Long Books

In this book, on p. 3, Gary asks, "Is there no answer to this pitiful dilemma?" This is in regards to the current condition of evangelical Christianity in America, as he also discusses later on in pp. 327-329. God's answer is so glaringly obvious that it is very easy, apparently, to let it slip right by us, hardly noticed at first, and, even second, glance. It is so glaringly obvious to each and every true Christian that the church has essentially missed its great significance and import for almost 2000 years of history, apparently. Perhaps, most specifically, it has not given it the total kind of attention that it surely deserves. And this has caused problems down through history. Obviously the church has indeed noticed the existence of the new covenant, but has it really given it the kind of in-depth attention that it deserves? We read the various elements time and again, those of us who do read our Bibles, that is, and we don't understand at first the great far-reaching significance and importance of what we read. I think this happens in our course of more casual reading in which we are not really organizing our thoughts very well as we read, and, apparently nobody has ever really organized these extremely important matters and the important, far-reaching signification of them in the life of the Christian. Until now!

Yet, when we stop to think in a more analytical way of the content we just read, and we start adding up the points on paper, we soon start to recognize a definite pattern that emerges, and that ultimately leads us onward to a momentous conclusion. It is strange to me why anybody has never done this before, but it appears they haven't, at least not very well, or not nearly well enough!

This pattern, so clear and so prevalent, involves the element of time on the earth, and how it is to proceed from the focal point of the apostles onward. I believe that the key factor, among many fine factors, revolves primarily around the element of time. It is the clincher that solidifies all else that transpired previously, or say, from Genesis to Christ's actual coming into the world. Time is most essential and important, for it confirms God's plan of the ages in Christ. It establishes and confirms God's ultimate truth beyond any further question! When placed alongside all of the other elements that sacred Scripture makes so very clear, it becomes a mighty mountain replete with resounding thunderings which ring down through the annals of time!

In all reality, God has made things very clear beyond any valid question whatsoever. It is the very finding of this and embracing it that profoundly changes us for all time! It is also profoundly sufficient and satisfying in every sense! It's finding unleashes the most sublime joy, peace and tranquility, comfort and satisfaction unequalled anywhere else, or in any other thing, in all of life, or in the clinging to one millennial position or another. I guess one would have to say that this is an example, indeed, of the Holy Spirit's role as our Instructor and Comforter, as He reveals to us the awesome truths of God's Word! He makes God's answer powerful and profound in every way to our hearts in their every hope and longing!

In His presence we are led to the conclusion, centered in God Himself! And in this, we feel his powerful and profound exclamation point that is sufficient to answer all our needs! It is this very revelation that, like our Savior and Lord Himself, propels us onward into eternity with Himself! For it takes us upward, spiritually, like no other, and sets us upon what I like to call God's lightsome way! It mightily confirms that all those who come to Him are freed from their grievous burden (Mt.11:28) as they walk along the upward way with Him who becomes their all in all. It is within the vehicle, or the credential, of the new covenant wherein we find our ultimate destiny with God!

It is these truths that transcend all earthly bounds! And it is the Spirit's good pleasure to take us there. It is the ultimate reward for faithfulness to God Himself! It supplies the completely sufficient answer to the dilemma that Gary sees, and that I have seen also.

And I feel that it is a really good thing to observe and study all that Gary has so industriously and brilliantly compiled in his valuable book Context! Evangelical Views on the Millennium Examined. I 'm sure that a background study in these positions helps us to better identify with the whole issue before us. Then, when the discovery does come, it is all the more significant and magnificent in its impact upon the heart that has been searching and longing for such wondrous truths for a time, and most especially for a very long time! I agree that Seminary classes all over the country ought to utilize such tools that stimulate such spiritual hunger within before it finally becomes satisfied with that one great truth. It is a really good lesson in truth's ultimate value!

Today we do not have to look very far to realize what truth's absence has done to our world. It is most deplorable, "this pitiful dilemma" that Gary recognizes that permeates modern evangelical Christianity. But, yes, Gary, the "Spirit-wrought discernment" and answer "in light of the context of Holy Writ" (p. 4) I am most happy to tell you I do most strongly feel is ours at long last! I hope you'll be most happy to hear this from me!

