O'Neal Books

Not as good as the first 2 books of the Fallon series. Unlike the first 2, that showed the build up and then how a Fallon took part in first the revolutionary war, and then the war of 1812. The Fallon legacy leads up to both the civil war and the battle of the Alamo, but never gets into them. Also the book leaves allot unfinished. Let me put it this way. If the wheel of time ends the way this series does, the dark one will be set free, Mat will still be trying to get the daughter of the nine moons to marry him, and Rand will be wondering if now would be a good time to save the world. Oh and a forsaken will be waiting in the next room to kill him.

Over all this was a let down. I'm really glad that RJ dropped this series and wrote the wheel of time.

Robert Jordan is a thrill a minute writer with incredible wit, but no movie could ever capture what Jordan writes.

I've read the Fallon series and the WOT series and couldn't even imagine them being deplored by a movie. Never in my life have I seen a movie that compared to the book. You wanna see a movie, fine, but writing as complicated and intertwined as Jordan's couldn't be put into a movie of any length.

In the Fallon Legacy, the story concentrates mostly on James Fallon, Robert Fallon's long lost son. The story takes you through James' adventures in the Texas frontier. Amidst much excitment and adventure, Robert Jordan is able to provide the reader with an extraordinary amount of history and culture from the Mexico/Texas region. The characters in this book are awesome. Some of the most loveable and hateable people I have ever read about. The Fourrier family continues to haunt the Fallons all the way up to the last chapter of the trilogy, but the Fallons are once again able to persevere, although with some heart-wrenching losses.
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While the adventure and romance of this novel were very entertaining and fun to read, the best thing about the book, and indeed the whole trilogy, is the fresh perspective that it provides on the history and the culture of America 200 years ago. Books like this help to preserve our heritage.

The struggles and hardships of the revolutionary period and beyond are masterfully captured between robert jordans bookcovers.A story of a family that stems with importance but not to much to be mentioned in our histroy books, a stragegy thats as complicated to preform, but done so as not to quell the importance of the book.A book so flowing with intrigue and danger, the only dissapointment that it had was that it had to end, or until the sequel arrives which will be waited for inpatiently.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS I dont know Y people dont like this book not just here but other web sites too but take it from me I HAVE ALL THE NEAL ADAMS COMICS FROM THE 1960s ALL THE WAY TO THE 1970s. Must of what I have seen people does not like the remasted art work but I love the art work just as well as the old comic art work maybe better cause its remasted but I love both of the 1960s to 1970s and this books art work its very hard what to like the best the old comics are this book NOTE THIS IS FOR ALL THE VOLS. 1,2,3

I have all three volumes of these sensational collectibles and I have to say this was "The Batman" not only as I remember him but the definitive Batman as he should be both artistically ( he looks like an athlete not a steroid pumped jock! No offense Jim Lee fans...but Neal Adams is the master! )and the character and stories themselves are barnone so timeless that it seems every writer for the character since Mr. Oneil refers to those incredible stories in some form or another. I am a firm believer in progressive or evolving a character but this time period of the Batman is untouchable!

A great third book with a lot of covers thrown in. Neal Adams is the expert Batman Artist and it's great to get these stories collected in one bound edition. Also includes sketches at the back of the book and a brief synopsis on Neal and the people who worked with him. My only negative about this book is that (as in the previous two books), they recolored the stories instead of leaving them in their original form. I think it takes away from the authenticity of the work, but it's still a great purchase if you're a Batman fan, or a Neal Adams fan.

I'm a huge fan of the 70's batman, Neal Adams' art, any kid of Ras story, so of course I was excited to pick this up. I usually like to thumb through a copy before ordering, but I imagine because of the cover price these were all sealed. I'd heard complaints about "retouched" inking on these Neal Adams volumes before, and chocked it up to people being too nit-picky. Well, I ordered the book, got in the mail, and ripped it out... then my heart sank. While I can't say that the re-touching of the art is bad per se, it totally took me out of the 70's comic feel, and actually ruined the book for me. I couldn't finish the first story, and thumbed through the rest of the book to see if it was all like this. Except for the black and white sketches, it was. I normally rate very high, but I wish I would have heeded the warnings about the re-touched art. Let me be clear that the stories, binding, paper-quality, and extras (intros by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams, plus some of Adams' commercial Batman work) were all top notch--but the colors were so at odds with Adams pencils that I feel like I've completely wasted my money. If you're thinking about getting this, head over to brick-and-mortar bookstore first to thumb through it. If the art isn't totally off-putting to you, then there are some great stories in here that you'll really enjoy.

