Ferguson Books

I used this book to plan my golf trip to Scotland for my brother and I, along with help directly from Mr. Ferguson himself. You really need to read this book over and over again to reap the full benfit of all the info in here. He covers so much important information. I planned my own unique trip, choosing golf courses and places to stay, plus rental car and when to go and what to bring. Our trip came off with no problems, all tee times, rooms, travel, directions, etc were all right on target. We even met other golfers who were using the book as well. I know we saved money using this book as apposed to going through a agancy. I will be using his service again on my next trip as well.

Take some good advice from a guy (Ferguson) who has been there and done that. Very easy reading with some greats tips for planning your trip. You'll pay for the book just by following his car rental recommendation.

You can scroll down to other reviews of this book, I would simply be repeating the praises that others have for this golf/travel guide.

I devoured this book in almost one sittting. The advice is sincere, genuine and as helpful as travel advice gets.

There is no mystery why everyone has rated this book five stars: it IS that good.

I am planning a trip to Scotland in 2009 for our regular foursome. With this book I have a good idea what our group needs to decide on before we go.

(E.g., Is playing at St. Andrews the major reason for our trip? Do we want to stay in a hotel/a B&B/a self-catering location? Do we want to stay in St. Andrews town itself or are we willing to pack up and re-locate to other locations? Do we want to spend $350 to play one fantastic course or 4 lesser-known links?)

This book is practical and I recommend it WITHOUT any reservation!

I have been to Scotland with tour operator, but this book is excellent if you want to save money and plan the trip yourself. Great review of golf courses and good ideas of lodging and traveling. Highly recommended. If you can find a better book, let me know.

Another great book I got my boyfriend who is going to Scotland and going to check out some of these courses

If you are a parent looking for a great series of books to engage your kids and inspire them to read, then look no further than the anybodies series.

THe Anybodies not only makes you want to read the the other books in the series, but it is filled with references to other children's classics, which are obviously meant to inspire your children to continue reading.

The Anybodies is my second favorite book. I love the story. I also like how it relates to the outside world. This story is about a girl named Fern who gets switched at birth, and now she has to live with the VERY BORING Mr. and Mrs. Drudger. Then some people that she has never seen before (or has she?) come to her house and she finds out from them that she is an Anybody. What is an Anybody? Well, you've got to read the book to find out!!!

The theme of this book (and its excellent sequels the Nobodies and the Somebodies) is that nothing is what it seems and that everything can change. This is such a powerful message for kids, who tend to look at the world so literally and so in the present. Very unusual. Very well-written. Great read.

This was a great book. I recommend it. I liked this book because it was full of adventure. I think it was one of my favorites and I would think other people would like this book. I am 10 years old I think people of all ages would like this book.

It's true! Everyday after lunch, I read to my 3rd graders. We have a short window of time before going to recess. One of my students bought the book "The Anybodies" for me from our school book fair (I had hinted for it).

Even in the first day of reading, they were hooked. Did I mention I only have a short time to read? Fifteen minutes to be exact. The class was hooked. By the end of the first week, the classroom clock would be pointing to 12:30...recess time, but none of my students budged. None reminded me of the time. I had to stop reading, but they wanted to hear more.

Ok, N.E. Bode, whoever you are, what kind of magical literary genius can spin a tale so mesmerizing that even 8 yr olds deny themselves the frivolity of recess in order to hear "what happens next"?

When the last day of reading "The Anybodies" rolled around, the kids were downtrodden to say the least. What to do now? So, on to trusty Amazon.com. What on earth is there to read following that addicting novel? AHA!

Yes, N.E. Bode, we're reading "The Nobodies" and, yes, we're hooked again. See a review for that book in a few short weeks. You have made fans and friends of us all! What does that old writing professor of yours know anyway?

