Farrell Books

First book I read on day trading, explains the games other traders are playing to help you identify what is happening in a stock as you watch it intraday.
Very insightful on institutional price manipulation, how we as the little fish can get on the right side of the smart money and swim with them to quick profits.
Good info not commonly shared or explained as well as this.

This book is honest, that's why I give it five stars. Unless the basic principle of Farrell's trading, the ability to get in front of the market makers, changed, the principles of this book should stand. The fact that the book is boring and unexciting indicates to me that the author is a trader, not marketer of his trading system.

Most exciting approaches in trading don't work. Good trading is boring (and often frustrating). So is trading approach described in this book. You are advised to trade static, non-moving stocks and make money on the double, joining the market makers. That's it. This strategy allows good risk control. And instead of day trading this method (I think) may be used for low maintenance trading too.

This method is not based on technical analysis, the feeding pot for many authors writing trading books. No new indicators or just discovered rules. Totally different approach. That's why it may work.

If you want to buy the book, go ahead, just be careful of superbookdeals, they take your money but don't deliver and don't answer emails. Caveat Emptor.

The first thing I look at when I pick up a trading book is when it was published. Pick this one up--"Copyright 2000." That immediately sets off a siren in my head, and warns me to take everything in the book with a substantial amount of salt. Anyone can write a book on how to successfully invest in a market where everything is hot--if you don't believe me, do a search of real estate investment books and see how many of them are older than the current boom. When everyone's an expert--well, just be careful. Couple that with the fact that this guy's website is gone--I've read up a little on him and it would appear he's no longer trading--and caution is definitely warranted.

That having been said, I was able to glean from this work some important information, and certainly picked up a couple tidbits that I've found useful. This was one of the first daytrading books I ever read, and I think it has its merits for a strict novice. Farrell's sections on NASDAQ level II were insightful as were his thoughts on trading NASDAQ vs. NYSE stocks. His rants on the evil nature of "market makers" and how they're out to get individual daytraders is probably overblown but certainly worth thinking about. And though most of us will never move the kind of capital around required to "scalp trade" (meaning you trade a huge position and hope for a razor-thin margin), I found the technique interesting.

In short, I wouldn't use this book as a basis for a trading strategy, and would keep in mind the fact that most of these techniques are outdated. Look, for example, at the other reviews of this book--the most recent ones rate this book much lower than those written in the heyday era (or even shortly after). I do believe, though, in assimilating useful information wherever it is found, and that having been said I'd recommend this book for a casual read, not to be taken too seriously and keeping in mind that the value of the author's opinions are very limited. If anything, view it as a daytrading history lesson, and learn from the mistakes of the past.

This book was very good back in it's day. I think the author should publish a revized edition with more up to date strategies.

When trading short term one needs to realize that the stock market can present us with a lot of hot stocks every day.

Most of them may seem promising, but the truth is that a good number of these trading & investing opportunities might not be as profitable as one might think. That's why it's very important to know how to choose them especially if you plan to take advantage of them on a daily or weekly basis.

One site that I recommend is MomentumStockTrading com. They have a pretty clear way for trading hot stocks with momentum using easy to understand strategies. This is also a place where you can learn why knowing how to manage the stock rally is critical to your success.

I don't usually review books like Farrell's, but this is a special case. This book resonated with me. It showed me the wonders of indexing and the case against active investing. Farrell says that most people are ill-equipped as far as time and inclination to devote the energy needed to successfully play the stock market. He goes on to show how money managers are often wrong on their picks and the resulting losses suffered by investors in these funds. This is where buying index funds come in. Farrell demonstrates how buying index funds provides the diversification and risk protection needed by most investors. The main thesis is that it is tough to beat the market, so why try? Farrell gives the reader several different portfolios to look at and shows how they have fared over the last one, five, and ten years. Compared to most funds and individual stocks, it's hard to see why anyone who is not an investment professional would do anything but buy index funds. The only quibble I had was that at times, the book read like a commercial for Vanguard. It makes sense, given that Vanguard is the industry leader in index funds. But, it would have been nice to see some lazy portfolios composed of Fidelity or T. Rowe Price funds. This is a minor point. The book made sense to me as an investor, and will guide my future investing decisions.

This is a great book to get a start on investing or to do investing without needing to learn too much. Upon reading many other books and articles, I believe the information in this book is quite good. I have helped others now with their finances and it turns out a lot of advisors/brokers really do NOT have your best interests in mind...so unless you can find a great one, it is a good idea to DIY and read a little about it. even if you do have a broker, reading this book is a great way to get an idea of what needs to be done in your portfolio, so you can be more sure that your advisor has your best interests in mind.

A decent introduction if you can't get a hold of Carlson's "Eight Steps to Seven Figures." I think Carlson's book was better and more inspirational. But this did introduce me to Dilbert's Anti-Weasel Defense Portfolio, and that should count for something.

Personally I would just read Carlson instead, then Dilbert's Anti-Weasel Defense Portfolio, and know that this book just reinforces those methods with the advice of 50-75% no-load index stock funds and 25%-50% bonds in a 401k or IRA every month.

Josh Sowin
fireandknowledge.org

Investing has been a hobby of mine for about 15 yrs. now. I would estimate that I've read at least twenty books on investing, trading, Buffetology etc. This is by far one of the best books because it is THE simplest to understand and implement. The indexing strategies described won't earn big returns over the short term, but should compound very nicely long term. The good thing about the strategies is that anyone can understand them, know what they own, and no why they own it. Those three things should reduce trading to a minimum for people who stick to this plan. Trading costs money and is usually counterproductive for about 99% of the people that do it. In the case of the one per cent who succeed, it is really much about luck, like a lottery ticket. With millions of people trying to beat the market, including tens of thousands of professionals with full time researchers, accountants, PhDs, and multiple computers, the odds are strongly against any individual investor beating the averages long term. Don't believe the hype on line from market newsletters and timers. This is the real deal. I would recommend to anyone new to investing, and even to more experienced investors who might need to be reminded to "keep it real" from time to time. It's time IN the market that makes money long term, not timing the market. K.I.S.S.

