Burke Books

Having read many of Howard's fantasy works (Conan the Barbarian, Kull the Conquerer, Solomon Kane), it's nice to read more hack n' slash works from him but with an actual historical backdrop.

Robert E. Howard is well known among readers of action/adventure as the creator of Conan of Cimmeria, the Puritan killer Solomon Kane, and Kull of Atlantis.

He is less known for his forays into historical fiction, but these bleak, savage (and action-packed) stories of the Crusades and the Mongols are phenomenal, and should be read by anyone who appreciates Howards immense descriptive skill.

A few examples, if I may:

"The Lion Of Tiberias"

The year 1124: One of the few survivors of a battle against the Caliph of Baghdad, Crusader John Norwald was enslaved in the galleys by "Zenghi esh Shami, Imad ed din, governor of Wasit and warden of Basorah, whom men called the Lion of Tiberias", after seeing Zenghi mercilessly murder a young boy... "the only person who had ever shown Norwald kindness"...If it took a lifetime, John Norwald would have his revenge.


"Sowers Of The Thunder"

A historically detailed and exciting tale of the real life conqueror Baibars, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, the fictional Red Cahal who opposes him, and the actual slaughter by Tartars of Moslem and Christian alike in the sack of Jerusalem in 1243.

"Shadow of The Vulture"

The story of Suleiman the Great and his attack on the City of Vienna in 1529, (and the lengthy siege that followed). Howard, as is his wont, works in some excellent fictional characters: Red Sonya, in her first appearance in print, and the drunken (yet ferocious and formidable) Gottfried von Kalmbach (whose head Suleiman wants on a platter).

These stories, as well as the many others (including the title story, a brutal yet excellent tale of Timour The Lame, (and fictional Donald , a Frank who rises to fame as his chief killer) make this book well worth owning for any fan of Robert E. Howard, or those who appreciate historical fiction in the tradition of Harold Lamb (but a little more graphically violent, as we expect from R.E.H.).

I also recommend the desert tales of another Howard slayer, Kirby O'Donnell, an American adventurer in the guise of a Kurdish outlaw, "Swords of Shahrazar".
Swords of Shahrazar

Harold Lamb wrote historical fiction and was one of Howard's favorite writers. This most likely inspired Howard to write some historical fiction of his own. If you like REH, check out Harold Lamb. The two of them are probably my favorite writers. But I like REH for his violent sword and sorcery, whereas my favorite stuff from Lamb are his historical works such as Hannibal and Genghis Khan (2 books that are must-reads by anybody interested in these two generals). Harold Lamb's famous Cossack stories are now being re-released. I have not yet read them but am looking forward to them, so check them out as well.

Also, if anybody has Lord of Samarcand and Others, please provide a list of the stories within this book (I think I have them all, but I want to be sure). I would be very thankful.

This is a must read and great to add to any book collection. I thoroughly enjoyed it! REH was a genius! Anytime I can find a REH story it's a great day! Lord of Samarcand - Gottfried von Kalmbach in The Shadow of the Vulture. REH wrote: "A more dissolute vagabond than Gottfried never weaved his drunken way across the pages of a popular magazine: wastrel, drunkard, gambler, whore-monger, renegade, mercenary, plunderer, thief, rogue, rascal-I never created a character whose creation I enjoyed more. They may not seem real to the readers; but Gottfried and his mistress Red Sonya seem more real to me than any other chracter I've ever drawn." Collected in this book is the entirety of Howard's historical Oriental fiction-including some fragments. These tales are probably among the most somber ever written by REH; among his best, too. Prepare to embark on a journey unlike any other in the field of historical fiction. The place is Outremer, the time the early thirteenth centery... Must Reads of REH (1906-1936): Blood and Thunder, The Life & Art of REH by Mark Finn, Two Gun Bob, One Who Walked Alone by Novalyne Ellis REH's girlfried, The Last of the Trunk-Paul Herman, Crimson Shadows-The Best of REH I & II, Conan, Kull, Solomon Kane, Cormac Mac Art, The Black Stranger and Other American Tales has the scariest story ever called Pigeons From Hell, Bran Mak Morn, all of the Weird Tales issues, etc. Get them all. If you can't locate them at your local bookstore try used bookstores and/or the internet. A special thanks to Glen Lord, Mark Finn, Paul Herman, Dark Horse, and everyone else that kept REH's legacy alive and well.

