Howard Books

Enjoyed reading this book. I had family who survived Camille in Nelson County, spent several weeks there during the summers visiting during my youth and remember vividly going there as soon as we were allowed in to see the damage. This book did an excellent job describing the storm, the aftermath and how it changed the lives of so many people who lived in that area.

Once you pick this book up, you won't want to put it down until you've read the very last page and the dust cover notes as well. As a reader all too familiar with the wrath and destruction of hurricanes, I found the historical facts eerily accurate and the human drama so tense that the reader is drawn into the story as if sucked into the vortex of the storm itself. Category 5 is gripping and powerful like a well-written novel and not the true account of devastation and suffering that it is -- without the dry, clinical approach of a mere assessment of storm damage. The human element is often invisible when looking at the overall picture. Howard and Zebrowski take us to ground zero to examine the personal lives of those affected and no reader can ever put those images out of his or her mind. Excellent read!

Tom Aswell
Baton Rouge, LA.

"Category 5" is excellent reading. The plot, with many interesting facts, keeps the reader spellbound. It is difficult to stop reading once you start! Many long hours of research had to be done for this fact filled book. The racial feelings in Louisanna, corupt polititions, and the "state of the art" science of 1969, all combine to make this book all come together for one of the best books I have ever read!

The authors of this book were putting the finishing touches on it when Katrina made landfall in generally the same area as Camille. They went back and added a chapter but for the most part the book was left to stand on its own in light of the more recent disaster and it stood up quite well. All through the book there are obvious parallels between the two storms and especially the response that came in their aftermath. It is to be hoped that government officials took the lessons of Katrina to heart in a much more effective way than they did the lessons of Camille and that when the next major hurricane devastates a costal area the outside response will be far more effective.

One of the few things that did improve in the years between the hurricanes was the ability of forecasters to predict the track of the storm and to get the word out. In 1969 radar tracking and computer models were in their infancy and up until shortly before landfall forecasters were sure that Camille would strike Florida. Once they did realize that it was headed for Mississippi they had trouble getting the word out and had it not been for the foresight of local officials the death toll would have been much higher. These authors take the meteorological aspects of this story and present them in a remarkably easy to understand way and do so to the extent that the reader will almost be able to feel the angst of forecasters as they try to figure out just what Camille is up to. These Hurricane Center people are remarkable.

These authors do an excellent job of relating how local authorities had taken to heart the lessons learned from hurricane Audrey in 1957 and the precautions that they had taken because of those lessons. It is not hard to see in this narrative that state and federal authorities were far behind the local authorities in preparedness for Camille and that the same was true all those years later when Katrina came ashore. This is not however just a story about the failure of government though, it is also very much a story of the people who were the victims of this great storm. This is a story of the heroism of and resilience of people who were hit with the worst that nature has to offer.

These authors do a marvelous job of relating the stories of individuals and families who were in the path of the monster Camille. Through the reminiscences of those who survived the authors tell the stories of families ripped apart and of whole families who just vanished. They tell the true story of the much publicized collapse of the Richelieu apartments in Pass Christian, they tell the story of a group of men out for a sail who end up weathering the storm near the mouth of the Mississippi as their boat breaks up around them, they tell the story of people who sought refuge in local churches only to find the large old building disintegrating around them and they tell the story of quiet communities in Virginia where the people went to bed with no warning at all that many of them would be washed away before dawn. Through it all the survivors immediately turned their attention toward helping each other once the storm had passed and these survivors, many of them wounded or in mourning themselves immediately began rescue efforts that saved untold numbers of people. It is the heart and soul of these people that is the true story to be found in this book and these authors have truly done these people justice in this highly readable account of one of the great disasters in American history.

This book, the story of 1969's Hurricane Camille, is a breezy (yes, that word APPLIES) read which interweaves several plotlines -- the powerful force of a Cat 5 hurricane, the lives it touched and the tragedies which occurred, the will to survive, the peculiar and corrupt qualities of Louisiana politics, the ongoing civil rights movement of the time, and the surprisingly primitive nature of weather forecasting in the late 1960's.
As a person who once moved out of a city in part due to the fact that the local cable company DIDN'T carry The Weather Channel, I expected to enjoy the stormy aspects of the book. I did not expect the history and politics of the time to carry this story down unexpected avenues. It was a pleasant surprise.
I recommend it without hesitation.