The author's wife thought investing books were boring, well she was right. Yes, it is about lazy investing. And the author summarizes many of the personalities and their approaches to wealth-building, including Dilbert, a contrite Motley Fool, Rich Dad Kiyosaki, among others. He goes over and over again to pound in the same points. Although to his credit he mentioned a preacher who preached the same sermon every week and would continue to preach it until people got it.

Everything in the book could be said in a few words. Buy a lazy portfolio consisting of a fixed ratio of stocks and bonds, index funds with the lowest expenses, do not trade, hold till doomsday. There are several websites that track variations of lazy portfolios, but the three he mentions first, the Couch Potato, Coffeehouse and No Brainer can all be found and tracked on the web.

I suggest to save your money and time and you don't have to read through Farrell's entire book to do this.

- Choose a 3-4 fund portfolio (US total stock market index, international index, total bond market index + ). Completer can be either REIT, Gold, Natural Resources, Emerging Market, Small/Micro-cap, or other area you feel is not covered by the 3 index funds. Come up with an allocation you're comfortable with, maybe 30/30/30/10. Invest and forget. Add or redeem investments to keep the percentages stable as you either have extra money or need to sell for living expenses.

- For the truly lazy, just take the 3 index funds at lowest cost and divide by 3 for your allocation. Use tax exempt bond if it is in a taxable account, otherwise, put the bond portion in your 401K or IRA.

There, you didn't need to buy the book and can put the $10 to use. The author agrees with me on being frugal, and that means not spending what ain't needed.

I will say this right off the bat. Do not use this book to judge this author. I have yet to read anything else by him, but this has to be his worst work. It does not get much more cliche than this. I spent quite a bit of time re-reading sections of the book hoping that the second time it would make the scene understandable. It didn't. The primary issue I had with the book is that even if not everyone knows all the truth, self-defence was never a good enough reason to kill the people trying to kill her. There was no right path for this girl. Her options were kill or be killed, and apprently it is fine or everyone else to kill in self-defence, but not for Jenna. I continued to read the book, even with my rising dislike of it, cause I belive in giving the book a fair shot ... but it never got any better. The main antagonist were horrid, to the point of lobing body parts at people at one point, and Jenna was merciful ever chance she got, and it never worked to her advantage to be so. Not once did someone she saved ever bother to apperciate it. Half-way through the book I started hoping she would just mow people down left and right, including her own back-stabbing mother.

Long story short, I recomend borrowing this book from a good friend if you are going to read it (which I don't think you should do)... so they won't mind any marks left on the book when you chuck it accross the room in irritition.

Holder of Lightning is an interesting book, but I personally found it very disappointing for the following reasons:

1: Incredibly bad character development. Based on a few of the other reviews I have seen here, I am not the only one who feels this way. The main problem here is that the characters radically change and move from one alignment and personality to another without any real reasons. For example, Mac Ard first appears as a good and benevolent man helping two ladies in distress, but as the story progresses he suddenly turns into this two-faced self-centered arse, backstabbing Jenna, and all the other 'good guys' at every moment. This would normally be fine, except that here almost EVERY DAMN CHARACTER in the book does it as well! Basically all the people that Jenna meets seem nice on the surface, but somehow 95% of them are really self centered people who would kill in a heartbeat (this includes her mother!!)

2: Motivations, similar to the above problems, there is also a big hole with motivation. The characters all seem to have a problem with justifying any of their actions. (exp: "Oh no, they're coming after us, what shall we do?" "Ugh, ya lets go hide in those big dark woods over there with an evil reputation, and NOT consider other, more practical ideas, such as hiding in those bushes till nightfall and making a careful escape!")

3: Jenna. As someone said earlier: Jenna is a a pain, and I have agree. When I was reading the book, roughly half the time I was wishing that I go inside for the sole purpose of slapping her. Her problem is that she blames everything on everyone else, and just whines, complains, and whines some more whenever things start going bad for her.

Overall, I was not impressed with the book. While the author did a GREAT job of describing the environment, and capturing the Celtic spirit, the book was marred by it's awful characters. Still the background was amazing, and if the author was to work on his character development skills, I would gladly give him a second chance.

A good Celtic fantasy has pride, tragedy, fighting, honor, and humanity in it. This series is no exception to the rule.

There are gems that have a certain power (Cloch Mors have a greater power while the clochmions have a lesser power) that need to be recharged in "mage lights" which makes me think of the Aurora Borealis. Some gems are more powerful than others. Farrell introduces a very interesting balance to this, where each owner recharging their clochs is aware of other cloch owner and their general area (if they're recharging at the same time).

The clochs will become inactive from time to time, when the mage lights stop. There's no set cycle for this. Over time, the clochs become a story, until the mage lights come back. Then people start fighting over clochs, to possess power to further their ambitions, political or otherwise.

I couldn't read this book through. I read through some of it, then just skipped around to find out what happened. Some of my pet peeves were that:

1. It's interesting that it's ok for her mother's loved man to try and kill her but it's not so ok for her to kill him in self-defense.
2. The usual, power goes to head of young person who is not equipped to deal with massive amounts of power, plot is truly a pain.
3. The, "let's strip the main character of everything she loves in life" plot device gets tired, FAST.
4. Jenna is just irritating...period.
5. Jenna's mom is amazingly self-centered, kind of brings a bad name to mothers in general.
6. Book doesn't seem to have much going on except for lots of betrayal and gore.

I'd say, save your money. Except that a large number of people seem to go in for this type of stuff.

I bought this book months ago on a whim, and finally I picked it up. I'm normally not a super-fan of celtic fantasy, but I enjoyed Kate Forsyth's series so I figured I'd be ok.

The beginning starts out kind of slow, although you don't get to learn too much about Jenna before the action begins, which creates a problem (her personality changes quickly from an addiction, and even though its pointed out, you don't relate since you aren't even sure what Jenna's original personality was). I also had a problem with some of the characters- some are supposed to be those changing characters- you think they're something they're really not. This is common in fantasy, but Farrell is missing something. I think its the fact there are no hidden things that you realize after you learn the character's true self. Maybe not though.