I've been collecting the works of REH for a few years now, and have found this book to be an excellent collection. The stories in here are unique, containing none one of REH's 'big' heroes (Conan, Solomon Kane, Kull). Rather is about the later Crusades. Think if REH had written Kingdom of Heaven and you'll have a good idea as to what these stories are like. This isn't quite Sword and Sorcery... there are none of the monsters or magic found in many of REH's writings, but it is still worth reading for any true REH fan.

Like a ship's captain, a CEO is only as good as the latest weather report. If a chief executive unknowingly steers his or her ship into the path of a hurricane, that ship's in trouble, no matter how skillful a seaman that captain may be. And unfortunately for CEOs, hurricanes - in the form of disruptive changes that remake markets overnight - have become almost an everyday danger. Authors W. Warner Burke, William Trahant and Richard Koonce argue that the most critical function of a corporate leader today is to monitor and respond to these rapid shifts in the external marketplace, or business climate. To illustrate this point, they offer insightful profiles of leaders who successfully guided their companies through the storms of organizational change initiatives. These profiles are especially effective in giving the reader both a sense of the personalities of these dynamic executives and a practical breakdown of the methodologies and strategies that they employed. We [...] strongly recommend this book to senior executives, would-be change agents and anyone curious about how to navigate the turbulent environment of 21st-century business.

This book is a must-read for anyone involved with organizational change -- whether you are managing the change or experiencing it from the "front lines." These fascinating Q & A's gave me real insight into the process. I recommend Business Climate Shifts to any forward-thinking person in the corporate world today.

Just ordered "Business Climate Shift" at the recommendation of a friend. I am a consultant who works with corporations on training and e-learning strategies that support implementation of knowledge and skill development in rapidly changing market places. My work continually has me working with senior managers on business change issues. I am always looking for new perspectives on organizational change. What is interesting about the book is the interview format. A very interesting way to explore the subject. The interview style gives you a chance to draw your own conclusions and you get a personal feel for the context senior managers face as they address organizational change issues. I have found the interviews very engaging and the authors do a nice job of summarizing the key organizational change issues for each interview. Many organizational change books present models and theory. This one also gives you a view of the human and personal issues associated with leading major change initiatives. .

After reading BUSINESS CLIMATE SHIFTS it was clear to me that this book was as much about leadership as about change. As a thirty year middle manager who has participated in both the planning and implementation of change, I was extremely pleased to read throughout the book that, although the companies were focusing on the customer, they all recognized the importance of the employees. The one common denominator throughout the book was that how management treats the employees is how the employees treat the customers. Although Colin Marshall at British Airways and Roger O. Goldman of National Westminster Bancorp. have distinctively different styles, they both recognized the importance of employees in the change process and demonstrated that leadership is key to effective and efficient change.

Starting my career in government late in life, I have noticed a reluctancy of federal executives to get the rank and file involved in major change initiatives. I suggest that any government manager or executive contemplating change read BUSINESS CLIMATE SHIFTS. The lessons learned from those who have been there, both government and industry, are invaluable and provide a framework for developing issues and questions that need to be addressed before any major shifts or changes in organizational culture.

As a college president, I read a lot of books about leadership and about institutional change. I found "Business Climate Shifts" to be extremely enjoyable to read, helpful, and relevant to a CEO of a not-for-profit. Although the idea of fast change seems like an oxymoron when connected to higher education, this book gives a framework in which higher education and other not-for-profits can operate. The helpful use of the living organism as a metaphor feels comfortable for higher education as does the book's use of scenarios -- something we are very comfortable with but often fail to use. In fact, the use of a metaphorical approach throughout fits with current thinking on the sources of visionary capability in leaders. The Organizational Diagnostic Checklist is worth the price of the book; it allows an organization to begin quickly the process of assessment and can be used throughout an organization. Educational institutions are very familiar with assessment, and this book fits directly into that familiar territory while giving it a business twist. The use of informal case studies and interviews makes the book easily readable and quite interesting. The chapter conclusions help focus the reader's attention on what has been read and demonstrate what has been learned from the case study. I found myself going back to them as a kind of review when I had finished the book. Asking people who have been successful to describe their own skills and approaches adds strong credibility and validity to the book. I feel certain this aspect of the book will make it useful as an educational tool for developing future leaders.

