Gray Books

This is an immense undertaking, and to pull it off requires some considerable level of talent. Going by his other stories, Swanwick has this. However, 118 vignettes, or short-shorts or whatever you want to call theme, and keeping it entertaining? Even harder.

Rating this is a little different I suppose, as generally it is very unlikely that you get a 4.5 or 5 for such a piece, could happen, but didn't here. To average 3.32 over 118 pieces by one author at such short length is very impressive.

However, you get some scientific background in chemistry, and a lot of amusement, from sf to superhero in this collection.

Reading and rating them is a long enough task, writing them is a mind boggling feat to contemplate. Bonus points for audacity and verve I think.

A genre for everyone here even if you don't want to read them all. Well worth having a look at online.

Symbol given in the list, actual name of the element with the rating to include both.

Periodic Table : H - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : He - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Li - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Be - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : B - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : C - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : N - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : O - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : F - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ne - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Na - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Mg - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Al - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Si - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : P - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : S - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cl - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ar - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : K - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ca - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Sc - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ti - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : V - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Mn - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Fe - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Co - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ni - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cu - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Zn - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ga - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ge - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : As - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Se - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Br - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Kr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Rb - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Sr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Y - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Zr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Nb - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Mo - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Tc - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ru - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Rh - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pd - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ag - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cd - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : In - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Sn - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Sb - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Te - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : I - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Xe - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cs - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ba - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : La - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ce - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Nd - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pm - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Sm - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Eu - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Gd - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Tb - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Dy - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ho - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Er - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Tm - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Yb - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Lu - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Hf - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ta - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : W - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Re - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Os - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ir - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pt - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Au - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Hg - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Tl - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pb - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Bi - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Po - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : At - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Rn - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Fr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ra - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ac - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Th - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pa - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : U - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Np - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Pu - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Am - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cm - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Bk - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Cf - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Es - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Fm - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Md - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : No - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Lr - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Rf - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Db - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Sg - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Bh - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Hs - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Mt - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Ds - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uuu - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uub - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uut - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uuq - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uup - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uuh - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uus - Michael Swanwick
Periodic Table : Uuo - Michael Swanwick

Hydrogen

Flaming zeppelin time.

3.5


Helium

Jane Carter is reluctantly a chip off the old Dejah Thoris block.

4


Lithium

Bipolar god boo-hoo.

3.5


Beryllium

Paydirt.

3.5


Boron

Making a donkey out of yourself.

3


Carbon

Physically gross.

3.5


Nitrogen

Elf night stuff.

3


Oxygen

Breathers are cute.

3.5


Fluorine

Toothpaste nanovirus.

3


Neon

D*vil Vegas.

4


Sodium

Pickle power.

3.5


Magnesium

Space Force firing performance needs junk food.

4


Aluminum

Tinfoil hat precision.

3.5


Silicon

Retroform man.

3


Phosphorus

Story hoarding.

3


Sulfur

Vitriol rankings.

3


Chlorine

Pool life creation removal.

4


Argon

Weakness detection elf kill error.

3.5


Potassium

Banana longevity transformation, you ape.

3.5


Calcium

Atrocity archive materials.

3.5


Scandium

Accidental claim discovery.

3


Titanium

Mech mash style.

3.5


Vanadium

Chicken feed element.

3


Chromium

Top down pursuit.

3


Manganese

Drawing expedition.

2.5


Iron

Bikie war reserve.

3.5


Cobalt

Elementary obsolescence.

4


Nickel

No longer scarce.

3


Copper

Asteroid magnet.

3.5


Zinc

Weapon suspicions.

4


Gallium

Monk AI's pirate mirror meltdown.

4


Germanium

Gerrymandered?

2.5


Arsenic

N*croph*l*ac lengths.

3.5


Selenium

Cavorite career-ender.

3.5


Bromine

Handy analogy.

3


Krypton

Superspoof complications.

3


Rubidium

Negotiating leeway extreme.

4


Strontium

FF, Spider-Man, Flash, the Atom and the X-Men are all really Strontium Dogs.

4


Yttrium

Word hide.

2.5


Zirconium

Virtual Blacksox.

3.5


Niobium

Boasting outlook rocky.

3.5


Molybdenum

Missile putoff.

3


Technetium

Nova swing.

3.5


Ruthenium

Tough place stories.

3


Rhodium

Second place is torture.

3


Palladium

Areogasping mistake.