But honestly, if you're looking for some fantasy to read (I never thought it would happen, but I'm running out of books to read), this is a pretty good book. After the beginning, the plot moves fairly quickly, it's not confusing, there's romance as well as political intrigue, and there's a lot going on in the plot. The characters aren't top-notch and can be irritating at times, but it's still enjoyable. Definetly give it a shot and see what you think.

A good book with a great deal of information on the German secret programs at the end of WWII. Some of the info is very technical and beyond the understanding of a layman. However, overall it explains much of Operation Paperclip and the inner workings of both the US and German Intelligence posturing at wars end.

In one respect, it's hard to figure out what to make of Joseph P Farrell's THE SS BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL: NASA'S NAZIS, JFK, AND MAJIC-12: the author spends a wealth of time exploring the planet's "secret history" where Nazi scientists -- realizing their own impending demise near the end of WWII -- embarked on a clandestine mission to guarantee survival of not only themselves but also their research into areas of unconventional aircraft designed using a kind of secret physics essentially unknown to most of the planet ... but, by the book's end, Farrell has provided plenty of fuel to, in the very least, provoke the reader to challenge the view of history put forth by mainstream academics, grade school textbooks, and a complicit media. His premise floats easily off the page like the anti-gravitic science he believes (and argues convincingly) Nazi scientists holed away deep within the bureaucracies that make up national governments and their assorted agencies. He capably demonstrates how an elite group of intelligent survivors may have masterfully set into motion the greatest ruse -- hiding in plain sight -- of all time.

(Note: I purchased Mr. Farrell's book after hearing him via podcast from his presentation earlier this year on COAST-TO-COAST AM, but, in an odd but fitting twist of fate, I had this book in my stack of stuff to read directly after completing Richard C Hoagland's DARK MISSION ... whoa! Talk about the stars aligning!)

Of course, with a selection of subjects so involving and requiring not only a willing suspension of disbelief regarding history but also a tremendous sense of brain power to grasp these meaty concepts, BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL is not without a few criticisms, and I'll get them out of the way up front. Yes, typos, typos, typos. There're here. Others have cited. (I find them forgivable given the strength of the research and my interest in the topic.) Also, much of the science presented in the center third of the book is, frankly, out of my reach; as a layman, I could've used some examples presented to underscore how some of these concepts worked largely because, by the author's own admission, Farrell explores a kind of science "untaught" to man (hidden aether physics, versus conventionally taught physics) ... that's not necessarily a failure on the part of the author so much as it is a failure to connect with the reader. There were a few passages I had to reread to better comprehend, and, as a reader, I hate having to do that, but Farrell presents ideas I want to understand. I mention this because I know he's working on at least one additional book (NAZI INTERNATIONAL) that I'm looking forward to, and I hope that there's still time for addressing a "dumbing down for the common man" in that book.

But enough on the downside ...

BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL presents an utterly frightening scenario that begins before WWII (pre-war Germany is still Germany as Farrell explains in examing the possible psychology of a people stemming from the Teutonic Knights) and evolves until present day: suppose mankind's greatest enemy somehow found a way to exist not so much peacefully but hidden within? Financed by the world's greatest superpowers? Secretly manipulating history to continue their various campaigns? It appears entirely plausible that what he postulates has happened while the world looked the other way. Events are presented (World War II, The Roswell Incident, the Cold War, the Kennedy Assassination) that, seemingly would have little or no relation to one another, but -- under Farrell's eye and corroborated with evidence from history -- the reader faces the harsh reality that members of a defunct Nazi party are far from individually 'defunct.' Did Nazi scientists negotiate with America, with Britain, with the Soviet Union to survive the end of the war on agreement to continue their work in respective governments? Has mankind been duped to believe a form of unprovable but popular physics? Did German scientists confirm that the UFO crashed in Roswell was, in fact, a downed craft of Nazi design? What did President Eisenhower truly known about a secret military industrial complex? Could a small investment firm have profited billions of dollar through its secret knowledge of Kennedy's assassination? The questions come easily one after the other, and Farrell presesnt arguments to support that not only are there two verions of physics but also there's two versions of accepted history.

Again, BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL is quite possibly not written for skeptics. There's much here to refute (the veracity of the MJ-12 documents, the lack of single 'gotcha' memo to substantiate any single Presidency's involvement, etc.) or at least argue about. For my tastes, the book works best in its final third when the Cold War has geared up, and Farrell dips into what may have been the Nazi's real post-war efforts; and this could be because, accepting the author's premise, there is a whole string of events which appear to have underscored the reality of a conspiracy despite what the Warren Commission found. BROTHERHOOD OF THE BELL is best read by the scores and scores of folks who believe that solving puzzles are central to the human experience. There are plenty of pieces here, and Farrell does a tremendous job of putting them together in a such a way as to forever cause the reader to challenge what he's been asked to accept by either a duped or complicit society.

The Truth is Out There, just not specifically here
Nazis, secret weapons, aliens, assassinations, strange science, Tesla, mysterious UFOs, dark conspiracies and the always popular secret societies, are just a few of the many esoteric subjects covered in Joseph Farrell's entertaining The SS Brotherhood of the Bell. If you like page after page of the strange, weird, and sometime outlandish then this is the book for you. Mr. Farrell roams the esoteric conspiratorial landscape at will connecting dots and making amazing suppositions. He backups much of his ideas with "interesting" facts that border on the questionable and stretches the credulity of a rational man. Some of his suppositions are doubtful but thought provoking. He ranges far afield from the always contentious and enigmatic JFK assassination, to Nazi UFOs, to Martin Bormann being Adolf Hitler's puppet-master. Wow, each page brought another conspiracy, weird science and history mystery. By the book's conclusion only Big Foot and the mysterious face on Mars were sadly left out.
But the biggest mystery of all was not covered: Just what the heck was the mysterious Nazi "Bell" and what did it do? I guess that enigma will be cleared up in Mr. Farrell's next book?? Like a Flash Gordon Saturday serial standby for another installment: "The Bell tolls for thee".
Note: Nick Cook's The Hunt for Zero Point is a more informative read on this subject in my opinion.

