Brandon Books

Drink in the sights with this great book. It's not one you would buy to read in detail about the parks as it is 95% photos, but what great photos at that.

If you like the Disney parks, you will love this book.

A simple review, for a simple but superb book.

This book is a must have for anyone who loves disney or theme parks. Each page has amazing pictures of the parks- the kind of pictures that you can just stare at for hours. Also a great book for people who wonder how Disney takes care or the park after hours. An overall great book.

I don't remember where I got this at, but even at cover price it's a GREAT book. If you love Disney parks, GET THIS BOOK!! Yes, it's mostly pictures, but being able to see all 4 castles on one page or the differences between the Haunted mansions is really cool. Not much reading, it is mostly pictures. A great coffee table book. Keeps you dreaming/ remembering until the next trip.

As was once the case with the British Empire, the sun never sets on Disney's theme parks, with little havens of happiness (and profit) around the world -- California, Florida, France and Tokyo, with more just opened (Disney Sea, also in Tokyo) and more coming (Hong Kong).

What this book does, like all the other "A Day at/in..." books, is give you a 24-hour time span. At the same time, it jumps from park to park, showing different aspects of different parks, at different times of the day or night -- with guests streaming in, cast members working, resting, smiling or laughing (if you're looking for a critical eye towards the Disney empire, this is not the book for that), or simply landscapes framed by the good work of Mother Nature and the photographer.

For those who haven't traveled the world (and that's most of us), it gives you a detailed view of what the rest of the world sees when it looks at Disney, noting the differences and the similarities.

And finally, if you just love the theme park(s), this book will help keep those memories fresh. It works for me.

This is a well done photo tour of all Disney theme parks, foreign and domestic. It shows a lot of the behind the scenes goings on and has very nice full page pictures. If you are looking for information, though, it doesn't have much, it is mostly just a picture book. Well worth it if you enjoy books like this.

"Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway" is the finest book on the marketplace for superman lovers. Bruce Scivally writes succinctly and informatively about every aspect of the Man of Steel. The chapters include photos from authentic archives which highlight the content. The descriptions are captivating. Author Scivally has an amazing command of all the details of Superman's life and times. When one finishes this excellent work, the reader will have a fine understanding of how Superman appeared in the media throughout his 70 year career. One of the finest books I have ever read. I recommend it highly. Charley Levi, Deerfield,IL

I really like this book!! I expected it to be thicker, but it has very few pics in it so it is not as thick. I like the detail it has. I am just happy it's available!! I've wanted it since I found out it was comming out. I recommend this to any Superman fan!

Superman is something that I grew up with and can't imagine not havng around. This book provides a comprehensive telling of the superman legend and how it came to be. Superman and his various creators/portrayers showed that through hard work and perseverance the american dream can come true. Sometimes with a price.

If you are a fan of Superman then this is the book for you.

Although to some observers the cultural phenomenon known as Superman, now just a year shy of his 70th birthday, is a static thing, a blue, red and yellow trademark that seems to have always been with us in his present form, the truth is that the Man from Krypton has not only undergone a myriad of changes since his comic book debut in 1938, but has, in one form or another, made the rounds of just about every medium of entertainment available. Only a scant two years after his premiere on the printed page, Superman would become the star of his own radio series followed shortly by an appearance in a string of brilliantly realized animated cartoons courtesy of the Nat Fleisher Studios, home of Popeye and Betty Boop. A novel chronicling his exploits - which would further define and remold certain aspects of the character - was followed by two low-budget motion picture serials for Columbia Pictures starring Kirk Alyn which in turn led directly to the enormously popular and long-running The Adventures of Superman TV series featuring George Reeves. Though in the 1960s Superman suffered a few years of inactivity with only a few cartoons and a failed Broadway show to keep his name above the lights, a series of big budgeted films in the 1970s with Christopher Reeves re-invented the character and made him as popular as ever. Subsequently the small tube has revisited the Superman mythos with shows like Superboy, Lois and Clark and now Smallville which totally alters the story of his early years and development. More recently, Superman Returns starring Brendon Routh has appeared on the big screen with a sequel in the works. In SUPERMAN ON FILM, TELEVSION, RADIO AND BROADWAY Producer/documentary maker, writer Bruce Scivally has turned his talents to tracing the history of the origin and on-going transformation of the Man from Krypton, charting the often circuitous routes that paved the way for his multi-media appearances and the creative forces that have been responsible for the on-going rebirth of one of the last 70 year's most recognizable and potent characters in modern fiction. Scivally covers all bases and delivers a highly entertaining and engaging history of the amazingly resiliant Man of Steel.