What our world now needs is more people to wake up and face it forthrightly. It is this failure or loss in the area of this basic Christian truth that has now brought us to the brink of total disaster. For mankind's continuing failure in this one vital area of truth has wrought catastrophic results upon our entire world in many ways. Nor will it now be entirely "an easy fix"! But it does desperately need to be applied to the current problem, and right quickly, as we are truly in a state of catastrophe and even meltdown now over these prophetic matters! It is far better than just standing by and watching everything collapse into the kingdom of antichrist, which is not so very far off at all either! Certainly now the stage is set for the world to descend into his darkness like never before. I believe that this one issue has contributed much to helping its realization. The thought is abhorrent and reprehensible to any caring person.

There Is A Kingdom, by me, Anita Whalley (on Amazon.com), lays the answer to this "pitiful dilemma" all out before us. The Scripture content of this book can easily free us from all of the "strong delusion" (II Tim 2:11) so prevalent out there today and for at least the last 50 years. Only it can set our feet upon God's higher ground! The time cannot be any more urgent than it is now. ---Anita J. Whalley.

Written as a textbook for Bible college students and seminarians, Context examines six views of the millennium of Revelation 20. One chapter is devoted to each of the following views: historic premillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, progressive dispensationalism, postmillennialism, amillennialism, and new covenant non-premillennialism. In each chapter Long describes and explains one of the respective positions using primary source material from the chief proponents of that view. Then Long examines the view in light of New Testament maxims which Long believes should guide the interpretation of Bible prophecy. The first five views, Long posits, disagree with one or more of these maxims. New covenant, non-premillennialism he presents as being in harmony with all of the maxims. As a textbook in eschatology, Context is clear, well-written, and well-documented. Its charts, questionnaire on prophecy, bibliography, and indices of authors and Scripture references are helpful. Those interested in eschatology, millennial movements, and interpretation of Revelation will find it useful. Professors of New Testament and systematic theology may consider it as a text for their students, and it will be a good addition to the eschatology section in seminary libraries. For, its discussion of the millennium, expanding beyond the "three views" and "four views" books to a thorough examination of six views, makes it unique. In addition, it is the first major treatment of the new covenant, non-premillennial position.

This is a wonderful book about a woman driven to be a writer, and she did it entirely her own way, without compromise. It is a fun, adventurous autobiography, and is vividly portrayed. It tells of a life of triumph, against all odds, and as a biography, is a very satifisying read. The fact that she became a successful author, without any training, and offers lots of tidbits of wisdom for others hoping to break into the writing profession is a bonus. Highly recommended for anyone who likes strong adventerous female biographies, or is interested in the ups and downs of being a writer.

"The Craft So Long To Lerne" is the personal memoir of novelist Annabel Johnson. She is the author of more than twenty historical novels that were read with enjoyment by readers of all ages. After the historical novel (as a genre) began to fade in popularity with the reading public, Annabel switched literary gears to write five science fiction novels that were commercial and literary successes in that specialized field. After her artist and writer husband Edgar Johnson died in 1990, Annabel began her autobiography, wanting to incorporate the spirit and excitement of the travels she and Edgar had when they traveled the western country of America together creating the novels. Threaded through this inherently fascinating life story are tips for aspiring writers and insights into the necessity for the kind of commitment it takes to become a successful author -- then and now. "The Craft So Long To Lerne" is welcome and entertaining reading -- and most especially recommended to the attention of anyone who aspires to set pen to paper (or finger to keyboard in this day and age) to write their own great American novel.

Hyperliterature is literature which cannot be fully reproduced in print, because in one way or another it takes advantage of the computerised medium - via sound-effects, animation, nonlinear structure etc. One of the most obvious commercial applications for this is in children's literature. Imagine a pop-up book where the pop-ups worked over and over again without ever getting creased or tearing! Up until now, however, the possibilities of children's hyperliterature have hardly been explored.

Croatian Tales of Long Ago (Part One) changes all that, although it can be expected to appeal to adults just as much as children. It is a really exciting piece of hyperliterature: unpretentious, with genuine popular appeal, but not in the least shallow, sentimental or patronising to its audience. It has rightly won a hatful of international awards. If this CD and its companion volume meet with the commercial success they deserve, we can expect to see a lot more work of this type appearing in the next few years. Let's hope it's all up to the same high standard.

"Based on Croatian Fairy Tales of Long Ago, this series of storybooks brought to life is beautiful, simple to navigate, and captivating. A must see both to read, and be inspired!"
Kids @n the Net, UK

I found this in the library when I was 13 or 14. Everything the other reviewer says is pretty much true. A lot of fun!

Before he made his career seeking glimmers of pearl in the oyster goos and ganglia of American mid-cult, slipping even to conquer TV and stooping, at times, to politics, the critic John Leonard was some kind of genius, the greatest prose musician, philosophical gymnast, bicultural Snow man and hierophant of science and art who ever wrote a masterpiece about the city of Long Beach, California, or any other oily American conurbation. It was called Crybaby of the Western World (its only dull phrase was the title), so noone read it but me, as far as I know, and I was too flabbergasted by its incandescence to review it. But it introduced me to a panoply of optical effects and Fourier transformations, including the laser and the synecdoche, in 1967 or something, and I try to do penance by buying a second hand copy every year or so to give to writers who need an image of the summits of literary craft and are willing to risk a permanent ban from their sport in order to gain the unfair advantage of its Nabokovian amphetamines.

Deftly edited by Nan Bauer-Maglin, Cut Loose: (Mostly) Older Women Talk About the End of (Mostly) Long-Term Relationships is an anthology of testimonies from women who experienced the end of a long-lasting relationship. Some felt abandoned, others confused, and yet all came to realize they were set free; sometimes the end of a long-term relationship spelled sexual, mental, or emotional liberation. Women in both heterosexual and same-sex relationships speak out, and the essays themselves are categorized into personal narratives, practical perspectives on the psychological, sociological, economic, sexual, and medical aspect of being left; and the shared experience of subgroups of women such as single women, widows, or abandoned daughters. A true-life glimpse into personal experience and the lasting lessons that can be drawn from it.

In each story, there is at least a sentence...often more...that simply resonates inside you, because you have thought that, or felt that, done that or wanted to do that. I can hardly come up for air. And I know it must leave my hands when I finish, and go on to help another.
What a great book!

My friend got this book from a book club and showed it to me. I absolutely love it!!! We have a son named Owen and the books reminds me a lot of him. We plan on getting an extra copy to give to him when he is older. The story is such a touching story for a father and son! Love it!

(This review first appeared in the "Ephrata (Pa.) Review").

In this endearing story, Owen, a young pig, inadvertently sets off a competition of sorts, with him and his father coming up with inventive ways to express their love for one another.

"Daddy," said Owen, "I love you more than chocolate milk!"

Well, Daddy loves Owen "more than TWO pancakes with bananas on top!"

And on it goes to bedtime.

Due to the illustrations' smooth, almost slick, texture, they appear to be airbrushed; perhaps they were painted with a computer program. In any case, they energetically showcase a loving, playful and happy father and son.

I came across this book by accident because I needed a book on cd to listen to in the car. Now I find myself sitting in my driveway reluctant to get out of the car and leave Jerusha/Judy behind. So beautifully written it's impossible to imagine anyone who would be unmoved by this young woman's letters to her unknown benefactor.

In Daddy-Long-Legs, Jerusha Abbot is an orphan that gets sent to college by a mysterious trustee that thinks she has a future as an author. The only hint to his identity is the glimpse that Jerusha had of his long legs, as he was leaving. His only request is that she write him a letter once a month (with no hope of ever having a reply). For the next four years, Jerusha learns to be like "other girls", and we watch her grow and mature as she finds her voice.

Dear Enemy, the wonderful sequel, is set after Daddy-Long-Legs, where Jerusha is given the orphanage where she grew up. She enlists her best friend from college (whom we are introduced to in Daddy), Sally, to run the orphanage. Sally, a flighty society girl, is completely changed as she learns to love her orphans and the new life she has chosen to lead.

Both of them are romantic, fun and thoughtful, without the preachy-ness of some of the other girls novels published around the same time.

Best part is that BOTH books are published in this one volume - which is a great deal (and saves room on my already overflowing bookshelf). Footnotes in the back of the book help define some of the terminology/setting of the era.

This is a classic that I read as a child, and I'm so happy to have found it again!

This book was an easy read and an enjoyable, real to life story. It was especially interesting because our children have all gone through the struggles of long division. It was helpful to see how the character in the book worked her way through.

I loved this book! It not only is an entertaining story but also gives great lessons to kids on how to self-sufficiently solve problems at school as well as at home. A great addition to any school, classroom, or family library!

This book examines the background of the genocide in the Sudan by examining the history of Chad's relations with Libya. Libya inserted itself in African politics in the 1980s and began a major degree of meddling in Sub-Saharan Africa, training revolutionaries and rebels such as Charles Taylor. Increasingly it involved itself in Chad and Chad became a brooding ground and testing ground for Arab Islamist militias persecuting indigenous Africans and Christians. This was a viscious recipe and it eventually led to the problems across the border in Darfur where similar rivalries based on race, religion and tribe ignited a genocide, backed by Khartoum.

A fascinating history and a new perspective.

Seth J. Frantzman

Images of the genocide in Darfur have shocked the Western world: Upwards of 300,000 of its inhabitants have died, and another 2.5 million have become refugees. Those affected by the violence are estimated at almost 4 million, 700,000 of whom are now beyond the reach of humanitarian assistance. These are staggering numbers, and the fractious insurgent groups involved-- Islamist Arab tribal militias against Christian black Africans and other militias made up of deserters of the Chad Army--were and still are supported to kill, rob, and terrorize by the governments of the neighboring states of the Sudan, Chad, and Libya.
These are the consequences of a decades-long war, as J. Millard Burr and Robert O. Collins explained in their earlier book, Africa's Thirty Years War: Libya, Chad, and the Sudan, 1963-1993. The Long Road to Disaster in Darfur updates this study and covers the events of the last thirteen years.

Reviews of Africa's Thirty Years War
"A lively detailed and informative study...The authors consider ethnic, religious, cultural, technological,geographic, and meteorological variables and present brief enlightening political portraits of the stories' protagonists. Historically situating the war within the struggle for supremacy along the borders of the Islamic world, the book seeks to explain why so many governments invested so much for so long in the control of such seemingly worthless expanses of sand and rock."
--Foreign Affairs

"This is a fine work, well documented and well argued, and convincing."--Journal of Military History

"This fascinating study combines analytical depth with accessible lucidity. It should be essential reading for any student of African history and politics." --African Studies Review

"...a timely, useful contribution. ... The volume is replete with meticulous detail. ...well documented and lucidly written...useful for years to come." --International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies

The Upside:

Dark Champions is the genre book for Modern Action, Street Supers, Vigilante and associated genres. Mostly it concentrates on Modern Action and other modern genres.

Chapter One - The Dark Champions Genre. The chapter starts out with a discussion on exactly what Dark Champions covers. It goes over subgenres, metagenres and elements that make up most Dark Champions games. Starting with the typical street vigilante style game, and covering all the way to games that include fantastic elements such as Monster Hunter campaigns. While short, it covers a lot of ground and does a good job of explaining the basic elements that make up a Dark Champions game.

Chapter Two - Character Creation. This is the longest chapter in the book, and goes into the details of creating a character to play in a Dark Champions game.

Part One covers the basics of creation going over backgrounds, personalities, and archetypes. You get a good range of advice on building the person you're going to play, including advice on how to play against type and combine various elements of each section.

Once you know who you are and where you came from it's time to get down to the business of spending character points. Part Two is Package Deals, covering suggestions for a range of characters and their associated skills and abilities. Twenty-Three Package deals are provided. There are five Criminal Packages, four Espionage Packages, five Law Enforcement Packages, six Military Packages, and three Miscellaneous Packages. Also included in this section is information on Intelligence Agencies around the world, how they operate and names they use for various sections, which is an immense help to give spies and intelligence agents the right flavor. The Packages fit well with most character levels, and cover from cinematic to realistic versions of various occupations likely to be played.

The characteristics section comes with good advice on how to create a spread of characteristics amongst a group of characters, especially with the standard Heroic Normal Characteristic Maxima in place. It also has advice on how to selectively alter those Maxima to create even more diversity amongst the group.

Skills covers some specific uses in a Dark Champions game. There's advice on using skills while injured, or on broken equipment, as well as expanded modifier tables for many skills. The other piece of useful information is the Gunsmithing Modifiers table, with time increments to use the skill. Two new elements are introduced, the first is the Parachuting Skill and the second the Expert Skill Enhancer.

Perks provides a number of useful Fringe Benefits for modern gaming. They are Rank Benefits for several organizations and sectors: Business, Criminal, Espionage, Government, Law Enforcement, and Military (broken down by branch of US Military). Also included is a new Perk called Improved Equipment Availability, for use with the Resource Points covered later in the chapter.

Seven new Talents are introduced. Combat Shooting and Combat-Ready both cover actions one takes in combat. Crippling Blow and Deadly Blow are two talents designed to cause even more pain or damage to a target. Evasive is for those characters that are especially good at not getting hit. Hotshot Pilot is for anyone especially good at flying. Rapid Healing is appropriate for more cinematic games.

One new Optional Power is introduced to the game, Piercing. This is a special Power that works in conjunction with Attack Powers to reduce defenses. One new Power Advantage is also introduced, Semi-Armor Piercing, a reduced form of the standard Armor Piercing Advantage.

Disadvantages covers the most appropriate disadvantages for a Dark Champions game. As well as ways of using Advantages that aren't normally associated with this genre, such as Vulnerability.

Super-Skills are a new element introduced in this genre book. Super-Skills are a form of pseudo-power for Heroic characters. They are mostly designed for cinematic type games, though a few are appropriate for more realistic games. They are built like normal Powers, but almost always with many more Limitations than standard Champions level Powers.

The last section of this chapter is Resource Points. This is another new element for Heroic Games. For those times where a greater level of control over resources available to the Characters is useful the Resource Points can be handy. They work as a way for characters to equip themselves for a specific adventure, choosing appropriate gear and the like. The Contacts & Followers Points have the potential to be the one most useful, considering the source material how many contacts are seen once and never again this is a good way to simulate a rotating roster of people a Character has access to from adventure to adventure. Especially if NPCs have a habit of getting killed dramatically in your games.

Chapter Three - Forensics. This is an entire chapter dedicated to gathering, identifying and using forensic data. While it is not completely comprehensive (that's beyond the scope of the book), it is more than good enough to use in a game. It covers how to use various Skills in the system for Forensics, which ones are appropriate when, which ones serve as complimentary skills, and finally a short discussion on how Powers might effect Forensic data and data gathering. If you have a game that focuses on some form a detective work this chapter is an excellent source of information.

Chapter Four - Combat And Adventuring. This chapter focuses on how to treat combat in Dark Champions. The first section covers basic Hero Combat and how it's elements interact with the genre at both a Realistic and Cinematic level, providing some very good advice on how to treat certain elements and mechanics of the system to capture either feel. The next section covers Damage and how it affects the Dark Champions genre, providing both more lethal and less lethal options. One of the more interesting concepts is Adjustable Hit Locations, which can greatly increase the lethality of a game, and turn most gunfights into one-shot one-kill affairs. It also covers handling damage as Mystery Damage, which is more work for the GM, but can add tension to the game on the Players side, enhancing their sense of danger and possible immersion into the genre. Healing damage is also covered, since quick healing isn't normally available is modern genres some useful alternatives are provided to help keep the game flowing and prevent the Characters dying with the same regularity as goons. The last part of the chapter covers Gunfighting. With options for alternate range modifiers, close quarters combat blow through (thin barriers provide little protection, this is how you can handle that aspect), recoil, reloading and other factors of a firefight from realistic to cinematic.

The optional rules in this chapter can help capture the feel of the gun battles you want to play out. From the quick and dirty to the feats of Hong Kong action stars, from doves flying through churches to all the other trappings you see on the big screen action thrillers.

Chapter Five - Weapons. If you're looking for a comprehensive look at implementing guns in the Hero System, this chapter is it. It starts out with a sidebar discussion on how people will argue endlessly over how to model guns in any game. So inevitably people will disagree with how Dark Champions does it. What I can tell you is that the implementation is internally consistent, which means it's both playable and works well with itself, which is what you really want out of an RPG. It provides a discussion on ammunition sizes, various ammo types, and how to modify ammo, this comes with sixteen pages of Ammo Tables that list damage by type and caliber for easy reference. It also has a separate section on Shotgun ammo. Next is firearms accessories and modifications. Which covers pretty much everything you can add onto or do to a weapon. Then comes a big list of guns and their basic damage, this is another eleven pages of reference tables, grenades are included as well. The final section covers Other Weapons, just in case shooting the enemy isn't preferred. Aside from knives and clubs there is a good section on explosives. Types of explosives, how easy they are to work with, trigger methods, and all the other information you'll need to level a skyscraper or two. Non-lethal weapons also get a mention, from handcuffs to sonic weapons and all the sub dual weapons modern forces use.

Chapter Six - Equipment & Gear. Next is everything else a Dark Champions character uses in their battle against the enemy. First is an important look at how to get stuff in a typical Dark Champions game, from what is appropriate for what settings to how the GM can control the game and prevent it from becoming a simple arms race. There is also a handy prices table, giving prices in suggested ranges rather than set values, after all black market conditions change for most items. Defensive Equipment is up first, with a look at various kinds of armor, and a small section with write-ups for other kinds of protective equipment and combat wear such as gas masks and holsters. Sensory Equipment covers various methods of constructing radios and communications gear in Hero, as well as five different possible ideas for encrypted communications in the Hero System. Also provided are write-ups for various kinds of sight gear (binoculars and night vision goggles to mention two), detectors (bomb detectors, drug detectors, etc), and various surveillance bugs. For games going towards Costumed Vigilantes and approaching Champions in feel there is also a section, with the single most comprehensive Utility Belt write-up I have ever seen (thirty-three gadgets in all). Security devices and Spy Equipment finishes out the chapter, with both real world Spy Gadgets and Movie Spy Gadgets.

Chapter Seven - Dark Champions Adversaries. This is a short chapter on the enemy, divided into three useful sections. First is organized crime. Going over various organizations like The Mafia and Yakuza, how they are structured, what their illegal activities are known to be. Organized mostly by ethnic type as organized criminal organizations tend to do. It also gives information on smaller but no less deadly groups such as street gangs and motorcycle gangs. Other Criminals covers cinematic masterminds (the guys you tend to see in the movies), costumed criminals, robbery crews, and serial killers. The last section covers Terrorist Groups, giving information on twenty-two currently active (as of 2004 when the book was printed) terrorist groups around the world, and six groups that operated in the past but are no longer active. Will all these various kinds of bad guys the Players should never run out of enemies to face off against.

Chapter Eight - The Dark Champions GM. This chapter is divided into three sections, dealing with setting up and running a Dark Champions game. The first part is Creating A Campaign, starting with character guidelines. Probably the most important part of any campaign is to get the players on board with the tone of the game. A good set of guidelines is a key element, this section covers that nicely. Going over the possible arms race, effectiveness ceilings, normal character maxima, and character growth. Also looked at is Paranormal elements in the game, whether they're real, not present at all or seemingly real until the curtain is pushed back. As well as types of paranormal abilities common in the genre and how to work with and treat them. Next Campaign Tone covers morality of the game, general outlook, realism and the importance of the Characters in the overall game world. Campaign Types and Subjects is covered next, going hand in hand with many of the elements discussed in Chapter One.

Running the Game is next, and is overall more generalized advice on running any RPG, though it does focus examples on Dark Champions genres. It covers plotting, pacing, adventure elements and a random plot generator for those times you need an idea to start things off. Also included is a good section on various ways to use Disadvantages as plot hooks or twists in a game.

The last part is Villains and NPCs. Going over a range of villain qualities, archetypes and motivations. As well as a good discussion on how to use NPCs to spice up the game with a number of archetypes you can use for flavor.

Chapter Nine - Libra. This chapter has two parts. First is a vigilante group called Libra, the second a short collection of adversaries. Libra is a five person organization bent on administering justice in Hudson City (the published Dark Champions setting). They can be easily moved to your own campaign. Their focus can change depending on how you want to use them in your game and the tone of your players. They can be dark adversaries to Players who are more sympathetic with the law, or staunch allies in the Players fight to wipe out crime one criminal at a time. Or they can be competition for your team of Players. The group itself is well built and covers most bases, but does bend towards the cinematic in style.

The second part is five villains; an assassin, a street mercenary, a crime boss, a mercenary with a twist (he hunts people), and another mercenary who prefers large machine guns. They are of various levels and motivations, representing a good cross section of villains you can use to get started in a game.

The Downside:

A lot of new and optional rules are presented, a group has to be careful what they use and don't use in their games. Given the sheer amount of information presented a section with suggestions on which rules to allow and not allow in a list for each sub-genre covered could help prospective GMs set-up their games. But then, the Hero System is about choices, and you have plenty of elements to choose from. And its likely any such lists would cause more controversy than they would solve.

I would have like to see an example of a Paranormal or Monster Hunter style Villain for Dark Champions games that want to include a bit of the weird.

The Otherside:

As a genre book its useful to those looking for information on running particular genre conventions. Chapters one and three are almost completely free of system mechanics and provide information any modern action game could use. Chapter two has useful information for general character creation.

Dark Champions does a good job of presenting the modern action genre and giving suggestions on how to use the Hero System to create the feel of the genre. The new Perks, Talents and optional rules for gunfights can turn the generic Hero System into a game that feels action oriented and gritty. The new resource points also go a long way to helping with the feel of the genre. Hero Games does an excellent job when representing ways to emulate the genre with this book.

If you're tired of playing with world-saving heroes who laugh at guns, knives, and thugs, then this is the book for you. Dark Champions focuses on the everyday kind of heroes who focus on making neighborhoods safe and on street-level violence. The rules are clearly laid out and the book is well-written, conveying great flavor for a street-level game. The author, Steve Long, does a great job of making the world seem to come alive.