her hair in curlers. She is sitting in an old acceleration chair and knitting. A ball of yarn sits on the ground beside her. Behind her is a fence and a sign that says: JENNY'S JUNK: USED SPACESHIPS, SECOND HAND ROBOTS. Inside the fence is a jumble of rockets, space stations, antigravity cars, computers, engines, and robots-- most of them gutted for parts.

I would not want to say that the junkyard is exactly a science fiction archtype, but it is not unknown. Lee Correy's _Contraband Rocket_ (1957) is about a group of rocket buffs who assemble a lunar rocket from raw material from a spaceship junkyard. Robert A. Heinlein's _The Rolling Stones_ (1952) opens with the Stone twins dickering for the shell of a spaceship at a lunar junkyard.

H. Beam Piper probably did the most elaborate treatment in _Junkyard Planet_ (1963), in which he imagines an entire planet of junk that has passed into the public domain. There are legends of a supercomputer named Merlin that may be hidden on the planet. The hero, Conn Maxwell, and his father know that there is no such computer. But in order to raise an expedition to the planet to mine other treasures, they must lie and pretend that Merlin exists.

Piper has a good feel for the difficulties and false starts that must be endured to successfully launch an expedition. He also does well with his picture of the treasures and traps on the junkyard planet itself:

They found the fissionables magazine and in it plenty of plutonium, each sub-critical slug in a five hundred pound collapsium cannister. There were repair-robots, and they only had to replace the cartridges in the power units of three of them. They sent them inside the collapsium-shielded death-to-people area-transmitter to relay what the others picked up through receptors wire-connected to the outside; foreman robots, globes a yard in diameter covered with horns and spikes like old-fashioned ocean-navy mines; worker robots in avariety of shapes, but mostly looking like many-clawed crabs. (111-12)

There are a number of effective twists and turns along the way, and Piper's main theme is sound. Sometimes you need a myth to revitalize a society.

Though _Junkyard Planet_ was written for a juvenile audience, it is comparable in quality to his adult novel, _Space Viking_ (1963) that was written at about the same time. It is solid, well-crafted, and intelligent... but just a little bit routine. _Junkyard Planet_ has sometimes been issued under the much inferior title, _The Cosmic Computer_. Buy it under either title.

With the transition of much of H. Beam Piper's work into the public domain publishers like Aegypan Press have finally begun to bring Piper's work back into print and for that fans of Piper owe them a debt of gratitude. This novel, set in Piper's Terrohuman Future History, is one of his best. Poictesme (pronounced "pwa-tem") is a backwater planet, its economy crashed in the aftermath of an interstellar civil war, its surface dotted with known and unknown installations from the war. Conn Maxwell, freshly returned from computer studies on Terra (the non-miniaturized technology here will make some readers stumble), leads an exciting search for the fabled lost supercomputer, Merlin, that helped to win the war. In an adventure that takes us across the planet and into the local solar system Conn and his colleagues encounter pirates, Merlin-worshippers, wayward robots, and saboteurs before discovering a long-kept secret that threatens all of interstellar civilization! This is an exciting, tightly-written story that showcases Piper's storytelling at its complex and intricate best.

Other Terrohuman Future History works by Piper include Uller Uprising, Four-Day Planet, Little Fuzzy, and Space Viking.

Conn Maxwell was raised on the planet of Poictesme, home base of the Third Fleet-Army Force during the System States War. After the war, the soldiers went home, leaving the planet dotted with abandoned bases and equipment. However, one piece of equipment has yet to have been found: Merlin, the military's rumored super-computer--a computer so powerful that it could solve any problem. Life will be good once Merlin is found.

And so, Conn is sent to Terra to study computers and learn the location of Merlin. Well, Conn's back with the knowledge: Merlin only ever did exist in rumor. But Poictesme is rotting away, its inhabitants apathetic, sitting and waiting for Merlin to come along and solve their problems for them. So, Conn needs something to get Poictesme moving again, he need's Merlin!

This book is another masterpiece by that under appreciated master of science fiction, H. Beam Piper. The story is great, with an excellent mix of adventure and suspense. In fact, the surprise ending will throw anyone for a loop. I really loved this book, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

I must admit one thing, though. The author did somewhat date the book, with computers that only communicate in taped-in machine code, and scientists who use slide-rules. But, if you are willing to suspend disbelief a little extra, you will be rewarded with a great read. So, get this book!

My favorite Piper novel (though Space Viking is a close second). I've read this over a dozen times. Solid plot. Excellent pace. Believable human characters. And the writing ain't bad either. Must read.

Conn Maxwell was raised on the planet of Poictesme, home base of the Third Fleet-Army Force during the System States War. After the war, the soldiers went home, leaving the planet dotted with abandoned bases and equipment. However, one piece of equipment has yet to have been found: Merlin, the military's rumored super-computer--a computer so powerful that it could solve any problem. Life will be good once Merlin is found.

And so, Conn is sent to Terra to study computers and learn the location of Merlin. Well, Conn's back with the knowledge: Merlin only ever did exist in rumor. But Poictesme is rotting away, its inhabitants apathetic, sitting and waiting for Merlin to come along and solve their problems for them. So, Conn needs something to get Poictesme moving again, he need's Merlin!

This book is another masterpiece by that under appreciated master of science fiction, H. Beam Piper. The story is great, with an excellent mix of adventure and suspense. In fact, the surprise ending will throw anyone for a loop. I really loved this book, and I highly recommend it to everyone!

I must admit one thing, though. The author did somewhat date the book, with computers that only communicate in taped-in machine code, and scientists who use slide-rules. But, if you are willing to suspend disbelief a little extra, you will be rewarded with a great read. So, get this book!