As someone who owns Mr. Scivally's great James Bond: The Legacy, I was really looking forward to receiving my copy of his latest, Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway.
The cover showcases the title exploding out from the Man of Steel's chest as he rips open his shirt - PERFECT!! I am a huge fan of that iconic image and couldn't think of a better choice for the cover.

The book itself is 240 pages long (of that about 50 pages at the end are appendices, chapter notes, a bibliography and an index). Unlike James Bond: The Legacy, this book is "normal" size at 7" x 10" with a thick - almost textbook thick - cover. There are unfortunately precious few pictures spread throughout the book - if I counted right there are only 12 and they are black and white. Now, sounds like I was dissappointed right? Wrong!

What Mr. Scivally seems to have aimed for is the definitive textbook on the history of the Man of Steel. It is thorough, well-written and a joy to read. I am concerned though that at a list price of US$49.95, it may not reach the widespread audience it should. I am somewhat confused about the price point I have to admit - I would have expected it to be closer to US$29.99. Anyway, on to the review...

From the dedication page which reads:


"To my dear wife, Sandra, and daughter, Amanda, who, every day, make this Clark Kent feel like a Superman"
the reader knows that the author is dedicated to the character and telling a fascinating story of the challenges which were faced in bringing every incarnation of Superman to life. He thoroughly covers the creation of our hero by Siegel and Shuster, his radio and cartoon appearances, the Kirk Alyn serials and the George Reeves era. Included are the "failed" attempts of Superboy and Superpup, the Broadway show It's a Bird... It's a Plane.... It's Superman, and of course the movies we have come to love and question beginning with Superman: The Movie and ending with Superman Returns. The TV incarnations of Lois & Clark and Smallville are extremely well covered and will no doubt surprise most readers with some tidbits even seasoned fans don't know. I consider myself a pretty knowledgable guy on the history of Superman but there were many things I didn't know and really enjoyed discovering. For those who want to relive the recent years including the efforts before Superman Returns made it to the screen they are very well handled - its a miracle Singer's film made it to theaters after all the trials and tribulations that proceeded it.
I would like to end this review with Mr. Scivally's afterword - I think it really encompasses all our hopes and dreams for the Man of Steel. His book will be a very worthwhile addition to any Superman fan's collection.


"Will there be another Superman movie? Of course there will. It's inevitable, because Superman is too much a part of our culture. He has been celebrated in song by Jim Croce, Barbra Streisand, The Kinks, REM, Five for Fighting, and 3 Doors Down. He has been a video game fixture since the dawn of the computer revolution.The comic books are still selling steadily, and the yearly Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois continues to attract thousands of visitors each June.
From the pages of the comics to radio's theater of the imagination, from the intimacy of television to the majesty of the movies, there has always been and will perhaps always be a Superman for every medium and every generation."

Finally. A sequel worthy of its predecessor. Alcatraz Smedry is on a mission to the Library of Alexandria (which still exists, though the evil librarians don't want you do know that), one that will have you sitting at the edge of your seat and rolling on the floor, dying of laughter at the same time. Sanderson's witty and sarcastic voice keeps the book rushing along at a fast pace. This is one book you definitely don't want to miss.

Alcatraz vs. The Scrivener's Bones is the second book in a planned five book series about Alcatraz Smedry, an Occulator with a Talent for breaking things. This time, Alcatraz has to go to the Library of Alexandria to find his missing grandfather.

If you read and loved Al vs the Librarians, then you'll love this one too. I thought this one was a lot easier to read and had a bit of a faster pace without seeming as frenetic as the first book. As usual, Brandon has come up with an interesting and unique magic system, and one that doesn't ever allow the characters to be overpowering. The best thing though, is that the characters are smart. Magic is a part of the world, but they have to be inventive to use it to solve their problems.

If you like Harry Potter, then give this a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

I have waited all my life for someone to write books like these, books that defy the Law of Conservation of Awesomeness. This law states, basically, that fiction with really awesome and exciting action scenes must have stupid plots, flat characters, and nothing important to say.

Brandon Sanderson's "Alcatraz" series shatters this principle. Sanderson's genius is his ability to draw tension out of thin air. Combine this with the dizzying sophistication of multiple systems of magic use, an evil librarian conspiracy that covers up true world history and geography, quirky characters, and a fresh voice that breaks all the rules of traditional story narration, and you get a book that my husband, three children, and I all fought to be the first one to finish reading. All week you could hear someone snickering at the jokes or moaning at the suspense, with shouts in the background of, "DON'T TELL ME I HAVEN'T READ THAT PART YET!!!"