This series of Sisters Grimm books by Michael Buckley has characters familiar to adult readers and to many kids, too. The characters come from fairy tales and from other children's literature, with this author's own spin on them. The books are as entertaining for an adult to read as for a child. My nine year-old and I both read them very quickly and did not want to put them down.
We also enjoyed the Harry Potter series, but after reading these books find the Potter books to be much longer and wordier than these. These are quick reads, yet have a lot of action in few pages. We definitely recommend them.

The second book in this thrilling fantasy series introducing Sabrina and Daphne's school, filled with strange mysteries. Tantilizing secrets about characters are revealed, an evil plot is discovered, and Sabrina and Daphne, as the fairy tale detectives, must find out what's going on! This fast-moving, magical, epic tale will keep you on the edge of your seat!

The Sisters Grimm series is an awesome series. When my mother first told me about it and I saw it, I thought it wouldn't be that cool so I didn't buy it. But then I got it from one of my friends and I read it and it was AWESOME! That immediately made me want to read the second book, so when me and mommie went to the bookstore and I saw the second book there, I really wanted to get it. Now that I got it and read it, I immediately want to read the third book.

I really liked how surprising it was when it seemed like some of the people at first I thought were going to be the bad guys turned out to be the good guys, and some of the good guys I liked turned out to be bad guys. An example was Principle Hamelin, when we thought he was helping Rumplestiltskin but then it turned out that Rumpelstiltskin tricked him, so Principle Hamelin became good again.

My girls, 8 and 10, thoroughly enjoyed this book. They are always begging for 'just a little bit more' every time we have to put the book down. They love making the connections to the fairy tale characters that they are familiar with from other stories.

I've enjoyed reading "The Sisters Grimm", and recommend it.
I particularly appreciate the "Wizard of Oz" references.

One section had me laughing out loud, an unusual occurance (outside of a Stephanie Plum novel). Even today, two weeks later, I still smile thinking about it. Without revealing anything, I'll just refer to the ink "drawing".
...get the series, and read it!

In the world of poker literature, no limit hold em advice dries up and becomes useless pretty quickly these days. One year after its release, this underrated and underread book still holds advice that has yet to find its way into most tournaments. Almost every chapter regarding NLHE offers insights into the game that blows almost everything else away. Dare I say it, I think it even makes HOH begin to look dated.

Andy Bloch's chapter on preflop play is worthy of its own 5-star-rated book (even if I disagree with some of his advice, such as reraising with middle pairs while in position). Lederer's chapter on leverage is knowledge only a miniscule percentage of your opponents will be even vaguely aware of. Chris Ferguson's chapter on bet sizes is all you'll ever need to know about that subject. Gavin Smith's chapter on LAG play is a must-read for both the player wanting to learn to play that dangerous style, or for the TAG wanting to understand his loose-aggressive opponent.

In addition, there are great chapters on other poker games such as Omaha, Stud, and Razz (the Razz chapter being my personal fave). I honestly don't think there is a better tournament book out there. I also honestly hope it continues to fly under the radar for at least another year.

Brilliant all round book, which I've learnt and gained much more poker knowledge from. Im not one for reading books but I couldn't put this one down!

My order came promptly and it is a very good book to get some tips from

As an avid poker player (I play at least 5 hours a week) who makes decent money, I was looking forward to this edition. The problem with books these days is that there isn't much new material out there. Doyle wrote his supersystem which laid the groundwork for aggressive play which wasn't the norm back in the day. Then Harrington came out with his three volumes which are the definitive go-to for all no-limit holdem play.

If you want the best no-limit holdem book out there, then this probably isn't your book. The Harrington books trump this book by a long shot. However, if you're looking for a one-stop-shop for the other games then this is the answer. The only section that I felt was subpar was the section on Razz which gave very subpar advice, data, or basic strategy. The stud sections are excellent and lay very good groundwork for both cash and tournament play.

So...if you're only going to stick with NL holdem, then go with the Harrington books...if you're looking for a little bit of everything, then i highly recommend this book.

