Clayton Books

If your looking for new disciplines, rules and additions, then go somewhere else. If your looking for a dark look into the mind and motives of a Sabbat member; then this is your book. The Sabbat guide answers long awaited questions, and expands on this dark sect, without making you go back and recreate your character due to totally new rules. All in all, a good book.

"Since the time of Adam, man has pondered the question, 'Where did I come from?' His search for an answer has led in many directions: through the words of the prophets, the imaginations of the poets and the skepticism of the agnostics.

In OUR FIRST ESTATE, it is the intent of the author to provide an answer that is found in the teachings of modern day prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through the use of the scriptures and the inspired statements of general authorities and other students of the scriptures, Elder Brough presents a logical and penetrating discussion of our pre-mortal existence and our relationship to our Heavenly Father.

This book gives a sequence of events in the happenings of our pre-mortal existence from the organization of intelligences and spirit children, the war in heaven, and the creation of the earth, to the placing of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The author explains the effects these occurrences have on our lives. The author also helps the reader to have a clearer understanding of the relationship of our Father in Heaven as the literal father of our spirits and the role we play in the heavenly family.

OUR FIRST ESTATE discusses such topics as the evidence and importance of our pre-mortal existence, the development of our spirits in the pre-mortal era, Christ as the firstborn of our Father in Heaven, the veil of mortal forgetfulness, and the transition of Adam and Eve from immortality to mortality.

Elder Brough has once again shown his ability for precise research in the compilation of material contained in this book. There are 176 pages of explanation to inquiries that are as timely today as when they were first asked ages ago."

This is a pot boiler historical thriller based around a historic and contorversial Canadian fighter jet. It's a good pageturner and a bit of "what might have been" speculation thrown in for good measure. For any Aviation buff. Especially Military Aviation.

Clayton Eshleman, Realignment (Treacle Press, 1974)

Realignment is a chapbook-style tome put together by Treacle Press, bringing together the writing of Clayton Eshleman and the artwork of Nora Jaffe. An excellent combination, to be sure. Eshleman was still in his obsessive-love phase (in fact, much of this book reads almost like a preparation for The Gull Wall, released the following year and one of the highlights of Eshleman's literary career, from this reviewer's standpoint) and Jaffe's drawings are perfect reflections, simultaneously erotic and disturbing. The poems are interrupted by a short essay from Eshleman that branches the erotic obsession out and gives a slightly more prominent nod to the amazing breadth of knowledge that often seems to come out as afterthoughts and glancing references in the poems; reading this essay is in some ways intellectually daunting. As with reading some of Ivan Arguelles' finer moments, one gets to thinking that perhaps Mr. Eshleman has forgotten more about any of hundreds of subjects than we will ever know. That may scare readers away, which is unfortunate; not only is reading a Clayton Eshleman book, especially one from this period, a great pleasure, it's also an interesting learning experience. Taking some of his offhand references and doing a little research can lead to all sorts of nifty things.

As with most of Eshleman's books, I unhesitatingly recommend picking this up. As with most of Eshleman's books, you're probably going to have a hard time doing so for less than collectors' prices. That said, you're probably better off picking up The Gull Wall, which is still available at times for close to cover price, and using it to get a taste of whether your ideas jibe with Eshleman's. If they do, by the time you're finished with that book, you'll discover what a few of us already have-- Eshleman is not only obsessed, he's an obsession in himself. Once you've started, you will not want to stop. *** ½

This was a fun book for me from many standpoints. I didn't know much of the history of the "Red" or "Bloody" Baron. The very little I did know came from my love of Charles Schultz' Snoopy character! This is a well researched slice of life of the short battle years of Baron von Richthofen. It tells us just a bit of his earlier life, little of his motivations, but makes it clear that World War I air battles were really between men who genuinely liked and respected each other. For aviation buffs, for World War I historians, for grown up snoopy fans, this is an interesting book. The drawings are only fair, but the few included photographs are nice.

Resistance is a collection of essays detailing the history of radicalism, anarchism and activism of New York City's Lower East Side neighborhood. Clayton Patterson is best known for his three and a half hour video recording of the 1988 Tompkins Square Park police riots. Unsurprisingly, the 1988 riots and Patterson's video play a large role in a number of the essays he's curated, including one full section devoted to the riots in Tompkins Square Park and an article dedicated to Patterson's anarchic politics. Patterson's emphasis on the police riots and his role therein is somewhat off-putting, but he's clearly made an effort to reach across political lines and tell the Lower East Side's story from many perspectives. In the Tompkins Square Park Riots section, Patterson turns to street activists, long time Lower East Side residents, police officers and the commander of the 9th precinct at the time, highlighting the slippage between the various narratives.

Aside from the riots, Patterson also includes sections on the neighborhood's history, struggles for affordable housing, how media played a part in the power clashes of the late 20th century, biographies of prominent Lower East Side activists and an abbreviated section on the effect of AIDS in the Lower East Side. Patterson casts his net wide with this collection, a choice which allows him to address the multitude of factors which led to the destruction of the historical Lower East Side at the turn of the century. Unfortunately, though, his focus on the late twentieth century shift overwhelms the rich, earlier history of the neighborhood.

Since Amazon didn't provide a product description, here is the one from the rear cover of the book. POWER OF EVIL-From the days when the Seneca first roamed a virgin continent, the manitous-powerful spirits of the Indian nations-warned of danger. Now the prophecy comes to pass. Voodoo drums beat in the exotic isle of St. Domingue, and the evil has spread to America. A witch's charms and potions lure RENNO's innocent son, LITTLE HAWK. And Renno's beautiful daughter, RENNA, claims her destiny of honor, pride, and courage.

POWER OF LOVE-President Thomas Jefferson knows the name and skill of Renno. To this proud sachem now comes a difficult duty: to save the Louisiana Territory for America...and to allow his sweet daughter to follow her heart. As Renno heeds his vision quest to travel a path of battle, Renna must follow her trail of desire and honor-to become a woman who chooses not tears but a totem of love, not surrender but a tomahawk of blood.

We liked the book Show & Tell because it has some surprises. The characters are funny and interesting, especially Woody. We liked a part in the story where the teacher Mrs. Plunkett jumped out of her shoes. We recommend this cool book for 3rd Grade Students.

----Ms. Nickel's 3rd Grade Class

This detailed history of the Spindletop discovery is an excellent study of the boomtown atmosphere and the men who made it happen. A must have from anyone interested in early Texas oil history.

A great storyteller, Paul N. Spellman, spins the tale of the 1901 Spindletop discovery in Jefferson County's Beaumont, Texas. Beginning with one man's idea, Patillo Higgins, that oil was there to be found in Jefferson County, the story details the struggle of making dream a reality.

Many colorful stories of events and the men who made it all happen are included from available pioneer's oral histories. From fighting natures elements, disease, insects, and oilwell fires the mental might of the 1901 oil explorer becomes apparent. Too, the detailed story of man's ingenuity while creating many first time solutions to oil well drilling is most interesting.

The book includes some of the history on nearby oilfields discovered after Spindletop, including Sour Lake, Big Thicket, Saratoga and Batson.

The book provides a very clear view of life in a 1901 boomtown after oil is discovered. Whether it's lawlessness, gambling, prostitution, whiskey, lack of fresh water, housing or food, the boomtown greed, or the Texas Rangers, its all covered.

Miss Vanessa Grayson is not your typical Regency heroine. She's able to see and converse with ghosts. And given that she is a young lady of extremely slender means, and has to fend not only for herself but also her younger sister, Melanie, and Melanie's infant son, it is indeed a fortunate circumstance that she is so singularly gifted. For Vanessa has come up with a rather nifty scheme in order to make ends meet: she hires herself out as a sort of ghost hunter. Currently, she is all the rage, and members of the ton are falling all over themselves in order to buy her services.

Lord Trent does not particularly believe in ghosts and thinks that Vanessa is a gross charlatan. He even suspects her of nefarious doings and of being party to his younger brother's disappearance. Trent's brother, Phillip, has decided to single-handedly unmask all those who are involved in a revival of the Hell Fire Club -- he wants to put an end to the club once and for all. The trouble is that Phillip has since disappeared, and Trent fears for his brother's life. Ferreting about, Trent has come to suspect that another aristocrat, Lord Corbin, may have something to do with this notorious club and Philip's disappearance. And when he discovers that Vanessa is a childhood friend of Corbin's, he adds two and two and comes up with five. Sure that Vanessa is involved with this nefarious goings-on and that she is the key to everything, Trent goes out of his way to charm her. But Vanessa keeps rebuffing his efforts. Stumped for the first time in his life (never before has he had to work so hard in order to win his way into a lady's good graces), Trent redoubles his efforts. And to his dismay finds that it is he who is in danger of losing his heart to the redoubtable Vanessa. What sort of man, he wonders, finds the woman whom he thinks is involved in his brother's disappearance, attractive and compelling? And what of the obviously close and affectionate relationship that Vanessa shares with Corbin? Is it an innocent one? As for Vanessa, try as she might to remember that Trent is all but engaged to another lady, she cannot deny the attraction she feels for him. But men like Trent don't marry social nobodies, no matter the attraction. And then Vanessa receives news that Melanie's missing. And it is all she can do to juggle ghost hunting, her search for Melanie, and her feelings for Trent... -- how it will all end?

"A Spirited Romance" is an extremely delightful read. On the face of it, it seems as if almost too much is going on in this novel. However, Alana Clayton maintains a light but tight rein over everything, making the novel easy and engrossing reading. The one thing I really liked about the book was her portrayal of the hero, Lord Trent. Here is a man who keeps jumping from one erroneous conclusion to another, and who is spoilt and used to getting his own way far too often. As such, it would be quite easy to dislike Trent. However, because of the manner in which the authour tells the story, and because other characters keeps warning him about these failings, I didn't feel so much irritated with Trent as I was amused, as I read along and wondered what other wrong conclusions he would leap at. As for Vanessa, she the typically intelligent and courageous heroine that all readers will find easy to emapthise with and root for.

The novel unfolded smoothly and quickly. And all the characters were well drawn and depicted. So all in all, I'd say that this was a rather pleasing read that is bound to engage.