Alcatraz Smedry, the true author of the book (he publishes under Brandon Sanderson's name to avoid detection by the cult of evil librarians), intermixes his edge-of-your-seat narrative with snarky personal insights into subjects like literary fiction, philosophy, real adults vs. fictional adults, truth in storytelling, and perception vs. reality. This book completely defies gravity as a light, funny, fast paced, and thought-provoking read.

Brandon Sanderson is one of the bright new lights in the world of epic fantasy--his Mistborn series are among the most exciting fantasies that I have read in years. So I was very enthusiastic when I heard about his young adult series about a young man who has a talent for breaking things. Alcatraz's first adventure was a delightful romp through a world of conspiracies perpetrated upon all of us "Hushlanders" by the evil Librarians. Sounds crazy? Well, it was so crazy that maybe he is right...maybe the librarians are all out to get us.

So I was very happy that the second book, Scrivener's bones has come out to some fanfare. The same Alcatraz is back--but a little more self assured, in more command of his talent. His collection of crazy family members are also back, as is Sanderson's talent for inventing new and original magic systems. The Ocularists are a very interesting take on magic, and one that people who are into these things will really enjoy.

The real star of the show, however, is Sanderson's writing. It is crisp, funny, engaging, and really fun. I found myself turning pages so quickly that I was getting fingerburn. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions, and closed the book pleased that I had taken another trip through some really original locations--flying glass dragon, anyone?

This is not Harry Potter. Alcatraz is simply not as weighty as that young magician. His characters are not as well rounded or complex as those of JKR; however, I don't think that was his intention. He has created a fun alternate universe, a fun new magical system, and now gives us some more depth to this very likeable young character. I would recommend this for younger teen readers, or for people (like me) who are rapidly becoming fanatics about Sanderson's novels.

I have only two issues with Brandon Sanderson. Firstly, he should stop everything else he is doing and write more Alcatraz books. I like his adult fantasy, don't get me wrong, and I'm super excited about his finishing the Wheel of Time, but Alcatraz is better. Waaaay better. Someone with this kind of writing style and sense of humor should be writing young adult books. If you can get that many philosophy jokes into a book designed for 8-11 year olds effectively, and make it so darn funny that 35 year olds are checking for a sequel release date daily, you need to focus on them. These books are just a really really smart guy playing. He's doing the things he can't do with 'real' fiction, and I want MORE of it. It is perfectly designed, magnificently executed, and quite frankly the funniest books I've ever read. (including Christopher Moore- and that's saying a lot) The sequel, although not quite as good as the first book, is still the kind of book you annoy other people endlessly while reading. You MUST read these books.

The only other issue that I have is that the covers for the Paperback Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians, and The Scrivener's Bones are atrocious. They do not at all represent the nature of the books. As a bookseller who is constantly trying to hand-sell these books, the covers are not helping me. Please get a new illustrator.

Mr. McCalla's hip-hop soap opera picks right up where it left off. Shantel is disguising herself as Toya in an effort to get closer to Rich's girl Leaya. Major who is now cohabitating with Sparkles is busting shots off at Afta while making the ave red hot for Red October.

If none of these characters sound familiar than you obviously missed out on one of the hottest boooks of 2004, Diamond Drought. Part II Diamond Dynasty does not disapoint. Finally a sequel that answers all the unanswered questions of it's predecessor. Not only are secrets revealed but loyalties are crossed.

Mr. McCalla also expands the roles of some of the smaller cast members from book one. The block hugger Red October and my personal favorite Afta's gun wielding baby-momma Destiny both have more time to shine in part II.

Books one and two alone of the Diamond Series prove that this author is destined for greatness. I wouldn't be surprised to see this book on a big screen in the near future. It definitely jumps off the pages in true cinematic form.

Book two of the Diamond Series, DIAMOND DYNASTY, starts with a bang. With Filthy Rich and Willie Green, two arch-rivals still at each other's throats, the camps they represent are consistently put in danger. With both men out to get each other, the empires they are struggling to hold onto suffer.

Filthy Rich is caught up between two women; one for love, one for lust. To make matters worse, his camp has been infiltrated and he can't decipher who the traitor is. The woman he loves has left him, and his drug game is not as tight as it used to be. Too many things going on at one time leaves Rich very vulnerable - and stupid.

Willie Green, the brother of the woman Filthy Rich is in love with, hates the ground Rich walks on. With strategic moves, he's placed more than one traitor within Rich's camp, and is out for blood. His bravado isn't so strong when he's confronted and is almost shot, but the only thing that continues to spur him on is the fact that he wants only one thing - Rich's head.

