Frank Books

My professor used the 5th edition in the Digital Elec class many years ago. I write software but have been trying to make the transition to logic design ... picked up the latest edition for refresher

Great book

You can gain the basic digital logic design knowledge using this book in no time! that is not always sufficient for people who wants to get A grade rather you can just make it your introduction and so soon move to part two (that is up to your current course).
My advice is : get this book unless you have passed this level!

This is the best book to understand Digital Electronics with clear and simple explanations. The salient feature of this book is that it has lot of applications sprayed throughout which keeps the reader attentive and interested. A "Must Read" for graduate/undergraduate students in any university in the world.

I used this book for a course on Digital Electronics. Its great. The book has a great typeset, clear and crisp fonts that go easy on the eyes, well structured (such that you read what you need in order to understand the next chapter). The book is illustrated with apt diagrams. I would consider this book to be beginner-intermediate. This book is a good starting point for learn digital stuff, and a good reference after you learn digital stuff. Its hard to find a book as good as this one.

This is the best book to understand Digital Electronics with clear and simple explanations. The salient feature of this book is that it has lot of applications sprayed throughout which keeps the reader attentive and interested. A "Must Read" for graduate/undergraduate students in any university in the world.

The world that Jim Woodring has created is unique and very different. His drawing is precise and clear so you have no difficulty understanding what shapes and forms you are looking at, but it isn't a place you've ever been to before. Fortunately, it's just barely familiar enough to be understandable and, also fortunately, it's also so different that it's totally fascinating.
The book consists of a number of short stories or episodes collected from the Frank comic book series. There is no dialogue but Woodring is brilliant at telling a story with pictures. Some stories have an understandable plot and some don't. At least on the conscious level they don't. They often still feel like a story even though you would be hard-pressed to explain why.
It's very satisfying to read/view the Frank stories, but you should probably be someone who enjoys David Lynch, surreal art, sci-fi, fantasy, and jazz.

Sitting in front of a computer screen, trying to think of a title that would truly encompass the spirit of Jim Woodring's insane little fables, only the word "Wow" came to mind. Wow. Regardless of whom you are, what walk of life you come from, even what language you speak, "Frank" will floor you, simple as that.

On first glance these stories look like the drug-fueled dreams of a madman, simultaneously evoking a sense of awe and horror from the reader. The world of Frank, an anamorphic creature that looks like a combination of several different animals, is one that's utterly alien to our own yet oddly familiar. Frank himself is an enigma, at times innocently curious, while other times cruel and vengeful. The creatures, if you could call them that, which share this world with Frank are just as odd: from Frank's faithful companion Pupshaw to the vile and conniving Manhog.

The stories that occur within this world are equally bizarre and seemingly nonsensical, yet underneath the surreal nature of these stories lurks meaning. I won't even attempt to analyze the themes of these tales, as I seriously doubt there is a single concrete message to any of the stories contained in this volume. Every person probably has different interpretations for Frank's world: biblical metaphor, morality tale, apocalyptic fable or just insane fun. You can look as deep as you want into these stories, or just read them for hallucinogenic kicks.

I've never read, seen or imagined anything quite like the world of Frank, and I doubt I ever will. It manages to tap into a universal subconscious, screw around with it, and spit out a couple dozen of insane little stories for your reading pleasure. It's a staggering work of a demented genius and needs to be experienced by anyone who calls themselves a comic fan.

...or something like that. How else to describe beautiful art like this? It is an art that goes well beyond simply capturing our dreams and nightmares. Rather, it brings them back to us along with the whole pieces and scattered fragments that we'd forgotten we'd experienced. Absurd and thought-provoking, it brings joy to our hearts with one moment and shocking fear to our brains with the next. It is as grotesque and sublime as life, but at first glance it looks nothing like it. But once you immerse yourself into it, you will see it and you will enjoy it. I promise you will.

Nothing can be said to describe the experience of reading this book. The only way to understand is to read it yourself -which I cannot recommend enough.

Just buy this book.

I read The Frank Book, and my eyeballs fell out.

This is not just a random book I picked up. It is the book I wished I had written myself. Over the past few years I have been teaching and researching on mainly one single subject. I have become obsessed with this subject because I now know that this is really the Subject of all time, for it is God's obsession and His ultimate passion! I used to think that the Church was just a temporary necessity to help us endure and be strong until Jesus comes back. Who needs each other when we are face to face with Jesus? Who needs a messed-up church when you have a worldwide theocracy during the millennium rule of Christ? When I read, "When that which is perfect has come, then that which is imperfect will be done away" ...I saw nothing more imperfect than the church! So good riddance... come Lord Jesus! But I was very wrong.
You see, I understood very little of God's ultimate passion. I had an incredibly weak idea of God's purpose on this earth and therefore my part in it. I knew God loved me and wanted me to live forever, but as to why, how and for what, I had no idea. Oh, I thought I had it all figured out, but as I began to delve into the full richness and the glory God has stored up for us, it was as if a cascade of light flooded my soul. I now tremble at how huge God's purpose is for us! Not that I am aware of the fullness of it all, for now I realize that I have only explored a single speck of light out of a whole universe of galaxies. I am such a baby in this subject!
This book is a brand new book, written by another explorer, who is also a baby. However he has seen many things I have not and he is as enthralled with it all as I am, so I am recommending this book in hope I can recruit you to explore with us. So PLEASE, read this book... but nibble on it for you will miss out on most of it if you guzzle. And do not stop with this book, but continue to explore. And if we could share together our discoveries beyond this book, it should change how we act, love and dream, for it really does matter how we see the big picture.

Once Again Viola hits a home run - a most inspirational and insightful book.
Frank Viola continues to be a voice in the wilderness.

This book is one of the best ever written on God's eternal purpose. Viola provided me with a whole new perspective on the mind of God and helped me understand better the Scriptures through which He reveals His mind. You will learn to look at the Bible very differently from what most have been taught, and some people will probably be threatened by this approach. I still strongly advise you to read this book and keep an open mind. If you do, Viola will take you on a journey into God's heart. There, you will learn what His desires are and how you can be part of their fulfillment! You will gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the deeper life, and see why it is so important that Christians commune with each other in unity with Christ as their only head. Viola will show you how the three great images of the Church (the Bride of Christ, the House of God, and the Body of Christ) are reocurring themes in the Bible which reveal the Father's ultimate purpose for His Son, and the Son's ultimate gift to His Father. This book is one of the greatest helps I have yet discovered for helping believers get beyond themselves and live for God's purpose. This is a must-read!

In the e-mail to Frank, I said:
I wanted to let you know that I got your book in January and how much it's meant to me. I loved this book!
I don't think I've ever heard a clearer description of God's passion. I was in one of your meetings in Williamsburg in 2004 and heard you talk about "the lady" in Williamsburg, but I didn't 'hear' like I did when I read this book.
I think I'm 'seeing' for the first time some things I've only known about vaguely. I received a clearer understanding of God's 'loneliness,' His 'romantic intention,' and His need for 'a place to stay.' One of the greatest impacts though was seeing that the Bride of Christ is a corporate woman and not individuals living independently (which is where I am right now). When I read the chapter "Exiting the Desert of Waste," I began to say to God, "I don't want to die in the wilderness. Lead me out and into the fullness of your purpose for my life."
This book was life to me. It's changing so many of my thoughts about God and about myself as I relate to Him. Thank you, Frank, for writing this important book.
Nancy Mauldin
Hampton, VA

In "God's Ultimate Passion", Frank Viola emulates a man pursuing the heart of God responding to His irresistible invitation to spiritual union. This three fold story of God's romance and plan for the Bride of Christ, the dwelling place (house) of God, and the Body of Christ (the Family of God) is solidly based on Biblical teaching.

This is God's own love story. It is the story of a redemptive love, which draws the Bride of Christ into an expression of ultimate passion. The bride captivated with the bridegroom revels in his grace, to accept his love.

Frank writes with an exciting intensity and vision that is persuasive. He moves the reader to a positive response and life changing action "to let Him build us together with others in the way that He has always wanted...So that He might have His House upon this earth."

Viola is a gifted communicator stirring the reader to awaken a new perspective of self, God and the potential lying dormant within, "crying out for expression."

This is a book for "revolutionaries who are reaching for God's highest."

I found the book compelling. It is a warm, human book, capturing well what seems today as the innocence of an earlier time. With touching humility, Kelly brings to life Truman's humanity and the deep sense of responsibility he felt as president to help create a truly democractic society. Kelly's many personal anecdotes and reflections take the reader back into this simpler world and helps create hope for the future of real democracy.

In all of Frank K. Kelly's books, especially this one, he writes with the objectivity of a seasoned reporter and the heart of a compassionate observer.

Truman's humanity is profoundly related to us in this carefully crafted work. We now know a softer and warmer side of Harry Truman because Kelly has been able to focus attention on a major aspect of a very complex man.

This is a report of the observations of a man who had long-term personal contact with Truman and is uniquely qualified to present a perspective of him in context with the times.

The book itself is a good read because of Kelly's story telling style and his organizational skills with regard to documenting historical information.

A local author known to me has written an engaging book. It is a beautiful testimony to the fact that politics can be about the pursuit of high ideals. Frank captures so well the interdependent dance between people, their leaders and their values. What I love most is how easily people of varying degrees of prominence move in and out of the story Frank weaves. He creates the proof that we are one wonderful human family - flaws and all!

Too often the political process is something that takes place far outside our own lives, which is why voters tend to be either emotional partisans of their celebrity heroes or apathetic or cynical. Frank Kelly's understanding of one very human and accessible man, Harry Truman, made me rethink what the American Presidency is about. By interweaving his own lifestory with the Truman presidency, Kelly creates an absorbing drama into which we are all swept. He sees politics not as a game, but as the means to realizing a nation's highest potential. Yes, he is an idealist, but we have too few of those. Kelly's vision of one president and his world-changing decisions is transferable to every presidency. As we prepare to elect a new man to that office, there's no more appropriate reading for us than Kelly's book.

This book is by an insider in the 1948 campaign that everyone thought that Truman would loose. Mr Kelly gained a lot of respect for Mr. Truman as an honest man in a flawed system. Truman didn't seek the presidency but was thrust into it by the death of Roosevelt. President Truman had a vision for America and America's position in the world. Special interests in Congress blocked many of Truman's dreams. Mr Kelly's later disallusionment with the Washington scene echoes the chaos we see today in Washington.

Mr. Kelly sheds light on Truman's difficult decisions to use the atom bomb, the atmosphere around Jor Mc Carthy,the Berlin Airlift, the occupation of Japan, the Korean War and many less well known actions by President Truman. This was for me the most enjoyable bok on Truman since "Plain Speaking" by Merle Miller.

Do get this book. And you'll be swept-away into another world where a crazy-girl named Francis, aka Judy Garland, got away with all kinds of mischief and adventure. Somewhere in her kooky, chaotic, vaudeville life, she surely got the idea that it was all a show about nothing.

Judy was a passionate person, and Gerold Frank captures her spirit, her sense of humor, her highs, her dark-side and the range of her anger and inspirations. "If you ever want to know who I was, listen to my songs," she said. What does one do with all that talent and energy? Frank gets into it. I think Gerold Frank does a fabulous job of filling-out the life of a human being. We sometimes forget that Judy was more than a performer. It is stunning to watch her films, knowing what was going on behind the scenes, how she was consistently exploited. She was young. People never had psychological terms for boundaries in those days, so she continued to remain a somewhat open and exploited person, "performing" right up to her death. And she was damn-angry in the end.

Judy had no outlet for her anger, except to strike out at things, objects and people. She was at a loss to know how to care, because she was never taught or given models of respect. So she stopped caring and began to take advantage of situations and people as a method of personal survival. This was the thing that alienated her from her children. Deep down, she didn't want to be this. So she let them go, and consequentially, a little bit of her self, as well. Bipolar disease is very difficult to manage without these psychological skills.

Judy never really had much of a chance to be anything than what she was. This happens to actors and people who need to showcase themselves in public: they get stuck. She learned how to play the victim. She just reached a point where she quit defending herself about it, that's all. Was Judy a bitch and a diva? Those were roles she took on, in the victim-mode. Women in those days were acculturated to be subservient, and therefore victims and blamers. If one is physically and mentally challenged, one needs help. Judy never got the right help and couldn't find it. Yet she always reserved a soft spot in her heart. She held on to her theme song, Over the Rainbow, and cherished it. So we have to look to someone like Gerold Frank, who is able to dig down under all this, and finds her; a woman who had a heart, and who was aching to share it with us, in spite of everything.

Gerold Frank's biography is probably the single most comprehensive book written concerning Judy Garland: meticulously researched, debunking many myths, and richly detailed, it is certainly a standard for any one seriously interested in Garland. Even so, I have several issues with the book.

My single greatest complaint about the book is that Frank often seems to include detail for the sake of detail, and at times these details don't seem to make any cohesive statement. That aside, while Frank places Garland under a microscope, he never really quite delivers any sense of the world in which she moved; consequently, we never really have any background against which we may judge her. There is no context.

These are serious flaws, and while the book is certainly readable and enjoyable, I do not think it is one to which the average reader would return, nor would I particularly recommend it to any but the toughest of hard-core Garland fans.

This is an "early" review since I haven't finished this very long book yet, but I will say that I don't like very long books (I find them daunting and time-consuming) but this one is good and holds your interest despite its detail and depth. However, I know that it leaves out certain parts already about her early life. For example, various sources (such as Marcella Rabwin, who is featured in the book prominently, and a family friend of Garland for many years) said on the E! True Hollywood Story TV program, that Judy and her sisters, mother, and father left Grand Rapids because Judy's father, Frank, had an affair with "a young man" and in those days that was "scandalous" and they "had to" move away. This story is nowhere in the book. This book also supposedly had the cooperation and the blessing of Liza and Lorna (not sure about Joe), Judy's children, so you know that despite the book's detail and depth, it's going to be "safe" with nothing too controversial that the children didn't want published. That's too bad, because for a biography to be truly inspirational (let alone just plain "accurate"), you have to include the skeletons in the closet (sorry for the pun, there, Frank). I haven't read Gerald Clarke's "Get Happy", which might include more scandalous stories. It's funny how there are 2 major Judy biographies that are very very long with authors named "Gerald"; easy to confuse the two, as I did at first. What a remarkable life; what a remarkable book. I still recommend book this highly, for Judy fans and also because I recommend biographies in general as a way for people to put their troubles in perspective, to gain inspiration from people we all "know", and as a parable to learn what to do, and not to do, to be happy in life. This would also be a great "primer" for young people to understand the history of Hollywood, or if you want a case study of a great American if you're patriotic, a great woman if you're a feminist, an unfortunate addict if you have an interest in drug and alcohol abuse issues, and a great musician/actress if you're an artist.

Gerold Frank has taken a subject of innumerable facets, a larger-than-life personality, and an almost indescribable talent and has put the history of her life to words as no writer before or since has been able to accomplish. Judy Garland, one of the silver screen's most beloved stars, is accurately and honestly conveyed in this biography. Frank's style is unique: when he tells of the tradgedies or failures of the star, he is not incriminating against the subject. Frank's book is one as written by an observer, sometimes voyueristically so. His thorough research bring Garland through in all her glory: as the vaudeville headliner, the little girl on the rise to stardom, the MGM superstar, loving wife and mother, and the sometimes self-destructive woman, taken from this earth too soon by the disease brought on by a lifetime of pills, but most of all, the woman trying to find her place in the world and the love she always craved and needed. Judy Garland is a human being, not a media figure, in this book. Gerold Frank is to be well commended for his excellent portrayal of Judy Garland, and readers will also be delighted or surprised by the informative tidbits along this Yellow Brick Road into the life of the great Judy Garland.

Never mind other books on the subject, icluding Lorna Luft`s "Me and My Shadows - living with the legacy of Judy Garland"...

THIS IS IT! This is the definitive biography. The detail is amazing and Gerald Frank is by far the only one who has captured Judy the woman and not ONLY the star. John Fricke`s "The World`s Greatest Entertainer" is good, but a tribute to a star, up there somewhere..... It`s written by a fan and good as it is, it sadly looks perspective.

This must NEVER be out of print and belongs to every library in the world. Indeed, I thought I knew evrything about Judy(I`ve been a fan since 1977), but THIS book is filling in holes I NEVER KNEW EXCISTED!

Thanks a LOT, Gerald Frank:-) This book i s of Pulitzer Prize calibre, although I realise a biography will never be given that honour...

Frank Koerner has brought to life a little known true story that took place in Europe after World War II. The author's parents had been evicted from their home in Moravia in order to create the country of Czechoslovakia from a region that had previously been the loosely defined area of Sudetenland. The big story is not that they were evicted by themselves, but along with 3.5 million others! Occasionally a great movie is released at about the same time as a movie of similar subject matter, only the latter stars the hot celebrity of the day and the former one was done by a little-known production company. It may not have mattered much at the box office that the big movie was not as nearly well constructed as the lesser-known one. This is what happened to this story of 3.5 million displaced ethnic Germans: The Holocaust happens to be the big story everybody knows. This fact does not make Mr. Koerner's story of any lesser consequence.

New Jersey native Frank Koerner and his wife left their warm home in California in 1992 to visit the somewhat bleak, semi-deserted landscape of Sudetenland to seek intimate knowledge of the event in 1946 that had so altered the lives of many. Armed with ancient b&w snapshots and a modern camera that would add to their photo album, Frank and Elke sought to capture the essence of a small bit of property that should have been theirs to inherit. The property was no longer in Moravia or Sudetenland because those regions as a whole no longer existed. Many other descendants of the natives of this area have visited in recent years, too, but mostly from nearby Germany. Frank and Elke took on the expedition from a much more distant perspective. Missing Peace will take you through the process in an enlightening, delightful manner. Both the old and new photos are included within text that is a lot more lighthearted than you would expect from such somber subject matter. Grab your camera and go on vacation with Frank and Elke. You'll be glad you did.

It is amazing how you can easily relate the stories to you, especially if your family has some recent background in Europe. The author transformed a trip to Europe into a very interesting sequence of little stories that keep you imagining the scenarios, picture by picture. You can realize how much he values his family background and the challenges they faced coming to the USA.

As a descendant of Germans from the vanished Sudetenland, I was thoroughly fascinated with Mr. Koerner's account of his parents homeland -- or should I say lack of a homeland. I admire the painstaking research that was involved in compiling this book, which represents what a true memoir is supposed to be: a story of discovery based on fact. In this book, Mr. Koerner tells a touching story about his family's Americanization and his own youthful lack of understanding and confusion about his family's sad history. His parents spoke German, but their passports were Czech because hundreds of years earlier the Koerners had migrated to that region. Then, the book explains that after World War II, the German people who had lived in the area for centuries were summarily deported as undesirable foreigners. Hence, the book does more than just reconnect with his roots; it reveals a seemingly great and long-overlooked injustice. The book says that the German people of the region lost their livelihoods, their homes and their centuries-old way of life not for wrongful acts, but for their ethnicity at an awful time in history. I recently visited the region, and while this story of a forgotten people is little-told here in the U.S., it is an issue that is still very much alive in the newspapers in Prague. Mr. Koerner's book is a contribution to the ongoing battle for recognition of a wrongful government act committed in that world long ago.

This is an extraordinary story, well documented and researched. The story of his father's lost homeland becomes the author's suprising story of personal discovery. The author's dogged research, his trip to the Sudetenland and the subsequent uncovering of family mysteries provide a meaningful family history, as well as lessons in European history, geography, and politics. This book is a very good read.

Most interesting are not just the historical facts about the displaced people of the former Sudetenland, but how the author went about finding out more about his heritage, his family, and answers to some confusing stories and recollections from his youth.

Although the chapters are formerly published articles, together they create an interesting story line. Each chapter reveals a little more of the mysteries and discoveries the author makes about the area, people, relatives, and even old friends of his father.

This memoir is very unique. Mr. Koerner has created a very vivid and interesting book.

From the front cover through to the final page, Frank Koerner held me captive - for fear of missing a clever, playful treatment of wording or phrasing. What a fantastic, easy, interesting, and fun way to learn about a virtually unknown part of history. When we learn the magnitude of the deportation, I wondered if I missed that week of history class. On that issue and so many others, Mr. Koerner made me feel like a part of the story - no, I didn't miss class, this historically significant event is largely ignored. I loved the vignettes so much that I limited myself to a chapter or two each night, so that the book would last as long as possible. The joy in accompanying Mr. Koerner was exceeded only by the fun accompanying unexpected chuckles (often accompanied by a groan) that popped up with deftly managed wording and phrasing. It's a great read!

"Next of Kin" is a winning "anti-war" war book, cut from the same cloth as "Catch-22" and "M*A*S*H." I guess it's more appropriate to say that "Catch-22" and "M*A*S*H" were cut from the same cloth as "Next of Kin" since it was writting in the '50s, whereas the other two came out in the '60s.

The fundamental message of "Next of Kin" seems to be that wars are started and managed by idiots and bureaucrats. Thus, you don't win a war by defeating armies; you win it by bringing down the idiots and bureaucrats. Lt. Leeming, Russell's protagonist in "Next of Kin," understands this perfectly. He'd rather volunteer for a long-term, solitary recon. mission with little chance of ever getting home again than hang around the base and have to put up with high-ranking morons who bark nonsense at him like how an unzipped fly will lead to their side losing the war. Unlike Heller's Cpt. Yossarian or the doctors in M*A*S*H, who struggle just to endure the idiocy and bureacracy thrust upon them, Leeming, from his position as a lowly POW, can see the "illogical logic" of the military mind and exploits it for his own gain. In doing so, he inadvertently infects the enemy's entire bureaucratic war machine with a sort of "virus of ideas" which, by the last page, leaves the reader with the distinct impression that the war is finally about to end because of -- rather than in spite of -- the idiots and bureaucrats on both sides who wear the General's uniforms.

because you will laugh out loud repeatedly.

When I started to read scifi, I believed it had to be very serious to be, in general, considered a good book. Now I have read this book, I know my assumption was wrong. This is a greatly written scifi novel, the author has a great "voice", and his main character is one that will live in my head for quite some time, making me giggle whenever I see the word Nut, or read about someone named Eustace.

This is a book that belongs in a scifi lover's library, next to those very serious, excellent thick volumes of scifi novels.

You won't regret it :)

This book is another excellent bit of Russell, though to be read for fun rather than for any "message".

It is possibly set in the same universe as "Wasp" (though if so it is much further in the future, and the Sirians are now our allies) and at all events in a very similar interstellar war situation. The hero, John Leeming, is of a kind very familiar to Russell's readership, an uppity "individualist afflicted with the fidgets" who is thoroughly allergic to authority and to the military way of life in general, and has a disciplinary record like a crime sheet from Police Gazette - though an excellent combat one. Again typically for a Russell hero, he is the pilot of a one-man scoutship, who likes it that way and doesn't miss human company in the slightest. This was something that drew me to Russell as a boy, and which I suspect is at least partly autobiographical. Sent off on a reconnaissance mission far behind enemy lines, about halfway through the book he is marooned on a hostile world and taken prisoner. The rest of the novel is given over to his attempts to get back home.

Unlike James Mowry, Leeming is not totally alone on his world; in fact there are several hundred other prisoners with him. But while he does accept some help from one of them, and does his best to return the favour later, this is very much the exception that proves the rule. Leeming does everything almost as singlehandedly as Mowry, taking no part in the others' escape attempts, nor involving them in any way in his own activities. These latter are very idiosyncratic indeed, with a distinct touch of the Fortean "we are property" concept which influences much of Russell's work. I shall not give the ending away, but merely observe that (aided by certain local superstitions) they succeed beyond their author's wildest dreams, not only achieving their intended purpose, but much more besides.

If put under oath, I would have to confess that I don't find NoK quite as credible as some of Russell's other yarns. I cannot quite believe in Leeming's success the way I can in Mowry's. But if you are willing to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the fun, then it is a great read. Go get it.

It has been several years since I have read "Next of Kin," but I have recommended it to every reader I know, whether they are fans of science fiction or not. Unless I am mistaken the story was written in 1954, long before manned space travel, and it is obvious by the description of the spacecraft and the perceptions of space travel. This does not in any way detract form the story, but in some way adds a bit to the humor. John Leeming is the main character. He is assigned to a remote area in outer space to act in some type of military capacity (either diplomacy or intelligence). But he is visited by misfortune and crash-lands on an alien planet which happens to be at war. Leeming finds himself imprisoned and labeled a spy. The story is a slow read until this point (approximately one full third to half of the book), but then the plot takes off into a wildly hilarious sprint that becomes increasingly more ingenious until the finale. Leeming has absolutely nothing at his disposal to aid in escape except for a block of wood and some copper wire that he strips from his prison bed, visual and audible observations from his cell window, and the most important element of all: superstitious and incredibly gullible captors. Leeming sets out on a journey of wit that convinces his jailers that invisible beings are poised to trample them into nothingness at his beckoned call, and that their allies are "nuts" (a term that takes on a whole new world of meaning, hence the creative genius of this work once you read the story).

This book is what all science fiction humor should be. The closest I have found are from the stories of Terry Pratchet's "Disc World" and related series', and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," although "Next of Kin" is far superior to them, at least as a stand-alone story. I HIGHLY recommend this story to ANY reader! It is thoroughly entertaining!

I am not a big sci-fi fan. I rarely read the stuff. Except for the occasional Star-Trek, I rarely watch it. When my dad handed me his copy of this book, I opened it with some trepidation...until I nearly split my gut laughing. Now, this kind of humor isn't funny to everyone. Neither my mom nor my husband finds it nearly as funny as we do. They mainly use words like "goofy" which it is, but as that was the intention, it is absolutely brilliant.

In this story, Leeming is taken prisoner by lizard aliens, far beyond the boundaries of friendly space, and effects his escape, not in a desperate attempt to plunge over the walls, but by calling on his Eustace.

What's a Eustace? I would never give it away. You'll have to read it for yourself and find out.

I also recommend this book to English teachers who are having a hard time weaning their students away from conventional word choices. Even the few swear words are mostly made up!

First off, a correction: Hal Webster and Frank Beebe put this book together initially in the 60's or 70's, in an earlier edition which is still largely the same. Since, chapters have been added about Harris' Hawks (which are an exception to the rules about non-social raptors,) to update veterinary aspects, etc. Joe Rotondo's name has no place in the credits for this book.

Though aspects of the legal system do not apply in countries other than the U.S., NAF&HH remains the single most comprehensive book written on modern falconry, and perhaps the second most comprehensive ever written on the subject. I'm a professional writer, author, and have been flying raptors for well over 30 years (nearly 40, now) and I have been unable to begin to put together a book on the subject, for fear that I'll miss one of the many facets that go into each decision made about the hawk while interacting with it. The sheer sum of all the information that comes into play at one time is daunting. Yet Hal and Frank managed to present that information to us in analog order, and produce a book which has guided many thousands of falconers to success over the past 4 decades.

If you could have only one book on raptors, this would have to be that book.

This book is a must have for falconers, especially those falconry apprentices seeking knowledge to pass state exams. Not only an excellent reference book but an enjoyable wealth of falconry background. Learn about the different kinds of birds of prey of the falconry world, obtaining, training and care of these magnificent birds.

The most comprehensive book printed on Falconry in North America. Now in it's 8th edition.

This is a book chock-full of great material. Overall organization of the content needs some tweeking as it is a bit scattered. Anyone wanting to get details on hawks and falconry will find the information they need somewhere in these pages. The authors clearly have a wealth of knowledge to share; it could be shared better. This book is in serious need of a competent editor. Nearly every page contains examples of the editor's silly habit of using capital letters to emphasize words. For example, "...the haggard Prairie is VERY difficult to train." Often this anachromism is employed several times per page and makes reading difficult. It is both annoying and so unneccesary.
Grammatical and spelling errors abound as well.

This is a must-have for anyone thinking of starting falconry or becoming an apprentice falconer. It is a primary reference book for practicing falconers. Most people will need to have read this book thoroughly as well as other reference material before being able to pass their state exam. We found the California Hawking Club Apprentice Study Guide as well as information from local Fish and Game Dept (in addition to this book) to be very helpful in passing the state exam. This book is used on a regular basis for us as practicing falconers.

Ever wonder how the top-ranked reviewers force their way to the top?

They vote for their own reviews over and over.

So brilliant. So clever. But not "well-done"!

Talk about the triumph of noise over signal, chaos over order, and quantity over quality!

If you were a college student, a frat brother, a trouble maker, a drinker or just had odd looking animals walking around talking to you....then this book is probably about you! Experiance college with an alcoholic pig, a short tempered circus bear, and a lima bean ( don't ask). And let's not forget the duck and Brandi, for without them....well, the book would still rock! This book is a must to all those who love comics. Every strip should be put on billboards. Uncle Frank is the man.....( from one of the Monkey Boys )

I was at the University of Maryland when Frank Cho's comic strip was running in The Diamondback. It was the only thing worth reading in the paper. This is a very, very funny comic strip. The characters, who are animals are hilarious. Dean, the pig, is a great send up on Frats and male chauvinism. You also get a lima bean, a gerbil, and the main character, Frank, is a duck. The best character, of course, is the very human Brandy.

If you've ever seen Liberty Meadows and enjoyed it in your newspaper, The Angry Years is even better.

With "Liberty Meadows" making a permament transition from comic strip to comic book at the end of 2001, folks who want to aquaint themselves with the new version could do worse than to pick up this collection of the strip that spawned it. "University Squared," Cho's first strip, is "Liberty Meadows" in a raw, unrefined and uncensored state -- a state the comic book may take a few steps towards once freed from the rigours of newspaper censors.

Even in its young form, though, Cho's strip shows again and again why he is held in such high regard. His characters are funny, his situations are original and he doesn't blanch from tackling weighty topics or rauncy issues whenever he wants. Get this, get "Liberty Meadows: The Big Book of Love" and then start getting the comic book.

I've been a fan of Liberty Meadows, the comic book that collects Frank Cho's syndicated comic strip of the same name, for years now, so when University Squared became available again, I pounced on it. It's kind of a weird companion piece to Liberty Meadows; not quite a prequel (these stories were from Cho's College newspaper), and although the characters have the same names in both books, there are weird differences: one character is a duck in this book, and a man in Liberty Meadows; another a lima Bean (!) here, a frog in Liberty Meadows. (It's really weird...)

There isn't a story, per se. The book follows the characters (Animals, attending school with Humans....)as they drink and carouse their way through campus life. The cartoons are much raunchier than the later Liberty Meadows strips; without the anal retentive syndicate to hamstring him, Cho can go all out with the gags. (Even the raunchiest of the strips never gets beyond a PG-13 level, though. So it is safe for older kids.) Cho manages to deliver some really good belly-laughs, and slips in a touching ending as well. Comic strip fans who find the daily funnies too whitebread are well advised to enroll in this University.

GOOD JOB, MONKEY BOY!!!!

If you only buy 1 Oz book for your collection, make it this one! In Oz circles, this book is known as "The Green Book" and it is a virtual encyclopedia of Oz information. The research and work that went into the writing of this book is truly astounding!

The rare photographs will amaze you (including Judy Garland in her blond wig and Buddy Ebsen as the Tin Man).

This book is full of little-known trivia. After reading this book, you can wow your friends with your new-found Oz knowledge!

There have been a few books that have given us all a look into the making of MGM's movie version of "The Wizard Of Oz!"? But The John Fricke,Jay Scarfone manuscript surpasses all of the other books.Because it's filled with wonderful photos and info that takes us beyound the making of the film and gives us a look into the continuing popularity of the Oz characters.Using rare photos,extensive research and interviews from the people.Who were involved with the project.Messers Scarfone And Fricke.Show us the early stages of the making of the film.From the many drafts of the script..to the problems with the changes in cast,storylines,music,mishaps with props and special effects.To the promotions of the film on radio(NBC Radio's "MaxwellHouse Coffeetime")and at stage shows to the many other interpretations of the story that appeared on tv,in the movies,on radio, in the theater and at parades and theme parks.The book even gives some more biographical info about the cast and crew and some more insight into the man.Who created this legendary tale:Mr.Lyman Frank Baum.For the fans of this classic story.Who want to know the full extent of it's geniss? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.

There have been a few books that have given us all a look into the making of MGM's movie version of "The Wizard Of Oz!"? But The Jay Scarfone,John Fricke manuscript surpasses all of the other books.Because it's filled with wonderful photos and info that takes us beyound the making of the film and gives us a look into the continuing popularity of the Oz characters.Using rare photos,extensive research and interviews from the people.Who were involved with the project.Messers Scarfone And Fricke.Show us the early stages of the making of the film.From the many drafts of the script..to the problems with the changes in cast,storylines,music,mishaps with props and special effects.To the promotions of the film on radio(NBC Radio's "MaxwellHouse Coffeetime")and at stage shows to the many other interpretations of the story that appeared on tv,in the movies,on radio, in the theater and at parades and theme parks.The book even gives some more biographical info about the cast and crew and some more insight into the man.Who created this legendary tale:Mr.Lyman Frank Baum.For the fans of this classic story.Who want to know the full extent of it's geniss? This is the one book to have.Kevin S.Butler.

Since this is "The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History" of the beloved 1939 film, it is not surprising that John Fricke, Jay Scarfone, and William Stillman have put together the book that tops the "must have" list for fans of the film (after, of course, L. Frank Baum's original novel, which just had its centennial edition come out in 1903. After an introduction by Jack Haley, Jr., the volume's prologue, "The Marvelous Land of Oz," begins with the story of how Baum came up with the name for Oz and looks at the history of his stories prior to the movie. Also included in this prologue are stills from some of the vaudeville and silent movie versions (the 1925 film had Oliver Hardy as the Tin Woodman), the original book covers for the 42 Oz stories, and Technicolor test shots of the movie cast, which includes Judy Garland wearing a blond wig as Dorothy. By the time you finish this prologue you will know that this book is going to be everything that you would want as the table of contents indicates:

Part One - The Oz Diary: Creating a Classic: (1) Acquisition and Casting contrasts the signing of the cast with W.W. Denslow's first pictures of the characters; (2) Scripts, Songs, and Staff focuses on early drafts of the scripts and ideas for song more so than what actually ended up in the movie; (3) Wardrobe and Markup details the evolution of the look of each character with corresponding photographs; (4) The Thorpe "Era" is about Richard Thorpe's short tenure as the film's director, when Gale Sondergaard is the Wicked Witch and Dorothy is a blond; (5) There'll Be Some Changes Made is short but sweet and is about the changes George Cukor made as a stop gap under Victor Fleming was signed to direct the film; (6) "The Wizard" Comes to Life is a lengthy chapter covering the making of the film with its various legendary stories; and (7) Post-Production and Previews, which details what was cut (including "Over the Rainbow" at one point), when and why.

Part Two - The Oz Diary Continued: Promotion and Reception: (8) The Oz Campaign contains everything from Judy Garland telling Frank Morgan "Anybody can be a wizard at Jelly-Making" for a newspaper ad for Certo (never heard of it either)to a two-page full-color spread in "Life" and a special "Wizard of Oz" ad for the Sunday comics; (9) Hollywood Party is about the movie's gala premier; (10) "Capitol" Times in Manhattan is about the show at Loew's Capitol Theater In New York City that showed the movie along with a life performances by Garland and Mickey Rooney. This chapter also shows some of the first product tie-ins for the movie; and (11) From Coast to Coast is a brief look at promotion of the film across the nation and includes what might be the first editorial cartoon that used the Oz characters to comment on a real situation (Hitler is the Wicked Witch of the West and Mussolini is a winged monkey, while Dorothy is European civilization, the Scarecrow is Poland, the Lion is Britain, and the Tin Woodman is France).

Part Three - Raves and Accolades looks at (12) The Reviews, which includes a look at foreign books and domestic record versions; and (13) The Twelfth Annual Academy Awards, where the film won Best Song for "Over the Rainbow," Best Original Score for Herbert Stothart's underscoring and adaptation of the Arlen/Harburg songs, and Garland for best performance of a juvenile during the past year.

Part Four - Oz and Ends, includes brief looks at (14) Original Ozzy Merchandising; (15) Oz Abroad; and (16) Theatrical Reissue.

Part Five - Television Perennial covers how most of us first saw the movie, including (17) Guest Hosts on CBS (I always liked Dick Van Dyke); and (18) NBC Interlude/CBS Comeback.

Part Six - The Legend is another set of brief chapters on (19) Reunions and Reminiscences; (20) Merchandising; and (21) Icon, which ends the book on a perfect grade note with editorial cartoons on the death of Garland in 1959, Jack Haley in 1979, Margaret Hamilton in 1985, and Ray Bolger in 1987.

This volume includes more than 400 illustrations, half in color and many never before published, including over seventy makeup and costume portraits, behind-the-scenes and production photos, and not only stills but script pages from the musical numbers and segments that were filmed but cut from the release print (including "The Jitterbug," Bolger's extended solo dance to "If I Only Had a Brain," and the "triumphal return" sequence). The photographs of all the movie posters, toys, and other items associated with "The Wizard of Oz" can be found throughout the book instead of being collected all at the end of the book corresponding with when the movie came out. The last three parts could essentially be individual chapters to avoid the sense that you are racing through the end of the volume, but that is a minor complaint all things considered.

There are many, many books out there about the making of everyone's favorite film, "The Wizard of Oz". There aren't any I've seen that I wouldn't recommend, but if you are looking for pictures, pictures, and more pictures, this beautiful coffee table size book is a great place to start. Pictures, both in color and black and white, of every aspect of the making of the movie fill this attractive volume from cover to cover, and the text, by Oz authority John Fricke is all-encompassing. Although released for the 50th Anniversary of the film's 1939 release, it is still relevant 13 years later, and a great book for the collector or casual researcher. It has yet to be topped.