This is a great book, written by a clear and pragmatic teacher! I will reread Free Spirit many times until this perception of deepening is finally resolved. Sundance has pointed to many new and profound insights that had previously gone unnoticed. There are many books available right now on spiritual awakening and realization. This is one that stands out and that is to be fully contemplated and absorbed.

Free Spirit is a direct encounter with enlightened being. If you are genuinely ready and interested in slipping past the limitations of the ego, instead of fixating on its dilemmas, this book is for you. Free Spirit truly is a "good day to die" for the ego.

Sundance writes with great clarity and points with profound wisdom for those who long to be free. The book is grounded and pragmatic and yet the loving heart is so sublime and evident. He really got me actively involved instead of talking at me. For instance, he very skillfully asks the right questions so that I noticed the truth. There is also a lightness about the entire adventure and occasionally gentle, intelligent humor comes to the forefront.

In Free Spirit, I sensed that every word was sourced by the silent Truth.

Welcome fellow travelers to the journey. This book is like your carry-on guide and would save you a lot of luggage. It may not be easy, however it is as easy as it can be. Some friends say that we may need to read a thousand books to find what we think we are looking for. Well, maybe I am very close to that and lately most of the books give me some kind of fatigue. This one on the contrary makes me feel awake and alive. I have not even finished it and already I want the whole world to know about it. Thank you so much for the love and the energy that Sundance put into this. It is like listening to a close friend that tells you the truth, because he is your friend and loves you.

I was looking forward to reading this book after attending an intensive with him in Toronto. Energetically, it was one of the most profound satsangs that I have ever attended and I have sat with many.

I loved this book for the energetic stillness that I sensed while I was reading and I also appreciated Sundance's ability to communicate the principles of nonduality with such clarity. I read a little each day of Nisargadatta's I Am That: Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and it has been one of my favorites, although often I cannot understand what he is explaining. Sundance's insights are deep and profound, but he speaks in such a pragmatic manner that points us directly to the heart of awareness. He brilliantly demystifies the process of awakening to who we really are in a grounded and intelligent way.

I was especially helped by the section on Self-inquiry. In fact, it may be one of the clearest presentations that I have ever read. The chapter entitled "Realizing Freedom Now" was also helpful by making me more conscious of the root of all suffering in order to transcend this fear of the unknown.

Rather than conceptually telling us how to Self-realize, he asks the right questions and then points us where to look, so that we discover directly the deeper insights. Finally, he has a good sense of humor and in case you haven't noticed, this path can sometimes be quite strange.

I recommend this book for people who are interested in awakening and for those who are ready to go the distance and realize the Truth. Free Spirit: A Guide to Enlightened Being

Free Spirit is a calmly breathed introduction to nondual teachings. Beyond that, it is a deeply inscribed invitation to inquire, ask questions, and simply see what is obvious. While there are notes of surrender, the dominant tone is that of self-inquiry.

Lots of questions:

There are entire pages filled with questions, and they culminate in the chapter entitled Realizing Freedom Now, which is about how to practice self-inquiry. "The direct inquiry is: Absent thought or any identification with its appearance ... Who am I? Living within this question is the opening to its answer."

The use of questions aligns with the book's purpose, which is "not to give you more objective knowledge about yourself, as you cannot know yourself as an object is known." We need to "deeply feel and witness our existence."

Theme - Beliefs:

Sundance makes it very clear that belief is not discriminative intelligence, rather beliefs are artificial and do not bear on reality. Beliefs leave us in a bad situation of limitation, fear, and inability to release them.