This third volume collects the last portion of the Neal Adams Batman. While the second volume is in and of itself excellent, this volume is indeed superior. Phenomenal writing, superb coloring, quality paper, and timeless art.

Present-day comic "artists" still have miles to go before they reach this type of comic storytelling.

You get:

"Daughter of the Demon": (R'as al Ghul)
"Half an Evil" (Two Face)
"Night of the Reaper" (Harlon Ellison assist)
"The Lazarus Pit" (R'as al Ghul)
"The Demon Lives Again" (R'as al Ghul)
"The Bruce Wayne Murder Case"
"The Joker's Five Way Revenge" (Joker)
"Moon of the Wolf"

My only complaint is the re-inking of two Power Record Books that were excellent the way they originally were.

Still, a volume to be read, re-read, and treasured.

The second of a four-part series, "The Pact With Bruno" is David O' Neal's novel of wealth, family and revenge. "Pact" continues the adventures of Doug Carlson from the first book, "What Goes Around," and the decisions that entrench him firmly in mob boss Bruno Sebastino's tight-knit family. O'Neal again illustrates how, when faced with the "no win" scenario, often the choice is simply survival. This story addresses the idea that cops can become immune to the very laws they represent. So hold on to your seats, breathe in . . . and hang on for a wild ride . . . as the saga continues . . .

I had high hopes for this little book. I currently read about 100 books a year (and particularly enjoy mafia/underworld stories) but this one lacked...well...just about everything. The plot, though largely well-conceived, was interrupted incessantly with meaningless flashbacks. Otherwise powerful scenes became limp with annoying character daydreaming. Not only was there an abundance of typos (probably publisher's error) but the strange use of italics and punctuation frequently distracted this reader. And pacing was irregular: the novel's sense of "time" varied from paragraph to paragraph; the story bumped along. But perhaps the biggest disappointment was the writing itself. I found no voice in the book. Instead, choppy phrases and trite descriptions ("Mama's tired eyes lingered and drank the shared love her men demonstrated for one another") left me searching for writing skills. So I wasted a little time. Big deal. I learn something every day.

David O'Neal has a unique way of taking a great character, Doug Carlson, and sending him on another, and even greater, adventure. Carlson is a more three-dimensional "Dirk Pitt," of Cussler fame, but just as gutsy and demonstrates that he can match wits with an array of very interesting characters. I can't wait until the next O'Neal book!

Reading for pleasure allows a person not to worry about facts, figures or other distracting information. All you need do is sink into the story and enjoy yourself. If it's a good one, time passes quickly. I started "The Pact With Bruno", remember noticing that I was on page fifteen, then in the blink of an eye, it seemed, I had finished the book. That's how good it is; better I think than the first Doug Carlson novel. David O'Neal still has the same sparse, smooth style but this second novel gives us a deeper insight into the motivations of his characters. A very good book.

The Pact With Bruno weaves a web of excitement, breathless anticipation, and heart-rendering emotion. The words followed one another in spell-binding anticipation, as I read page after page, chapter after chapter, until the very last word of the novel concluded the end of The Pact With Bruno.

In several respects this seemed a very different sort of story for Katherine, yet always her unique style. Her sensual scenes are still some of the best out there.

Full of turns and twists, one can overlook the seemingly superhuman feats performed by Jack and Diana, which could leave you tongue-in-cheek. But the story is so good I didn't care, simply enjoyed the fantasy of Katherine's furtile mind. Besides, it's okay to be larger than life in fiction.

Katherine's stories will turn you wrongside out with passion, and that's the kind of romance we all dream about. -Lee Emory

If you love steamy romance and romantic adventure, this is the book you've been waiting for. Katherine O'Neal is the best romance writer writing today. This book is fun, fresh, sexy, adventurous, and you won't feel that you've read it before. Do yourself a favor and get it now!