This is a true gem in the wacky world of poker books. After Sklanski & Malmuth, Super System I/II, and the Harrington trilogy, there are very few poker books that actually offer original content or any new insights into the game of poker. True, Bill Chen's "The Mathematics of Poker" offers both - to some extent - but in a format that is better suited for someone working on dissertation research more than for someone looking to get an edge at a poker table. The value of this particular book comes from the differing perspectives of the authors. Gavin Smith, Howard Lederer, and Chris Ferguson (just to name a few) have disparate playing styles and it is reflected in the portions of the book they write. Some go as so far as to implore the reader to ignore some of the advice from the earlier authors. While Ferguson doesn't care for flat calling raises, Gavin Smith loves it, and both explain the reasons why. Ted Forest goes as so far as telling the reader to ignore his advice in the aptly titled "Don't Play like Ted Forest" chapter.

If you are considering buying this book, there's a good chance you know about position play, starting hands, and most other basics. What I loved most about this book is the fact that these pros tell the reader how they play, not how a hand should be played. Due deference is given to Sklanski and Malmuth, but the advice doled out is original and unique. It's refreshing to read how differently two pros would play the same hand and their explanations for doing so.

The only weak point in the book is the discussion about online poker is not as in depth as one would expect (or in my case, hope) in a "Full Tilt" title.

I would strongly recommend this book over most any other in the soup of modern poker books.

Fabulous book! The detail of the dead man floating with maggots crawling under his skin.....I could actually see it. I really enjoyed every page of this great story. I loved the autopsy. I was proud of Cameryn for asking about the odor and the skin color after the Dr. tried to intimidate her to silence. Can't wait to start the second book.

This book reminded me a lot of Nancy Drew, but ten times better. The story takes place in the small town of Silverton, Colorado. Cameryn Mahoney is the daughter of the town's coroner, and wishes to follow in her father's footsteps. She finally convinces him to allow her on as his assistant and soon enough a dead body is found in the mountains.
Cameryn misses nothing, taking into account even the smallest details that in the bigger picture don't quite add up for her. Who is the malicious Christopher Killer? Could it be one of her friends? Cameryn's determined to find the killer and her fortitude leads to a suspenseful ending.
This book doesn't skim on the forensics; Alane Ferguson makes the science real. You can tell she's done her research. A must read for those who love mystery and suspense.

The Christopher Killer by Alane Ferguson is a well-written and logical science vs. pseudoscience mystery whose heroine is a female high school "nerd" who wants to be a forensic pathologist. The story has a lot of colorful western small town personalities, along with a serial killer to keep the plot moving. Much of the plot interaction is among high school students, which should make this book especially suitable for teen readers --- especially girls. No "saucy stuff", just a good mystery read!

Silverton Colorado is the scene of Alane Ferguson's new forensic mystery series for young adult readers. When a young woman is found murdered, Cameryn Mahoney joins her father, the local coroner, in the search for the killer. From autopsy to investigation, Cameryn comes closer to the case than she bargained for. Once again, Ferguson has written a well-researched thriller that seems more fact than fiction. Even the most reluctant reader will be caught up in the intrigue and suspense of Cameryn's involvement in her father's work. The Christopher Killer is the first in this series and is highly recommended for the young adult library collection.

In the quiet, small town of Silverton, Colorado, eighteen-year-old Cameryn Mahoney is planning to follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in forensic pathology. Her dad, the unassuming yet efficient Pat Mahoney, is the local county coroner, and Cameryn is determined to follow his lead--much to the chagrin and near-disgust of her Mammaw. Cameryn's grandmother is convinced that her "love" of death and dying, and her insistence on not becoming a "real" doctor, along with her inability to cook, will lead her down the wrong path.

But Cameryn is determined, and she's also thrilled when she finally talks her dad into letting her assist him. After all, sure, the county coroner does deal with death occasionally, but they haven't had an actual murder in decades, so her father figures there can't be any harm in letting his daughter tag along to scenes or assist with autopsies. Unfortunately, he was wrong.