3


Silver

Werewolf no joke.

4


Cadmium

Artistic star receiver.

3


Indium

Continental drift.

3


Tin

Romance time, unfortunately.

2


Antimony

Cash removal important too.

3


Tellurium

Modelling effects severe.

3.5


Iodine

Pain necessary for liberty.

4


Xenon

Ship library defence is a gas.

4


Cesium

Volatile architecture fuel for thought.

3.5


Barium

Enema art.

3


Lanthanum

Drug war.

3.5


Cerium

Chemistry publicly entertaining.

3


Praseodymium

Universal coinflip.

3.5


Neodymium

Astronaut training.

3


Promethium

Titanic ingratitude.

3.5


Samarium

Destructive cycle.

3


Europium

Neanderthal takedown.

2.5


Gadolinium

Fluorotatts.

3


Terbium

Sexbot versatility.

3


Dysprosium

Weasel word supply.

3.5


Holmium

Sloppy will get you nanowar.

3.5


Erbium

Lars-Sven, Lord of the Chemists.

3.5


Thulium

Unalloyed wizard removal joy.

4


Ytterbium

Chemistry party has the usual results.

3


Lutetium

Rescue deal fine print.

4


Hafnium

Nuclear hero revenge plot.

3.5


Tantalum

Not this again, he treats me like furniture.

3.5


Tungsten

Filament maintenance longevity doubtful.

3


Rhenium

Dragon Lady designs.

3.5


Osmium

Mr. Steenky.

3


Iridium

Tourism impact.

4


Platinum

Beauty only electroplate deep.

4


Gold

Goldfinger's dream.

3


Mercury

Do the locomotion.

3.5


Thallium

Inkdrinker survival might be a killer.

3


Lead

No gun control termination.

3.5


Bismuth

Show that bad would need pepto.

3


Polonium

Updated advice.

2.5


Astatine

Brain burn samaritan effect worth peanuts.

3.5


Radon

Aunt had ugly forest, not just stick.

3.5


Francium

Savoir fare is everywhere.

3


Radium

Research remembrance.

3


Actinium

Robot Watson points the way to reveal.

3.5


Thorium

All-Fatherborg still gets Armageddon.

4


Protactinium

Dragon Lady demands.

4


Uranium

Hot dining.

3


Neptunium

What's that song? Oh yeah, hit me with your laser beams.

3.5


Plutonium

Discovery ending preferable.

3.5


Americium

Bomb trade.

3


Curium

Heretically Inquisitive.

2


Berkelium

Zen pickup.

2.5


Californium

Paranoia Cone Rifle, but in handgun package.

3.5


Einsteinium

Unified female theory.

3


Fermium

Enrico undersupply puzzling.

3.5


Mendelevium

Boom boom celebration.

3


Nobelium

A real prize scenario that one.

3


Lawrencium

Galactic war hero.

3


Rutherfordium

Presidential quality.

3


Dubnium

Commie wya.

3


Seaborgium

Trekworld.

4


Bohrium

Splendiferous discourse.

3


Hassium

Record speaks. Lucky us.

3


Meitnerium

Fission pioneer.

4


Darmstadtium

Gang claims.

3


Unununium

Are you anticomplimenting me?

4


Ununbium

Centre cannot hold without enough hair spray.

3.5


Ununtrium

Undiscovered country. Same in for city, park, paddock, stream, lake, river, asteroid belt, epsilon eridani...

3


Ununquadium

A real stayer, transuranically speaking.

3.5


Ununpentium

Antigrav conspiracy is expensive.

3


Ununhexium

Bum's rush, witchiepoo.

3


Ununseptium

Here she comes now sayin' monad monad
Shoot 'em down turn around crunch 'em monad

4


Ununoctium

Six of one, half-life dozen of the other. Either way could be negative.

3.5

excelentes reflexiones sobre la existencia humana.
El ser humano ha crecido desde siempre con la idea de que es superior a todas las especias vivas del planeta, sin ponerlo en duda.
El ser humano es la cúspide de la evolución y no hay marcha atrás en este pensamiento.
Pero no es así ... ¿por qué no podemos aceptar la idea de que tal vez no seamos eso? ... tal vez somos solo una especie viviente más, con sus virtudes, pero también con miles de defectos.
La raza humana puede ser considerada como la plaga más grande que ha caido en la tierra. La raza humana es la peor especie viviente que se pudo desarrollar sobre el planeta.
No somos más que animales en nada superiores a otros animales o seres vivientes.
Aceptar estas reflexiones no es sencillo, es tirar por la borda toda la historia de la humanidad, es a fin de cuentas, aceptarnos como lo que somos.
Jhon Gray reflexiona profundamente en este sentido y nos da importantes argumentos para sustentar su idea. Lo hace desde una perspectiva que no es muy común y que rompe miles y miles de años de prejuicios absolutamente aceptados por todos.
Es mu interesante y realmente invita a una reflexión profunda

In book 16 of this Space Opera, we're in the middle of a short quartet of adventures on Venus.

Thora, beautiful Arkonide military commander, is still in the hands of the rebels against Perry Rhodan's New Power government. Perry takes a spaceship and attempt to rescue her, only to realize that the ship he has flown has no radio code for the secret Venusian base. Accordingly, the super computer turns on all Venusian defenses, effectively sealing the planet against any further landings. Perry and his small crew must fight on land - a land swarming with Venusian monsters and storms.

Thora's group is eventually captured by a second rebel group - a group that does not like the first rebel group, nor do they like the rule of the New Power. Perry allows Thora to remain in their camp - not only to teach her a lesson, but to allow her to cause confusion and strife among the rebels. The story concludes in #17 - "The Venus Trap".

I've never been this impressed by a series. I'm reminded of old cliffhangers like "Buck Rodgers" or "Flash Gordon" when reading these marvelous books. This series is still being published in Germany and is now well over 1,800 volumes. It's too bad American publishers stopped these after only about 120 books. I had to learn to speak, read, and write German in order to continue reading Perry Rhodan.

This book also contains another editorial, and another science fiction movie section. There is no fan letters page in this volume. But there are two stories - one continuing adventure, and one short story - beginning a series of science fiction shorts at the end of each volume of Rhodan stories. Although these stories have nothing to do with Perry Rhodan, they are worth looking at. Well worth reading the entire series.

This book consists of 2 stories from the German science fiction series. In the first, Rhodan and his 3rd Power group must stave off the world's attempts to stop his plan to bring peace to the earth before it even starts. He's forced to call on the Arkonide pilot Thora to help which leaves the Arkonide moon ship unguarded.

In the 2nd story, the story of the Mutant Corps is started as Perry leaves his base to obtain supplies. Written about 2 years before the original X-men run, the story postulates the existence of mutant humans fostered by the first A Bomb tests.

Persephone, Descending is one of those books that you immediately visualize as a movie. The author paints a narrative that is almost too real. The characters come alive, the setting is terrifying, and the conclusion blind sides you right off the path you think you're on. At a time when most horror writers are relying on aliens and science to create their monsters, this author revisits an old horror in a fresh and unique way. Set in the future, this book should appeal to sci-fi fans as well as horror. While I wouldn't recommend this book for children, adults will definitely find it to be a tour-de-force or horror.

This book took what is happening today in this world; in our own time and circumstances; and made it real and concrete to its readers in a interesting, real way.
Well thought out, well written, an excellent read!

Eva-Christ

This review is for the Norton Critical Edition of Persuasion, and has two parts: a review of Persuasion itself, and a review of Norton Content.

No educated person disputes Austen's contribution to the literary world. While her particular craft may not be palatable to all types (whose is?), I maintain that of all Austen's works, Persuasion is the one to hold the most appeal to those unfamiliar with her literature. It could be a `gateway drug', introducing the reader to Austen, or it could be a delightful `one-book stand'; whichever way works for the reader.

Concealed within Regency trappings is a universal story: there is a `mythic' quality to it in the sense that C.S. Lewis defines myth. The story reaches through space and time to grab the heart and attention of the reader, compelling her both on and deeper. When the novel opens, Anne Elliot faces the prospect of meeting once again a man with whom she was compelled to break off an engagement nearly eight years prior. While relatively little outward action takes place, Austen builds tension through Anne's inner conflict. Peripheral issues, such as the nature of the change in social systems in this turbulent time in Britain and the place of women in society, serve as complementary fare that highlights the mounting dilemma that Anne faces. In Austen style, the resolution and denouement are highly satisfying and truly ingenious, and the reader is left with meaty material to savor for days to come.

The Norton contribution to Persuasion is indispensable. Though I was previously familiar with Persuasion, a favorite professor of mine introduced me to the commentary and contributions within this edition. The preface lays out a road map of sorts for the rest of the book. Included immediately after the conclusion of the novel is the original ending-something that even the non-lit majors in my class found interesting. A fabulous selection of backgrounds and contexts follows, with items such as Henry Austen's "Biographical Notice of the Author", and a selection from Richard Whateley's "Review of Northanger Abbey and Persuasion", entitled "A New Style of Novel".

Additionally, modern critical commentary is included from Austen scholars Marilyn Butler, Ann Astell, Claudia Johnson, and others. Appearing at the end are a helpful chronology and selected bibliography. Patricia Meyer Spacks did a fabulous and much appreciated job in editing and pulling the work together. This edition is highly recommended, both within the classroom, and without.

--The Medieval Chick

This biography was printed in a limited edition, and one could hope that it would be reprinted. The book is an essential reference for readers interested in seafaring novels about the Royal Navy during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It is the biography of Rear Admiral Peter Puget, covering his entire naval career from the time he was a midshipman (starting at the age of 12 in 1778) serving in the West Indies during the American Revolution, to his final assignment as Naval Commissioner in India, with details of his final days in England, and some details on his children.

A large segment of the book deals with his service as second lieutenant aboard His Majesty's sloop Discovery under the command of George Vancouver during that ship's voyage to the northwest coast of North America (1791-1795). It gives some valuable insight into that voyage and the personality of Captain George Vancouver (Vancouver had served with Captain James Cook on both his second and third voyages). Lieutenant Puget was promoted to lieutenant at the age of 25 (see Richard Woodman's, "A King's Cutter," for a story about the difficulties of a midshipman from the American Revolution struggling for promotion).

The voyage of the Discovery started out soon after the mutiny aboard the H.M.S. Bounty (see William Bligh, "The Mutiny Aboard the H.M.S. Bounty"), with the result that a consort, the armed tender Chatham under the command of Lieutenant William Robert Broughton, was sent to accompany the Discovery. George Vancouver and William Bligh had served together on Captain Cook's third voyage, Bligh being the sailing master. There is no doubt that the mutiny on the Bounty influenced Vancouver's attitudes towards his officers and men. Vancouver had also been present when the natives in Hawaii killed Captain Cook, and that undoubtedly colored his attitude towards native peoples.

Peter Puget was responsible for surveying and charting Puget Sound in what in now Washington State. He apparently made a good impression on Vancouver. When Broughton was send overland to carry dispatches back to England, Puget was given command of the Chatham, skipping over Lieutenant Mudge, the first lieutenant on the Discovery.

Puget participated in the capture of a Dutch East Indiaman during the return voyage to England in 1795 for which he received an unknown amount of prize money (records show the final account was not closed until 1834, when his widow received a small balance of one pound, 17 shillings, 6 pence). The balance of the book covers the remainder of his career, promotion to commander in command of a transport, service at Gibraltar, command of a flotilla of transports, command of a sloop, promotion to Captain by Admiral Jervis at Lisbon in 1797 and assignment to command of a Spanish ship of the line captured at Cape St. Vincent, and then service with the Home Fleet in command of various ships of the line. He commanded the in-shore squadron at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807. He was appointed Commissioner of the Navy at Madras, India, in 1810, and continued in that position until 1817, among his duties overseeing construction of the dockyard at Trincomalee. He was forced to retire due to ill health in 1817, arriving back in England in early 1818, and never held another active command. He reached the top of the Captain's List in 1821 and was promoted to Rear Admiral of the Blue after 24 years as a captain. He died the following year at the age of 56, having never regained his health. The book gives a good account of naval service during that period of time, including accidents and illness, the hard life at sea, successes and failures. He had enough time on shore to father 7 sons and 4 daughters.

This is one of the greatest stories ever of the struggle and torment between good and evil, between animal versus spiritual influences that resides within our mind and soul . An absolute masterpiece. A more modern version of Dante's inferno.

I heard about the ending in this book by a popular speaker who I've enjoyed over the years, and the ending intrigued me enough that I wanted to read the book as well.

The story centers on the life of Dorian Gray, who's wish to have his painted portrait age and show signs of moral decay instead of his body comes true. Throughout his life he becomes more and more heinous morally, while retaining his innocent look until his death, which is the suprise ending...

Also included in this book are the short stories 'Lord Aurthur Savile's Crime,' 'The Canterville Ghost,' 'The Sphinx Without a Secret,' and 'The Model Millionare.'