Hal Mooz, Kevin Forsberg, and Howard Cotterman once again offer a timely and practical resource for systems engineers, project managers, and process managers.

I am recommending this book to all my friends and colleagues.

Communicating Project Management offers readers many examples of communications techniques to use; pitfalls that often occur as well as suggestions for sidestepping them. The authors also provide excellent examples of the type of business aspects that must be considered and communicated throughout the project life cycle.

I particularly like the use of illustrations and examples in Part 5, Terms and Definitions; all organizations should use this technique to communicate the domain-discipline glossaries for all project team members.

For anyone who has communication problems on their projects, here is an answer.

Hal Mooz, Kevin Forsberg and Howard Cotterman have written a dictionary. Comprehensive in its scope, the authors have integrated definitions of project management, systems engineering and software engineering. In short, they have added to the legacy created by comprehensive book: Visualizing Project Management

Like it, the nearly 2.000 definitions in the new volume are supported by practical illustrations. The explanations employed span the chasms that often separate the diverse disciplines that rely on the art of project management.

I would be remiss if I left readers with the impression this is a mere dictionary. It is not. It is a unique reference. It bridges the unique vocabularies of the many disciplines that contribute to an organization. It includes special sections that speak to the problems and techniques of communicating in the project environment.

If accepted and adopted by the diverse project management community, this book has the potential to establish a consistent platform. Team members would free their creative talents. No more time wasted time attempting to communicate.

Once, I believed all project management practitioners should own three books: Visualizing Project Management, Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling and The Fast Forward in Project Management.

It is time to clear some space on your Project Management bookshelf. Communicating Project Management has earned a spot there - and it promises not to collect dust.

This book augments the author's "Visualizing Project Management" (ISBN 047135760X), which I consider to be one of the best books about project management.

The reason why I consider this book to be invaluable is in the collection of techniques and models that foster or directly support collaboration and communication. I especially like the emphasis on communication at the human level, and how the authors highlight barriers and how to overcome them. This material is more than anecdotal - it is reinforced with formal techniques, process models, and cognitive factors. More importantly, the authors delve into communications between and among members of global or geographically dispersed teams, including cultural factors. Given the growing number of teams that are comprised of internal company resources, and off-shore outsourced providers this information is topical and invaluable.

Visualizing Systems Management - The Visual Process Model in Chapter 2 is a direct tie-in to the authors' earlier book, and is the foundation of their approach to facilitating communications. The reference project cycle in Chapter 4 is another touchpoint to their earlier book. However, that earlier book is not required to get maximum benefit from this one - this material will augment any book on project management, including standards such as the Project Management Institute's PMBOK and the U.K. standard, PRINCE2.

The foregoing material comprises approximately a third of the book. The remaining two thirds is devoted to general project management terms and definitions, and acronyms. The terms and definitions are more like an encyclopedia than a dictionary because many are lavishly illustrated and many entries are full explanations of the term, concept or technique. The value of this is your project team will be working from a common set of terminologies, and the book will serve as a ready reference for anyone unfamiliar with a particular technique or concept associated with project management.

I have a well-worn copy of the author's Visualizing Project Management that has helped me understand and then communicate to others the intertwined processes of Project Management and Systems Engineering. I have found no other book that does this as well. Now I have acquired Communicating Project Management that along with providing valuable insights into verbal and non-verbal communication provides a very complete integrated lexicon of Project Management, Systems Engineering, SEI CMM/CMMI, and other relevant terms in a single location. Best of all when definitions can be enhanced with illustrations and examples they are. I have actually found myself reading these definitions for enjoyment after having entered the book to resolve an issue. This book is a must have reference for every leader and practitioner in the PM and SE profession and is essential to establishing a common vocabulary across organizations.