There has been a murder in this sleepy Rocky Mountain town. And it's not just the murder of a stranger, but Cameryn's friend, Rachel Geller. Added to that is the fact that it's not a random murder, but seems to be part of a serial killer's spree. The murderer always leaves a St. Christopher medal on the victim's body, thus earning him the moniker The Christopher Killer. As Cameryn sets out to assist her father, she suddenly finds herself drawn into a murder investigation. As the police in this small town search for clues as to who may have murdered the lovely Rachel, Cameryn is determined to start putting her knowledge of forensics to good use.

This is a great book, similar to the style and stories of the television show CSI. If you're interested in forensics or just like watching the process on television, you're going to thoroughly enjoy the mystery that is THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER. Not to mention the fact that this is just the beginning of a new series, so there will be more books starring Cameryn down the road! The other great thing about the book, besides its excellent characters, dialogue, and storyline, is the fact that even though it's a mystery that deals with murder, it's a good fit even for middle-school readers. You won't go wrong picking up a copy of this first book in the FORENSIC MYSTERY series!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

what would your life be like if you didn't have money problem ??..hmm...if you are ready to find out GET this tool book and you will see for yourself. Your whole life can change with Access Energy Transformation tools and I have to say, that's what happend to me. YES..yes ..yes...wow.....more ease more joy more money .... How does it get any better than this ? I am so GRATEFUL to Gary Gouglas and Dain Heer for sharing these amazing tools that opened infinite possibilities for my life. THANK YOU !!!!!

It's an easy read. The tools work. Honoring myself instead of my expenditures. Living in the question. Access Energy Transformation continues to change my life. "How does it get any better than this?"

I used to think you had to work hard for money. It took this book - "Money isn't the problem, you are" to show me how to change all that. Now I realise that if I don't make money significant it can find it's way into my life from any direction. I read this book all the time, open it to a page and practise using the "tools" of that page for the day. For example - if you say "I don't want money" - you are telling the universe that you don't lack of money! So if you say "I don't want money" a few times a day - the universe will say - "Oh, you don't lack of money!" - and give you more!! Now that tool alone can bring you lots of money. I taught that to my friend who is a Real Estate Sales Agent (a realtor you guys call them in the US) and she says it all the time when she is working with people - you don't say it out loud dilly! You say it in your head - and the vibration of that goes out, and people around you pick it up - and perceive that you don't lack of money. And, along with other tools that she is using from the Money book, she has become one of the top selling agents in her company. (No 1 for one month, and at present No 3, out of about 20 agents!)
There are many tools in this book, and they are so easy to put into practise, you don't have to be clever! You just have to use them! How does it get even better than this?
I have recommended this book to many of my friends in New Zealand, and they are so grateful. "Wow, this book is making such a difference. I never knew before, that you could ask for money" and things like that. If you would like to change your perspective on money, and also, many other things in your life - you may like to consider the possiblity of reading this book for yourself. I would give it a 1000 star rating if there was such a thing.

I've worked with lots of modalities for transformation, and nothing else works like Access Energy Transformation. It could not have originated from this world. I use it constantly, and have seen many people clear many problems physically, mentally, and spiritually. People are constantly asking about Access.

Gary Douglas and Dain Heer are straight shooters. Every single word they wrote in this amazing book makes so much sense. The tools they share facilitate us each minute of the day and of the night... Yes, even while we are sleeping, the tools get to kick in to shift our universe. During the Internet bubble years, my wife and I have created massive amounts of money. Still, without engaging into outrageous expenses, the money was keeping on going away at an alarming rate. This book opened our eyes on a key element: we were not willing to receive it all. What does this mean? Any parts of us, of our life or of our environment we were not willing to receive entirely triggered, somewhere, an unwillingness to receive money. We were earning it through our corporate positions and our investments yet, we were not willing to receive so much more, thus explaining those "unexplainable" cash outflows...
Thank you Gary Douglas and Dain Heer for showing us that something else exists. We have so much gratitude for you.