In 1894 London, Jack Rutherford and Diana Sanbourne, the children of famous archeologists, are to be married in two days. They even make love for the first time in the British Museum. On their wedding day, Jack is arrested for stealing and selling artifacts from the Alexandria Collection. This leads to the death of his father and the bankruptcy of his family. This betrayal to archeology and herself is the one thing that Diana could not forgive him.

Five years pass and Diana's father Stafford is dying just as he has come close to uncovering the legendary Anthony-Cleopatra "Love Treasure", considered a myth by his peers. Before Stafford dies, he sends word to Diana, pleading with her to complete his quest and exonerate his reputation. She knows that she must honor her father's request. However, Diana also knows only one man, the acrimonious archeological rogue Jack can accomplish this. When they meet for the first time since that ill fated wedding day, the sparks fly, but neither trusts the other because they feel let down by their soulmate.

Take Indiana Jones and place him four decades earlier when archeology is still in its infancy and the reader gets a delicious taste of what WRITTEN IN THE STARS is like. The lead protagonists are a delightful duo, who must overcome their suspicions of each other if they are to find true bliss. The secondary players are a delightfully humorous, witty, and dangerous rogue's gallery. Though the romance is top rate, Katherine O'Neal's historical romantic adventure is so good because of the reverent look at nineteenth century archeology, which comes across as exciting as the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Katherine O'Neal is the reigning queen of the romantic adventure,

Harriet Klausner

I purchased this book because of the amazon reviews and because it had won an RITA award. I really wanted to like it but was very disappointed. The plot was weak with many implausible twists and turns. I especially disliked the relationship between the two main characters: Jack lied to Diane, never opened up to her (more exposition to the readers than to the woman he was in love with) and did a really incredible 180 degree change that was totally unbelievable. Diane was a weak character, very malleable, allowing herself to be used and abused by Jack without any real strengths. The review seems harsh due to the disappointment of such a great concept leading to such a poor execution.

In 1894 London, Jack Rutherford and Diana Sanbourne, the children of famous archeologists, are to be married in two days. They even make love for the first time in the British Museum. On their wedding day, Jack is arrested for stealing and selling artifacts from the Alexandria Collection. This leads to the death of his father and the bankruptcy of his family. This betrayal to archeology and herself is the one thing that Diana could not forgive him.

Five years pass and Diana's father Stafford is dying just as he has come close to uncovering the legendary Anthony-Cleopatra "Love Treasure", considered a myth by his peers. Before Stafford dies, he sends word to Diana, pleading with her to complete his quest and exonerate his reputation. She knows that she must honor her father's request. However, Diana also knows only one man, the acrimonious archeological rogue Jack can accomplish this. When they meet for the first time since that ill fated wedding day, the sparks fly, but neither trusts the other because they feel let down by their soulmate.

Take Indiana Jones and place him four decades earlier when archeology is still in its infancy and the reader gets a delicious taste of what WRITTEN IN THE STARS is like. The lead protagonists are a delightful duo, who must overcome their suspicions of each other if they are to find true bliss. The secondary players are a delightfully humorous, witty, and dangerous rogue's gallery. Though the romance is top rate, Katherine O'Neal's historical romantic adventure is so good because of the reverent look at nineteenth century archeology, which comes across as exciting as the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Katherine O'Neal is the reigning queen of the romantic adventure,

Harriet Klausner

Since the back cover description is already provided on this page, I'll skip straight to my review.

This is a book that I picked up and put back without purchasing several times. The title would capture my interest, but after reading the synopsis on the back cover, I'd put it back on the shelf. Well, I finally broke down and bought it, and now I wish I'd followed my first instincts.

This book was more of a political history lesson than it is a romance novel. The romance was so rushed (instant love after years of seperation!) that it felt tacked on just so it could be marketed to romance readers, who make up 50% of all book sales. I felt so cheated.

And any glimmer of romance to be found in this book was based on nothing but lust. We have absolutely no insight into who the hero really is, yet when he meets up with the heroine after seven years apart (they grew up in an orphanage together, yet their relationship was barely explored) he just starts kissing her like a sex fiend and she melts in his arms. Uh-huh. Was I supposed to care, or something? Because when I have no idea who these people really are (what are their motivations? their quirks? their likes? their dislikes? their desires? their fears? All a mystery to the reader) why should I care what happens to them? It was all plot and no character development.