DIAMOND DYNASTY is definitely a soap opera, but comes off very confusing at times. It's a sequel to the first book, Diamond Drought, and if you haven't read it, you may find yourself grasping for missing information and wondering about some events that happened in the previous story. Jumping right in, the story is written with the assumption that you're already familiar with the characters and certain hip-hop songs. This is a true hip-hop saga, full of deceit, lies, drama and of course, touches here and there on the drug game. Unfortunately, there are a lot of characters and leads to follow, which takes away from the overall context. Before picking this one up, make sure you read the first. You'll need it. Although it may take a little getting used to, don't discount it - the hip-hop saga continues.

Reviewed by Belinda
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

It's been one year since the jump off, which caused the grand opening of Rich's club "Diamonds" to be the grand closing on the same night. Along with a few dead bodies and some wounded ego's, Rich and crew are back in book two of the diamond series, "Diamond Dynasty". Rich continues his war with nemesis Willie. It seems these two are cut from the same cloth, who will overcome the other?
Can Rich and Leaya's relationship stand up in this war against Willie?
Will Shantell ever get Rich into her bed? Has she lost her touch?
Major is wounded, both physically and spiritually...this soldier is lost. He has distance himself from the crew, but deep within he knows, he wants to be back in the fold...damn, he's about to become an uncle!
Afta is about to be a daddy for the second time; but Destiny, his first baby mama, is furious...so much so, she's letting off bullets and she don't care who they hit!!
Brandon has written this ongoing saga with a sophisticated flair. Each page holds an hypnotic essence that will captivate and draw you into the life of this hip-hop soap opera.

This is truly a hip-hop soap opera. If you like continuous drama from beginning to end , this is a must read for you. Brandon flows with the pen his articulation is awesome if you are a hip hop fan Brandon brings you inside a real hip-hop family. Brandon don't keep us waiting to see who the real Dynasty is.

Once again it's on Brandon McCalla has blessed us with another action pack tale from the hood. When we last left Afta and Major are beefing, Anna is pregnant, Leaya is living in the clouds , Shantel is having troubles with her evil Twin Toya, and a host of other characters are having their share of drama. Will it ever stop "I dont think so". Mr. McCalla has brought us into the real world of the Hip Hop industry exposing us to how it is when drug dealers become rappers and can't shake the streets off of them. Major is struggling with his issues of Monique not being here but also suffering silently from the loneliness of not being apart of the team. Only to find himself in the arms of Sparkles. Rich is running around trying to find a way to get back at Willie. While Leaya and Anna plan for the new baby. Afta is dipping and ducking both Destiny and Major while Prime and Germany blow up on the music scene. Now what can we say about the "Black Erica Kane" aka Shantel or is it Toya. Will Shantel ever deal Rich rejecting her or will she just exploded? Will Afta and Anna live happily ever after? Will Destiny come to terms that Afta has moved on? Will Major find his way back home? And most of all will this end the drama of Rich and Willie? If you need to know the answers to this and main more questions. Run out and get your copy. Cause I'm definitely not lending mine out!!!!!!!!!!!

I consider this to be one of Stoker's best books. I would rate it right up there with "Dracula" and "The Jewel of the Seven Stars". The short stories in this collection are great. I especially liked the stories `Dracula's Guest' (which is supposed to be an exercised chapter from Dracula) and `The Judge's House'.

The nine stories in this collection are:

Dracula's Guest
The Judge's House
The Squaw
The Secret of the Growing Gold
A Gipsy Prophecy
The Coming of Abel Behenna
The Burial of the Rats
A Dream of Red Hands
Crooken Sands

If you enjoyed "Dracula" you should definitely read this book.

I was amazed when I listened to "Dracula's Guest" and "The Secret of the Growing Gold" on this cassette. I am a fan of classic stories, horror films and Victor Garber, but I had never owned an audio cassette of a classic story until now. While the possibility of "listening" to these stories thrilled me, I was concerned if I would enjoy them. My fears were very quickly laid to rest. Victor Garber is a wonderful stage-trained actor who has a very understated and unforced vocal delivery. So, I can only describe these recordings as "classy". The way he changes his voice with each character is very effective although it is clearly his own all the way through.

Some of you may prefer reading over listening but don't overlook buying this cassette. For one thing, it is more fun to listen to these stories than reading silently, and, probably, reading aloud. Both stories are fairly easy to follow, but "The Secret of the Growing Gold" is the hardest. Despite that, I strongly feel that this audio cassette is a must-hear. I recommend this to all fans of classic stories and audio books.

The book lives up to it's title. It's a fantastic read for something of its age. It easily beats off the new-comers to the horror genre. I'd recommend it to people who have at least a little experience with Bram Stoker's "Dracula" or something similar.

