Fabian Books

my toddler loves this book. she almost has it memorized and now pretends that she's reading it.

This story is simple enough for babies-small children to enjoy and the illustration is inspiring.

Reviewed by Janelle Martin

This beautifully illustrated day-in-the-life tale focuses on the parallel stories of a dog and cat set in the 1930s or `40s. Hondo the dog goes off to spend the day at the beach with a canine pal. Fabian the cat stays at home with "the baby." Each has adventures and readers are invited to decide which pet has more fun.

The language in Hondo & Fabian is spare, featuring parallel narratives using similar words and sentence structure.

"Hondo is going to the beach to meet his friend Fred.

Fabian is going to the living room to play with the baby."

Hondo gets hungry after diving in the waves and "wishes he could eat the fish." Fabian gets hungry after playing with the toilet roll and "wishes he could eat the turkey sandwich."

The basic language allows children to elaborate on the story from their own experience and imagination. The large type size means this book will function well as a transitional book as your child starts to recognize words and practices reading.

Parents will enjoy the vintage feel of Peter McCarty's exquisite pencil illustrations while children will respond to the loveable animals. As he states in an interview with Publisher's Weekly, he loves the "pure visual shape of things from that era" and it is a period which he features in many of his books.

Children who enjoy the adventures of Hondo & Fabian will want to read Fabian Escapes, the sequel in which Fabian explores the world while Hondo stays home with the baby. Hondo & Fabian was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2003 for Peter McCarty's outstanding illustrations.

I am at that grandmotherly age with three grandchildren, ages 3, 6, and 7. After years away from children's books, I have become re-acquainted. I must say, the second time around is better! New illustrators, new stories, new thrills.

Thrills can come in different varieties. The subject of this review is "Honda and Fabian," such a gentle, sweet book, a thrill because it is so sweet and gentle. Hondo and Fabian live together in the same house. Their people take Hondo the dog to the beach with his best buddy Fred, another dog. Why can't Fabian go? Because he is a cat, cats don't like oceans, nor are they taken out anywhere, being the individual, poor-minding creatures they are. Basically, this story outlines the basic differences between dogs and cats as companions.

While Hondo romps and barks in the ocean, Fabian is at home with the walking, ruffian-of-a-girl dangerous one. She clutches Fabian until he formulates an avoidance scheme to hide-low the rest of the day.

When Hondo returns home, they return to their joint routines and all is right with the world. This is such a simple story but underlines the friendship that even a cat and dog can have with each other. Hopefully, the listening child understands that his sibling is also a friend.

I love this book and recommend it highly for your little ones.

Yo, woof! I'm Hondo.

Hi, I'm Fabian. Have you seen the book just about us? OK, maybe the baby and that other dog that hangs with Hondo are in it, but basically the book is about our lives, well, actually, just one day in our lives.

Woof! My job is to tell you about our book. Our buddy, Peter McCarty, wrote and illustrated it. I have to tell you, woof, that he made both of us a bit "large boned."

You mean "fat" don't you, Hondo? Meow, you know we're fat, what with all the food we get. Anyway, before we start the story, I would like you to open to the end pages and look at those illustrations of both of us. Would you move over just a bit--I would like to rub my scent glands on the edges of the book. I'm marking this book because I like it so much.

Woof, look at us sleeping. Peter gave us that blurry look so little children would know it's sleepy time and all fuzzy inside our heads.

Meow, you know us cats: Slight us and we turn our backs. The people took Hondo and left me with....dun dun dun dun...the BABY!!! No way I'll get any shut-eye now!. Better get my hisser ready.

Wooooooof! Love the wind in my face, and, oh bow wow, the s-m-e-l-l-s are glorious! Hey, it's Fred. Yo, Fred, race ya!!

Dun dun dun dun--the BABY has got me. Yelp! Hissss, but I have to be nice. Gotta keep the claws in! It's a BABY even if she is dangerous!

Yipeee, yippeee, jump the waves. Yo, man, having fun-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-!!! Wait'll I tell Fabian!!

The BABY. Gotta get away....gotta get away....I'll show 'em what's what. Leaving me with the BABY. Take that, take that, take that. There, done! Success again--got all the soft stuff (some kind of paper) in the bathroom over and out and down on the floor. Wait'll I get my claws on Hondo....that dog!

Hey, Fabian. I had a blast! Jumped the waves. Tried to steal a fish. Hung out with Fred. Woof, what a day!!

Meow, Hondo. Another day, another bowl of food... Let me say this: If I ever get out of here, I am going on my own adventure...Meow!

Good night, Fabian.

Good night, Hondo.

Good night, BABY.

I enjoy browsing through bookstores, especially ones with used books. Sometimes I stumble on a tome that may be out of print or otherwise low on the radar scope. "Clearing Away Clouds" is a good example. Lately I've been reading a number of martial arts books to augment my karate training and instruction (I'm a 1st-degree ShoDan black belt). Particularly helpful have been books by experienced martial artists. That's because they provide valuable lessons learned from long-term training. This one is no exception.

Stephen Fabian began his martial arts training back in the early 1980s. Since then, he has accumulated an eclectic budo background by training in Korean Tae Kwan Do and practicing Jujutsu and Iaido in Japan. His long journey through the Martial Way led him to write "Clearing Away Clouds." The subtitle "Nine Lessons For Life From The Martial Arts" sums up the content. Each of the nine lessons gets its own chapter, with titles such as "Control the Breath," "Focus," and "Persevere." Mr. Fabian uses his own life to demonstrate the development of various positive physical abilities and character qualities. There's a circular pattern here, where the martial arts gave him the ability to deal with hardship, and hardship in turn helped with his martial arts mastery.

Mr. Fabian's extensive background in anthropology gives him a unique perspective on the intercultural aspects of martial arts practice. His credentials came in handy during long sojourns in South America and Japan. Fortunately for his readers, the author's education had the effect of making him a good writer vs. an academic one. I enjoyed following his unique story and seeing him grow as a person. Indeed, the most interesting aspect of this book was Mr. Fabian's incorporation of his family life with his art (especially since his early training environment was practically monastic in nature). I've read similar martial arts books where the author either glossed over his or her family life or neglected it totally. However, Mr. Fabian documents how a wife and children affected his martial arts involvement, and how they became part of it as well. Although I'm still single, I'm glad to have a literary example of balancing family with budo.

There are two things that may cause some reader consternation. First, I've noted that some other martial arts authors believe true mastery is impossible, and therefore object to the use of this term. I have to admit I'm ambivalent about it as well. Second, Mr. Fabian's philosophical feet are firmly planted in Zen. It would seem that Buddhism is his faith of choice, since he goes deeply into its practice and virtues. I find my foundational beliefs satisfied in Christianity, so I took what I could from his exposition in this area. Tread carefully if you struggle with one or both of these issues, but keep in mind that one can learn from all.

Overall, I found "Clearing Away Clouds" to be a fine portrait of one man's journey through life via the martial arts. Other similar books you may find helpful are: "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan, "The Making of a Butterfly" by Phillip Starr, "The Martial Way and Its Virtues" by F. J. Chu, "The Martial Spirit" by Herman Kauz, and just about anything by Dave Lowry.

I have been studying various forms of martial arts for a long time before I found hontai yoshin ryu. Fabian Sensei is an amazing example of how one should walk the path of the true warrior. I read his book after taking a class with him and it's really helped open my eyes to what a traditional martial artist is, and how he sees the world. It's autobiographical, but he uses his own experiences to explain his steps along the path.

The main thing that he stresses throughout the book is that the Nine lessons are FROM Martial Arts, not just FOR martial arts. He expresses the lessons one must learn to master things, and they can range from a study of martial arts, to tea pouring, to flower arranging. The lessons are life lessons.

An amazing book!

I have been studying various forms of martial arts for a long time before I found hontai yoshin ryu. Fabian Sensei is an amazing example of how one should walk the path of the true warrior. I read his book after taking a class with him and it's really helped open my eyes to what a traditional martial artist is, and how he sees the world. It's autobiographical, but he uses his own experiences to explain his steps along the path.

The main thing that he stresses throughout the book is that the Nine lessons are FROM Martial Arts, not just FOR martial arts. He expresses the lessons one must learn to master things, and they can range from a study of martial arts, to tea pouring, to flower arranging. The lessons are life lessons.

An amazing book!

The book "Clearing Away Clouds: Nine Lessons for
Life From the Martial Arts," by Stephen Fabian, is
written as an autobiography of Fabien sensei's
training and development as a martial artist. The
Fabian sensei takes the reader from his initial
exposure and introduction to the martial arts,
through his development to a point when the student
then becomes the teacher. Along the way you Fabian
sensei shares the trails and challenges of a young
college student, on learning to living on your own,
on the hectic, sometimes daunting demands placed on
a graduate student, to learning to function in a
foreign country.

Though the book is not necessarily meant to be
instructional, at least not in a traditional sense,
Fabian sensei provides a set of nine "lessons" or
guidelines to help the aspiring martial artist
through the travels along the Way.

These lessons are presented in a defined order, each
building on the previous lesson. The lessons are
presented in an abstract way, supported by
developmental stories from the author's life, which
force the reader to think about and internalize the
information.

This is not a "become a martial artist in nine easy
steps" type of book; this book provides real life
experiences of someone that have used the martial
arts to help shape their life, and become a better
person for it.

It several subtle ways, the author helps to
differentiate between the fast-food type of martial
art school whose primary objective is the
development of "martial athletes" and the more
traditional dojo's (dojang in Korean) that cultivate
true "martial artists".

As a practitioner of Japanese martial arts, I found
the chapters of the book related to the challenges
of living in Japan particularly interesting.

The book is very well written, and has a good
structure and flow to it. I highly recommend this
book to anyone that is interested in the martial
arts, particularly those that truly embrace their
training as a path along the Way.

Dr. Fabian is my sensei, teaching a class of 15-20 students in Hontai Yoshin Ryu (mainly Jujutsu with some Bojutsu and Iaijutsu), so I have some obvious bias. I read his book mainly because of the class. However, I would recommend it to anyone interested in a westerner's journey in the way of martial arts and what they have learned from that journey. Each of the nine main chapters is similarly structured; a short introduction, then the main autobiographical narrative thread, followed by a reflection on what was learned. As I read the book, I felt both a keen interest in the autobiographical content *and* the philosophical content; each is interesting per se, and they enhance each other strongly. I usually devour books rather rapidly; in this case I found myself putting it down at the end of a chapter and thinking about the concepts and ideas. As a Christian, it afforded me a valuable insight into the connection between Christianity and eastern thought and is influencing my way of following Christ. I recommend this book for anyone concerned with living life more intentionally, and particularly someone interested in finding a 'way', even if the way of martial arts is not where you see yourself going.

Anthology, Christian SF,dited by Karen and Robert Fabian. Especially fond of Karen and Robert Fabian's writing. Have not read all the stories yet, but I highly recommend this anthology! It is particularly interesting to Catholics who might wonder how the Church might fare in the future; especially with other planets, space stations and what we consider to be alien life on those planets. A very enjoyable read for us science fiction aficionados!

I recently read Starlight 3 and it was terrible. "Science fiction" but mostly fantasy, the stories were mostly idea sketches rather than stories. E.g. "What if God is arbitrary and capricious and we are supposed to love him because he is the source of all pain, and what if the world were filled with the random visitations of angels" ... ok. Interesting idea, but not much story there (heck, not much of an idea either). Lots of that sort of sketch, a good reminder as to why I don't read many sf short story collections any more.

On the other hand, I have to compare Starlight 3 to Infinite Space, Infinite God which is moving. It is a collection of science fiction stories by Catholics, written with religion as a strong influence. But they are stories first. Some of them are very moving, some are very touching, but they are stories. The concept sketch gets out of the way on the title page and the rest of the volume is solid stories.

A good example is the one "furry" story. A long time ago there were hard SF stories about genespliced animal based sentients that examined themes such as race, freedom, hope and humanity. They were not excuses for porn or slash or mary sue incursions, but real stories that were intended to highlight the human condition and the reality of humanity. Infinite Space, Infinite God includes a "furry" story, but the story extrapolates current trends, blends them to address real human issues while telling a real story, in a believable setting, without being distracted by extraneous sexual or violent themes. Excellent work, clearly executed.

The same is true of the urban punk story. The story is strong and overwhelms the distopian setting, creating a real experience that is memorable.

I'd review the rest of the stories, they are pretty much just a strong, just as complete, just as moving. There isn't enough room to do them all justice, but this book deserves five stars.

Like any Christian Science Fiction, the idea of Catholic SF seems to be a contradiction in terms--perhaps more so given the infamous stands the Catholic Church has taken against against scientific theory all those centuries ago. But, Galileo's trial is ancient history and for the last 1000 years, Catholic scientists (including priest, monks and even some saints) have received encouragement and support from the church. It is no wonder, then, that writers have become fascinated with the concept of how the Catholic church will meet the challenges of the future--and SF is just the vehicle for this.

This 2007 EPPIE award-winning anthology includes SF concepts from time travel to transporter technology, genetic engineering to alien abduction, interstellarcolonization and uncontrolled inter-city violence told from a Catholic world view. All of the ISIG short stories are well-crafted and entertaining--the latter a real surprise for me considering that I do not number among the millions of sci-fi fans in this world. The range of intensity in this volume kept me reading because I couldn't predict what I'd discover when I turned another page.

We see the teenager Frankie off to evangelize to alien beings; we sit with Saint Francis of Assisi as he ministers to the needs of a mannaro; we make the pilgrimmage alongside an IRA 'terrorist' as he makes his way through the stations to enlightment. The three described above: "Interstellar Calling," "Canticle of the Wolf," and "A Cruel and Unusual Punishment" were my favourites.

And one more thing, it is pretty darn refreshing to read good fiction that does not haul out the fictional stereotypes of predatory priests or knuckle-rapping nuns.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories included in Infinite Space Infinite God and liked the fact that they forced me to ponder and question.

The concept of Karina and Robert Fabian's Infinite Space, Infinite God, an anthology of Catholic sci-fi, was an intriguing one--Catholicism and science . . . and science fiction to boot? come on, everyone knows that the two are incompatible--remember Galileo, people? Was this a group of writer-heretics? Oh goodie--rebels--that was enough to gain my attention.

Of course, I am being facetious here. I write Biblical cyberpunk and receive a similar reaction whenever I mention it! And, so to my review . . .

The backbone of ISIG is the editorial commentary. The Fabians introduce ISIG with a commentary on science and the Catholic church. While there are those Christian legalists who would dissect the Fabian's argument, I found it interesting, however, unnecessary to apologize for writing sci-fi, whatever one's beliefs. It is fiction, fantasy, written by authors glorifying Him with their talents. But I digress. Within the book itself, the Fabians introduce each segment of stories with thought-provoking discussion: "The Catholic Church and Humanity," ". . . Evangelism," ". . . its Servants," etc. The result is a well-organized survey of well-crafted and entertaining Catholic sci-fi.


Some of my favorite stories in ISIG:

In Karina Fabian's "Interstellar Calling," Frankie, a sixteen-year-old is tired and disillusioned with her life--and like many folks in this position, blames God. The author lulls the reader seemingly into a romance story or at best, a growing-up story. But Fabian changes gears smoothly to provide the heroine a chance at a cool life-changing event.

Every anthology needs a good spy story and in "The Mask of the Ferret" (Ken Pick and Alan Loewen) we have an intergallactic version of secret agent (priest) on the trail of a fugitive smuggler. The ancient artifact the priest seeks is dangerous cargo for the interstellar craft and its unusual group of travelers and crew. The storyline is enjoyable and the characters a real kick (sorry real fans of intergallactic-ness) though I have to say my imagination isn't developed well enough to clearly envision the disparate group assembled on board!

"A Cruel and Unusual Punishment" (Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff) is the fascinating journey of a Sein Finn soldier, slated for death row, who gains redepemption through the Zagorsky experiment. A must read!

And finally, Simon Morden's "Little Madeleine." I was eager to read a sample of Dr. Morden's work. I'd recently read his essay Sex, Death and Christian Fiction and wanted to determine for myself where his fiction fit . . . in the 10% or the ninety (you'll have to read his essay to decipher this code) of Christian fiction. Like the rest of the stories contained in ISIG, "Little Madeleine" did not disappoint. The concept of the Joans, warrior-nuns who protect God's servants, is pretty darn cool. Morden is a talented writer who sends the CBA church-lady-protective filters flying, a la Little Maddeleine herself.


The Fabians have amassed a fine group of writers in ISIG. Besides being entertaining, these stories provoke thought, educate us non-Catholics, and give the reader a new take on commonly held suppositions about the the Catholic church. Pick up a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God and see for yourself--but careful, this is hot stuff!

Religious-themed science fiction is not a new genre, from classics like A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr., to nearly anything from Gene Wolfe. One of the best known collections was edited by Fr. Andrew M. Greeley called Sacred Visions. Yet this new volume of 15 short stories in the genre of Catholic Science Fiction is a treat for the fan of either genres. The authors tackle themes of morality, science, and the role of religion in humanity's future in new and engaging ways.

The authors present a future where both the church and science play roles; both are integral to human development and human self -understanding. Yet occasionally the two do clash. Lori Z. Scott's The Harvest, about a colony on the moon, with a Doctor priest who tries to balance healing both the body and the soul is one example. But how do you minister to a soul in a cloned HuNome who was grown for organ transplant purposes? (HuNomes are sub-humans with animal gene splices to better prepare the organs for transplants and as labourers building our colonies in space.) Adrienne Ray's story Hopkins' Well about settlements on Mars, where the Military is trying to maintain control of the planet against crazy Catholics that are part of a larger group of Christians, is another example. The final selection is A Cruel and Unusual Punishment about the Sinn Fein, and a man who calls himself a soldier while most of the world considers him a terrorist. Written around the Stations of the Cross, it is a story of the death penalty and an alternative that may have been worse. It is one of the most powerful pieces. Each of the stations begins with a quote from famous authors: William Blake, Thomas Merton, Evelyn Waugh and others, tying this vision of the future to our past.

This collection is great for introducing a reader to a wide range of authors in a short breadth, some whose styles you will love, some you will not and some you will be undecided about. The advantage of such a collection is you can discover new authors whose writings you will wish to pursue in greater depth.

As such, this collection will be a treat to any fan of Science Fiction, a religious Catholic, or just someone interested in the questions of spirituality and our future as we move forward through the millennium.

Three cheers for Hondo and Fabian! My daughter loves these books! This one is similar to the first which is a favorite. The story is simple for young children and they love the pictures.

Perfect books for toddlers. My 18 month old daughter loves this book and the original Hondo and Fabian. Simple story but not silly and based on things they know - cat, dog, car, cracker, baby, highchair, food etc. She can understand the books and sits quietly and attentively while I read it to her. The same can not be said of other books....

This is my first experience with the wonderful characters, Hondo and Fabian. This dynamic duo are their adventures are charming. The illustrations are some of the most beautiful I've seen. I can't wait to explore other books by McCarty.

We met Hondo and Fabian in the first book of Peter McCarty's new series about a dog (Hondo) and a cat (Fabian) who live in the same house.

In the first, Hondo has an adventure at the ocean with his dog buddy Fred. People take dogs on adventures. Who takes a cat? A cat won't cooperate, so leave him at home. In "Fabian Escapes" Fabian creates his own adventure--you know cats--headstrong creatures, willing to follow only their own advice.

Fabian smells the flowers. He faces the dogs next door. Uh oh! Not the dogs! Now it's all day under the porch in the dirt for Fabian. But he doesn't mind. He's on adventure!

Meanwhile Hondo plays with the toddler who dresses him up. He too escapes, but to the bed upstairs, patiently awaiting Fabian's arrival home. When he goes out for his walk, Fabian comes in. They greet and the routine is re-established.

This is simple yet lush art--soft figures almost like stuffed animals. Their softness is a cushion against the world. Hondo and Fabian, dog and cat, have learned tolerance and love, a lesson for our little ones and for our own hearts and minds.

As a children's librarian, I advise my little ones to examine a book when they first get it. Look at the cover. Look at the color and prints of the endpages. Look at the title page. As a rarity and for this particular book, remove the dust jacket to examine the front board (top outside covering). There is a story already going on before they turn to page one.

Dust jacket: Hondo rests his head on the windowsill as he looks out the window; Fabian is grinning because he is outside! The title: Fabian escapes! Endpages: Fabian and Hondo are each galloping across the pages. Title page: Fabian is jumping out the window. Cover of book: Fabian is jumping over a fence, obviously back into the yard! Page one: Fabian in the window, Hondo on the floor, awaking from naps.

Wait! This page is deja vu! This is how Hondo and Fabian begin the first of Peter McCarty's books about these adorable friends. In the first book Hondo goes on an adventure to the beach; Fabian stays home with the BABY. It just had to be, it was just inevitable, it was only fair that McCarty create an adventure for Fabian. Thus, book two.

Fabian is in the window, Hondo on the floor. Their people take Hondo for a walk. As Hondo re-enters the house, Fabian slips out as only cats with their invisibility factor can do. He eats flowers and meets up with "the neighbors," three inquisitive dogs. The two stories continue parallel actions also used in the first book. In this one Hondo walks to the butter and eats it, he meets up with the BABY who makes him play dress-up (pretty much comparable to a face-off with three dogs). Fabian leaps over the fence and escapes; Hondo leaps up the stairs and escapes. Fabian hides out under the porch until the people come home and he can slip back in; Hondo naps the day away on a people bed.

Finally, when Fabian returns, Hondo says, "Where have you been, Fabian?" and walks with him to the favorite window to welcome him home. These two really are friends.

This brief summary surely does no justice to the power and magic of this artwork to insinuate itself into your heart and your mind. According to the verso (copyright) page, McCarty used pencil on watercolor paper to get this softened, almost nostalgic appearance of his animals. They look special even beyond the softness. Their eyes are reminiscent of stuffed animals in the way they are slightly indented in the facial area, their legs are foreshortened, and they have that over-fed look, if you get my drift. Loved, happy, contented inside pets with an occasional romp outside. What more could a dog want? What more could a cat want? Peter McCarty will let us know in the next episode of Hondo and Fabian. There will be another episode, yes, Peter? We love these guys as our own!

I found "Gauchada" at a discount book store in rural Iowa 4 years ago. I sat in the floor of the store to read it and I could not believe my eyes... to find such a treasure in a place so remote from the Argentine Pampas! Yet this book was in itself the story of a beautiful gift that had gone around the world. I bought the three copies the store had and have since looked for more copies of it and given it to friends and family on different occassions. Perhaps no one can enjoy it as much as the people who have been in Argentina and wittnessed the gauchos or seen the beautiful carvings they make. Travelers will understand its story even if they haven't been to the Pampas, admirers of beautiful books will love it. I started reading it 3 years ago to my then 2 year old son . It is one of his favorite books and is growing with him as he understands more of the ideas in it. "Mommy read me the gaucho book, the one with the grandma and the beautiful baby and the gift that he makes. Do you think I can carve a necklace like that some day?". As an Argentine woman and professional I say "bravo!!" to this masterpiece.

The book came very fast and was in great condition, exactly how it was explained.

This book is a gem! A treasure! I've given away countless copies mostly to women - my mother, sisters, daughters and some very close friends. I've given it as wedding presents, engagement presents and as a token of love. IT is very special - a grassroots kind of find. The writing is poetic and evocative. The story simple and alluring. It reads like music. I've just started making necklaces to pass along with this book, my own gauchadas. Thank you Drew Lamm for writing this stunning book.

This is a wonderful book set in Argentina about the endless joys of giving. The book is set around a gift of love given in the form of a homemade necklace by a gaucho, or cowboy. You will learn lots of new Argentine words which are explained in the preface of the book by the author. TeacherFeatures.com is going to be writing a lesson plan for this book. The class will create something special from them that they can give to someone they love with instructions for the gift to be passed on and on. What an important lesson for todays youngsters to learn that giving doesn't always have to mean getting something physical in return.

It's unusual for books like "Gauchada" to see the light if day, & the fact that [other companies], in their pursuit of the mediocre, have chosen not to carry this title, is proof that beauty of spirit is difficult to find in the world these days. This is what "Gauchada" is about; it's about beauty of spirit, it's about the unselfish act of giving a gift out of love & seeking nothing in return. The prose is rich, poetic & we follow the gift as it is given & passed on til we return to where the story begins, on the grasslands of Argentina. Ms. Lamm's poetry & intricacy of language is beautifully complimented by the stylized art of Mr. Negrin. This is not an "easy" book, it isn't "see spot run", the language is dense & there is an air of mystery & magic in the act of creating the gauchada, & the journey the gift takes. The book is something to sit with & savour, & like anything you treasure, it is something to return to again & again.

I read and loved L. Sprague de Camp's "Honorable Barbarian", so when I saw this book cheap at a flea market, I thought I'd buy it. It took me a while to get around to reading it because I enjoy mainly the setting of fantasy and medieval books, and don't like books as much which are set in other times, including the reign of Xerxes. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book - it had the same sort of honorable, getting-into-trouble main character I had grown to love in "Honorable Barbarian" and others, and the same great humor. This book is one of those ones that will have you laughing hysterically while everyone around you stares. It is also one of those ones that you start reading and cannot stop. This is a must-read for de Camp fans and those that just enjoy a good laugh.

This is also one of those books that I just happened to pick up at a flea market while others are searching frantically for a copy. I hope others find a copy - although hopefully not a tattered 60's edition! Happy reading.

I will try to keep this short and factual, despite my enthusiasm for a book I have admired for over thirty years.

This is one of a series of loosely-linked historical novels set mainly on the margins of the classical world (from India to the interior and coasts of Africa), and covering the period from the reign of Xerxes to late Hellenistic times. (Think in terms of the Battle of Salamis to the rise of Rome). They all share de Camp's meticulous detail, plausible characterization, and sense of the comic side of human nature. Readers familiar with de Camp as Robert E, Howard's posthumous editor and collaborator will find in them the same mix of exotic adventure and (to most of the participants) magic, but in de Camp's own urbane and quietly erudite voice. Those already familiar with his own fantasy and science fiction writing will not be surprised to see his characteristic virtues at work in a different genre.

This, my favorite, concerns a journey from the heart of the Persian Empire to the sources of the Nile, in pursuit of an imaginary beast. A giant Persian nobleman, in serious trouble as a result of innocent involvement in a (real) court scandal, is sent off on a quest with his Greek tutor as advisor. They take turns playing Sancho to the other's Don Quixote, as their personal traits prove helpful or dangerous in changing circumstance. Along the way they acquire and lose companions, stumble into and out of trouble, and provide the reader a tour of the ancient world from western Asia to central Africa.

The suggestions for the story came from the presence of a now-rare African animal on a Persian royal monument and an archaeologist's speculation on a possible priestly fraud in ancient Babylon. (The latter reflects the story of "Bel and the Dragon" in the Greek version of the Book of Daniel, found in the apocrypha of Protestant Bibles, and appended to Daniel in Catholic editions). Those interested in this background should seek out "Lands Beyond," by L. Sprague de Camp and Willy Ley (originally 1951). (It should be pointed out that the word "sirrush" in both books is now generally read as "mushhush"). Some of the Asian material is also covered in de Camp's "Great Cities of the Ancient World" (originally 1972).

The African scenes are based on a combination of de Camp's travels and the best information available when he was writing. Those readers familiar with early European accounts will not need de Camp's acknowledgment of sources to spot the origin of several scenes. Those who are familiar with current studies of ancient Africa should bear in mind that no author, no matter how careful, can be expected to be in advance of the state of knowledge. (The solution to the "what is the most dangerous beast in Africa?" will now be apparent to far more readers than when the expedition's pygmy guide tried to answer it.) De Camp returned to Africa in his 1969 historical novel "The Golden Wind," set in Hellenistic times, this time from the point of view of a Greek sea captain seeking a water route to India.

The Donning edition added illustrations to a book originally published by Doubleday in 1961, and reprinted by Lancer in 1968. The Lancer edition had a glorious but uncredited cover, which was apparently the work of Roy G. Krenkel, perhaps still best known for his covers for the early Ace edition of Tarzan, and the illustrator of "Great Cities".

I have discussed this book in a review of the paperback edition, in which I addressed some of the issues raised by previous reviewers. In this review I will point out some other characteristics of interest to possible readers.

This is an adventure novel, set during the reign of Xerxes, Originally published in 1961, it was the third written, and earliest in chronological order, of five loosely-related historical novels. The others are: "An Elephant for Aristotle" (1958), in the reign of Alexander the Great, involving a trek across Asia with a rather large gift for the philosopher; "The Bronze God of Rhodes" (1960), in which the background is the struggle among Alexander's successors, with the construction of the Colossus of Rhodes only one of the incidents; "The Arrows of Hercules" (1965), a story of war and military inventions in the time of Plato; and, finally, "The Golden Wind" (1969), concerning sea-borne trade and exploration in Hellenistic times.

"Dragon" is probably closest in mood to de Camp's fantasy novels, while "Bronze God" and "Arrows" are closer to his science fiction, with their description of engineering problems, and personality clashes among researchers and engineers. "Dragon" also reflects de Camp's then-recent acquaintance with the Conan stories and other works of Robert E. Howard. Bessas, the huge Persian nobleman, is not only a close match for Conan in physique, but his mood swings, fixation on his mother, and tendency to toss of verses, seems a reflection of Howard himself. (Fortunately, his poems reflect de Camp's verbal dexterity and wit, not Howard's melancholy.)

Earlier editions include the original Doubleday hardcover, and a paperback edition from long-defunct Lancer Books (which also published most of de Camp's editions of the Conan stories). The illustrated edition is perhaps the most desirable, but readers who love high adventure, exotic locales, authentic detail, and more than a little humor, will enjoy it in any format.

{Please note that Amazon's after-the-fact decision to link editions has left me with two (non-duplicating) reviews for this title; I have decided to leave them in place for the time being, instead of merging them, or deleting both and creating a new version.}

When Xerxes, the Persian King of Kings, fearing the onset of decrepitude and old age, turns to his personal alchemist & sorcerer Ostanas, for a magical solution, the game (as Holmes used to say) is afoot. Reprieved from an untimely death (decreed for his unknowing complicity in the rape of a young noble woman), Bessas of Zariaspa (a big hulking, mother-loving, heroic lug, formerly of the King's own troops) is saved @ the eleventh hour from an untimely seat on the royal stake and charged with two tasks: bring back to Xerxes the ear of a king; and find and capture a live dragon (said to dwell at the headwaters of the Nile, deep in unknown Africa). His companion on this mission is to be his former Greek tutor, Myron of Miletos, who just happens to also be the man who brought Bessas to the attention of the King, in time to save the big warrior's life. What neither of these adventurers knows, however, is that the King's sorcerer needs a third item as well: the heart of a hero, which presumably will be readily available to him -- once Bessas returns from his labors with the two items he has been sent to retrieve. Myron, a simple scholar with philosophical pretensions, sees this as an opportunity to explore the world and maybe create some grand theory out of the knowledge he garners, to make a name for himself among the Greek philosophers back home. Bessas, on the other hand, has other concerns since Xerxes has placed his mother in protective custody -- as a guarantor of the hero's ultimate return. These two set out on a fascinating journey which takes them through many of the lands of the old Persian Empire and, in the process, pick up a tubby local boy whose chief claim to fame seems to be his voracious sexual appetite, a Syrian mystic of dubious talents and loyalties, and a Judean of Philistine ancestry with the skills of a metal smith. Fleeing numerous attacks on their persons by the minions of the raped girl's family (who begrudge the King's decision to free Bessas), this motley company finds its way to Egypt. There they become involved in a little grave robbing, before heading further south to the barbarous country of Kush, where the local ruler adds a further task to their assignments as a fee for letting them pass deeper into the African interior. Having linked up with a bandit Arab clan, headed by an old shaykh and his clever and beautiful daughter, the whole gang heads south along the Nile into pestilential plains and unfamiliar savage peoples. How the tale ends up is worth the read, as is the fascinating protrayal of this time and its inhabitants. Suffice it to say they have a number of rather close encounters, not least of which with a kingdom of local cannibals, and generally squeak by -- though not without a good deal of bloodshed and mayhem. The tale is not the usual sword and sorcery fare (though its author was known for writing that stuff) since, while there is a great deal of talk about wizards and magic, there is no attempt to portray these as anything more than the grossest of superstitions. The heroes are also men of their time and do not scruple to kill an enemy in cold blood. In fact, this book is almost hardheaded in its realistic approach to human conflict. The dialogue's rather cleverly done, too. Unfortunately, the tale was penned back in 1961 (although I read the Donning book, issued in 1982) and so it is not attentive to some of the politically correct niceties of our own era. Blacks are generally presented as savages and unattractive (which may actually have been how characters like our travellers would have seen them -- especially in the context of the encounters described -- but this will probably offend some readers). Similarly, the Judean Shimri (really a Philistine and an idolator) has a receding chin, spits when he talks, stammers and is generally annoying -- all for no very obvious reason. I suspect some would find him an offensively stereotypical character, as well. Finally, the female characters have no individual vitality at all. The Arab princess is supposed to be the real leader of her band but at critical times she recedes unaccountably from view. The other two females who join the expedition in Africa are slaves and get used as such. Probably not unrealistic, but again not attuned to our present, more enlightened age. And their main role (even that of the bold princess) seems to be to fawn over our hero, Bessas. While the female characters have little life in them, the males, who are more interesting, are not more deeply drawn. Myron and Bessas do come to life, as does the sterotypical Syrian wizard, but none of them seem to have substantial inner lives. But this is a plot driven by events -- not motivation -- and, as such, it does its work. If you can bear with the extremely poor editing (typos on nearly every other page) and the mid-twentieth century sensibility, this is a book well worth the read -- both for its vivid and historically convincing depiction of the ancient world during the height of the Persian Empire (just before Alexander the Great Hellenized things) and for its fast-paced adventure in exotic lands. -- Stuart W. Mirsky (mirsky@ix.netcom.com)

As an experienced C++ programmer, I wanted to try C# out of curiosity. Obviously, I didn't want to read long-winded explanations of the most basic programming constructs -- I just wanted syntax and effective ways to use it. This book fulfills this purpose well. Within a few days, I was able to start writing real, useful C# applications. And, since I'm a game developer, I was able to find Managed DirectX tutorials and I've already written the fundamentals of a C# game engine!

So, if you know how to code, this book will show you how to do it in C#. Thanks, Steven Holzner!

This a a very good book for someone who has programming experience. Fundamental concepts are in the book, but they are not belabored. The book quickly gets on with C# and what it takes to create real applications that do something more than say "Hello World".

If this is your first experience with programming, then this book is not for you. If you have done some programming and are moving to C# for the first time, then this book is a great addition to your library.

For any programmer coming over from another language, I really think this book offers the most bang for the buck (and for your time). I'm a VB6 programmer who wasted a lot of time and money on other books that either offer too much hand-holding (next to no code, everything through forms designer) and wasted time on extensive examples building software I'll never use or focused only on console C# applications with no explanation of topics like ADO.NET, winforms, etc. I need to use C# at work and like many programmers, I'm busy and have little time to waste. Yet, I also needed a comprehensive book because the real world of business programming requires the use of data-access technologies (ADO.NET), security, network technologies, etc. This book succeeds on all counts. The coverage is surprisingly comprehensive and details are well fleshed out. Even using ADO.NET in code is covered while many other books only cover using it through form controls in Visual Studio (anyone who writes database-connected applications knows that you really need a high level of control of shaping the data before you can present it). Nothing is dwelled upon for long so be warned that the book does move fast and info is densely packed into each page.

This is a very solid book. It assumes you know the basics of programming like loops, modules and the likes... If you are familiar with any regular programming language (like C, C++, Java, PERL, python, ruby, even shell scripting) then this books is probably your best bet to learn C# quickly.

There is no whole chapters made to get you to write a "for" loop here, you must have programming concepts to really benefit from this book.

As a programmer, I really enjoyed it and was able to get to work quickly on C# programs. If you are totaly new to programming, get another book to get your feet wet before jumping on this one.

The original Thunderbolts together again at last! It seems that the thunderbolts have finally gotten the respect they deserve, the people have finally decided to forgive them and Baron Zemo has come up with a plan to use that trust for his own benfit. Captain America however isn't buying it that Zemo has become a good guy and sets a trap for Zemo and his gang. This is a very interesting read, I promise you that you won't regret it. The TBolts have grown alot since they first hit the scene, especially SongBird (one of my favorites). Kurt does a beautiful job and the art is good too! And oh yes, a surprise guest star makes an appearance! The sexy ... er cute and young JOLT! Former Member of the team, and Moral Compass for this band of delinquients trying to play 'hero'.

This is the Thunderbolts as they should be. A group of villains acting as heroes, and the reader is forced to wonder whether their actions are in the world's best interest, or just their own.

Co-Written by Kurt Busiek, the creater of the Thunderbolts and acclaimed Avengers scribe, and Fabian Nicieza, who has been writing the Thunderbolts for years, this is an excellent story of trust and intrigue.

The Thunderbolts are poised to save the world from itself, and the Avengers don't trust them. Hawkeye, former leader of the Thunderbolts want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but no one else, including the Avengers butler Jarvis trusts the former Masters of Evil. An Avenger infiltrates the Thunderbolts disguised as a known villain, which raises doubt as to whether the Avengers themselves can be trusted.

The characters are well written, including my personal favorite Moonstone, a brilliant female psychiatrist who may also be the most powerful person on the planet. The story is interesting, and the dual nature of the characters leaves you questioning what's really happening until the very end. The artwork is excellent, and I really feel that Tom Grummet is coming into his own as one of the best superhero artists in the biz.

But to be fair - I haven't read many. However, that may just speak volumes for Cable & Deadpool, because even as a non-comic-fan I have been captivated by this series. It manages to integrate the incredulity of Marvel superheroes with the everyday world in a way that is both fun and thought-provoking. Through Deadpool, who is infamous for breaking the fourth wall, the writer takes pot-shots at many different aspects of society and culture - from the Olsen Twins to Fox News. It also raises a number of philosophical questions, such as whether or not human nature can ever be reconciled with the concept of world peace. The writing is brilliant, the artwork is excellent, and both the individual story arcs as well as the general dynamic between these two opposites makes for a fantastic read.

This book was amazing; an excellent combination of sarcasm, action, suspense, and drama. The storyline can be a bit confusing if you haven't already read the first book, "If Looks Could Kill", so I recommend reading that first. The artwork is superb, bringing the plot and dialogue to life. Deadpool is his usual sarcastic-insane-doesn't-know-when-to-shut-up mercenary self while Cable provides a more serious side to the story. With guest appearances from the X-men and the Silver Surfer, you just have to know that it doesn't get any better than this.

In my opinion, this book (written basically for children to read) has the magic enough to capture an adult's mind.
I'm very fond of the thought that the Disney Company, makes it's best effort to get a child into the deep world of greek and roman mythology throughout this book (originally a movie) with the usual content of love, comedy, drama and a happy ending, all mixed in a magical, powerful, and most important "understandable" way.
I think that thanks to this amazing story, every child knows that Zeus is the greatest of all Gods, and that he rules with all rest of them (including his wife Hera) in Mount Olympus; that Hades rules the "Underworld" , and as usual, something to learn.... with love, any battle can be won.
I guess there is nothing else to say about this book, it teaches us in a beautiful way, our ancestors believings many centuries ago.

In Estonian language means Herkula the same as "oatflakes" in English. As I was child, the grammy command me to eat the oatmeal. "If you eat the oatmeal, you will be a strong man," she told. I dont know was she right or not, but now I am (really) a strong man. The greeks, the myths, the saturday nights when someone (again grammy) read me those tales. Hercules was then in my "top 10" on the 4th position. The first was Zeus, the 2nd Paris and the 3rd Achilleus. Hercules never got the medal. When I read "Disneys Hercules" now, I realize what I've never seen before: The Hercules story told through the pictures is much more powerful than written word. I might look like a macho, but those funny and childish adventures made me feel like a small boy, face full of joy. I would like to give a golden medal to Hercules now, but does he need that? I've heard that celebrities are swimming in gold. My suggestion to the producers of this wonderful work - there should be more those cartoon-Gods out now, instead of the real ones. Martin Palm