Theme - Suffering:

The author reminds us not to get attached to suffering since it is tied to beliefs and, like beliefs, suffering does not change reality.

The only hope for release from the grip of beliefs and suffering, it might be said, is hopelessness. I like how Sundance says it: "The beauty of hopelessness is that when we truly encounter hopelessness, we STOP! ... and settle into Self. We experience simply being. We are absolutely present and disarmed of all mental and emotional protection."

Twin Books:

While Sundance Burke focuses on questions and self-inquiry, his wife Katie Davis in her book, Awake Joy, which is the twin to this one, is more inclined toward surrender. The books make a valuable pair.

Jerry Katz
One: Essential Writings on Nonduality

Trying to find a balance between financial & emotional satisfaction is a constant challenge. Melissa and Ellen provide an effortless, logical map to achieve fulfillment. Understanding money is material but far more significant, is how to meld money to create your optimal life experience. This is a wonderful read for women and men alike.

Fantastic read and really jumped started me with helping to "remove my clutter" and creating a more stress-free environment. I was able to instantly implement some of the ideas in this book and it's all ready making a difference in my life. You won't be disappointed with this purchase.

Great with Money provides effective, practical insights about creating new ways to view money and finances. However, this is more than a book on personal finances. It is also serves as a valuable guide on ways to become a better person and how to be more intentional with regard to the positive impact that you can have on others. Great with Money is an easy read with numerous suggestions, tips and helpful tools to help put the theory into action.

"Great With Money" explores a new dimension of wealth. Readers that choose to follow "The Prosperity Circle," will become liberated from the anxiety that comes with money and the new found ability to live life to the fullest.

Authors, Ellen and Melissa, artfully articulate methods for all to create a powerful relationship with money. Through "The Prosperity Circle" they focus on holistic methods to evolve our limiting views of money and techniques to replace those views. "Great with Money" is a must-read for any woman who desires to have peace, possibility, abundance, and joy with money!

I bought this book on the advice of a former friend, and I still can't get over the colossal waste of time I invested in it. I shudder to think that if I had died in a horrible accident while reading this book, it would have been the last thing I ever read.

Each piece stands as its own monument to drivel, but taken as a whole, this collection is a masterpiece of unbearable whimpers obliterating unwritten truths. You could learn more about love in a whorehouse. Or a crackhouse, for that matter. My god, whose idea was this wretched tome? And aren't there laws against this kind of tripe?

O.K., the piece by Michael Burke is a gem, but its luster is lost in this tar-black bucket of muck. And who invited that Edward Underhill guy to throw in his two cents' worth? That floundering piece is a miasma of asinine cliches unparalleled in the history of western literature. It would have made more sense to me if the writer (hah!) had presented it in Esperanto. If he is the same Underhill who works as a waiter at that little bistro on Lunt Avenue, he should focus on his tables and leave writing to those whose literary background goes beyond Bazooka Joe bubble gum wrappers.

That's the best and the worst, and the rest aren't worth mentioning, so I won't.

Anyway, buy this book. The Michael Burke piece is worth the few dollars. When you are done with that, maybe you can test my theory and translate Underhill into Esperanto. Just imagine - quantum literature in a universal language. The possibilities abound.

It's rare to find a collection of stories, poems and plays that keeps a reader as thoroughly involved as this one. Good writers that they are, the contributors to this anthology succeed in reminding us that love is a complex emotion, and that those who are touched by it can just as easily be redeemed as they can be destroyed. As with any anthology, some pieces remain in memory longer than others, yet all are worthy of one's attention. What's more, the journey from first page to last enriches both heart and mind. So much so that this reader awaits the Press's next release with happy anticipation.

It's difficult to find an anthology that has as much stopping power as this one. Reading it, I was impressed not only by the diversity of the authorial voices, but also by their veracity. Each story, poem and play seems to have come straight from the gut. What's more, the contributing writers help to remove our blinders; particularly when it comes to matters of the heart. Love, they argue, is nothing less than a battlefield on which each of us daily chances victory or defeat.Those seeking to enter the contest fully armed would do well to buy this book.