I cheated and skimmed ahead to see if it got any better. Instead, it got worse. It descended into an "I love you, I hate you, let's scream and fight, let's rip each other's clothes off and hump all night long" cliched novel that is not at all romantic. A good romance should make the reader sigh with happiness. All BRIDE OF DANGER did was make me grit my teeth in frustration.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there needs to be more drawing the lovers together than just sex. That's not enough to build a real relationship on. Sexual attraction should be an added bonus to love, not the sole reason a couple is together.

I gave BRIDE OF DANGER two stars, as the history portion of this book was obviously well-researched and well written. If that's what you're looking for, then you'll probably enjoy this. But if you want real love between the characters, you'll have to look elsewhere.

I loved this book! It was exciting, adventurous, sexy, fun. I couldn't put it down. Run to get it. You won't be disappointed.

I read this book in the space of 24 hours! I loved this book. Katherine O'Neal is such an awesome writer. I also read Princess Of Thieves and that book was very good too. Bride of Danger is a great book! It's adventurous, sexy, and had many twists and turns that makes you love it even more. (At one point I was so mad at the characters in the book I put it in the freezer, I don't remember why, some old skit on SNL or something like that... I'm not sure.) This book is quite a find and I would reccomend it to anyone at all!

In the 1870s, the Fenians, an Irish freedom fighting group draft three clever teenagers (Mylene, Johnny, and Daggett) to help end English rule over Ireland. Through some clever machinations, Mylene becomes the adopted daughter of a very lonely Lord Stanley, the leading English opponent to home rule.

Seven years later, Johnny reenters Mylene's life impersonating Lord Whitney, who allegedly just returned from India. Mylene and Johnny, who were very attracted to each other when they were teens living in an orphanage, quickly realize that they still love each other. However, they disagree on how to further the Irish cause. Johnny wants Mylene to plant evidence that would destroy her now beloved adopted father. She prefers to persuade Lord Stanley to change his position by taking him on a tour of the Ireland she once lived in years ago.

Mylene and Stanley travel to Ireland and he is shocked by what he sees. He agrees to meet with the leader of the freedom fighters. Mylene and Johnny become engaged. However, their third friend Daggett sets in motion a seditious plot that could destroy Ireland, kill Queen Victoria, and do away with his two long term friends. It is up to Mylene and Johnny to try to stop him even if it costs them their lives.

BRIDE OF DANGER is a fast-paced, extremely interesting historical romance that intriguingly depicts the nineteenth century Irish home rule issue from various perspectives. This also gently brings home what is behind the Northern Ireland question today. Readers will enjoy Katherine O'Neal's relevant historical story line and the myriad of characters that bring to life the nineteenth century squabble between England and Ireland.

Harriet Klausner

Terry O'Neal shares her collection of poetry in her first book
entitled Motion Sickness. It is a compilation of poems that range in
topics including relationships between black men and women, how to be
comfortable being yourself, and instilling self-esteem in your
children while they're young. It also covers the arenas of loving
and losing someone to death, being true to yourself, and having faith
in yourself and in God.

To discuss each of the poems in the book would take away from the
book, but not to mention some of my favorites would do an injustice
to this nice collection of poetry centered on everyday emotions and
feelings. Some of those that I was fond of and that "stuck" with me
are below along with my interpretation of them.

The Honor - teaches us to love black men despite the things they do
that we may not like or agree with.

Common Thoughts/World War Ways - these poems teach us that we
shouldn't focus on living up to the standards of others or on being
better than someone else. We should simply be ourselves and not
worry about what others think.

Kind Words - reminds us to be cordial and friendly with those we
encounter on a day-to-day basis. I REALLY enjoyed this one because
it reminds me of people you pass in hallways, stores, and other
places that walk by you without any sign of greeting.

Little Black Child - a mother's plea for her child's self-esteem. I
really enjoyed this poem because I believe it's important to instill
a sense of self-esteem in children while they're young.

Motion Sickness - speaks of a desire to move on with life without
repeating previous pain and trials of the past.