J.C. Ryle warns the reader in a compelling way to flee worldly temptations and sinful lusts and to meditate on things above. He shows that only godly living brings true contentment in life.

I wish someone had went through this exhortation with me back in my teens or early twenties. This is a must read for every young man and even for middle aged and older men. This is the kinda talk a father would have with a son, and Ryle is very easy to read and understand, yet the wisdom he passes on is crucial and very important for all men. This is a straight forward heart to heart talk about what really matters in life. Thank you J.C. Ryle.

I bought this for my son, I read it first and have greatly enjoyed this read. It is still a message for young men of today. I would highly reccommend.

Great conservative ideas for keeping young men pure. Though written quite awhile ago, the ideas are really timeless.

J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) was the first Bishop of Liverpool (Anglican Church). This book is a short yet passionate plea of a man in the latter years of life who was no doubt qualified to address young men. Page after page one finds that this booklet is full of truths that are no less relevant today than as when they were written more than a hundred years ago.

The books is divided into four sections with a conclusion. In section one, Ryle begins with reasons for his exhorting young men. In section two, he then focuses on five specific dangers which young men to be warned of (e.g. pride, the love of pleasure, the fear of man's opinions, etc.). In section three, he outlines some general suggestions which he entreats young men to receive and then in section four he lays down some practical specific "rules of conduct" which he strongly advises young men to follow. Ryle then concludes with the results of heeding such exhortations as he has laid out.

I read this book on a bus ride to the mall . . . and I'm so grateful that I did. In the preface to the book, J.C. Ryle wrote this:

"I am growing old myself, but there are few things I remember so well as the days of my youth. I have a most distinct recollection of the joys and the sorrows, the hopes and the fears, the temptations and the difficulties, the mistaken judgments and the misplaced affections, the errors and the aspirations, which surround and accompany a young man's life. If I can only say something to keep some young man in the right way, and preserve him from faults and sins, which may mar his prospects both for time and eternity, I shall be very thankful" (p.5).

Well J.C., you did your job with me--thanks. While I know men such as him are not popular nowadays, I cannot do justice to my own conscience if I do not say that his exhortations are more practical and timely than many of today's most popular authors.

I have had this book for years and always go back and find something new in it. It's just a wonderful read and contains wonderful reminders on how to be the best you. I HIGHLY recommend it!

A must buy for anyone who believes in persistence and hard work.

The Edge took me from a average school boy rugby union player to a professional player who represented 2 countries( Scotland - the land of my birth and South Africa - the country who taught me to play rugby.) In business and sport it is a roller coaster ride and The Edge motivated me to remain positive and always keep the fire of desire burning inside. Today I use what the book taught me to motivate young rugby players at club, provincial and international level. I have also named my software company The Edge. This is a must if you wish to succeed in life.

Ths is one of the most influencial books in my life. It took me from a high school nobody, to a college somebody. It is a book that can help any person suceed in life, and to know the right way to do it. This book should be in everyone'e library. You can even read a quote every day and try to incorporate in that day. The edge is a true success book.

If you coach, manage, or supervise anyone, this is a must have. Whether for work or play, this book is the "Bible" of motivation. I'm an area branch manager for the worlds largest employer. What else is there to say? Buy this book! Place your order now because finding copies of it is very hard. This is truely, bar none, the first book anyone who is responsible for mentoring someone should have.

This is one awesome book. It really helps the reader let go of unwanted body fat for good so that it doesn't come back again.

OK, how many diet books can we possibly take in this country?? You can pretty much do away with 90% of them, the only thing they offer is "eating plans" that you won't follow for more than 1 week and while you do you feel like it is torture.

This book is about reversing that mentality taking responsibility for your eating habits, but not having a "plan" where certain foods are off limits, because those are always doomed and leaving you feeling the urge to "be bad" and have a cookie. This book talks about changing your mentality from "I can't have" to "I don't want to have".....