The common problem I see with the UFO community - and the public in general - is that a distinction must be made between UFO's and ET's (Extra Terrestrials), as I'm sure we are all aware, the definition of `UFO' has nothing to do with ET's. I myself have always thought that the majority of sited UFO's are merely tricks of light or meteors and so forth, but one can not legitimately dismiss the few genuine sightings of `Unidentified Flying Objects'. I have always thought that these genuine sightings are of UFO's are secret military aircraft.
This assumption was validated after I recently finished reading "The SS Brotherhood of the Bell" by Joseph Farrell. This work by Farrell really shocked me with the extremely factual and empirical structure of his book, and together with his authoritative style and aura one is left with little choice but to believe that UFO's do exist and were developed by humans over 50 years ago! As amazing (and at first hand, absurd) as this sounds, once you see the documented evidence you are left with no other conclusion!

Farrell basically makes the case that Hitler's Nazis developed, amongst other technologies, various craft that were indentified by the public as UFO's, flying saucers ect.... The Nazi's used various propulsion systems which evolved from the mundane to the extremely exotic. This technology was subsequently picked up by both the Soviets and the US following the fall of Hitler's war machine. And all the evidence presented by Farrell indicates that the exotic technology was further developed by these two nations.

When one first hears of the Nazi connection to UFO's one is quite sceptical, but as one realizes the undisputed - and largely unknown - advanced technology that Nazi Germany undeniably had, suddenly the idea of supersonic exotic flying discs seem a lot more plausible. And Farrell goes to a large amount of trouble to educate the reader from the start about the advanced technology that the German scientists had actually achieved. And as Farrell makes clear from various military documents, had the allies not defeated Hitler's army when they did, the tide of the war would have irreversibly turned due to the advanced war craft that was starting to be rolled out ready for combat by Nazi Germany, for land, air and sea.

Farrell goes to an enormous amount of trouble to give the reader a background understanding of the physics that is the thesis of Farrell's book; that is the "Bell". Farrell discusses everything from suppressed "Scalar" physics, to the workings and classification of every type of nuclear weapon, to the Soviet vs US space race and the technology behind it, to the possible connection with JFK and his assassination, and the shady dealings of NASA under the control of a former Nazi scientific heavy weight (and yes, a former high ranking Nazi scientist was head of NASA!) and all sorts of topics which on the surface seem totally unrelated and absurd. But all this information is required to fully appreciate and comprehend the thesis of Farrell's work. Even if one is to disregard Farrell's main thesis, one will still gain an extraordinary amount of general knowledge from this work.

Farrell doesn't believe that UFO's have anything to do with ET's. Though Farrell is fully open to the existence of ET's, he see's no reason what-so-ever to suggest that any UFO's are of ET origin. All of the evidence and data regarding UFO's suggest that it's required technology is not exotic enough to demand the inclusion of ET's in the picture. Farrell believes that the required technology is fully within our grasp, and he makes an extremely convincing case.

Beware, this book opens a can or worms like I have never witnessed before. Every chapter leaves you wanting to know more, but considering the already large size of the book, only brief glances over many subjects were possible. Thankfully at the end of the book (well the edition that I have anyway) is a list of a couple dozen books that will quench your thirst for more. I found this book so enthralling and informative that I will probably read most of the further reading that is supplied at the end of the book.

Highly recommended!

Farrell continues investigating the "missing" history surrounding the Nazis and World War II started in "Reich of the Black Sun." With his usual precise methods and meticulous balance, he continues to astound with further depth and revelations about this subject.

What do the deaths of General Patton and JFK have to do with Nazis and UFOs? How are UFOs related to secret Nazi war research and current "black projects?" Were NASA and the CIA filled with Nazis? How are ancient history, the SS, fringe physics, South America, UFOs, Guy Bannister, Antarctica, global corporations, the Thule Society, Oswald, NASA, the Bunge corporation, and Danny Casolaro's infamous "Octopus" all connected?

Curious?

This book takes up the thread of these and related questions he began exploring in "Reich of the Black Sun," taking the reader through more of the same unpleasant terrain to some equally unpleasant conclusions. Farrell includes his usual heavy doses of science along the way.

Farrell unearths fascinating ideas and information, linking them to threads of science and history. One must read in depth to appreciate the amount of detail and knowledge presented in his books, as well as the depth of insight and perception of the author. I recommend all of Farrell's books, and this is no exception.

First, the book's contents are fascinating, and well worth reading, for the sake of the knowledge. It's a very good reference book for a magickal, arcana, or occult library collection.

That being said, the information is not easily used by anyone other than a fairly advanced and experienced practitioner of ritual magick. The rituals are complex and fiddly, and any wrong step will, according to the author, result in a useless or weak talisman.

So, it's a mixed review. Good book, interesting information, not at all practical, unfortunately. I'd say buy it if you're interested (as I am) in arcane knowledge, but unless you're a working ritual magickian, don't count on being able to actually make much use of the information it holds.

A book filled with wonderful information. However! I was a little disappointed when it only had a few chapters in the end that was solely on making these talismans. I really would have liked a more organized and systematic approach to talismans right in the first chapter. I also didn't like the way the author referred to things all around the book for example... "to do this you must go to this chapter and to do that you must go to this chapter," ehh... BUT! I am greatful because the talismans do work. I would've liked a better approach to their creation though. Hope this helps.

Gotta tell ya, if you enjoy crafting Magical items and talismans just happen to be one of them, then you'll want to get this book.

While I have been recently delving back into the pre-Rennaissance talisman making processes, I have to say I have great respect for the author of this work. Why? Well first off he's innovative. At least as for what he's penned in his book and where he obtained that knowledge, I can't say for certain. He's a member of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn (EOGD), the Society of Light (SOL) and Builders of the Adytum (BOTA). Thus he could have picked up varying levels of techniques from many sources and teachers and then again he may have invented much that is new.

One thing I highly dislike about Llewellyn authors is their need to always have to go back to the beginning. Chapter two is about "A Brief History of Talismans" - brief my eye! That lasted from page 13 all the way to page 44! Ugh! Just what everyone wants to learn, history lessons from yet "another" Llewellyn book author. Then his chapter three is "Names of Power" and we get more of that until page 60! You see, if Llewellyn wasn't worried about page count, they could trim off 36 pages!