The words of a profession often start as jargon that is coined and applied by colleagues seeking to communicate. Others "adopt" and "adapt" these invented words, but too often incorrectly or outside the intended context. Years can pass before these now "profession-unique" words and phrases are formally defined for others to appreciate and use.

This book finally does just that for both project management and systems engineering. This is a must-have reference for all who wish to communicate effectively within, across, and to these two professions.

This book appears to be an excellent study guide for the NCE. It is written in easy to understand language.

I passed the NCE with flying colors. This book was well worth the investment. Why pay 10 times the price of this book for prep material when you can get it all from one inexpensive source. Dr. Rosenthal presents volumes of material in a highly palatable manner. Bravo!

This was recommended to me by a classmate as an excellent resource. I haven't spent a lot of time in it yet but from what I have seen I agree with them. Also has a related website.

Encyclopedia of Counseling: Master review and Tutorial for the National Counselor Examination, State Counseling Exams, and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination, Third Edition
This book is a must for any graduate student preparing for THE licensing exam for counselors. The 600+ pages appear daunting at first glance. However, the book reads like a novel with humor and is hard to put down. The book is easy to read in chunks. Rosenthal provides memory tips, which are extremely helpful. Having the book early during graduate school provides confidence, helps to get a lot of valuable information into long term memory, and is a great study aid while taking classes. I strongly urge anyone preparing for the exam to purchase the book very soon after entering graduate school for counseling. I wouldn't attempt the exam without reading this book at least twice. Rosenthal knows what he is talking about and how to prepare anyone for this difficult exam. Highly recommended, if not outrageously recommended!

This book is probably the best prep tool for counselors for their national or state exam. It makes you not only review key concepts in all required areas, it simply makes you think and be able to explain the answers. Hard to go wrong with this book. I recommend it and I mean it.

I found that this book had a great many resources online for finding physicians within particular specialties (i.e. one site for radiology doctors, one site for cardiology doctors, etc), but did not have mention of any sites that put all specialties and regions together. One such site to find a doctor is http://www.appointmentnet.com, or even WebMD... although Appointment Net has the easiest search for finding doctors, and even allows you to make appointments and renew prescriptions online.

The web is like the Tower of Babble - jammed with information but difficult to sort out. This book is an invaluable guide to the many, often confusing, sources of online health information. Buy it. Use it. Profit from it.

I found this book to be extremely valuable. Not only does it immeasurably help you to research healthcare and related issues, but it is an excellent reference for understanding how to research healthcare providers. My wife and I will keep this on our short list of resources for good living.

When I was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and spent a lot of time researching the disease and its treatment, "Healthcare Online" was exactly the kind of book I needed but didn't have. It's clear and easy-to-use, though quite sophsticated in its research assistance, and very, very helpful in providing ways to separate out the valid information from the misleading or phony stuff. In the areas I researched intensively, it lists all the sources I eventually found for myself, plus some very useful sites I never discovered. I often counsel newly-diagnosed individuals with my disease and now will pass on this book as a gold mine for their own inquiries.

Healthcare for Dummies validates the Internet as a research tool. It provides qualified healthcare sources with which to help ourselves, our families and friends.
I needed immediate information to help my mother cope with my Father who has Alzheimer's. I not only found organizations with information on Alzheimer's, but sources for my Mother (the caregiver) to contact for guidance and assistance.
Healthcare is rarely one issue. This guide can assist in the search for information on conditions, treatments as well as insurance and life stage issues -- all available on the Internet.

Kudos to Drs. Loo and Phillips for bringing together and contributing to Impeach the President. While I have kept contemporaneously informed with respect to most of the issues addressed therein (read: I have been FREAKING OUT for 6 years now,) what made the book refreshing and, in my opinion, the best of its genre, was not just the excellent recounting of the egregious abuses perpetrated by this Administration, but that most of the authors asked, and attempted to answer - what can we do? And what really sets the book apart from all the others is that the authors acknowledge the reality that nothing - nothing - short of the most organized and best prepared citizen movement will bring about the change that is required if democracy is to survive.

