Carroll Books

A darkly comic fantasy about a learning machine named Roderick, and his unusual upbringing. Wrested from his creators at far too early an age, Roderick finds himself habitually used and abused by everyone he encounters, but manages to take it all in stride. The tone of the story makes it stand out in a genre full of artificial intelligences, but the most endearing facet of the book is Roderick himself, who unlike many fictional robots, is very limited by his knowledge-base. Like a mechanical Forrest Gump, Roderick does what he's told because he doesn't have any better ideas, and doesn't know enough to be able to pass moral judgments on those who are giving the orders. The author slyly uses this device to poke fun at some of the sillier aspects of 20th Century America, allowing us to see the effect our culture's messages have on one who accepts everything at face value. At the same time, Sladek clearly has little compassion for human foibles; the people Roderick encounters often represent the worst humanity has to offer, although most of them are very familiar types nonetheless. Even Ma and Pa Wood, who care for Roderick more than anyone, don't seem to really understand him. The story might have been a lot funnier if the reader didn't feel so bad for poor Roderick. As it is, he remains a tragicomic figure, and the novel is slightly less successful for this duality. So while not a masterpiece, this is still a very entertaining book. A sequel, Roderick at Random, has less to offer in the way of interesting ideas, and is not really essential.

Jean Harlow (as Kitty Pachard): I read this book... the man says machines are going to take over every profession!

Marie Dressler (as Carlotta Vance): (Looks her over) My dear, you've got nothing to worry about.

Just one of the dry and appropriate quotations the renownedly erudite Sladek uses to pepper the chapter headings in this brilliant book about a very human machine in a dehumanised world full of mechanical people. Roderick is a learning machine - the product of a highly experimental artificial intelligence project at the University of Minnetonka. But the project's funding is under threat and their leading genius is on the verge of mental breakdown. Roderick escapes and is adopted, bought or just kidnapped by one after another crazy person - beginning with a disfunctional couple who neglect him. He starts to learn all about the world from TV, and begins the long process of trying to work the whole thing out using his (as you would expect) powerfully logical brain. He is forced to work in a fairground by the scary Mr Kratt, comes across a sinister corporate conspiracy, and is eventually adopted by the warm-hearted, but extremely eccentric Ma and Pa Wood who teach him human values and try to get his body sorted out for him. If the story sounds a bit like the "Wizard of Oz" or "The Brave Little Toaster" believe me it isn't - well I suppose it is a bit, but it's also full of dark humour, weird characters and hilarious situations. There's beautifully observed school scenes, and an unforgettable theological discussion with a very worried priest. There's the story of Abraham and Isaac as a flow chart, and lots of strange little codes and puzzles to work out. There's obsessive artists, craven academics, moronic TV shows and general satirising of all the crass things we've come to accept as inescapable parts of modern life in the twenty years since the book was written. Together with its sequal "Roderick at Random", "Roderick" - one of David Pringle's "Science Fiction: One Hundred Best Novels" - is a fitting memorial to a great modern satirist who died in March this year.

Brett Carroll's Historical Atlas of Religion in America provides a focus on the history and geographic development of American religions, providing maps and visual details to bring alive the connections between American political and religious history. From parts played by religious groups of Europe to the development of sects in the country, this provided a well-rounded survey.

This atlas is very comprehensive and contains colour maps showing the religious composition of the various regions of the United States from the pre-colonial days down to the present.

The atlas is also very useful for those who are interested in the emigration of the various ethnic groups to America as religious affiliation is closely tied to ethnicity and country/area of origin (especially in the colonial period to the 1800s).

It can be observed from these maps that different ethnic groups arrived during different periods and that their settlement were concentrated in specific regions.

For the period before independence (ie. 1776), there are maps showing the emigration of the Puritans/Congregationalists from the counties of Eastern England to New England, the Anglicans to Virginia and other Southern states along the Atlantic coast, Northern English and Welsh Quakers to Pennsylvania, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians to the Middles colonies and thereafter, onwards to the backcountry. There were also the Dutch Reformed (and some French Huguenot) in New York who settled there when that state belonged to Holland, and the Lutherans, Reformed and Mennonites who emigrated from Germany to the Middle colonies. Meanwhile, Louisiana was mainly Catholic due to French and some Spanish settlers.