The next chapter delves into something a little more meaty and that's "Neo-Pagan Talismans". Talk about something you just don't see everyday listed in a table of contents! And this is a terrific chapter up until Mr. Farrell get's to page 73 where he starts in with his own version of how the Gods from various pantheons line up to each of the seven major planets. Sorry folks but if you're just using it as a basis for talisman making, then fine adopt it but do NOT think that the Egyptian deity Ra equates exactly with the Greek Apollo or Norwegian Frey. This is typical new age author shoddy information giving! Each God/dess must be studied in its entirety and weighed on its own merits.

There are aspects between these three Gods that more than likely would cause them to openly war with one another should you introduce them. So just because they share a single planetary rulership does not mean they're exactly alike. If you doubt me, then do some research on your own and learn about the Gods from other non-Occult sources.

Chapter Five is weak because it's on "Angels and Talismans" and frankly most of the offered information here can be found most anywhere else in Ritual Magic literature.

Chapter Six is called "Snaring the Power of the Planets" and it too is somewhat weak. He does show you how to plot the seals of the Spirits and Intelligences of the Planets on the Magic Squares that belong to each Planetary power. If you've never seen this before, you may want to read that chapter pretty heavily. The last thing in this chapter is *yawn* Planetary Hours - again found in hundreds of other books too.

Chapters Seven and Eight are well worth your time to read. Here he gets into color and coloring thoughtforms. The section of Flashing Tablets should be read but again this information can be found in any number of other texts on Ritual Magic. Eight gets into drawing the talisman and here he really shines! He discusses shapes as well as new ideas such as layering the talisman and using the lightning bolt from the Four Worlds. Plus he offers up some traditional symbology you can make use of for your own talisman.

Finally chapter Nine is about "Consecrating the Talisman" and it's standard Ritual Magic procedure though with a couple of fine twists to it. And Chapter ten is all about how to determine if your talisman is indeed working!

The book is full of great information, but the way it was written was like a slap to the face. I'm not even sure if it was sent to an editor! So many blatant mistakes on irrelevant stuff like syntax, not to mention more serious mistakes relevant to the content. Half finished tables, redundant information... I was very insulted.

The book gets at least 4 stars for content, but because it was very incompetently presented, I can only give it a 2.

Making Talismans is a very clear well written, and well researched book. It covers an extremely difficult subject well.
Unlike many of the books on the market it does not tell you about talismans or provide you with a history. It tells you how to make your own.
Farrell's main idea is that the physical object that make's up the talisman is less important than the magical act or ritual that empowers it. This obviously creates a problem because making a talisman is really a conglomeration of different occult techniques. Normally attempting to build one would be the work of an experienced magician.
However Farrell shows that this does not need to be the case. He provides you with all the information you need to create a talisman, and then simply gives you three different empowerment rites to try.
The book is fast becoming an occult classic because it really is the first to make these techniques accessible. Also a large number of more experienced magicians, for example Donald Kraig are recommending it.
Superficially it is complex and this has put a number of people off. However no one in my group has found any problems understanding it and we are all beginners. I liked the way that pagans could use a system in their tradition and more Golden Dawn types can use theirs. This places the book into the hands of a wide range of magical practitioners from Wiccans to ceremonial types.
The main question is do the techniques work. I have seen several articles by people who have used the book. My own group also had some fairly spectacular effects with it.
Anyway I heartily recommend it for both beginners and advanced people.

Agree wholeheartedly that comparative mythology studies, current technology & astronomy, and politics share a common historical thread. As a warning, books of this genre will upset anyone who clings tightly to the TV-broadcast world view and/or strong religious beliefs promoted by hypocrites. IMHO, too many preach compassion but don't walk the talk.

That said, Farrell accurately quotes numerous other authors. Finding actual remains of giants really intrigued me and I'll have to explore that further. The physics was tough for me. Had to read outside of the book to see what the author was discussing. As a result, found another area to explore. I would have liked more about the 'tower of Babel' technology because I think it's what TV does to our minds now. Sometimes, the quotes from other authors go on too long but Farrell summarizes each chapter quite succinctly. There were a few typographical errors but I've seen worse in mainstream pubs.

Overall, of all the books I've read in this genre, Farrell presents the most convincing evidence that we are not or ever have been alone. We didn't just happen to evolve from the apes in the last 10K years. Unfortunately, physical evidence is hard to find. Mythologies can be somewhat vague but the overlapping Pantheons can't be a happy accident.

Joseph P. Farrell is man who fearlessly follows the truth wherever it leads. How much scientists and spiritual seekers could learn from his extraordinary example! If you already have your mind made up and don't want to be confused with the facts about this subject, DON'T READ THIS BOOK!

The great thing about Joseph Farrell's books are that aside from being interesting reads, they always challenge what you might term "conventional history", and thus regardless of whether you agree with him or not they always make you reconsider what previously you might have taken for granted to be fact. This book is certainly no exception to that.
I have mixed feelings about the book. On the negative side, some of the theories written by other researchers that Farrell uses to support his central theory of an ancient war in the solar system are not very credible, and also he rejects certain other researchers theories, but then actually uses them as supporting evidence.
For instance in the 3rd chapter of part 1, he discusses the work of Alan Alford who by the way believes that behind virtually all religions and philosophies "...there lies a single secret of stunning simplicity- the age-old myth of exploded planet." In my view Farrell rightfully rejects that theory, but then he goes on to use a slightly modified version of a formula Alford came up with in interpreting the ancient texts to back up his own theory. Where Alford equates the words Mountains = Planets = Gods , Farrell changes this to Mountains being closely associated with but not identical to Planets to Gods, and then proceeds to use that formula when he examines some of the ancient texts. Likewise with Zechariah Sitchin, where he rejects Sitchins theory that the theft of the Tablets of Destinies shut down communications between spaceports on Earth and another planet, but then goes on to use Sitchins theory as supporting evidence that as a result of the theft, there was a loss of communications between some of the Gods on Earth and elsewhere.
On the plus side, part 3 where he looks at external evidence of a war on other planets and moons in the solar system was really interesting, and I couldn't put the book down until I'd read the whole part.
In addition the chapter on plasma cosmology was certainly intriguing, and I think there might be something to it.
The section on what kind of weapons systems that could have been used in the war was not exactly easy going as he writes about some pretty advanced stuff like optical phase conjugation and how it might possibly be used to create some type of planetary or star-busting weapon. However it's certainly an important factor to consider, and after doing a little background reading, I was able to roughly understand the basic concepts, and to see how this kind of technology could potentially have been applied in the scenario described, and he does a pretty good job of interpreting some of the ancient texts along these lines.
Overall I wouldn't say the book is exactly convincing but Farrell himself admits that it is "highly speculative," and considering the limited evidence that is currently available to us I think he's done well in at least showing the cosmic war hypothesis to be a possibility.
Incidentally when the architect of the modern atomic bomb, Robert Oppenheimer was asked "how do you feel after having exploded the first atomic bomb on earth" he replied "not first atomic bomb, but first atomic bomb in modern times." Makes you wonder.