Even had Bram Stoker not penned the fabulously successful Dracula, efforts such as the stories in this book would more than qualify him as a gifted, masterful writer, with a special penchant for writing horror. The most prominent story in these pages is of course "Dracula's Guest," a story excised from the final manuscript of Dracula. This is an interesting, well-told tale, but its exclusion from the aforementioned novel seems to me to be rather inconsequential. The real jewel of this collection is "The Judge's House." I have read this story several times over the last decade or so, and I must say that this is my favorite horror story of all time. It somewhat chagrins me to make such a pronouncement, thinking of the masterful tales of Lovecraft, Poe, and King, yet I am compelled to make it. The ending may be somewhat cliched , but the dark, brooding, smothering atmosphere Stoker creates in this house is powerful and brilliant. The Judge's House may well be the most haunted house in literature.

The other seven stories are less noteworthy but eminently readable. Again, there are some cliches to be found among them, but they all "work." "The Squaw" is my least favorite--it is, to some degree, silly n terms of its characters and ending. I should also add that animal lovers such as myself may well be somewhat traumatized by one incident in the story--I certainly was. "The Secret of the Growing Gold," "The Gypsy Prophecy" and "The Coming of Abel Behenna" are pretty standard fare. "The Burial of the Rats" presents a thrilling, well-thought-out story of danger and escape (as well as a grim portrait of some of society's underbelly). "A Dream of Red Hands" is a sort of moralistic story that puts me in mind of some of Hawthorne's work. Finally, "Crooken Sands" is a good doppelganger tale whose presentation and overall air seem different, if not unique, from the other tales in this book. If you love old Scottish dialogue, you will reap some benefits from this story--for the rest of us, though, it makes for some slightly harder reading (but I think the story would be much less effective without it).

All in all, Stoker was a more than capable short story writer, even though he did sometimes stick too closely to the classic form; cliches and predictable plot points do diminish the quality of a few stories but by no means do they seriously hamper the effectiveness of them. It is unfortunate that many people think Stoker wrote Dracula and nothing else. The selections in this book are classic horror stories that only help to grant legitimacy to the genre.

This "short story" was originally part of "Dracula." It was left out at the behest of the publisher and published after Stoker's death by his wife. I've read "Dracula" many times in my life, and enjoy "Dracula's Guest" as a "lost chapter". It is obvious where the account fits into the book because it builds up to the letter from D. to the innkeeper which *is* in the book.

In defense of the original publisher's ax to the chapter, the story is much more rapid paced and has less of the "haunting realness" that rest of "Dracula" has - it is more in the pulp style of Stoker's "Lair of the White Worm".

SPOILER >> It adds a little depth to Jonathan Harker's journey to the castle in the form of a foreshadowing encounter with another vampire. << SPOILER

This book is a history of ElfQuests first 10 chiefs, from Timmorn Yellow-Eyes to Bearclaw. This book was a "breaking in" period for the BOTC series. It focuses on the hardships of chiefhood. It offers insight into the difficult struggle many of the earlier chiefs experienced between the wolf-song and their elven sides.It also goes in depth about the beginning of the bond between Wolf-Riders and their wolf-friends If you're a long time fan of ElfQuest it answers questions you may have about th 10 chiefs. If you aren't than this is one of the best places to start

A richly drawn journey through the World of Two Moons, this collection of stories spanning thousands of years is a fine addition to the ever unfolding ElfQuest saga. "The Blood of Ten Chiefs" gives us an all too brief glimpse into the lives of the wolfriders before the familiar days of Cutter and his family. Like the best of the ElfQuest tales, these stories are well written, beautifully drawn and easily capture emotions without the need for excess dialogue and narration. The change in styles from story to story, artist to artist, can be distracting at first, but after the first few pages the reader is fully involved and captivated by each artist's unique vision of these wonderful elves and their magical world. Wendi Pini's creative absence, so terribly and painfully obvious in many of the other recent entries in the series, in no way diminishes this collection which features some of the finest work of the "guest" artists I have yet seen.

The stories are varied in style and scope, ranging from the visually stunning "Colors" which tells the epic tale of Timmorn and his struggle to reconcile his elfin and wolf heritage, to the whimsical and innocent "At the Oak's Root" which tells of a young Tanner and his misfit "wolf"-friend who is not a wolf at all.

Taken together the stories serve as an engaging glimpse at the legendary Ten Chiefs. Newcomers to ElfQuest should probably save this collection for last, as the stories assume that the reader comes to them with a full and comfortable command of World of Two Moons and its inhabitants.