A phenomenon which I found interesting was the transformation of denominational affiliation in the Southern states from Anglicanism and Presbyterianism to Baptist (and Methodist)and later, the emergence of Unitarians and Universalist among the Yankees in New England. All these showed regional trends.

This religious affiliation can be traced as migrants moved Westwards from the original colonies. Hence, the Yankees brought with them Congregationalism to the Midwest whilst Texas, Arkansas etc. had large Baptist and Methodist groups due to settlers from other Southern states.

In the 1800s, one can see how America was transformed from an almost exclusively Protestant Anglo-Saxon/Western European civilisation with the immigration of Catholics from Ireland, Germany and continental Europe. Orthodox imigrants form Eastern Europe in the late 1800s to early 1900s added even greater to the diversity.

And of course, in the late 20th century, America became a microcosm of the world with immigrants from Asia, Africa etc. [with large numbers of Buddhists (of various sects), Hindus, Bahais, Sikhs and Muslims (who enjoyed a phenomenal growth in part due to the large-scale conversions among African-Americans)].

This atlas also has maps showing the religious transformation in the African-American community i.e. from having their own Methodist and Baptist denominations to the formation of Black Hebrew organisations and the Nation of Islam and quasi-Muslim sects (such as Moorish Science).

The last few maps showed that despite the change in ethnic composition over the years, the various regions are still unique in their concentration of various denominations.

Words fail to describe the artistry and the passion Anne-Marie Villefranche uses to tell these erotic tales of mischief in 18th and 19th century France. You must read this book!

This book, like all others from this now deceased author were translated from French in the 1980's from memoirs that recently became public. Anne Marie's books have been translated into many many languages and are timeless in their appeal and eroticism. Based mainly on the authors', or her friends real life, and somewhat embellished experiences, I understand that she wrote these books for her own personal erotic gratification. What a marvellous stroke of luck that many of the memoirs have come to light for us to enjoy.

Most, if not all of the authors books deal with games of life and love that the decadent wealthly played incessantly in Paris during the 1920's. The theme of many of the stories seem to invariably involve beutifull and wealthy society women, which, I must say, pretty well have the morals of alley cats, and are usually on the hunt for men and erotic diversions. For the hunt to be enjoyable, the hunted should usually not be aware of the game and feel that he is the master of his own destiny, what a laugh .... most of the men really don't know what had hit them though they would be lax in admitting to themselves that they were used and abused at will .....

In Scandale D'Amour, we find two very similar books titled 'Mystere D'Amour' which is 320 pages and 'Folies D'Amour' which is 248 pages in length.

Both books are a compendium of short stories each with its own plot, characters and delicious stories of erotic seduction and submission. The author has an innate knack for allowing the reader to quickly identify with one or another of the characters in each story making one feel as though you are a vicarious participant. BTW Anna Marie Villafranche's prose and descriptions of the love scenes can span 10 to 20 pages as she is a master in drawing out those delicious sinfull moments. It's not the hump and bump of many of our contemporary authors ....

I had some trouble finding this book and I can assure you it's not leaving my little library of erotic masterpieces any time soon .....

This is a great source book for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Being a source book, it provides much information for the working occultist. Besides this, like the other books that I have by Carroll Runyon, it is written in a personal, friendly style and brings the knowledge in the book close to one's being.
As I have been working with this book through time, I have found
that it is also an excellant source book for original magickal
knowledge that is hard to find anywhere else.

There have been several books on the Golden Dawn Cipher Manuscript. I have two others besides this one--but what this one does that the others don't do, is actually explain what the cipher (cypher) manuscript is all about. And the author does this grade-by-grade so you can follow along in the Golden Dawn and see where everything comes from. On top of that, Runyon presents the best defense of W. Wynn Westcott I've read yet. He makes us wonder just what kind of an axe Ellic Howe was grinding!