Great book, I never review books, lots of personal examples make this interesting and the writers are very knowledgeable and
honest. Will change the way you look at carbs, fat, calories and exercise.

Finally a book that empowers the reader with the knowledge and tools for creating health, instead of blindly following another 6 or 12 week program. I appreciate the fact that the authors of "Fat That Doesn't Come Back" acknowledge the intelligence of the reader. This book gives straight answers without sugar coating the information. This is the only book you will ever need to guide you towards a healthier lifestyle. It gives a holistic approach to health, which is truly the only way to achieve success! As a parent, it excites me to pass on the knowledge of nutrition and tools to create health to my children. Thank you Krista and Robert!

Robert and Krista,

Thank you so much for such a great, inspiring book. Being a professional Martial Arts instructor and teaching in a systematic way for my students, your book used the same organized approaches to send the message for all types of learners. The concepts of this book: healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, and overall quality of life are very simple and easy to understand. It is very inspiring and motivating for the reader. Personally, I felt I was already fit, but as I applied the principle of healthy and balanced eating, I realized I had consistently improved my energy level. Learning how to balance the intake of protein, fat, carbohydrates and the importance they play in your life, makes it easier for the individual to understand eating and being healthier. After reading this book, I became very cautious and aware of what I might say to my students, so then I recommend it for their own reading as to erase their books of "so-called-dieting." Furthermore, I like the idea of "releasing" the fat. It is interesting because releasing the fat seems to be more permanent than losing it. When you lose something, you always have the possibilty of finding it again. My wife and I, have throughly enjoyed this book so much that we apply it personally to our lives and encourage our children so they can also begin to understand what a healthy lifestyle is about.

I have tried practically every diet on the planet. No longer because this book has helped me transition in to a lifestyle free of dieting. The authors are right on with this book and I will do what I can to encourage others to benefit from it as I have. It includes everything. From the mental importance to the physical exercise to all that a person needs to know about nutrition. This book was an easy read. It was inspirational. It moved me and I am now enjoying a life that will forever evolve. The book is excellent!

aw hell a 5!

a really enjoyable read! I read it in a day and it was pretty consistent almost to the end and then , you know, that discrepancy that just gets you .. just a little continuity error...


***spoiler alert****
"...all of our people have been brought up believing we'd destroyed the world of the Karnn...." (when K. swoons upon hearing that the virus that destroyed the entire Karnn planet was natural not created.)
except it was earlier established that it was a *surprise* that the Karnn world had been found destroyed, "... No one was there? No one at all? Was their world destroyed like ours?"
They had been taught for ages that they had 'sinned' and enslaved the Karnn, and the Karnn had retaliated and the Lethanta had escaped, but not that they had 'destroyed' the Karnn world. I suppose you could argue they'd destroyed it metaphorically, but that'd be mighty weak to me. One presumed K. swooned because they'd presumed themselves responsible for the virus- upon finding out it existed with Picard's reply that the world had been destroyed by a virus. Not that they'd been bought up that way.

Well-thought out, well-written, well-paced story for those who like a plot with high drama but not too much action; there's a lot of diplomatic manuevering and political chess-games here, and the stakes are the lives of roughly 5 billion or so people, so the drama is certainly not lacking. Also, the situation is set up quite well, with the aggressors having every reason for being hostile and even the "victims" admitting it, so it avoids falling into the stereotypical "aggressors are evil, aggressees innocent" pattern, and the ending was much more believable than it might have been, as well. On the other hand, I'm fairly thoroughly convinced that the Enterprise's actions here CLEARLY disobey the prime directive, which Picard has always been much stricter about obeying than certain other Captains of the Enterprise were, so I'm more than a bit dubious that he'd have behaved that way, even to stop a bloody and completely unnecessary war, and certainly not without a lot more soul-searching than we saw.