Back Home - talks of the good ole cooking you get back home and how
it feels to go back after being away for a while. This is another of
my favorites of the book because everyone knows there is nothing like
good home cooking!

Boomerang - teaches us to do good things even though they may not be
reciprocated or appreciated. The main lesson is to continue them
because in the end you will be rewarded and reap the benefits of your
kindness.

Faith in You - a parent's message to their child letting them know
that they can do anything with faith in God. Also, it tells of the
parent's faith that the child can do anything they set their minds to
do.

Those are only a few of the poems that are in this collection and I'm
sure every reader will find quite a few that personally touch them
and reflect their feelings about the same topics. Ms. O'Neal closes
the book with Lesson's Learned; short passages of lesson's she's
learned throughout her life. Of those listed, my favorite and one I
try to live by myself is: "never put all of my faith into one
person. It is too much pressure on them and a big disappointment to
you."

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to other poetry lovers and
also to those who like to reflect on life. I look forward to future
works by Ms. O'Neal and commend her on a job well done.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal for AALBC.com

I think the book does a great job of capturing those day to day situations that we think often, but dont really know how to express.

Terry O'Neal has written a book of poems that most anyone can relate to because she shares heartfelt emotions about the pain of a broken friendship, or how someone who isn't Black cannot know what it feels like to be Black. She's pretty direct, with a teensy bit of a lyrical touch, but her words are still effective. It's an overall nice book of poetry and is recommended.

"As we take this life long trip
The motions at times can make us sick
Love and Hate
And the thin line that may break
Can sometimes make us lose our faith"

The passage above comes from the opening of Terry O'Neal's new book titled, MOTION SICKNESS. Not only does it give meaning to what this collection of poems entails, but it sums up what happens to us emotionally when the complexities of life overwhelms us and cause us to lose our sense of direction and hope. Throughout this book, Ms. O'Neal takes us through the ups and downs associated with motion sickness with verses that deal with the misunderstanding men and women have about their roles in relationships, to what it really means to be and look black in America. The question why do bad things always happen to good people is what readers will recognize immediately about the private ponderings of the persona in the poem, "A Disguise." A sense of pride is felt for the stepmother in, "Bond With Me," as she vows to be the best parent she can be to her stepchild. While sympathy is given for the stepmother who feels threatened and helpless by the presence of an ever-controlling maternal mother in the poem, "No Win." But in spite of all the chaos and problems we encounter in life, Ms. O'Neal also reminds us that there are some traditions and expectations we have in our lives such as momma's good down-home cookin' outlined in the poem, "Back Home" that brings comfort and joy which sustains us.

Overall, Ms. O'Neal presents a collection of poems, which addresses life's trials and tribulations in hopes that it brings enlightenment and more understanding to human life. MOTION SICKNESS is a smooth easy read. Still, knowing that motion sickness can be a jolting experience for most, I was expecting this collection to match its title and be more compelling in terms of form, rhythm and timbre. I simply feel the title of this book carries more impact than the poems themselves.

This is the second in the Batman Brave & The Bold Team Ups, and I have to say it's better than the first volume in a lot of ways. For one thing, you have Neal Adams and Jim Aparo supplying art throughout. That gives you two of the best Batman artists of the 60's and 70's in the same book. There's always a different self-contained story in each issue, so you don't have time to get bored with anything. Those are the positives.

The negatives are the amazing amount of repeat guests you have in these twenty-something issues. Two stories featuring Sgt. Rock (of all people), the Teen Titans (complete with the "hip" 60's slang), Black Canary, and Green Arrow. Some stars only rated one issue, like Wonder Woman (during her powerless phase), Plastic Man, Metal Men, and The Bat Squad (don't ask...it's easily the worst story in the book). Heroes like Deadman and The Flash are sorely underused in this run. Both of them get one story each to shine, and they should have been more in there.

Hopefully the next volume will pick up with a few different guest stars rather than recycling the old ones over and over again. Hawkman, The Atom, and even The Elongated Man would make better guests than Sgt. Rock or the Bat Squad. Still, this is better than not having the stories at all. It's a nice glimpse into the past that was leading up to the best years of the Brave & The Bold stories ahead.