This is a powerful, shocking, page-turning exposition of not only the impeachable offenses of Bush-Cheney, but the deeper empire-building pathology of these guys and others that make up an elite network of politicians, corporate leaders, military leaders, and intellectuals that have been working to dominate the globe - the aptly named, "Global Dominance Group." This work goes beyond the other Bush-Cheney impeachment books to reveal how and why we have come to our current crisis in this country, thereby providing the necessary understanding for eventually turning this country back into the vision of our Founding Fathers, a democratic republic that respects the rule of law and other "enlightened" principles of human rights, equality, and justice. A truly remarkable work of writing and research that will wake you up to the real workings and intentions of this administration.

I'm sorry that I am going to break up the five star party for this book, but to do less would be dishonest. While I found the book to be good, with useful information, I also found several flaws that hurt the book for use as a primary source for those that wish to learn about the possibility of impeachment of President Bush.

The book is written as separate essays by various authors on different subjects that could lead to the impeachment of the President. Each of the articles, alone, would stand nicely and be a valuable piece in a magazine. When grouped together, however, there is a repetition of information that slows the book down and makes it tiring to read. Better editing could correct this problem.

A more serious flaw is the promotion of rather abstract theories to use in an impeachment procedure. Voter fraud in 2004, for one, probably happened, but it would be almost impossible to investigate thoroughly and incorporate as an impeachment article. And, while global warming is occurring, I don't think you can impeach a president for lack of action. That would be a policy decision, and if it were an impeachable offense, it will make every president a sitting duck for everyone that doesn't like their particular policies.

Finally, use of arguments such President Bush's campaign in Haiti are flawed. It will be difficult to get an impeachment with traditional charges, let alone on something that most Americans haven't heard about and probably don't care about either. Muddying the water with these items will make impeachment more difficult, and failing to get a conviction a near certainty. In addition, the writings are too "liberal" for most main stream Americans...the same ones who get their news from Fox and their ilk.

Having said all of that, I do think the book is an important work that should be read by every American. It highlights the numerous failures of this President and would make for excellent background material on a possible impeachment. And, finally, I think this book will be used as a textbook for years to come when the failings of Bush are studied.

This book was eye opening for me. Warning: It is like taking the red pill, you can't go back to how things were before. Not only is the case against Bush and Cheney laid out clearly, there are also points made against the media in the US and how the government is being run. Each essay in each chapter forms a different part of the argument for impeachment. Topics range from all of the blunders and lies about Iraq, to global warming, to election fraud. This book is really worth reading, and when you are done you will never be the same.

This is a book that will answer questions and doubts that we have for our government, and it totally shatters the images that our government has been putting on to us. If you think you know how our society works (from reading and studying textbooks from school), read this book twice. This book will not only make its readers open up their eyes, but also to raise more questions about the society we are living in today.

I wish I would have had this book a few years ago for our middle child, he too had "poop" issues. My friends could not even begin to understand the torment we went through weekly knowing that our son and now our youngest daughter - needed to poop. It was a week long battle of "bumping" as we called it (holding it in), dirty underwear, screaming fits, suppositories, yelling, bribing, etc...

Our son has somewhat outgrown the problem, although he only poops every two or three days. However, it is not the ordeal it once was. But we still have a four year old daughter going through the same torment. This book was an INSTANT success, I'm talking overnight. I wish I could pinpoint the thing that made the difference, but part of me has to believe seeing it on paper that another child "just like me" has the same problem, that it's okay and there are solutions. She has pooped a total of six times without much problem...we sit her on the toilet every other night and read her the book (of course at her request). My husband and I almost fell off our chair when the other day she was making motions like she needed to poop and he asked her - She said "yes" and proceeded to the toilet like it was the normal thing to do. It almost brings me to tears as I write it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Don't hesitate to get this book, it WORKS!!!

This book helped my son understand that he is not the only one with withholding problems...however it is a little wordy and loses his attention probably 1 out of every 3 times we read it.