Also Runyon has some fascinating appendices on the "Eleven Sphere Tree" in the Ciphers (nobody else has this that I know of). Then, as a special addition: we have R.A. Gilbert's great article on Wynn Westcott's Cipher Notes. What a feast for Golden Dawn buffs! If you are going to get a book on the G.D. Ciphers, this is the only one you'll ever need.

Spolit and independent Lady Gevenieve de Macy is determined to marry where she pleases. Tempted by a dishonored outcast into an illict passion that almost consumes her. Lady Jenny is forced to marry another kind of man, Sir Hugh.

A battle of the sexes. Lady Jenny is forced to face her secret most fears and learn that love conquers all and will sustain you through the most difficult of times. Set during the reign of King Herny III's most difficult political troubles, Lady Jenny must learn that sometimes politics are best left to the men.

Set in the Age of Chivalry, when England was at war with France and subservient to the Court of Rome, when freelance knights offered their arms to the highest bidder, Shades of Winter is an unforgettable triumph of passion, witchcraft, and supreme valor, a story in which to lose yourself completely.

This is one book that you can read several times and not be bored. Ms. Coppula brings to life the feel of England and France is the mid 13 century. Truly a must have of a complete library of a historical romance reader.

This book is a wonderful continuation of the story begun in Winterbourne. There are just a shade too many historical details for me, but it was still great. And it's a bit different from the typical romance. But not so different that it's not enjoyable. I thought it was well worth paying a bit more to get it, although it is out of print.

I really enjoyed this book. I had the honor to be a member of The Winedots back in the 70's, playing every club in and around Oklahoma. Good memories shared with some good people. Many long nights playing long dances then the long ride back home.

This book is like every thing else about C.E. Redwine. Honest, full bore and full of heart/soul. He would play with everything in him for every song of every dance. Turns out thats how he lives his life- pedal to the metal, as it were. He was, and is, a great example to all aspiring musicians on how to be a "local" musician, and make music either professionally or as a weekend warrior type.

I loved the stories about his adventures growing up. Highly recommend this one. Way to go, C.E.

Rich with historical facts, yet bursting at the seams with important life lessons. Hilarious stories are interspersed with sobering changes and fascinating life changing transitions from one chapter of the authors life to the next. It's a book that will make you laugh, make you cry, make you proud to be an American, and probably make you strive to be a better person. This book is better than any I've read in the last 10 years.

One of my main historical interests is the Spanish Civil War and the role played in it by the International Brigades to combat Franco's Nationalist forces. I read "Spain's Cause Was Mine" a couple of years ago, but I recently revisited it and was once again struck by the humanity, nobility and idealism of Hank Rubin. Any historian of the International Brigades will tell you, that a good number of volunteers were college students. Rubin begins his account by retelling how, while sitting on the steps of the UCLA library, someone approached him and asked him if he would like to fight in Spain. He replied 'yes.' So begins his journey from college student to volunteer, to medic, to casualty, and cecoming ultimately, survivor. Rubin provides a simple yet poignant narrative of what went through his mind and what all the volunteers had to face in combat. While initally, disappointed that he was not assigned to front-line duty, he came to appreciate his role behind the scenes. This actually, allowed him to absorb it all and put down his thoughts in writing.

Rubin writes about some of the brutal campaigns from Brunete to Teruel and Grañen. He also places the Spanish Civil War in an international context, noting Germany and Italy's aid to Franco's troops and the US position of maintaining an embargo against the Spanish Second Republic. To anyone knowledgeable about the Spanish Civil War, this isn't anything new. However, coming from an actual participant, who was fully aware of his own government's indirect complicity in causing the demise of the Spanish Second Republic, it is worth reading.

I was touched by a poem written by Rubin following the death of a comrade at arms, who he was unable to save in the medic tent. It captures fear, hesitation and pain that too often accompanies any soldier who goes off to war. I quote it here: "From far away, from Everett on the Puget Sound with the peace of its water the serenty of its green hlls you came from so far to a dusty plain, to mountains without peace. You expected to fly to strike the enemy boldly from the sky, guns roaring your strong hands guiding your plane, triggering your guns. Instead you had to fight on foot, did you ever expect to die? To have a bullet in your head? To suffer your guts torn apart? And was it worth it? Was the pain too much? Was there even pain for you? Was the cost of death too high?