I honestly don't get the appeal of these books. Why bother making (or reading) black & white reprints of classic four-color comics...? I mean, yeah, the stories are still great and the original comics are hard to find, but a huge part of what made these comics great was the eye-popping artwork, including the bright primary colors: reading them in dull B&W is just plain wrong. Sure, the printing costs are lower, so you can get more pages for your money, but it's more pages of boring, not more pages of fun. It's really a travesty.

On the other hand, it recently occurred to me that these could be used as coloring books... Maybe you could buy a box of crayons to go along with all the artwork that the publishers ruined in this format. (Axton)

Ok, bone weary of people bleating about how these books are in black & white.
Newsflash for the few comic fans who still don't know: Showcase Presents & Marvel Essentials are in black & white, ok? Get over it. It's still exceptional value for money.
As for B & B 2, well, it's clearly a VAST improvement on vol 1. Sure there is some great Neal Adams stuff in the previous volume, but there's a lot
of old tat as well.
Herein, you get Adams, Nick Cardy and THE Brave & Bold artist, ( Also the best Batman artist ever. Discuss. ) Jim Aparo, along with stories from the
insane genius of Bob Haney.
Haney was the kind of writer who never let realism, continuity or even simple logic get in the way of a good story. And his B & B stories are always mad flights of fun. Remember when comics were FUN?
( For instance, in vol. 1, witness the Bats / Sgt. Rock tale, where he gets around the tricky problem of having two characters from different times meet, by having Bats simply say " Back when I was in WW2, I met Sgt. Rock ", when we all know this is impossible. You have to admire that kind of chutzpah. )
Similarly, when teamed with Aparo, Haney seems let off the leash, and promptly puts Bats through: Being possessed by the ghost of a wooden legged sailor / Selling his soul to the Devil / Foretelling the exact date of his own death and, in the best story, being paralyzed in a wheelchair.
( Which stops him chasing the bad guy not one iota. )
This is brilliant, brilliant stuff, and well worth your money.
Don't let anyone tell you different.

This is another great Showcase book by DC. The stories are self contained in one issue and don't drag out for months in a prolonged manner just to sell a tpb. Batman is fairly close to the Dark Knight we all know and love but is a little bit less despondant in his personality. Great art and fun stories featuring most of the DC 2nd division heroes of the early 70s. I guess this title was used by DC to keep some characters active by throwing them in with Batman so they would not be forgotten.It's definitely worth buying for 12 bucks or so.

The structure provides information and advice that is grounded on the personal experiences of the author as well as the experiences of well known CEOs and technical gurus such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, John Chambers, and Jerry Yang & David Filo (of Yahoo!) to name a few. I enjoyed the ease of reading provided by the intermingling of humor, the inserted examples of successful startups, and the commentary provided by the who's who of the industry (Software & Hardware) demonstrating that the information had successfully been implemented. The background research, references, resources, and process structure provides a framework that allows the startup business to develop a "checklist" of questions and requirements that need to be addressed. Avoiding many of the assumptions that contribute to the littering of failed startups one finds on the way to success. The Venture Capitalist (VC) chapter provides insight into what the VC is looking for, their attitude, and what they expect out of the deal. The Startup can prepare the RIGHT information that will launch their -"blow the socks off the competition with the most technologically advanced whiz-bang product to hit the market" - company. A new Technology Startup company need's an attitude to keep things moving and a road map to get them where they want to go; "Stepping into Magic" provides the tools, the resources, and the success stories to keep you on track. Where does "Stepping into Magic" belong? In your upper right-hand drawer in the quick draw position. END

I ordered this book at the same time as "Engineering Your Start-Up : A Guide for the High-Tech Entrepreneur" by Michael L. Baird and "High Tech Start-Up: The Complete How-To Handbook for Creating Successful New High Tech Companies" by John L. Nesheim.

This book is the clear loser of the three. If you can ignore the silly typos (Ann Winblad's name is spelled at least two ways, as is Dell Computer)and strange page layout, you are still left with a book long on pages but short on real information. Lots of sizzle, not much steak.