Anthologies are not my usual choice of reading material, but as this was recommended to me, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. While I could not relate to some of the pieces here, I enjoyed the underlying topic immensely. The poetry, drama, and short stories were a good blend. The Thing About Love Is... an enjoyable and fast read, but has a peculiar lingering effect that required that I return to it for further exploration. It's a perfect book to read from the relative comfort and safety of your best chair, where you know that you can dip into the joy and angst of love and for once, walk away unscathed.

If your idea of love is limited to visions of puppies and balloons, The Thing About Love Is... probably not for you. In Polyphony Press' first effort, the heavy topic of love is tackled in gritty, gutsy pieces that cut to core of this complex emotion. Sometimes it's bliss, sometimes it's bizarre, and quite often it hurts, but regardless of its form, love is always intriguing. This anthology is in keeping with that notion. With a variety of styles and voices, the works featured here are unanimous in their ability to draw the reader in and keep him hooked. It is truly a great read that may challenge one's personal definition of love. Call it an enjoyable experiment in mind expansion!

The study guide is excellent. The text book has a huge amount of information, and trying to do all the reading for class is almost impossible. The study guide breaks it down into easy-to-follow segments that are short and have the most important information readily available. The study questions are great. It wasn't required to purchase for my class, but it was the best investment I've made for the course.

I had the privilege of being taught by Karen Burke, one of the authors of this text book. It is an outstanding text book, giving all the information you will need. I highly recommend it!

I used the updated version of this book, and my goodness, it was worth the time. I could not put it down...it is rare that anyone can be excited about reading a textbook, but that is my feeling!

I can't imagine a more helpful study guide. Full of NCLEX test questions, their answers, and an explanation of WHY it is the correct answer (in the back of the book) plus succinct yet complete outlines of the chapters and more; this is a book for students who want to learn the nursing material as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Truly a gem of a book. Great for study/review the night before the test. I found this especially helpful with my study of Fluid, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance which is one of the more difficult concepts for me and many others to grasp. Use it along with the textbook, CD-ROM and companion websites for greater learning. Any time you spend in this book is time well-spent. A well-kept secret aid are the study guides to nursing textbooks which, at many schools, are "optional" to purchase, but trust me, they are mandatory for your learning! Good luck future nurses!
Soar!

Although this book can seem a bit daunting at first (I mean, it's over 1600 pages!) it is a wonderful book to have. It was required for my first semester in nursing school and I found myself using it even then to write care plans and find rationales and now that I'm in the med-surg semester I use it even more to refer to pathophysiology of patients conditions, look for tips on what to watch for in every patient that could indicate possible complications, etc. It includes a brief overview of the anatomy & physiology of the following body system and also gives an detailed, indepth step-by-step "how to" for assessments of a patient, including abnormal findings. It's a great tool to have at your fingertips to make you more aware of what to look for in your patients.

Reviewed by Robin Gix for Reader Views (10/06)

"A, My Name Is Andrew" takes you through the entire alphabet. Throughout the book, you are introduced to many different children who tell of their activities. The writing is clever and fun. The sounds of the verse and the multi-cultural information, is refreshing. The story bounces along and keeps a captive audience. The illustrations are brilliant and beautiful. This book also features a glossary at the back. "A, My Name Is Andrew" is a great book to start teaching your children the alphabet and words.

A My Name is Andrew is a delightful romp through the alphabet. Each letter is its own story and my children each have their favorite. Beautiful illustrations enhance the smart verse. Kudos to McManus for creating a readable alphabet book! I even learned a few things in the glossary!!!!

I happened upon this book quit by accident, when looking for a birthday present for my nephew, Andrew. I purchased it because of the name and was pleasently surprised as to how well written it was. My nephew, whom we call Drew loves his book and has taken it to school to show it off to his friends. Also as a nurse,I taken it with me to work. Many of my co-workers have also purchased for themselves. It truly appeals to a very broadspectrum of people. The glossary in the back is a great idea for young children to start enhancing their vocabulary, you can't start to early. I truly hope the author is planning another book,I will be watching for it. Job well done, Mary McManus Burke!!!:-)

Stop what you're doing and buy this book immediately! By far one of the best children's books to come along in a long time. Forget about Madonna's attempts at children's literature, this is the one to watch! Brilliantly written and beautifully illustrated. An absolutely clever, and charming example of a learning-storybook. Keep them coming, Mary!

I am a grandmother of soon to be 15, WOW!!! I found it very inspirational that a Grandmother wrote such a wonderful book. Her grandchildren are very lucky!! I hope she keeps writing! I have read it to all my grandchildren and they love it. It is a great book to read when you want some quality time with the kids. Great Job Mary, from one Grandma to another

After battling with a school physical education project on training principles, I found this book in our library and WOW, the assignment was easy! This book really made good practical sense and turned my essay from boring science to cool information. I now find myself wanting to read all the sports magazines to find out more about how world class athletes train and what they eat. Sounds to me like some of them need to buy a copy of this book to read!

Peak Performance is a fantastic resource and a great read. It demystifies scientific concepts and provides plenty of practical tips. The quotes make the book truely enjoyable to read. Anyone with a question about sports science and sports nutrition will find the answer in this book.

Finally a book that actually uses the peer reviewed literature. It was a pleasure to read this book knowing that you were getting factual and scientifically valid information. If you want to know what works in training and nutrition this is the book. Now I dont have to buy all those supplements - and have I saved a heap of $'s.

Peak Performance is the perfect companion for the athlete or coach looking for every ounce of accurate practical information available from sports scientists. John Hawley and Louise Burke (world leaders in sport related science) have teamed up to produce the "lay-persons" guide to improved athletic performance. Peak performance introduces us to the founding fathers of modern athletic training. Our authors then explore the facts that have been uncovered by exercise scientists attempting to discover proof of what produces optimal performance. An excellent blend of theory and practice!

There are so many good points about this book I hardly know where to start. What impresses me most is that the authors have maintained a balanced and rational view on the many diverse and sometimes conflicting inputs - lab. tests, experience in the sport, folklore, practicalities - all of these impinge on the attitudes of athlete and coach, and can result in a lot of confusion and uncertainty. The book does an excellent job in unravelling these tangled strands of knowledge and half-knowledge to present the a clear and accurate picture to the reader. Uncertain points are made clearer, several myths are debunked (some of my own misconceptions were cleared up). Yet where the truth remains hidden or is unclear this is commented upon. Concerning scientific studies the source material is extensive and up to date.

The layout and language are so clear and reader-friendly, and the material so interesting that I found it hard to put the book down. However, I'd have to advise readers not to try to take in too much at a time.

The few inaccuracies in some of the details didn't detract from the message or the overall quality. There is one slightly surprising omission, namely the absence of any discussion of the Conconi test for aerobic performance. Nevertheless, the sections on training are excellent; the ones on nutrition are even better.

Yukinobu Hoshino's 2001 Nights is not your average manga.

With precise and detailed drawings, and a tangible indebtedness to Arthur C. Clarke, Hoshino tells in a series of short stories the future of mankind's journey into space. Beginning with a classic Cold War sf story, continuing on with the discovery of life--of sorts--on the moon, and furthering outward to the utmost boundaries of the solar system, Hoshino tells his stories with steadily increasing imagination, pulling the reader gradually from more mundane hard sf to weirdly handled (but very Clarkeian) cosmic and religious issues in the volume's final, lengthy chapter, "Lucifer Rising," which smacks of Clarke's "The Star" as well as Gene Wolfe's "All the Hues of Hell."

Not only are these excellent comics, they are some of the best sf short stories you're likely to read, though Hoshino sometimes plays fast and loose with science if it helps the plot.

Okay, ditto all the other glowing reviews; I normally don't post my opinions unless it's different from others', but this is one of the few times when a product has got me so enthused that I simply must join in the praise. IT'S GREAT!...I got chills all over just like I first did as a kid when it dawned on me how vast the universe could be, and how alone humankind seems in it...I must say, this is quite an effective "twist" on one's usual expectations of Science Fiction, a twist which actually in effect restores the sense of melancholia which a deep, prolonged contemplation of outer space usually seems to instill sooner or later...

[have edited original today 2008 MAR b/c I finally really do realize that even with a spoiler alert people are just going to read on anyway, of course, and get the surprising though very simple ending, which I was commenting about, and that would just totally destroy the beautiful cumulative effect of reading all three volumes to get there, to that beautiful, majestic, haunting, and chilling vision....]

Has Yukinobu Hoshino done any other stuff, I wonder??? Now that I'm "onto him", I'm gonna go look for his other works....

This is an amazing trilogy (read my other 2 reviews of vols. 2 & 3). The below reviews are so accurate to what I want to say, that I won't repeat them. I love this series. It's some of the best sci-fi comics I've ever read. There's an overwhelming sense of vastness to the universe and a sad feeling for mankind in the stories - no matter how far they get in space, it's still not enough - there's no end to the immenseness!
The stories are wonderfully believable and the Japanese artwork is not the `big eyed', Hello Kitty stuff one comes to expect of manga.
Whoever decided to translate this series for America should be given an award for recognition of intelligent comic work. It's that good. I've read the 3 books several times and they're wonderful with each read.
Each volume ends with an epic tale. Volume 1 has "Lucifer" which is a great concept of an anti-matter universe which may be responsible for the Big Bang theory. Great stuff. Get these books - they're wonderful. This is the way comics should be done!

I bought this book in the spring while I was in college studying comics. When you read so many comics, even the good ones seem to go pale. This graphic novel made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. With mature visuals and sensitive writing Yukinobu Hoshino sows accurately the vastness of the universe and the importance of human destiny within it and beyond it. The occasional over-explaining takes away very little in this epic. A great read by anyone's standards; comics fan or not.

2001: A Space Odyssey is one of my favorite movies for its detailed and believable vision of a future that is still largely unrealized. I was pleasantly surprised to see Yukinobu Hoshino pay homage to Kubrick's visual style throughout much of 2001 Nights, in scenes that were recognizably inspired by the film. The skillfully-rendered black-and-white panels throughout the book are evocative of the silence and vastness of space, yet the human characters are drawn with grace and style, without the occasional cartoonish facial expressions that mar other manga I've read. This stylistic discipline helps to keep the work focused and believable.

Aside from the fantastic artwork, the author lays out a sweeping story of humankind's quest to find its destiny beyond Earth, told in a series of time-separated vignettes. He touches upon issues of cooperation, isolation, exploration, greed and even religion -- and manages to pull this off without becoming trite.

It's pretty tough to describe in words something that is so visually distinctive and compelling. I originally ordered this book on a whim, but it has just blown me away.

Great book that shows the perils of continuing to work for others. I loved the comparison of jobism and communism. If you need a boost toward self employment, this is it!

This book is great for anyone thinking about starting their own business. If you have any insecurities about leaving the world of jobism, they will all disappear after reading this book.

A great book to learn why Jobs = slavery and Self-employed = Freedom and that it's your choice as to which direction you go. And why. And what to do about it.

A great book with a simple idea that most Americans never realize.

I've been free from a job for years now. I just wish I'd had this book to read when I got out of college. I would have started my action plan to freedom sooner. Now I help others "plan their escape" by consulting them on how to become free by starting their own business. If I weren't there to guide them, I'd toss 'em this book instead.

This book was written back in 1996 and boy didn't Hedges call it right?Many of those people who hung their hopes on a J-O-B now find themselves out of work and attacked Hedges for this book and it's predecessor, "Who Stole The American Dream", are probably wishin they had listened to Hedges instead of attacking him.The very popular Rich Dad series of books is interestingly sending out the same message only to a larger audience---you must go from employee to self employed if you want to succeed. The best and fairest boss that you will ever have is the one you see every morning in the mirror.I also recommend "Who Stole The American Dream", "Cash Flow Quadrant", "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Wave 4."

This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to go into business for themselves. It is educational for those with an open mind and stuck in the (J)ust (O)off (B)roke (JOB) mentality.