Overall, if you have a child with bowel movement problems, I would recommend you purchase this book for them.

After 2 years of problems with pooping, this book was an overnight success for my four year old. I thought she'd be struggling with these issues into grade school and this book was so perfect in helping her to work it out and she is now totally fine. Seriously, you MUST buy this if your child struggles. A miracle book.

This is a great book but the story is quite long and hopefully will hold your childs attention to get the message across. Overall a great find.

My 3 year old son was afraid to poop in the potty and would always hold it in until it was unbearable and then go in his underwear despite all our efforts. I ordered this book and read it to him and two days later he was pooping in the potty, not once but twice a day. I strongly recommend this book if your child is experiencing pooping issues. The only downside to this book is it is a little long requiring some paraphrasing, but well worth it.

Normally, I shy away from "Religious" based novels, I find that many such novels have an extreme bias about them that tends to shun other religions or make explainations or excuses for the atrocities performed in the name of religion. However, this one was recommended to me by someone whom I have a great deal of respect for. So when she suggested that I might like this book, I read it, and to my surprise I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Reading some of the previous reviews will give you a taste for the plot of the story so I won't waste time retelling the story. What I found most interesting about Evan's book is the teaching on becoming whole with our male and female sides. This is a concept that is found in some of the Gnostic texts as well as the writings of C.G. Jung. Evan has a unique gift for writing and developing the characters. The New Testament tells the story of Jesus' last few weeks from the point of view of the Disciples, The Last Epistle of Jesus, tell the story from the point of view of many of the secondary characters in the Bible. Hence, we get to experience the New Testament through the characters of Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, the Zeolots, etc. I found it very reminiscent of the play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" which is the back story of the characters in Hamlet.


As the book closes, the stage is set for another book. I don't know when it will be released, but when it is I will be at the front of the line to buy it!

The Last Epistle of Jesus was recommended to me by a family member. From the moment I opened it and read the first page I was HOOKED!!! I grew up Catholic and came to know many of the stories of Jesus...I appreciated how "down to earth" the story was and the different prospectives the writer gave - from the energetic and confused Zealot, to the former female Zealot who experienced Jesus and whose life was changed by him. It is an honest and exciting story and a journey through the eyes of Christ's followers - both those who were convinced by him and those who were not. It was so refreshing to experience both sides of the coin in this book. IT'S A KEEPER!!!!!!!!!!!! (Oh, and I'd read it again in a heartbeat!!!)

I fully enjoyed Evan Howard's book, "The Lost Epistle of Jesus"! It was well-written and grabbed my attention right away. I loved the way he wove Mary Magdalene into the story, making me wonder which direction he would take her relationship with Jesus, right from the beginning. I was hooked and would have followed the story for that reason alone. But there was more. The picture of Christ, and his process of coming to terms with his purpose, was thought provoking and created an opening for self-reflection and learning. The main characters were interesting and threaded throughout the story with twists and turns. They were real, human, and vulnerable. I must admit, once I opened the book, I was in for the ride. I believe only a couple of days passed before I sadly put it down. I can always tell a good book by the pang of loss I feel when I read the last page.

In 30 AD Judith Silva is betrothed to successful merchant Gabriel Latronum but is in love with his older brother Dismas who joined the cause of the Zealots. She believes in their cause of chasing the Romans out of Judea because her younger brother was run over by a chariot by centurions who never stopped to help. Her hatred and revenge fills her heart for the Roman conquerors and decides to elope with Dismas and join the Zealots led by Barabbas in Quman.

Gabriel is heartbroken and decides to kill himself by jumping off the Temple but the Pharisee Nicodemus, a member of the council that rules on Jewish law, saves him from his folly. He talks about the Epistle Jesus wrote to him and explains that it tells people to forgive themselves so they can forgive others. Judith has become disillusioned with the Zealot cause and reads the epistle she and Dismas stole from Nicademus' home. The letters transforms her and gives her the strength to leave Dismas. Gabriel who wants to meet the writer of the epistle meets Mary Magdalene and saves her from two would be rapists. She loves Jesus as he does her but he will not consummate that love because he has is a different calling but through their love he understands and teaches why men and women struggle when they should be concerned with first loving each other spiritually.