As a startup CEO, I can only say I wish I'd happened on this book sooner than I did. It lays out whether or not you should even start, what it takes to launch your venture and the pitfalls that can trip up the unwary entrepreneur. It walks you through your business plan, funding from both angel and venture financing, patents, sales and marketing and setting up the deal if you are seeking funding. It is written simply and directly and Mr. O'Farrell includes his own mistakes so that others can learn from them. After purchasing the book, I emailed Mr. O'Farrell about questions I had and he has been selfless with his time and suggestions. If you are an entrepreneur or better yet, thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, BUY THIS BOOK! It pays for itself time and again.

This book has been a page-turner; I got thru half of it in one night. There is a lot of repetition in the book, and that is a good thing. The most valuable parts of the book for me are the pitfalls to avoid (such as being too product focused) and the best ways to get funding. My criticism of this book would be the same I had for Michael Baird's book, only more severe: there is little or no discussion on what one needs to do during the phases of entering into a high-tech startup: part-time stage, seeding stage, first round, etc. Baird goes into this a little bit, but most of the topics of "what you need to do" are lumped together and it is confusing what needs to happen during what stage. For instance, both Farrell's book and Baird's book emphasize hiring a top-notch management team, but neither book goes into any concrete details as to when this should be done. During prototype development (seed stage)? During 1st round? Both books mention that Venture Capitalists may get involved in the pre-prototype round, but there are little specifics about what kind of terms there may be. How much ownership do the Venture Capitalists want? I'd like to see a book like this written targeted specifically at what happens during the various stages high-tech startup (hey, there's a startup idea!) But overall, there was a lot of very good information and advice in this book.

While primarily aimed at people just learning Dylan, this book has some great info for people who already understand Dylan reasonably well (the chapter on performance is especially valuable.) The book is well written, and the information in the book is very accurate.

The book does not attempt to cover all the standard Dylan functions and classes, and thus it does not intend to replace the Dylan Reference Manual (DRM). I often find myself using this book as a reference for language features though.

I think this is one of the better programming books I've seen, in that it is task-oriented. The authors have a goal of building a program to do airport scheduling; while they are building this program, they are teaching you Dylan. Consequently, you are learning how to do a real-world task (well, at least someone's real world task) rather than just a bunch of example programs that don't correlate well or at all. Along the way, they are teaching you how to build classes and methods effectively, which is sadly lacking in most other programming tomes.

The only thing that I considered a "problem" is that it took them until chapter 11 to start discussing control structures (like the loops and decision statements). My attention was wandering and I had to skip ahead to keep my interest.

It also seems to be oriented towards people who are already familiar with C++ or Java (or some other object-oriented language), which is probably not a bad assumption. I can't imagine someone picking this up as their first language, but it is just a word of warning, just in case.

In summary, very, very good book. Don't make the mistake of getting the Dylan Reference Manual as a way to learn Dylan -- "Dylan Programming" is the book to get for learning the language.

As the instructor of "Practical Object-Oriented Programming" (a 5-week course that uses Dylan that teaches object/functional application in the software domain), I chose _Dylan Programming_ as the text book. It is well-suited to the methodology of teaching programming: the chapters can be comprehended by people with no programming background (I had two such students), yet the material is stimulating so that even experienced programmers find it useful. Married with the Functional Developer (a Dylan IDE), _Dylan Programming_ makes teaching, or learning, Dylan quick and easy.

I have three points where I find the book wanting: organization, exactness/correctness, and completeness.

I found the book's organization a bit puzzling: especially when it came to control structures. In my teaching sessions, I needed to move forward 11.1-11.5 (skipping parts of 11.3 and all of 11.4) before I covered chapter 4 (classes). Also, interspersing the airport example seemed random at times, particularly in the second half of the book. I chose to skip those chapters (for teaching purposes).

The book was incorrect for several of its page references. This was particularly annoying as it happened that I followed a reference on several occasions, only to be led to the wrong page. For example, page 182 (center) refers one to page 172 for the definition of sum (a function), this function actually appears on page 174. Page 183 (center) refers one to page 147 for the use of curry ... this example is actually at the end of page 148. Page 183 (center), again, refers one to page 181 for the use of the function choose, which is not mentioned until page 182 ... and on, and on, and on. Some references were so obscure that I could not find what these references meant on any page near the page they mentioned. Chasing referred pages, then, became a tiresome venture that often disappointed.