I've been reading this book for awhile now I have to say the author says a great deal but what he writes is empty. Many passages with references to ancient texts and myths and yet for a volume filled with speculation about cosmic war and epic battles, it fails to spark my interest, like opening a box of tastey cookies only to find they are horribly stale.

In this book, Farrell turns his considerable investigative talents to the problem of the Cosmic War in ancient texts, and what impact it had on our planet and history.

He approaches the subject with his usual depth of detail, meticulous methods, and logic. He examines ancient myths and legends from many lands in connection with current knowledge of space science and physics, in the context of his previous books and research into the pyramids, the Exploded Planet hypothesis, and advanced alternative physics. He investigates anomalies on Mars, our Moon (and other moons and planets), revelations from research into hidden aspects of the space program, and other related topics.

This book is rich with research and citations, as are all his books, and he makes a strong case for his hypothesis that there was once a great war in our solar system, and our planet and ancient myths and legends preserve the story of that time (albeit in a confusing, severely degraded and distorted form). Our understanding of our history, and even who we are, is greatly changed by this knowledge.

It is a fascinating read, full of interesting information, well cited as usual for Farrell. Although not my favorite of his books, it is filled with tremendous insight and is very much worth having.

I recommend all of Farrell's books.

Doug Farrell's first book of his "Lunarcentric Trilogy" is an amazing accomplishment, rich multi-layered characters and an original, intelligent plot with many twists and turns (a true treat for those of you who get bored by the same old plot twists).
Wonderful, complex, and genuine relationships between humans who interact with magical creatures, and ugly, vile beings whose goals is nothing short of controlling the world. This enchanting storyline will definitely capture your imagination - worth every minute, I can't wait for the book two!

Reading this has only left me wondering, when will the movie come out?

I loved this book. When I saw it on Amazon I was attracted to the cover and was intrigued by the description "A Fairy-Tale for Grown-ups". I was not disappointed! Mr. Farrell has an easy to read, smart writing style and great sense of humor. There is a message there too - alluding to some of the problems we face in society today. It made me think, and I enjoyed the challenge and the complex interplay of relationships. The book is a fun read while at the same time being symbolic and serious. I couldn't put it down! Looking forward to the next books in the Trilogy.

Review by Steve

GLAMOUR JOB: A FAIRY-TALE FOR GROWN-UPS by Doug Farrell, is part sci-fi and part fantasy. It has smart evil aliens with their half-human offspring attempting to take control of the earth, good aliens helping the few humans who are aware of the plot, and of course, advanced alien technology and time travel - and all of this taking place in Chicago in the late 1990s.

Where's the fantasy? Well, the evil aliens are goblins, who were banished from earth to one of the other seven planets linked by our moon (different dimensions) by a trick from Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The good aliens are fairies and a gnome. Demigods, dragons, an ancient race without eyes know as the Observers, and Celtic mythology round out the fantasy part.

Farrell uses a conversational and humorous tone in his writing and weaves the history of goblins with mythology to make this a very plausible world. As with any good sci-fi and fantasy, there is social commentary. Farrell comments on the world of fashion and its effects on women and our entire culture.

GLAMOUR JOB is a fun, fast paced, and very enjoyable story. It has many twists and turns, and since it is for adults, there is sex and violence, but in a light tone. I do not ever remember reading anything quite like this. The mixture of ghost and goblins with sci-fi make this plausible and holds well together. I highly recommend this book to any sci-fi and fantasy readers. This book definitely gets a 5/5 star rating on my book-o-meter scale.

Don't look to the back cover of this book to tell you about the book, because frankly it is simply a few paragraphs from late in the story. Here's the story: Young model discovers a plot by goblins to take over the world. Interesting idea, but how well does Doug Farrell's "Glamour Job" fare?

The subtitle suggests that is a "fairy-tale for grown-ups." It may be sort of a fairy-tale, though I'd classify it more as simply fiction with some fantastic qualities. Set in the modern world, our heroine Laurie is a fashion/make-up model who has a recent divorce and a well-paying job to deal with on a daily basis. However, the company that employs her, called Glamourine, is secretly being controlled by goblins who have been plotting to undermine the human sense of attractiveness so they can infiltrate and control the world. Farrell uses this premise to make several interesting comments about society and the role of business in creating new markets for their products.

The novel has some adult content such as language and sex, neither very explicit or extreme. This is not a book whose erotic encounters are going to turn most people on. The sex is purposelynonexplicit, infrequent, and frankly very shallow. Again I think this may be Farrell's commentary on the nature of relationships and the casualness of sex, but it certainly is not as clear as his "business manipulates the consumer" message.

The dialogue and actions are absurd, and I think the ideal audience for this book are those who love to read silly, extreme modern fantasies. I'm not personally into that genre myself, but I say that I think this book would be a good read for someone who really likes those types of stories.

One thing I tend to notice in self-published novels is editing. Laurie Morgan's story captured me so completely that I almost completely forgot about paying attention to the editing. That must mean the editing was reasonably good, or the story was really interesting, or both.

Laurie Morgan is a beautiful young woman who is enjoying her life as a model in Chicago. Well, she was enjoying her life as a model, until she found out about Barbette. Well, actually she found out about the goblins first, but no need to make life complicated. Then again, I guess Barbette was actually a goblin...oh, never mind.

Anyway, Laurie had a reasonably perfect life. There was the divorce, but that should have made her happy. Shortly after the divorce she was having lunch with a friend when she noticed someone with her face at an adjacent table. The resemblance was more than uncanny. After a little investigating, Laurie and ex-husband Nick end up in the sleazy Palace Theater, where Barbette is performing for a crowd of overly admiring men.

After the performance ends, Laurie and Nick head back stage to meet Barbette. After avoiding security and then having Barbette avoid them, Nick and Laurie discover a secret passage that leads them into a fairy-tale nightmare. Nick and Laurie discover that our world hides another world filled with fairy tale creatures. Unfortunately, many of these creatures, especially the goblins, are essentially evil. Also unfortunately, Laurie is important to their plan.

Laurie, Nick, and sundry relatives and friends are soon on a roller coaster ride to adventure that may lead to some friends dying. Certainly some will be hurt. Laurie will find herself changed in ways that I was unable to imagine at the beginning of this book. Author Farrell wrote a complex novel that has many facets and can be a challenge to follow, so be prepared to keep track of who is who and what is what for maximum enjoyment.

I should also point out that the description on the cover of the book is accurate. This book is a fairy-tale for grownups. This charming little tale speaks of goblin excretion, always a charming subject, along with the sexual appetites of goblins and a number of the people in the novel. Then there is the violence, which is frequent and inventive. If this novel was a movie, I would rate it R.

I enjoy a novel that challenges me to think, and this one certainly does that. The author managed to challenge me with a complex plot that kept pulling me along, wondering where he would lead to next. Others have tried to place mythological creatures in a modern setting, but few have done it as well as Doug Farrell has. If you wonder where someone puts hundreds of over-sexed goblins in Chicago, I recommend you give this novel a spin.

Note that this novel is the first book in a planned series. I look forward to finding out what happens next.

Enjoy!

I was provided a review copy of this book by the author.

I class Red, Red Rose (RRR) as one of the small but growing group of historical romances that work in a subtler, quieter fashion than the historicals of the 80s and 90s, but that nonetheless work, and work well.

The writing is streamlined, with a large amount of dialogue and very little description; we do not even know what hair color the female protagonist has until about halfway through the novel (although we are told, several times more than necessary, how unusually tall she is). Ferrell mostly avoids the unwieldy dialogue tags and adverbs overused by new writers, but I think she or her editors have gone a little too far in trying to "show, not tell;" the matter-of-fact writing is just this side of "spare." Because so much else in the novel works, and because you WILL eventually grow attached to the characters and their struggles, I will describe Ferrell's style as "emotionally understated" and predict that you will be surprised at how effective it is.

Instead of an aggressively self-confident "alpha" male protagonist, Ferrell gives us what some commentators have called a "beta" hero, a man of good nature and even temper, sometimes with low social standing. Our heroine is not "fiery" in the least, nor is she beautiful; in fact, she is several times described as plain, and may put you in mind of a rather wittier and more charmingly direct version of Jane Austen's Ann Elliot (Persuasion). These two quiet people are unconventional in their own ways; Val is a ba_stard son with low social status, and Elspeth has grown up in military camps with her mother and officer father. Neither is likely to make any marriage at all, much less a good one.

Although many romances are told with a sort of split Point of View, alternating back and forth, often in chapters, between the hero's and the heroine's, I'd say about 80% of RRR is told from the male lead's POV. In fact, there is a very lengthy prologue--about 45 pages--that delves into Val's boyhood and troubled history. One of the surprising things about RRR, and perhaps one of its weaknesses, is that Elspeth is not fully formed as a character for the reader until the last 1/3 of the novel. On the other hand, this may be a boon to people who prefer a more realistic POV; in real life, we rarely get to peek into the psyches of more than one person. And Val is certainly a well-drawn character with whom the reader empathizes.

Quite a few historical romances are heavy on the history, including war, and educate the reader rather well. But RRR, with its Napoleonic/Iberian military situation, is a bit heavier on the war strategy than many novels. I'd say at least half of the book is taken up with scenes of strategy, reconnaissance, and the aftermath of battles, though combat is never described; there is very little violence depicted "on-stage." These are, for the most part, interesting, unless you dislike military stories of any kind.

The relationship between the two leads develops slowly, and without much fanfare. Although there is a dramatic meeting, there is little of the witty banter, flaring tempers, and vocal show-downs that characterize courtships between an alpha male and alpha female lead. Val is drawn to Elspeth for reasons one might expect of a beta hero: he is not turned on by challenge or conflict, but by the heroine's thoughtfulness, consideration, and forthright but always gracious manner. The romance does not really take center stage until about the last 1/3 of the novel, but when it does, it is quietly poignant, and very believably rendered. (Well, I'll say it is believably rendered but for the way in which the couple's marriage comes about--that part is a bit hurried and contrived.)

I will also add that there is a plotline involving a homosexual character's struggles, as well as a realistic and disturbing look at the gentry's abuse of those lower in the pecking order. There is an uncomfortable scene of child abuse. All are tastefully and matter-of-factly presented.

So, is RRR for you? If you do not care for books in which the historical/military doings are front and center, in which the hero and heroine are quiet and of relatively humble social status, or in which the romance develops in an understated and subtle fashion, then you may want to pick up one of the better-selling Regencies flooding the market today. But if you are looking for an unusually slow-"blooming" romance that is well-told, please consider RRR. It rewards the patient reader, and the thoughtful one.

extremely uninteresting. Oh, how I hate to be in the minority on this review page, but I read through the book in a constant state of "what the heck?" There was no romance in this story. It was a military saga. And the main couple had absolutely no time on the page together until 3/4's of the way through the book. And don't even get me started on the loss of her virginity in such an unexpected manner. Like I said, "what the heck?" Maybe that should have been the title because there were no roses present.

A delightful book with believable characters (versus beautiful Hollywood movie characters), who have flaws and all-too-human reactions to challenging circumstances. At times humorous, and often poignant, the heart of this book is in relationships--Val's & Elspeth's journey to love, Elspeth's closeness with her parents, and Val's struggle to get past his childhood hardships and learn to love his legitimate brother Charlie and his friend James, and to respect his father. I have reread this book several times over the years, and it is never disappointing.