THE LOST EPISTLE is the story of a man and a woman whose struggles mirror that of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. This is an exciting story filled with biblical history that is part of the New Testament. Readers see the human and the divine sides of Jesus and the love of Mary Magdalene for a man who loves her in the way all people need to be cherished. Her lessons from him are mirrored in Judith's spiritual journey. Gabriel has to learn the same lessons as Judith if he wants to make a life with her.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (7/07)

"The Lost Epistle of Jesus" is a powerful, and heart-wrenching, recounting of Jesus Christ's final days on earth and how his messages of peace and forgiveness affected those who followed his teachings. It focuses on a young woman named Judith who becomes involved in scandal and betrayal. When her life seems hopeless, she is shown an epistle written by Jesus and finds hope that she can change her life and make amends to those she has hurt. The book also prominently features Mary Magdalene's relationship with Jesus and how she had to struggle to accept her place in his life.

Howard's descriptive writing style allows the reader to become personally involved in the story. I could picture the scenes he was writing about, as well as feel the characters' joy and pain. The scenes that told of the crucifixion broke my heart even though I have heard this story since I was a child. I felt as if I was one of the people there watching what was happening. In the back of the book, there are several "questions for personal reflection and group study." The inclusion of these questions and situations will be beneficial to reading groups and to Bible study classes. These questions require some deep thought and force the reader to put himself into the mindset of several characters to help understand their actions and decisions.

This book is written for Christians as well as anyone who is interested in learning more about Christianity. It should be read by adults only as there are some concepts young people may have difficulty understanding. Women will enjoy it because in some ways it is reminiscent of a soap opera -- only it is set over two-thousand years ago. As a devout Catholic, I enjoyed the author's addressing of some questions I have had. Howard provided details of why Judas Iscariot wanted to betray Jesus (and it was not for thirty pieces of silver). He also provided information as to who the other two men on the cross were. Howard emphasizes the important roles women played as Jesus' disciples. I also found it interesting how Jesus was often described as "awkward" looking. I have never heard of him portrayed this way.

Anyone who is interested in learning more about Jesus Christ's messages and teachings should read "The Lost Epistle of Jesus." It is an inspirational book which shows that sometimes suffering is necessary to achieve great rewards.

I don't really read too many thrillers, and I've never taken the time to write a review before, but I really loved this book! The characters were great, the plot twists kept me guessing, and the whole thing really made me think. I had to stop reading the book at night because it kept me awake. Make sure you take a good look at the cover of the book, I didn't see the ufo in the background until I was half way through the book! I think this was even better than the Da Vinci Code!

I thought this was a great action packed story. I've read a lot of books with great Heroes, the Dirk Pitts, Jason Bourne etc., and Hank is up there with the best of them. I kept trying to visualize who in Hollywood could play this guy. The author has a new twist on Aliens and mankind that makes the book very interesting and provokes you to think about History and religion. Lastly, its hard to believe this is the author's first book. Seems like he's got a lot of story line for more tales to tell.

This is painfully long, unbrilliant novel, with tons of philosophical mumbo-jumbo, great characters and of course a little Howard Stern crow-barred in. On a scale of A to E, I give it an E. On a scale of R to Z it gets a Z. This book needs more Beetlejuice. If you are bored and have a month or 2 to kill in a Vegas hotel room waiting for a bloated comedian to wake up then this book is for you!

What a fun read. When a friend had first suggested this first time author's book, I thought, great! Then I looked at the page count and got concerned...all for no reason. This book is a page turner with great character development. The plot and it's twist are all thought through to an excellent conclusion. While certainly movie material the book is anything but hollywood formula. Let's see if Mr. Franklin's next effort can be as fresh, fun, and fast to read.