In the twenty-one years since Wendy and Richard Pini introduced the graphic series "Elfquest", many readers have been curious about the background of Cutter and his Wolfrider tribe. The Pinis took a first step toward answering these questions by endorsing a fantasy-novel series, "The Blood of Ten Chiefs", which appeared throughout the 1980s; this collection of short prose stories brought to light major events in the lives of the chieftains who lived in the 10,000 years before we meet the elves for the first time. From 1993 to 1995, the spirit - and some of the substance - of these tales was brought into a new EQ graphic serial, "Blood of Ten Chiefs"; the first nine issues retold stories from the prose-books, the last eleven were original tales created specially for this new series. Book 9b reprints issues 1 to 7, and 10-11 (a two-part story).

In these episodes published here the storytelling is always of quality, and two of the tales - "Colors" (issue 1) and "The Broken Circle" (issues 10-11) are among the most memorable and significant in the series. "Colors" is the visual version of Richard Pini's tale about the struggle of the half-wolf Timmorn, the first Wolfrider chieftain, to reconcile the elfin and lupine sides of his soul. The difficulty of illustrating states of mind is handled beautifully here; profound as the prose is, the drawing is even more eloquent, particularly in the last few pages. Even the coloring-work, though reprinted only in black-and-white, yet adds to the total effect (a pleasant surprise in almost all the issues here is the graceful transfer of these originally colorized drawings). No issue in BoTC was less than solid, but this debut issue remains the best of the series.

Other stories include another carryover from the novels, "The Phantom of the Berry Patch" - a tale about the young Bearclaw (the father of Cutter); the grim, disturbing "Swift-Spear", an account of Two-Spear's madness and his resulting campaign against the humans; and the last story in this volume, "The Broken Circle", about young Skywise's discovery of a great relic of the High Ones, ancestors of the elves - and the havoc it wreaks with him and his tribe. Drawn in a completely different style from that of "Colors", it too is ambitious, far-reaching and thought-provoking - with a more unsettling conclusion.

The series - and this book - are, by design, a literary and artistic grab-bag, with contributions from several different artists, but the level of inspiration is high all around; about the only flaw is a certain blockiness of pencil-work in two of the stories ("Swift-Spear" admittedly being one of those two). As I have said, the art has transferred very well to this lower-price format (not always the case with other volumes in the EQ Reader's Collection).

To summarize: if the "Blood of Ten Chiefs" book had been a mere history of a tribe of elves, it would have been much less interesting. But because it focuses on the major events in the chiefs' lives - and, through them, illuminates their characters and times - these stories will bear repeated reading. Recommended.

The stories in these books are really great and fill in a lot of gaps in the story. Keep it up! I want more!

I really enjoy Elf Quest comics, but they don't tell you much about what life was like before Cutter's tribe. This book provides you with exelent, well written background information, and detailed drawings of the elves and the incredible world of two moons. It tells you different stories about all the ten cheiftens that came before cutter.

As a Kimono enthusiast it's nice to find a book that has pages and pages worth of JUST Kimono. The focus on a particular time period makes it interesting. Worth the bucks.

This book is beautifully produced with an excellent history of kimono plus many pages of designs, including children's and men's as well as obi, from the past 100 years. Many of the kimono designs are very "art-deco" which might turn off some who like plainer styles. But to my mind the colors and patterns are fabulous! Just look at the front cover image to get a sense of how rich these designs are.

The early decades of the 1900s were the final flowering for the Japanese kimono, the standard clothing for men and women going back for centuries. This was literally so for many kimonos; for they have bright, sometimes lavish, flower patterns and images from the influences of the Western art styles of art nouveau and even art deco. The growing modernization and Westernization of Japan at this time was seen in the changing patterns in the kimono. The stylistic innovations came to an end with the turn to Western clothing after Japan's defeat in WWII and the destruction of the country's industry. One hundred and fifty modern kimono from about the 1890s to the 1930s from the collection of Jeffrey Montgomery are shown in color photographs with close-ups of the details of a few. The photos are full-page on the right with notes on the facing page. The book is done in conjunction with an exhibition of the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum through May 2006. The beginning essay by editor and contributor Annie Van Assche--textile artisan, Japanese art historian, and one-time curator of education for the Japan Society Gallery in New York--is an outstanding brief course on the artistic aspects, manufacture, and types and eras of kimono while serving as a lead-in to the following four essays taking up different topics regarding its final, modern, period.

"Fashioning Kimono" is a virtual panoply of color, art, and history focusing on kimono from the vast collection of Jeffrey Montgomery. Among the 1200 rare objects in Montgomery's enviable collection are these 150 kimono dating from the late nineteenth to the mid twentieth centuries. It is an array comprehensive in scope with kimono and haori jackets worn by men, women and children.