This is without question one of the better Star Trek: TNG novels. The Enterprise is on a routine survey mission when they discover a planet where thousands of years ago the surface was utterly destroyed by nuclear weapons. Only now have primitive forms of life begun to make a comeback. Another planet is teeming with life and there is evidence that a large albeit primitive civilization has once existed there. However, there is no intelligent life and it appears that it was wiped out by some form of biological weapon. They detect a transient warp signature emanating from a distant star so they proceed to investigate.
When they arrive, they encounter the Lethanta, a civilization that has been awaiting the arrival of their enemies the Krann. Thousands of years before, the Lethanta had conquered and enslaved the Krann, until they finally revolted and the war unleashed the cycle of devastation that the Enterprise encountered. The rulers of Lethanta have prepared for the attack by the Krann, who travel in large world-like ships, taking decades to go from star system to star system. The Krann are now only a few days away, so the Lethanta welcome the assistance of Picard and the Enterprise.
When Picard makes it clear that the Prime Directive prevents him from taking sides, the leader of the Krann tries to manipulate the Enterprise crew. He invites them to his ship and even allows Ryker and Troi to explore it in Krann disguise. This is all to hide his attempt to kill the people on the Enterprise by infecting them with a deadly virus. That plan fails and when the war begins, the Lethanta launch Blue Ultimate, where they will cause their sun to go nova and destroy both sides in the conflict. Picard takes advantage of a loophole in the Prime Directive and prevents the total destruction. At the end, he manages to bring a shaky peace to the area, although both sides hedge their bets.
What makes the book interesting is the interplay between the Enterprise crew and the leadership of the Krann. Picard knows that the Krann are spying and allowing the Enterprise crew to see things and the Krann know that he knows. In many ways it is a spy thriller subplot and both know that the other sides knows what they know, yet has to determine why they don't care that they know it

Star Trek-The Next Generation: The Last Stand written by Brad Ferguson is a Picard stops a war book between two warring parties the Lethanta am emerging warp culture and a prewarp culture the Krann.

This book has suspense, mystery, intrigue, and humor all rolled up into an engaging action-adventure. On a routine mission to map out a section of space, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the U.S.S. Enterpise crew encounter a culture on the edge of developing warp drive technology, the Lethanta. Picard sends Data and Ro down to the planet as observers.

While mapping the planet, the Enterprise and her crew come into contact with thousand of prewarp vessils... the Krann and Picard sends Riker and Troi as observers to the space faring fleet.

Picard has only days to resolve a conflict that has been ongoing for millennia, otherwise billions of beings will die. If Picard succeeds a powerful new threat to the Federation will be released. This book moves right along as the action-adventure increases to a fever pitch... and the resolution that Picard seeks seems to be just out of his reach.

There are plot twists and turns that will keep you busy reading as the book works toward a resolution. You'll start reading this book and you will not want to put it down as the writing is well thought out and Picard's dilemma reachs a fever pitch. This is one of the better-written ST-TNG books with a storyline that is believeable and the resolution will surprise you.

Of the three Star Trek titles that this outstanding author has written, unfortunately "The Last Stand" is the only of his I've read so far and something that I should correct soon. I found his writing style to be very fast paced and his characterizations to be quite accurate. Where so many Star Trek authors have attempted to go and failed, Brad Ferguson deftly ingrained a healthy amount of mystery, suspense, intrigue and humor into this novel which begs the question as to why this was his last novel in the Star Trek universe.

Although the cover art is quite the standard bland imagery that was normal for the time in which this novel was published, the caricatures are accurate.

The premise:

While on a routine mapping mission, Captain Picard and crew discover a culture that is just on the verge of developing warp technology, which piques everybody's interest. Just as they begin to survey the planet and its culture, an armada approaches the planet, bent on destroying this burgeoning race. With limited time, Captain Picard must resolve this conflict which has gone on for a millennia or face the loss of billions on the planet, yet at the same time, should he succeed he may unleash a new threat upon the Federation.

I highly recommend this numbered Star Trek The Next Generation novel as it is extraordinarily well written and a true pleasure to read. {ssintrepid}