I was quite shocked to discover that this amazing book was given one star by not one, but two readers. While I value your opinions, I simply cannot understand how you could dislike a novel as tender and moving as this.

I am a seasoned reader of romances myself, and am quite picky when it comes to choosing my reading material. (You can't get more classy than paperback romances, can you? lol :^) I was wary when I first saw the title, thinking the writing would not do justice to Robert Burn's poem.

I was sorely mistaken. This was the first book that moved me to tears. Yes, corny, I know, but true nonetheless. And no, I did not cry of boredom because I couldn't bear to turn another page. I cried because I was so deeply attached to the characters.

(If you really want a book that will put you to sleep, try Les Miserables. Just kidding. But it's soo long! And to think I got through it. lol.)

I would also recommend The Odyssey, Our Town, and The Once and Future King as great bedtime reading. :^)

But seriously, this book is most definitely worth your while. I've read it about a million times (yes, I know I have no life. That's why I'm sitting here writing this review...)and each time felt like the first time I was reading it.

(Again, not because it was so forgettable, but because it was so amazing and piqued my interest time and time again.)

I really hope you read and enjoy this book, if only to prove that my review was correct. :^) best wishes

I see that this book has had mixed comments but, for me, this was one of the best books I have read this year or, indeed, any year. It fulfilled all of my personal criteria: well researched, beautifully written, strong, adult characters and a solid story line. In addition, the author addressed some really difficult issues and handled them superbly well.

The story is of Valentine Aston, the bastard son of an earl who, following the death of his beloved mother, is taken to live with relations and then brought up in rough circumstances. However, he is taken out of this environment when his half brother Charlie (the earl's legitimate heir) seeks him out and he is sent to a rather typical English public (eg private) school. It is here that the future circumstances of his life are set in motion and also where he meets, as a teenager, the boys who will have a large role in his adult life. It is at this point that Marjorie Farrell is to be highly congratulated. For, she has portrayed the naive and not so naive homosexuality that has for centuries been part of the English single sex public school system. She has done this sympathetically and very realistically. She has far exceeded the efforts of Emma Holly here in portraying sympathetically a homosexual man in another time frame - something most authors would never attempt and could probably never get "right". The Marquess of Wimborne is a lovely man and the friendship between him and Val, despite their differences, is exquistely portrayed. Lord Stanton, a sadistic man, probably bisexual is also well done and the conflicts the three deal with in the novel are wonderfully drawn.

The other fundamental male relationships in this book are also outstanding. Val and his father have their ups and downs but Val is eventually reconciled to him and finds out that the relationship between his mother and her lover was not at all what he had expected. Val and his brother Charlie enjoy a close relationship and the nature of the loving and close brotherhood they develop is moving and poignant.

The story is set in a military background - Wellington's forays in Portugal in 1810 against Napoleon's army. I adore stories with a military setting and know enough about this particular period to know when an author has done her research. I think that Bernard Cornwell of the Sharpe stories (she mentions these in her preface) would admire the quality of her evocation of this thrilling time. Indeed, I recall an academic comment I read some years ago that the best fictionalised account of the battle of Waterloo was "An Infamous Army" by Georgette Heyer. So, women can write this sort of thing well and some of us like reading it too! The author gets the tone right, the descriptions right and the social setting correct. In this book we have an enlisted man made up to an officer and unlike Deborah Hale's book dealing with this, Ms Farrell has excelled in getting the social and cultural problems dealing with this on target. Excellent stuff!

The heroine, Elspeth comes from a family where the women follow the drum. She is excellent; she is adult, strong and perfect for the hero and her parents add greatly to the tale. The story is not rushed, the author takes the time to develop it and her characters. Indeed, I wanted it to go on further - I could happily follow them over several books as I did with Richard Sharpe.

I understand that Val and Elspeth reappear in Jack of Hearts. I have obtained a copy and look forward to reading it. I rate Marjorie Farrell's work very highly - I have read several of her books now. If you want an intelligent read with strong characters behaving like adults, set accurately in their time frame, then I cannot recommend her highly enough. Do read this book. Please consider what I have said against the other comments here; this book is a real keeper.

What I found great about this book was the fact that Ludlum captured every characters perspective on the current situation. The action was non-stop, the twists were great, and the ending was fantastic. I recommend this book fully.

I have read everyone of Ludlum's books and it is a disgrace that this book has his name attached to it. I struggled through the first hundred pages waiting for something well written and interesting. It never happened. I don't quit many books before they are finished, but I just couldn't stand this any more.

Like all the other books in this series, good adventure without a let up. You get right into the action and it doesn't stop.

So far I am pleased with the book. If you are Ludlum fan, you'll enjoy it.

The lead villain in the Lazarus Vendetta is a mad scientist aptly named Lazarus leading a small army of equally mad mercenaries and equally mad subordinate scientists on a path to world domination and mass international genocide. On the other side of the fence, attempting to thwart this dastardly plan, is an American specials ops doctor named Jon Smith and a sly old British secret service agent named Peter Howell who soon discover that rogue FBI and CIA teams are also up to no good. Smith and Howell dash from one side of the globe to the other, battling wave after wave of enemy forces and all sorts of nasty weapons including bioengineered invisible nanobots which turn humans into gobs of slime, as they race against the clock to save the world. If the star roles were switched in this story and the American Jon Smith became British MI6 Peter Howell this could easily be a 007 novel. Yes the villains are that hokey. Still, the Lazarus Vendetta is a fast-paced ride, descriptive, topical, and author Patrick Larkin has definitely proved himself gifted with the pen.

You cannot learn to speak Spanish with this book, but you can use the material to enhance the single most powerful tool you have to learn a new language: translating back and forth with your mother tongue. When the authors call this "side-by-side" they aint kiddn. It 'must have been' (subjunctive tense might be easily redeemed to certitude with a quick telephone interview of said authors) tuf to create such a discliplined structure--left page reveals the grammar of English, the right page the corresponding grammar of Spanish. Thus, there's no shuffling around the book for comparisons; it's, uh, side by side, including a brief history of both languages (which, BTW, doesn't quite do justice to the happenstance confluences that have made English so chokingly bloated with polyglottal effluence.

Like the title suggests, this book is a great way to start off learning the Spanish language, best supplemented with classes or something of