The story starts strong with a chaotic fight scene (one of many) and keeps your interest with many plot twists and turns. It is hard to believe this is the author's first work. As mentioned in previous reviews, it is a large book but you just don't seem to mind when reading it. After a few nail biting heart pounding scenes the story seems to just flow the way a thriller should.
One of the (many) messages of the story is the idea that any person(s) who believe they are privy to some ultimate knowledge is both intellectually immature and naïve. As history has shown us it is often the real world around us that holds amazing truths not the supernatural myths we have created to explain it. As it demonstrates through its characters; when we are faced with world changing events that threaten our survival it will be reason, logic and rational minds that will provide the answers... not panic and ignorance.
Mr. Franklin has certainly done his homework, as with all good Sci-fi novels it is peppered throughout the book with a wide range of scientific factoids, from plasma windows (currently only theoretical) to evolutionary science to sociology to name only a few.
Of course this is a work of fiction but it does prompt one to think about some of life's biggest questions. Are we alone? Is there something or someone out there? Are they going to play nice if we ever meet? Are we?

When Wrath isn't looking, shoot it in the head.

With that, and other maxims from the acclaimed mercenary handbook, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Pirates, intrepid Captain Tagon blasts off with his crew of misfits in their first collection. This is one of the most clever, funny, and well written comics in recent memory and this collection is the perfect way to enjoy it. With lots of value added features, Under New Management is great value for the money.

Great read from one of my favourite webcomic authors. Nicely printed and lots of interesting bonus content.

All right. The title might sound over the top, but Schlock Mercenary DID change my life in a very real way. Before I found Schlock Mercenary, I thought that all web comics were terrible. Schlock Mercenary opened my eyes to a new world of entertainment, and now I read webcomics every week.

Schlock Mercenary is my homepage.

That said, Schlock Mercenary is a masterfully constructed story. Howard has managed to create a captivating cast of characters that cover every role in a sci-fi mercenary unit. This allows him to tell entertaining stories from every possible point of view. The story is riveting and honest, in it's own bizzare way.

And did I mention FUNNY?

I've been a regular reader of the online strip Schlock Mercenary - if you aren't, you really owe it to yourself to start reading - and finally getting my hands on a print version was a long awaited joy.

For the unfamiliar, Schlock Mercenary follows the mercenary combat Tagon's Toughs as they gleefully resort to violence on behalf of the highest bidders across the Galaxy. The story is smart, coherent, action-packed without being graphic and consistently funny. Schlock Mercenary is also very family friendly without being dumbed-down or banal. The book is a very high quality item, with glossy pages and many extras for the reader - the margins are filled with early concept art and the visual evolution of the artist's designs, and including the footnote commentary to selected strips. As a bonus, there is a short origins story that is not available online, existing only in this book collection.

This is a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.

Howard Tayler is producing great work in the comic medium for the SF genre.

He offers science fiction hard enough to please the SF purists and technophiles but like any good comic artist puts his engaging plot first. He leads readers through an interesting setting populated with delightful characters and lays the final touches to a foundation for a surprisingly intricate plot in this volume.

It's unique. It's hilarious. Stuff blows up.

Howard and Ali were pals...you can feel their love for each other in this book. We miss both of these players...

Where else but in American sports can an old, white, Jewish veteran befriend a young Black Muslim draft dodger? They may not have been friends who loved each other, but it was convenient for both of them. If you can't take advantage of a friend, then he's not. They had things in common. Both were driven. Both had over inflated egos. They were the greatest. If you don't believe it just ask them. Well, Howard Cosell is dead & Ali doesn't talk any more. Their early life & struggles are covered well so that you understand where they came from. Cosell was a World War II vet. He earned a law degree then decided he wanted to do sports on television. He was brash, obnoxious & smart. His relationship with Ali & Monday Night Football made him a nationally recognized sports journalist. Ali, originally Cassuius Clay had a fairly normal upbringing. Then he won Golden Gloves Championship & Olympic gold metal in 1960, that propelled him into his pro career. Before he was finished he had became & is the most recognizable man on earth. He was the world Heavyweight Champion, that most singular of all championships, three times.
Ali was despised for his faith, his refusal to serve in the military & of course his race. Eventually, he overcame all these obstacles. The U.S. government pursued him, denying his draft deferment status. As a result he was also denied the right to box for several of what would have been his most productive years. He lost millions of $$$ & was stripped of his championship. Eventually, he was aquitted. Cosell covered him all along his journey. The author, Dave Kindred spends quite a bit of time on Ali's three fights with Joe Fraizer & rightly so. Ali's life has become an inspiration to kids on all continents but especially the impoverished millions in Africa. He was persecuted by his own government & cheated by the leaders of the Black Muslim faith that managed him. He apparently is now a quiet soul bearing no malice to anyone. Cosell on the other hand became embittered after his MNF gig. He wanted to be taken seriously as more than a sports announcer. When he wasn't he didn't take it well. Poor health eventually claimed him. A good sports book for all us fans of a certain age that remember Cosell & Ali in their prime.