As for completeness, I mentioned in the previous paragraph the function choose, a very useful function. However, if one looks in the index, no mention, anywhere, is made of it. The authors took pains to highlight it in the text, explain it, and provide an example. This exact problem exists also for the function apply, another very useful function. _Dylan Programming_ falls down in the index for generalities as well as specifics, as we've seen: no entry exists for first-, or higher-, order functions. Also, the index entries for protocol and efficiency point to one line definitions in introductory sections, where their explanations occur much later in those chapters.

Even though the index has some faults, the references are off at times (too often, unfortunately), and I disagree with the book's presentation of fundamental topics too late, the book shines overall, and shines primarily that it teaches Dylan well.

First, some of the book's explanations surpass those of the _Dylan Reference Manual_ (DRM). It used illustrations, code examples, and metaphors repeatedly to get the point of the section across. Not only that, but it went in depth on some topics where the DRM chose terseness: for example, _Dylan Programming_ has explained modules as namespaces very well. Accompanying many sections were interactive examples in a Dylan listener so that the reader could try out the topic's techniques as they read.

Second, the book unifies the presentation of the language very well. The DRM is excellent at examining language features piece by piece; _Dylan Programming_ is excellent at putting these pieces together at the chapter level. They even have a bulleted chapter summary of the topics covered.

And, third, the book succeeds in a practical way. All of my students were new to Dylan (some new to programming), yet each completed their final project assignments, due in large part to the help this book gave them. One programming neophyte created a final project that computed the possible blood types of a child from known parents' blood types (a relatively simple task), but then created a blood type inference system that postulated a blood type of a parent based on one parent's and the child's blood type ... a more significant achievement. Another created a mathematical symbolic processor (it found, among other things, the roots of quadratic equations).

Overall, then, this book has some minor shortcomings. As a book to learn Dylan, though, it is without peer, and I strongly recommend it as the first book from which to learn the language.

Easter is a wonderful time! It's a celebration with jelly beans, bunnies, bright baskets filled with green artificial grass and those glorious dyed eggs that children will search for in all the nooks and crannies. But it is truly special because God loves us so much he gave us a special gift.

Debbie Trafton O'Neal has created an Easter book that will help children learn about Holy Week and Easter and learn the alphabet through verse. There are also activities for children and adults to make together: a place mat, table runner, window paintings, banner and diorama.

The illustrations are bold and colorful and just the thing to draw children into the fun of learning.

Armchair Interviews says: J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book is a perfect Easter gift for your special child.

This is the best Easter book I have found to date! J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book is written by Debbie Trafton O'Neal and illustrated by Jan Bryan-Hunt. It clearly teaches children about the Holy Week and the reasons we celebrate Easter without being too complicated, too advanced, too secular or too boring. Readers follow Jesus from the triumphant entry (Palm Sunday) through the last supper, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

Rather than forcing the story into an alphabetical order (as most alphabet books do), the author tells the story first, then highlights words within the sentence that feature the alphabetical sequence. For example, the pages for S and T read: "'Your sins are forgiven,' Jesus said. 'You are free!' Then he died on a cross that was carved from a tree." The words "sins" and "tree" are highlighted, but without distracting from the story.

Filled with bright colors, the illustrations are delightfully unique. They feature people of all ethinicities. In the back of the book, the author gives four crafts parents and kids can do together to create Easter memories.

What I Like: It is important to me to teach our children the honest reason we celebrate Easter without frightening them. Death is not a typical discussion with toddlers, but the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection is crucial doctrine. This book doesn't skimp on the key details. It presents the whole story in a wonderfully, positive way. I like being able to focus on the story with or without the alphabet. The introduction and projects in the back are fabulous. The illustrations are magnificent! I was a little nervous about it being a paperback, but the cover is sturdy, and the pages are glossy, making it easy to clean. As a whole, this book is a perfectly delightful teaching tool.

What I Dislike: While this book is extremely accurate for a children's book, one detail did catch my attention. On the pages for W and X the text reads: "The women ran quickly to find the eleven, explaining that Jesus had gone up to heaven." I understand this fits better with the rhyme and alphabetical sequence, however, Jesus did not immediately go up to heaven. Only after appearing to hundreds of people over a period of weeks did He ascend to heaven.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review