This is an excellent memoir from someone who participated in an event that far too many Americans are unaware of. I recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about the Spanish Civil War. Other recommended books along this vein: Peter Carroll's "The Odyssey of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade," and "American Commander in Spain," by Marion Merriman and Warren Lerude.

"Spain's Cause Was Mine: A Memoir of an American Medic in the Spanish Civil War," by Hank Rubin, is a well-written and enlightening narrative. A large chunk of the book details the long odyssey that took him from Los Angeles and through France enroute to service in Spain--a quest taken in defiance of an international non-intervention pact. This section of the book is a real adventure story with an almost dystopian flavor.

Equally fascinating is the portion of the book detailing his actual time with the Spanish army, during which he served in a machine gun squad and as a medical laboratory technician. Rubin explores the unique challenges in putting together a multinational, multiethnic, and multilingual fighting force. He details the illness, discomfort, and deprivations that the troops endured in order to uphold their ideals.

In addition to covering such down-to-earth issues as mail call and footgear, Rubin also offers some potent reflections on wartime morality and medical ethics. Particularly interesting are his thoughts on the impact of his Jewish identity on his decision to enlist. His writing style is largely straightforward, but graced with occasional passages of great beauty and power.

Rubin's narrative really educated me about the unique place of Spanish Civil War veterans in the United States. This book is a valuable and enjoyable addition to the canon of American military memoirs.

I read it once a year to brush up. I also use it as a reference book for specific topics.

Stone and Bachner were both active in the famously independent Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women in the early 1970s. Bacher was also moderator of one of the earliest women's radio talk shows in the Boston area, WBUR's "If A Woman Answers. . . Hang On." For 25 years, individually and together, they have taught consciousness raising techniques and public speaking in a variety of venues and occasionally even for profit. This updated edition of their 1976 handbook suggests a solution to every problem a fledgling public speaker may face (including how to manage hostile questions), and not incidentally weaves in a great deal of anecdotal material concerning (1) the history of women speaking in public and (2) the shift in public manners that a genuine restructuring of the relations between the sexes requires. Highly recommended for its second-wave historical as well as its practical value.

The form demonstrated in this book is G-R-E-A-T!!! After you learn the form, try doing it back-to-back a couple of times for a great full-body workout. It'll strengthen your arms, legs, waist, back, chest, and lungs.

Paul Eng introduces the art of Praying Mantis Kung Fu in this, the first of a four volume series on Mantis forms. Introductions are provided by Chan, Pui (Wah Lum), Wai Hong (Fu Jow Pai), and Kam Yuen among others. A section on Mantis Kung Fu history, and then Eng demonstrates the Spear Hand form in 48 sections, including separate photos which show the correct application of the techniques. An excellent introduction to the art of praying mantis. Text is in Chinese and English, instructions are precise.

This is an awesome book, and much more than simply a railroad book, as might be suggested by the fine illustration on the dustjacket. This book is a large, lavishly illustrated, awe-inspiring history of stream lining transportation design as it developed through the first half of the 20th Century.

The majority of the book does focus on train transportation, where streamlining took off in big, bold ways, but we are also treated to brief history and illustrations of streamlining as it was applied to automobiles, boats, and airplanes, zeppelins and blimps.

This is a fully researched, big, beautiful book, with hundreds of photos and illustrations, both in black and white and color, plus a bibliography and index.

If you can find a copy of this book, BUY IT! It covers most of the Streamlined Passenger Trains and Units from early 1920's to 1970's. Have you ever wonder why train companies chose steam over diesel and others didn't? Have you ever wondered what Streamliner Train rode thru your state? The pictures are black and white, but very detailed. This book is a very good book if you want to start a collection of Passenger Train books. It doesn't go into deep detail about each train, but you will get an idea of what trains go to which road and what year they were in service. From there, you can dig thru your library or book store and find a book for each company and road. Once you do that, you will never stop collecting Train books!