David Kindred has written what amounts to a duel biography of the controversial odd couple that is Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell. The author tells us that Ali elected to not join the military because the Muslim Nation told him not to. To cross them was to literary toy with his life. The assassination of Malcolm X being used as an example. While not necessarily agreeing with Ali's decision Cosell supported Ali stating that taking his heavyweight championship away from him without any semblance of due process was completely wrong. There appears to be evidence that Cosell may have already been experiencing dementia when he came out with his second book entitled I Never Played the Game. Aware of the criticism in his book of his cronies in the TV booth for Monday Night Football Cosell was asked before publication whether he wanted to include these strong opinions. Since he always prided himself on telling it "like it is" he felt it would be hypocrisy of him not to do so now. Cosell was a devoted family man while Ali ventured into nocturnal delights. It was hard for sports fans to be neutral in regard to either of these men, but boxing was the ingredient that brought these two men together first in mutural respect and then in friendship. Incidentally, page 247 has a hilarious anecdote of Howard using his colorful vocabulary in breaking up fisticuffs involving teens in Kansas City. Whether you are a fan of either man or the part they played in sports you will find this to be an extremely enjoyable book to read.

Dave Kindred has done lovers of sports and history a favor with Sound and Fury.

Using two cultural giants - Mohammad Ali and Howard Cosell - he has produced a fresh and readable social history of the latter half of the Twentieth Century. Let me be clear. I love Ali. Kindred refers to him as the most influential sports figure of the last century. In my mind, he understates the case; Ali is the most influential person of the last century.

Cosell, on the other hand, may have hesitated to tell you he was. He was not. Trained as a lawyer and gifted with the ability to articulate complexity, he brought a thinking man's view to radio and television sports journalism.

Individually, they were interesting. Together, they were hypnotizing. They produced controversy, drama and comedy almost every time they appeared together.

Dave Kindred tells the story of this alliance from a unique perspective. As a newspaper and magazine sports columnist with nearly 40 years experience, he covered Ali's early fight days as a reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal before moving on to the The Atlanta Journal- Courier and The Washington Post. He draws upon his experiences to re-create the Ali-Cosell story in ways I have never seen attempted.

The result is a fascinating portrait of two outsized figures - their heroics and their demons. Drawing on personal observations, fresh reporting and interviews, Kindred writes a page-turning treatment of two lives that together changed sports, television and I would argue, the world, forever.

Sound and Fury (14 hours, 11 cds, unabridged, Blackstone Audio) is a duel biography of Howard Cosell and Mohammed Ali.

Sport writer Dave Kindred knew both men, he has written a bio that transcends his knowledge of both men. His text is an honest, no hold barred , warts and all biography. When a third person (like Kindred) writes a biography, he tends to put his personal touches with his own bias, this book is NOT that.The book showed an unlikely partnership created by media hype.

In the audio narrative hands of Dick Hill, this audio project seems more like a docudrama in its scope. Hill's narrative voice takes on verbal personas of Cosell and Ali, without mocking them. His talent has grown from the days at Brilliance Audio.

Sound and Fury is an amazing production . . . you won't forget it audio, long after you heard it

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD