Dean Books

The fact that this gigantic project made it onto the bookshelves at last is testament to Rob and Dean, and all who helped them at College Tree Publishing. Praise to these two men.


Oh, and by the way. To all the "Bush-bashers" in this book.

"DUBYA" stands for *W*inner.

53 million strong my friends.

It's great to see young voters being able to express their opinions in this type of forum. Great book!

An amazing read on the current generation. This book was written by hundreds of college students across the nation regarding the politics of the nation.

These remarkable editors have given a varied, non-partisan voice to 34,000,000 voters. The 18-24 year old may elect the next president and yet this is the first collective voice available for them. Contratulations! The collection is articulate, lively, unpredictable, filled with insight, caring and as Rob Grabow said in the introduction, the "next great generation." The introductions alone were worth the price, but the varied authors create an unforgettable picture of the hopeful future of America. I highly recommend the book. It will be a classic in its own right.

When I was first approached for this project, I was excited but a little hesitant. Because it is so easy to take young people's voices for granted in this society (by all political parties) the idea of contributing to a nationally published anthology was sureal.

Despite my own stellar political record (past and present) I had honestly wondered if I would be taken seriously after this book was published. I also wondered if there were enough of us in the world to make a difference.

My piece is on disability issues and Democratic politics. Because I am a person with a disability I had to become involved in politics---and at an early age. Challenging personal experiences subsequently gave me a greater empathy for other social justice struggles. We are all connected to each other.

Whatever your own politics, you will find a kindered spirit in this collection. The editors (a Republican and Democrat) took great pains to select interesting contributions from a wide variety of sources. Because just tapping people who matched their own politics would have been an easier task, they also deserve kudos for this project.

I thought the original was great.. this is even better. The art work is stunning and Audrey Wood tells a great tale. We have been reading this book every night for 3 months! LOL
It is aboutthe root children (who are really flowers) and the jaunt into the world thru spring, summer and fall.. then back into the ground for the spring.
As a Pagan I found this a lovely story about the seasons, Mother Earth, and the beauty of nature!

Heather mama to 5

This book has beautiful depictions of seasonal characters (Cousin Summer, Aunt Spring, etc.) The story is magical in it's description of the changing seasons. It would make a very nice gift, as well as a special addition to your child's own library. Our 3-year-old adores the story and is mesmerized by the illustrations. Definitely one of her favorites!

Being very familiar and in love with the 1902 version of this book, I didn't know what to make of this new version, at first. But it grows on you! I especially like the way Mother Earth is portrayed, not as a Grandmotherly figure, but a beautiful woman maybe in her early thirties - an image of fertility and fruitfulness. The illustrations are lush and a bit overdone in places, but they represent the bounty of the seasons well. The introduction of Aunt Spring, Cousin Summer, Uncle Fall and Old Man Winter is different than the original, but not offensive or upsetting even to a die-hard fan, like me. The text is shorter and, for that reason, may appeal to younger children who can't sit through Sibylle von Olfers' word-ier original story. Overall, when I compare the two, the 1902 original has a certain charm that is hard to deny. Von Olfers' illustrations are simple and the text is straightforward, although a bit wordy. This new remake is beautifully done and has a different feel altogether: it's lush, full of life, color and movement. Audrey Wood has taken a risk to remake such a beloved classic, but I believe she made a good effort and successfully made it her own. I can't say it's better than the original, but I like it!

This is a beautiful book! The artwork in this book is among the best I've seen in a child's book. It's a wonderful version of a classic story & the words flow like poetry. It's a great starter book to introduce young children to the wheel of the year & the changing seasons.

The only flaw is the typeface is so artistic it is sometimes hard to read, just read slowly & savor each word.

You'll love this book, go ahead & buy 2 copies! You're going to want to share it with everyone you know!

This is a rare find for those with Earth based spirituality/religion. The illustrations are lush and detailed, and the story is a perfect introduction for children to the Wheel of the Year.

With handmade ornaments to go with this book and allowing children to hang one on the tree each night, it was the highlight of Christmas for our family.

This is a wonderful family focus for the Christmas season. Each day the children are so excited to have their "Jesse Time". One child gets to find the package numbered for that day under their Jesse Tree and another gets to open it when the devotion is done. I hope this will be a tradition in my family for generations to come. Several ladies and I have made the ornaments and provided complete sets to go along with their purchase of this book and it is truly a magical way to teach children of God's promises and love and the true meaning of Christmas.