The almost 200 photographs of the textiles by Stefano Ember are stunning - bold, aresting in hue, delicate as a butterfly's wing in design. Publication of this volume accompanies an exhibition of the same name at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which runs from mid October of this year through May 1, 2006.

Annie Van Assche, the editor and primary author, presents a history of the kimono, while additional essays include such topics as new styles based on Art Nouveau and Art Deco designs, the kimono's influence on Parisian fashion, and the fascinating memoir of a Japanese girl growing up in the 1930s and 1940s.

As Van Assche notes silk is at the very heart of the Japanese kimono culture. It's strength, sheen and adaptability to dyes make it the ideal material. The inspired use of color, we learn, may be due in part to the fact that in ancient times the Japanese believed "color imbued a garment with special powers."

All with an interest in fashion, design and the Japanese culture will find "Fashioning Kimono" an indispensable addition to a personal library.

- Gail Cooke

The first fourth of the book contains a lot of valuable information about styles and techniques, then the rest is page after page of photos. Beautiful photos, but I wish there was more discussion about cultural significance of the designs depicted.

The author of a best-selling book on deathbed visions, "One Last Hug Before I Go," Dr. Carla Wills-Brandon has broadened her research and writing to encompass nearly every type of spiritual experience. In addition to her own, she summarizes several dozen other inspiring, interesting, informative and intriguing spiritually transformative experiences (STEs) encountered in her research over the years, including the out-of-body experience of Dr. Mark Seelig, a German psychotherapist. Seelig recalled going through a tunnel, seeing deceased relatives speaking to him in "wordless language," then encountering a light being who communicated with him in the most loving way. "[The experience] completely shattered my outlook on life, consciousness, religion..." Seelig is quoted.

While many mental health professionals look askance at such experiences and avoid discussing them, Wills-Brandon, a family therapist, has discovered that by helping the patient explore his or her STE and then embrace it, the patient often adopts a more positive, more accepting, and more loving outlook on life.

"Regardless of this," Wills-Brandon states, referring to the criticism by both mainstream science and orthodox religion, "when an STE brings comfort and healing, it is difficult to keep tightlipped, no matter who is doing the ridiculing"

Wills-Brandon makes a strong case for fully examining, exploring, and embracing spiritual experiences.

This book highlights the transformation that occurs at true NDEs, and the psychic phenomena that often accompanies experiencers is shown clearly here. I think this book together with Psychic Gifts Tools to Connect by Dr. Snow (another NDE experiencer) make some of the best reading on transformation from NDEs that I have ever read. Both also highlight how the choices we make here in our lives ripple on through to our death experience, and how we can connect to our higher selves and each other, and fine tune powerful spiritual abilities, right here on earth. We all have much to gain from reading these accounts.

This book highlights the transformation that occurs at true NDEs, and the psychic phenomena that often accompanies experiencers is shown clearly here. I think this book together with Psychic Gifts Tools to Connect by Dr. Snow (another NDE experiencer) make some of the best reading on transformation from NDEs that I have ever read. Both also highlight how the choices we make here in our lives ripple on through to our death experience, and how we can connect to our higher selves and each other, and fine tune powerful spiritual abilities, right here on earth. We all have much to gain from reading these accounts.

A Glimpse of Heaven is a wonderful book, but so many people just focus on their own lessons they learned, which makes for an interesting story, but I am always looking for more - how does this apply to me? Do I have to have an NDE myself? I liked Tiffany Snow's book better, just one chapter about her great NDE, but the rest of it shows how anyone can open up, if they learn how. I'm not saying A Glimpse of Heaven is a bad book, really, but I guess I was just expecting more.

You must read this book!!! Dr. Carla Wills-Brandon is a wonderful author. This book will make you a believer or if you already are-it will help you to better understand yourself. Wonderful!!!

Ian and his friends had me interested from the beginning. As someone already stated, you come to 'know' Ian the most but that has to do with the way the story is written. It's as if he's sitting right by you telling you a very detailed account of a year in his life. It was easy to relate to Ian on certain levels simply because so many people have experienced those same emotions. Granted, not all to the degree he has. But it's obvious from his other behavior that Ian isn't one to be 'mellow' about anything! It was a fun deviation from the normal kind of books I read:-).

I picked up "a selfish man" and was a little fearful that it was going to be a self obsessed fantasy world of the young writer. i was quite happy to discover it was far from that, a very open and honest story of the travels and tribulations of one Ian Mcneel, who leads us through his life with just the right style of narration. I loved how nonchalant some things are revealed to the reader, an interesting development of the fathers character comes to mind.
there were some great quotes and some very well written moments. and like any good book it left me dreading the last page, cause i didn't want it to end.
With this being only his first novel i can't wait to see what Mr. Brandon comes out with next.

This is one of those books where you are screaming at the main character, "What are you doing!!! Don't you see what is going on?!?!" That is what makes this book so amazing. It pulls you in from the start and refuses to let you go. Relive many of the mistakes many of us have already made...or wish we had. Follow Ian on a journey of self discovery. You'll be glad you tagged along.

Great reading. Interesting, at times serious, at times sexy, and consistently entertaining. I often found myself neglecting to do homework and other such things that I should have been doing in order to lose myself in this account of young Ian McNeel's life.

This is a great first novel by a young american scribe. The book's free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness style lends itself well to the (sometimes) drug-induced rantings of the author. Brandon still has much to learn about both life and writing, but the awkward (literary) moments and occasional plot gaps are easily overshadowed by his use of rich imagery and coffee-shop-snob-esque book references. The lead character (Ian), is almost overdeveloped in contrast to the others in the book (Neil was my favorite) - but as this is the 'Selfish Man', one supposes that this slight gaffe can be overlooked. All in all, a brilliant read... one highly recommended if you enjoy Kerouac, Bukowski and the like.

Enough of these childish space operas! Finally, I can enjoy my science-fiction, as an adult, coupled with normal sexual action. For years, sci-fi writers have treated their readers as if they were grade school librarians. Hey, guys! We are beyond Buck Rodgers and Flash Gordon. Poor Dale, she never got Flash in bed! That's a crime against both Dale and adult readers. Now, a lot of modern science fiction books have joined "Sex Rites." If you run out of Fox, and want more, look at Ray Emerson's "The Riddle of Cthulhu" for more erotic science+sex-fiction. If you like more classical old time science+sex-fiction, enjoy Haggard's "She." Let's have more writers like Brandon Fox, Ray Emerson, and yes, even Haggard!

This book includes passionate erotic encounters, like the other novels in the series, but really it's an adventure focusing on the travails and growth of the characters. Some people might not like the sexual content of these books, but it's in keeping with the "sex magic" premise and occurs between characters with deep emotional bonds - the erotic scenes show lovemaking rather than just getting off. The characters make this series, more than the sex. The story is satisfying because the characters show heroism and growth.

This novel is very erotic like the first two in the series, and the emotional bonds between the characters are just as strong. Several characters from the first two books continue a colorful story of adventure and sex magic, plus there is a new character named Dannel. Dannel is a great character, full of problems and frustrations as well as hope and nobility. I really liked a surprise plot twist that puts the whole trilogy in a new light. This installment takes place in a different setting than the first two books, which made for good variety. As for drawbacks, I wish the book was longer! It's a full-length story, but I wanted to spend more time with the characters. The ending is very dramatic and powerful and leaves you wanting more. I cared about the characters, which for me is the mark of a good book.

"Sex Rites" explores beyond the traditional science fiction genre with a genuine saga of gay sexual adventure, very much in the style of Philip Jose Farmer. This is such an arousing story that a brief review can hardly do justice to the well crafted new character. Dannel is an incredible sensual stud who was sold by his greedy parents at a very young age to a cult to become one of their enslaved guardians of ancients secrets.

Thane is on the run from the Zamindar's relentless pursuers, after thwarting the tyrannical ruler's chance for immortality. Having narrowly prevented destruction of the Lyceum, a community of mages that use sex magic, Sorrel and Nicolai have sent the ever playful Skorri and his skilled companion Erik to assist in Thane and Ander's escape. As a result, we are treated to a sexually filled adventure into new lands of ancient secrets. The reader is given the opportunity to more fully understand why Skorri and Erik are so highly regarded at the Lyceum for their particular skills and legendary horny nature.

This was a fine tale to conclude the series and especially fun to see some new ideas of sexual intrigue and exploration. On my first reading, I didn't fully appreciate the attention to the sexual and cultural details that Brandon Fox manages to weave into the story. This is not a novel to race through just to get from one sex scene to the next. "Sex Rites" is well thought out gay science fiction that will leave you feeling good and pondering things beyond the scope of simple pleasures. A fine novel to read more than once.

I loved the first two books in this series. They were very detailed about the personalities and motives of the characters. The sex was great! The endings left me breathless, wanting more. Then, what happened? If I was Brandon Fox's editor, I would have sent him back to the word processor to work on this story to flesh (sorry about that) it out more. It just seems like half a story to me. The new character is fine, but could have been developed more. Erik and Skorri don't hold a candle to Nicolai and Sorren. And where is the zaimandar.... Brandon Fox is a very good writer, but this is not his best work. Come on, Brandon, give us more!