THIS BOOK TRACES THE HERITAGE OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTMENT. ADULTS ENJOY THE CHILDREN'S DEVOTIONS AS WELL AS THEIR OWN. EACH DAY AN ORNAMENT IS PLACED ON A TREE TO GO WITH EACH DEVOTIONAL.

THIS BOOK WAS VERY INSPIRATIONAL TO MY FAMILY. IT BROUGHT US SO CLOSE TOGETHER AROUND CHRISTMAS. MOST OF THE TIME ONE LOSES SIGHT OF WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT & THIS BOOK BRINGS IT HOME TO NOT ONLY OUR CHILDREN BUT TO US AS PARENTS.

IT IS A MUST BOOK FOR THE FAMILY LIBRARY TO ENJOY OVER & OVER.

Each year a group of ladies (25) gets together and picks a day's devotional and makes an ornament to go along with that day. Each person makes 25 of their ornament and then everyone gets together and exchanges. Finally, you have a complete set that you can use along with this great devotional book!! Each day has a devotion/symbol and there are readings for children and adults. My children unwrap the ornament for the day and then we read the devotional. It makes a wonderful family time!!

This book is NOT just about the 'American Indian' located in the US. This book lists contributions for the MesoAmerican Aztecs, Incas and Mayans too. You can search for contributions and inventions based on Indian Group or Time period. Then, there is a description of the detail of the specific invention, all in alphabetical order. This is a super resource for students doing reports for Spanish class, History and even Science. Add this book to your home library!

This is a very well researched and comprehensive book. It is quite monumental in its scope. To give you an example, I opened the book at random to page 139. One of the listings on this page is Ipecac. Many households know about this medication. It is
usually used to induce vomiting. Children often swallow things they should not. The books goes into some detail about where the plant was first found, how it is refined, and how it came to be used by Europeans. It then lists some sources for further reading.

It also has a great Appendix section. It shows which tribes lived where, including many good maps. The Chronology section lists when different things were discovered or invented by the indigenous people. It also has an appendix which lists the book's
entries by area, by subject and by which tribal group is associated with that item.

I know how long it took me to do the research associated with my book. I can only guess that the authors spent a very long time putting together the material in this book.

EAICW has a plethora of listings and information. EAICW is 384 pages long and measures (in inches): 1.19 x 11.20 x 8.44. It is a BIG book. It would make an excellent addition to any well stocked library.

I highly recommend it.

As a mother of two teenagers, I wanted to find a resource on the history and contributions of American Indians to complement the rather scanty information they have received in school about the vital and facinating contributions of the American Indian cultures and communities that have graced our land. This book has been read and enjoyed by the whole family. The authors' accessible writing style, the user-friendly format and the generous use of illustrations make this a book I would recommend for families and teachers alike. As a teacher myself with a master's degree in education, I have a critical eye when it comes to reference books. This is one of the best I've ever come across. Thanks for writing it!

This is the best book on American Indian Contributions. A lot of research. Used the information on my book "Indians In The Americas"
under my chapter "American Indian Accomplishments. My own 20 years research on Indian accomplishments were no comparison to the detailed explaniations and bibliography in "American Indian Accomplishments." A great deal of insight to a past and future culture that was never given proper credit for all their inventions and adaptation that we are all taking advantage of today.

American Indian Contributions to the World is the paperback version of the Encyclopedia of American Indian Contributions to the World. The awards it has won and some of the print reviews this book has received are listed below.

Winner 11th Annual Colorado Book Award, Collections and Anthologies

Winner Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers Writer of the Year, Creative Reference Work, 2002

Selected by Booklist as Editors Choice Reference Source, 2002

"This is a well-written book with fascinating information and wonderful pictures. It should be in every public, school, and academic library for its depth of research and amazing wealth of knowledge. We've starred this title because it is eye-opening and thought-provoking, and there is nothing else quite like it." Booklist Starred Review

"[an] interesting, informative, and inspiring book." Native Peoples Magazine

"I would strongly urge anyone with a kernel of intellectual curiosity: teacher, administrator, researcher, lawyer, politician, writer, to buy this book. I guarantee it will enlighten, stimulate and entertain...Native students and indigenous instructors must obtain their own copies of the Encyclopedia. Whether Cree, Mayan or Penobscot they will find a deep source of pride on each and every page. I can well imagine the excitement of Native teachers when they obtain the book followed by an eagerness to share its contents with everyone within reach.

"I hope the Encyclopedia will serve as the basis for an entirely new approach to Native history, one in which the scholar is liberated from the anti-Indian texts of the recent past. Ideally, a copy of the Encyclopedia should be in every class in every school across the hemisphere." News from Indian Country

"Highly recommended for academic libraries keeping collections about American Indians." Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries

"Native accomplishments finally get their due in this award-winning book." American Indian Report

"A treasure trove of information about the large range of technologies and productions of Indian peoples. This is indeed the most comprehensive compilation of American Indian inventions and contributions to date. It is most worthwhile and should be on the bookshelves of every library and home in America." Indian Country Today

"This large, well-illustrated volume is an excellent reference. One of the important strengths of the encyclopedia is that the information provided is balanced and rooted in facts, not speculation. Highly recommended." Multicultural Review

"Far from the stereotypical idea that Native Americans were uncultured and simple, possessing only uncomplicated inventions such as bows and arrows or canoes, these varied cultures donated a rich assortment of ideas and items to the world. This book can be recommended to libraries that support an interdisciplinary approach to student learning, such as units that integrate biology and culture studies projects." VOYA:Voice of Youth Advocates

"...a comprehensive, unique A to Z reference to the vast offerings made by the American Indians throughout history." Winds of Change (American Indian Science and Engineering Society)

I finished this book in two days. I could not put it down. This book recounts Lou Dean's life as a young girl and the troubled life she lead with a drunk mother. Her only comfort was her companion and friend her loving dog.

If you are an animal lover, you will LOVE this book.

Lou Dean is a talented writer. I wish she would write more....I would gobble all her books up!

After borrowing this book and reading it in 3 hours. I knew I had to have it for my library collection and at least 5 other people who would love it as well. The more I read, the more involved I became with the author. I cried when Jake died and know what it's like to have an animal speak and listen to you, just like shorty did. I hope Lou Dean continues to write this type of story. I highly recommend it to children and adult alike.

Angels in Diguise is a touching tale of the adventures of a little girl and her dog; and also her adventures from being a child, to a woman. This is a perfect novel for all ages. I, myself, am a 14 yr old girl. I read this book to my 7-8 years old cousins and they loved it just as much as I did. It is a fantastic book and i strongly reccommend it to dog lovers and people who are looking for a good book everywhere! The only bad thing about it was that it sooner or later ends, and he great book is over.

I just started reading your novel and I love it. Rhonda and I are at my sisters in Corsicana Texas, and we would like you to email us with your email address so she can write to you, not only her but her two daughters also, PLEASE.

My daughter read this book first and passed it on to me, knowing that I would love it. And I did. Lou Dean writes in such a way that I felt that I was seeing the world in a way that was new yet familiar. Any one who has ever loved a dog will relate to her tale of growing up with a best friend whose tail always wags when you enter the room. A friend who loves you for yourself and for no other reason. I cried and hugged my own two dogs during the last chapter. Cuddle up in your favorite chair with your best canine friend and lose yourself for an afternoon. This is a short, well-written coming of age story that I recommend unconditionally.

In 1957, Murray Leinster's "Med Service" appeared in _Astounding_, launching his popular series about Dr. Calhoun and his Tormal sidekick, Murgatroyd. That same year, James White's story "Sector General" appeared in the British science fiction magazine _New Worlds_, launching another science fictional medical series. I have always enjoyed Leinster's stories, but the stories by James White are far superior.

One reason is the richness of the setting in the Sector General stories. Leinster's stories all take place on scattered planets. Med Service headquarters is in a kind of shadowy background. It is true that one story, Ribbon in the Sky," has a brief scene at headquarters; but it is done so quickly that we never have a chance to visualize the setting.

White takes the opposite tack. He starts by imagining the headquarters in detail. Let us suppose that we have a galaxy teeming with different life forms. Let us also suppose that we even have contact with some extra-galactic races. How will they be treated for medical problems? The answer is Sector General, a mega-sized space station shaped "like a misshapen Christmas tree." White must have had a grand time working out the details of how different races will be classified, how the corridors will be marked, what the plumbing and atmosphere pipes will be like, how the different sections for different planetary environments will be designed, how communications problems will be handled, how medical problems will be diagnosed (not always easy to do!), and what kind of treatments will be given.

White has also carefully worked out the roles of different staff members at the hospital. What do the doctors and nurses of a mutitude of races do? What role does the Monitor corps (something like a military police force) play? What about the psychologist? The administrators? The chaplain? And why are diagnosticians accorded such a high status and yet at the same time looked upon as more than a little bit crazy?

_Hospital Station_ (1962) is the first novel of the Sector General series and consists of the first five stories in the series, all from _New Worlds_. They are: "Medic" (originally "O'Mara's Orphan," 1960), "Sector General" (1957), "Trouble with Emily" (1958), "Visitor at Large" (1959), and "Out-Patient" (1960). The stories chronicle a span of time from when the hot-tempered construction worker O'Mara is saddled with a giant alien baby when the hospital is first being built until the time that young Dr. Conway tries a controversial treatment on a patient that causes everyone on the staff to despise him. (O'Mara, incidently goes on to become the acid-tongued head of Sector General.)

In Murray Leinster's stories, the medical problem is always linked with some kind of planetary skulduggery. Not so with White's tales. Conflicts in the Sector General stories usually involve misunderstandings rather than villainies. White is depicting a background where there is a real brotherhood of races and cultures. In this respect, his stories are perhaps more like those of Hal Clement than those of Leinster. And like Clement, White has a fondness for titles with puns or double meanings. I'm betting that even armed with this knowledge you won't guess exactly where White is going until the final twist of each tale.

A must-read series for all science fiction fans, the Sector General novels have been described as a cross between Star Trek and ER. I began reading these books as a kid and I still love reading them today. They are great examples of what multiculturalism and interracial tolerance are supposed to be! One of my favorite characters is Prilicla the tiny insectoid empath, always having to dodge the huge aliens around her, both physically and emotionally. There are over a dozen books in the series, many of them out of print, but they are worth your time if you can find them all.

The 'Hospital Station' of the title is Sector Twelve General Hospital, a multi-species, multi-enviroment hive that hangs "like a misshappen christmas tree" far out on the Galactic Rim. Originally a series of short stories the first, Medic, is a sort of prologue set during the Hospital Station's construction. In it a surly construction worker named O'Mara finds himself treating the Hospital's very first patient. 'Sector General' introduces Dr. Conway, a young, idealistic and rather naive junior physician who has a lot to learn about how the Galactic Federation and the Hospital really function. In 'The Trouble With Emily' Conway is assigned to assist a visiting VIP, Dr. Arretapec, a "levitating ball of goo" with advanced psi powers who refuses to tell Conway exactly what he is trying to accomplish with their 'patient' a perfectly healthy brontosaurian being - nicknamed Emily. In 'Visitor At Large' Conway is in charge of a pediatrics ward and has an assistant of his own; a frail, spiderlike, empathic sensitive called Prilicla. In another ward an exotic being, capable of changing form at will, is dying of an undiagnosed, untreatable condition. The usual rule against visitors is relaxed to allow the entity's child to make a farewell visit to its parent. Unfortunately the welcoming committee of strange looking aliens, including Conway and Prilicla, frightens the youngster into headlong flight. A terrified, immature being, capable of assuming any shape, lost in the multiple levels of Sector General, unable to communicate and worst of all - getting hungry... In 'Out Patient' Conway is promoted to Senior Physician and presented with a new patient; a being of unknown race that is apparently being eaten alive by some kind of cancerous growth.

Just imagine how a first class space hospital must be, hundreds of different ambiental conditions, aliens and sickness.
The doctors must be creative, intelligent and corageous, to treat unknow species in conditions were nothing is what it seems, tear your patient into pieces to safe its life, try to run trough corridors of chlorine, high gravity , water, to safe a life, or try to convince your simbiotic assistant that your are doing the best treatment, when he can easily crush you.


Be prepared for the most inmersive sci fi novel you have read.

The earlier volumes of the series were collections of stories written for magazines, but as the publishing world altered over time, the emphasis changed to full-length novels. A new reader can begin at any point, since White is careful to fill in the background, often via an explanation delivered to a new trainee, visitor, or Monitor Corps pilot. This book is part of the omnibus edition _Beginning Operations_.

"Medic" - One of the earliest entries in the series in terms of internal chronology; *the* earliest is the first story in the collection _Sector General_, describing how the hospital came to be founded, while this story relates how O'Mara, a member of the hospital's original construction crew, wound up looking after the hospital's first patient. In later years, O'Mara sealed the file on this story, but couldn't completely hush it up no matter how hard he tried. :) If you're curious about how O'Mara evolved into the gruff personality we know best, read _Mind Changer_.

"Sector General" - Not to be confused with the short story collection of the same name, which is in the omnibus edition _Alien Emergencies_. Conway makes his first appearance as the viewpoint character, a position he occupied until the conclusion of _Star Healer_. He's only been at Sector General for 2 months, and as an ardent pacifist deeply resents the Monitor Corps, when in an emergency he gets his first dose of an Educator tape, and the resulting problems land him his first real meeting with Chief Psychologist O'Mara. Then his first ship rescue assignment confronts him with a fear-maddened entity, who (having killed Carmody, the gentle Padre of the psychology department) brings Conway face-to-face with a kill-or-be-killed situation. (See _The Genocidal Healer_ for further discussion of Carmody's role in the psychology department.)

"Trouble with Emily" - Dr. Arratepec, distinguished member of a newly discovered telepathic species, has convinced its people and the Galactic Federation government to give all assistance to a classified project involving a brontosaur-like creature that its human handlers have nicknamed Emily. (Yes, it's a very bad pun.) Emily's species is facing extinction on a planet without intelligent life, although Emily itself is healthy. What is Arratepec up to, and how can Conway assist when Arratepec won't confide in him? (Incidentally, the I-have-no-time-for-women attitude disappeared rapidly when Conway met nurse, later Pathologist, Murchison.)

"Visitor at Large" - Marks the first appearance of Prilicla as Conway's brand-new assistant. The visitor in question is a giant amoeba, who (as the youngest offspring of Sector General's most troublesome patient) is being allowed a deathbed visit. The patient has nothing organically wrong with it, but is quietly dissolving into water, apparently due to some psychological problem that the doctors simply can't treat. Then the hospital rapidly acquires a second problem, as the young visitor panics at the sight of all the aliens and takes flight into the depths of the hospital.

"Outpatient" - Marked by Conway's promotion to Senior Physician and subsequent assumption of one or two permanent Educator tapes. (Diagnosticians aren't the only physicians to permanently carry tapes; they're distinguished by the *quantity* of permanent alter egos they carry.) The outpatient case is the sole survivor of an alien ambulance ship, of a previously unknown species (seen later in the series as the Ians). Conway's inexplicable course of treatment, which he refuses to justify until the end of the story, lands him in serious hot water in this one.

Incidentally, when O'Mara remarks that despite Conway's promotion, he wouldn't trust him with his appendix, the fact emerges that O'Mara's appendix was saved by the surgeon who took it out, and now (pickled) serves as a hospital chess trophy. :)

IRRELEVANT NOTE: The old Ballantine DelRey paperback edition's cover art consisted of a view of Emily during the more successful phase of Arratepec's experiments, with Conway as a small figure in the foreground.

I thought it was an excellent book. The author was clearly very knowledgeable both as a basketball player and as a quantitative analyst. Probably this dual identity is also what allowed him to communicate the findings so well to non-analysts while preserving enough of the meat of the analysis for pure analysts to see where it would all lead to.

Best book on sports statistics that I've read.

First of all, I am the author, so the 5-star rating is admittedly biased, but also honest as I wrote the book under the influence of award-winning books like "Guns, Germs, and Steel," "Good to Great," and "Ender's Game." Now that it's 3 years after Basketball on Paper went to press, a couple years after the description here was written, and a year or more after the book got me a job in the NBA, I wanted to add an updated description.

I wrote the book in the hopes of presenting a scientific _method_ for approaching basketball. By "method", I mean that it doesn't present a magical all-encompassing rating for players, but rather a _structure_ for basketball as genetics provided a structure for understanding life and biology. The possession-based concept introduced early in the book allows you to evaluate strategy, the chemistry of a team, and, yes, who are better players. It doesn't matter whether it's the NBA, WNBA, college, high school, or the international game -- the methods apply and I've applied them. The book focused on the NBA and WNBA because that was where the statistics were most readily available going back more than a year or two. That is changing and I have already seen foreign leagues incorporating my work into their game.

This structure does introduce formulas, nothing more complicated than the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division that I learned through baseball cards when I was 10 years old. For coaches who want to avoid these, I actually recommend reading the last chapter first because it summarizes the conclusions of the previous chapters. For people interested in player evaluation, the book has numerous lists of player stats, how many wins and losses they contributed, and how they did it. This includes players as far back as Bill Russell, but as recent as Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Allen Iverson.

For baseball fans, I should say that Bill James' work on Win Shares in baseball paralleled mine in basketball, though we did take slightly different approaches. Bill has even said of the book, "Excellent writing. There are a lot of math guys who just rush from the numbers to the conclusion. . .they'll tell you that Shaq is a real good player but his team would win a couple more games a year if he could hit a free throw. Dean is more than that; he's really struggling to understand the actual problem, rather than the statistical after-image of it. I learn a lot by reading him." I am happy to say that experts in statistical evaluation of baseball (like Bill), football (like Aaron Schatz and Ben Alamar of Pro Football Prospectus), and basketball are all communicating about the common goals we have for doing scientific evaluation of team sports, where analogies to business team environments and global politics abound.

I realized as I wrote the book that there were a million projects that I could do from what is in the book. Those projects have come about and grown even before I joined the Seattle Supersonics in October of 2004. Evaluating strategy has grown so much from the basics in this book. Player evaluation, especially as they move from one league to another, has evolved. And, with the experiment of the 2004-05 season, I got to show how the work significantly helps coaching a team. That season, I joined the Sonics with a fixed roster that was universally picked for last in their division. I worked with the coaches, management, and players to provide a different perspective to their own backgrounds, one that complemented their own expertises. At the end of the season, we won our division, we upset the experts by winning our first round series, and we gave the ultimate NBA champions one of their toughest playoff battles. I felt that we should have won the championship -- perhaps naive, but also a measure of the belief I had in not only the work in Basketball on Paper, but also in the ability of the staff and players I worked with.

Now that I do work in the NBA and apply new tricks of the trade, I can't really write another book sharing my secrets. But Basketball on Paper contains the framework, the basic insights, and a lot of the numbers for understanding a lot more about the beautiful game.

Oliver's work shows a maturity that has been lacking from many basketball evaluation books--John Hollinger's "Basketball Prospectus" being another exception. Not only are players evaluated statistically but their roles on their teams are considered in context in relationship to their numbers. If you want to gain an understanding of basketball as perhaps you've never had before, and are willing to accept the ambiguous nature of numbers themselves, this is the book for you!

I have been using the formulas and ideas presented in Dean Oliver's book for the past three years. I was never a math fan, but my spreadsheets for calculating basketball statistics are the most complicated I have ever created and it was this book that started my obsession. The book inspired me with a fascination over a new way to look at the game and the players that bring it to life. Mr. Oliver's work was just a starting point and over the past few years I have added other formulas and other mathematical approaches to looking at the game, but I would not have gotten anywhere without this book. It is an essential tool in my toolbox for evaluating and enjoying the game of basketball.

This is a great book for people who are both numbers geeks and basketball geeks. I wish that there was more of a focus on college basketball, but that's just me. The author even replied to a couple of my questions regarding some of the formulas via email. Highly recommended for a basketball fan intrigued by statistics and indexes.

A long time fan of spider's this is the book i turn to for that point in time when somrthing new is too much and callahan's too punny.

Find and buy a copy of this book, if you think of yourself as human: it is one of the few places to find a copy of "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" AND "Our Lady's Juggler" - both essential reading, even if they're the only fantasy you ever read. The former tale is the story Heinlein was proudest of, and the latter is his choice as the best least-reprinted story - and no other English translation of Anatole France's little gem is worth the paper it's printed on. Find this book and buy a copy. The other stories in it are fine, but the last two are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS (Ace Books, Science Fiction, 1980) by Spider Robinson.

Here is why this book is so exceptional.

Spider Robinson picked his favorite short stories from each of his favorite authors - not the most popular or the ones with the most awards, just the best according to him, the ones he really loved.

He then wrote an introduction for each one of these stories, explaining, in his refreshing style, who the writer is, why he picked this particular story and how did the author reacted to his choice. Yes - and that's how this book develops a parallel anthology - he also contacted each of the authors and asked each one of them to pick one of their favorite stories by someone else and write an introduction for it.

When asked to handle this project by Jim Baen, Ace's science fiction editor, Spider Robinson recalls, in the foreword, how he "was drooling" at the idea and said "My favorite stories plus my favorite writers' favorite stories ? Christ, that sounds like the best of all possible worlds." "Yeah," (said Baen) "that's my working title."

This book is a gem. It starts with Larry Niven's "Inconstant Moon" and follows with Niven's choice "Spud and Cochise" by Oliver La Farge - an unforgettable "western that blooms into fantasy, compelling awe, laughter and belief."

The next one is "Need" by Theodore Sturgeon - my own favorite - and Sturgeon then picked "Hop-Friend" by Terry Carr. Following that, we have The Duel Scene from William Goldman's "The Princess Bride" and Goldman picked Robert Sheckley's "Seventh Victim". The next one is Dean Ing's "Portions Of This Program..." who then chose "They Bite" by Anthony Boucher.

Spider Robinson's last pick is an exquisitely touching story by Robert A. Heinlein (his introduction is a wonderful read in itself), "The Man Who Traveled in Elephants" which recreates magically a Fellini-like atmosphere combined with the All American, mid century charm of Capra's "It's A Wonderful Life". Not only is this story surprisingly unHeinlein but Heinlein's own pick is another surprise, a sweetly naive and religious story by Anatole France "Our Lady's Juggler" very aptly translated by Spider Robinson himself (who was turned off by the two translations which were available at the time).

This anthology is not really an anthology as we know it. Spider Robinson's world - past and present - is revealed throughout and we also get a glimpse into the worlds of his favorite writers as they candidly recall their reactions to their favorite stories. It is, in the best sense of the word, a Collection, one which touches the heart and caresses the mind. In that sense and so many others, it is Unique.

This book is amazing in that every story in it is exceptional. During the 10 or so years that I have been collecting Spider, I have only seen one copy of this book. People who read this one tend to hold tightly to it and only loan it to close friends. One of the most amazing items about this book, is that all of the stories could have been written by Spider. This book holds gems that may not have seen the light of day for quite some time. Among these stories are the very best Heinlein and Sturgeon stories in print. All in all, I cannot recommend this collection highly enough.

The essence of this collection is that Spider Robinson picked his favorite short story, actually an excerpt from his favorite book (the swordfight on the Cliffs of Insanity from "The Princess Bride") and then contacted the author of that piece - William Goldman - and asked him what his favorite story was. Spider then contacted that author... and so on. The result is a unique collection of stories that provide insight into what affects these authors.

The book was published quite a few years back and I do not have a copy so I cannot list all the stories but I can say that no other collection has ever had the impact on me that this one did. If you ever wondered what Authors read and remember, find a copy and hang onto it - I've been trying to find a replacement copy for 12 years.

I've been involved in wargaming and collecting miniatures for about 25 years. But even though this book is seemingly aimed at kids, I was still interested in acquiring it as a source of simple wargaming rules and as a way to ease some newbie friends into the hobby. This book provides a very solid all-around introduction to wargaming for both kids and adults alike. The concepts are explained in a friendly, conversational manner.

What makes this book valuable is that it's not just all fluff text and pretty pictures. Rather, it provides valuable substance in the form of its Milk & Cookies rules (for big battles) and Blood & Swash rules (for skirmishes). The rules are pretty straightforward and on the simple-side, which is perfect for newcomers to the world of wargaming. In fact, I've seen both sets of rules used to run convention games at the HMGS East cons which are held 3 times per year in South/Central Pennsylvania. So "Big Battles" isn't just a 1-time read; it's a reference book you can stick on your shelf and refer to over and over again.

The only real downside of the book is that all of the pictures in it (and there aren't all that many) are in black & white. That's a shame since the visual spectacle of wargaming is a major part of the hobby.

Overall, Buck and Rob did a good job here and I'd recommend this book for anyone (of any age) who has an interest in the miniature wargaming hobby.

This is an excellent book designed primarily for parents interested in getting their childen involved in historical miniatures gaming. This book is also useful for anyone starting in gaming...Period.

The rules are strictly for land based combat primarily from the horse and musket period but the rules accomodate all periods from ancient to the WWII modern era. Two sets of rules are included within the book: The "Milk and Cookies" rules and the "Blood and Swash" rules.

The "Milk and Cookies" rules are for fighting battles with based figure units serving as individual pieces. Casualty rates in these games is higher than in adult oriented games as a design feature by the authors to cater towards younger or beginning players desire to see actual results from their attacks.

The "Blood and Swash" rules use individual figures to represent individual combatants in skirmish style games. The rules are based on swashbuckling pirate action in close quarters fighting based on bar-room brawls and boarding actions. The rules lend themselves well to commando raids and ambushes as well as wild west gunfights.

In addition to the above mentioned rules you get lessons in tactical principles and maneuvering which are well written and can assist an adult in explaining basic tactics to younger players.

The book contains a short history of miniatures gaming, advice on painting figurines, instructions on how to cast miniatures at home and several other topics. The Authors give plenty of insight about their experiences in gaming often agreeing to disagree on some preferences as too painting styles and methods.

I have bought my second copy to replace a missing previous copy (It really is that good). The publisher/authors have additional materials on a supporting web site. I have exchanged e-mails with both authors and have found them open to discuss their work, provide advice and generally share any knowledge they have on gaming.

Although intended as a resource for adults to use in introducing younger players to the wargaming hobby, BIG BATTLES FOR LITTLE HANDS is an excellent general introduction for anyone interested in collecting and painting miniature soldiers and then deploying them on the field of battle.

The two rules sets included in the books ("Milk and Cookies Rules for Battles" and "Blood and Swash Rules for Skirmishes" are both quite easy to learn and play.

I had a miniatures battle for the Indian Mutiny set up on my game table, intended for use with another rules set but not yet begun, when BIG BATTLES arrived. A quick check of the "Milk and Cookies Rules" suggested I could use them with the unit and basing organization from the other rules set without change, so I was able to try out the "Milk and Cookies Rules" the same day I read them. The result was a very entertaining battle, played to completion in two hours; and I now intend to use the rules for battles in the English Civil War and the Seven Years War as well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the miniatures wargaming hobby. Very well done!

While the book is pitched for use with kids, I think a better approach would be to aim it at anyone new to wargaming that wonders what it is all about. I found the 5 page History of Warfare and 5 page Primer on Tactics superb - both concise and interesting - making me want to go review my history lessons and explaining to me what I was always doing wrong at the gaming table!

Two sets of rules are included: the "Milk and Cookies" rules for bigger battles (where a player controls blocks of troops) I have used for games at several wargaming conventions in games for kids and parents-new-to-wargaming with great success. The "Blood and Swash" rules are a reprint of an older rule set for skirmishes (where each player controls a small number of figures) that allows great flexibility in scenario and setting - I have played in games using those rules for 18th century pirate tavern brawls on up to Buck Rogers era conflicts, and enjoyed them all. The differences between the rule sets make having both here far from redundant, and the apparent simplicity of both the rule sets does not mean that the resulting games are either uninteresting or inaccurate.

The back of the book with directions and tips on painting and terrain construction are okay, though I liked the front portions - described above - better. For example, I don't see myself ever homecasting figures, and the painting tips I had already heard as I was first drawn into this hobby. But they complete the picture and make this a good all round reference that you could even send to someone unfamiliar with the hobby and expect them to be able to cope without the support of a local wargaming group or club.

As a wargamer of 25 years with two young sons, I have struggled with determining the best way to introduce my boys to the world of miniature wargames. Now I have the answer. Rob and Buck do an excellent job of explaining how to create a pleasureable wargaming experience for kids. If you are looking for a simple set of rules covering many historical periods that are explained in a clear way, then this book is for you.

A NEW LOOK AT THE EXERCISES, DESTINED TO BECOME A CLASSIC
The wisdom of St. Ignatius spoken of in the title is, of course, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and this book is Dean Brackley's interpretation of them. Jesuits have been writing this kind of book for centuries. Many are pious, run-of-the-mill productions. A few are exceptional; and I believe this is one of them. The "Foreword for Skeptics" alone is worth the price of the book. Ellen Calmus, a friend of Brackley and the copyeditor of the book, was not what you would call a believer and took the job with no real interest in religion. But the text chipped away at her unbelief, and one Christmas eve, when having nothing in particular to celebrate she was working on the copy, the light dawned and her life changed. A year later she was baptized by the author. This will probably not be the average reaction to the book, but it is worth reading. The author is a man of intelligence, learning and insight steeped in Ignatian spirituality and he speaks from a depth far beyond mere words with a new and fresh voice in a way that might be heard by the post-modern seeker. As Professor of Theology and Ethics at the University of Central America since 1990 and a successor of the Jesuits martyred there the previous year, he might be expected to stress the social justice dimension of the Exercises. And he does, but in so gentle a fashion that he opens up possibilities without imposing guilt trips on the reader. Brackley is faithful to the teaching of Ignatius, but offers even those familiar with the Exercises new insights and perspectives. The book will be particularly useful for those giving or making or studying the Spiritual Exercises.

This is the first time I have studied the wisdom of Ignatius, and I am enthralled! Dean Brackley does a fabluous job of relating these wise thoughts to today's world. He educates, challenges, and inspires his readers. I reccommend this book to everyone.

An insightful, comprehensive, and essential up-dating of the Ignatian call to discernment, especially in today's world. Highly recommended!

This is a great book to be read by christians and not christians living in the actuarial world, full of stress, worries and deceives, which teach us how to turn back our eyes, heart and soul towards God, with him in our hearts and life, and facing the world with hope, following the steps dictated by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in his book of spiritual exercises.

Some months ago I met the author at a conference. Two months ago I read this book while on an Ignatian 30-day retreat. It was excellent spiritual reading and is exactly where I am at in my life now: trying to discern how I might be part of the struggle against the excesses of global injustice. Brackley takes the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola and helps us see how in the process of the Exercises we might move away from a me-directed spirituality [all too common in much spirituality] to a spirituality of solidarity and engagement. Its all very inspiring stuff...I am not normally one to enthuse over books of spirituality - all too often they vary from drippy piety mixed with no theology thru to sound ideas mixed with ponderous heavy-bottomed theology. Brackley is remarkable in that his theology is interesting, contemporary and combined in the right measure with his exposition of the Exercises and ideas for doing the Exercises. Excellent stuff! I wish the anti-globalization activists I know would read it - it would nourish their souls and inspire their activism!