Owen Books

It's a very interesting astronomy book, it's explain how they've thought about the motion of the planets(epicycles)in the past(AC)by the time of the Ptolemy and Babylonia.

The main desire of Ptolemy in writing his Almagest is to explain and account for the motions of the apparently erratic celestial beings in terms of perfect and circular motions. In doing so he introduces the epicyclic (which states that the center of a smaller circle orbits around the earth and the object orbits around the smaller circle) and the eccentric hypotheses (which supposes that the center of the circular motion of the planet is not exactly centered on the earth), which are ultimatly equivalent to eachother in terms of result. Begining with the motion of the sun in the sky and moving on to the less accountable outer planets, Ptolemy moves his mathematics brilliantly with a nod to a story teller's art. Some may find his introduction of his equant (something that is often said to defile his principles of perfect motion), which explains the retrogradation of the outer planets, to be a let down to the fanfare of perfection in the stars. Yet, overall, the Almagest manages to recapture the magic and wonder of the universe through complicated mathematical hypotheses and to succesfully lay the ground for the break throughs of Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler to come. If you are at all interested in astronomy or mathematics, you ought to read this.

so it turns out that the center of the eccentric circle that the planets travel on travels on its own circle but be careful this is not a giant epicycle on a small deferent! haha! genius!!

Adding to the other comment below about star names beginning with "al-," I might add that the title "Almagest" itself is an Arabic translation of the original Greek "Megale Syntaxis."

The mathematics is difficult to follow, but as it is developed from Euclid and Eratosthenes it is reliable. The observations have been made from a very wide area and over a long time; but while the mechanics may be rather mysterious the results are impressive.

Does the front cover always show Penelope weaving at her loom? - the ancients obviously thought highly of Homer and the Greek myths.

The Tetrabiblos survives together with the parallel Greek. Since the Almagest went through successive transliterations/translations (and interpretations?), it might not be too surprising if the Greek text has disappeared.

And what of Ptolemy's other books? - his geography for example. The Almagest has observations from Ceylon to Thule, including Britain. The ancients must have travelled widely.

Is there anywhere an account of the origin of the names of stars and constellations? These seem to have accumulated over time. Many star names begin "Al-", from the Arabic, I suppose.

Well done!

I'm 8 and I love this book. We have it in my class and it's my favorite book in school.

My son (5 years old) loves this book. He likes for me to show him where on the maps we are and where we have been. He also likes to know where his extended family is located. (You have to love anything you can "sneak" some education in on.) It has excellent illustrations and interesting facts that will make this an enjoyable book for many years to come as my kids develope and expand their understanding capabilities.

This book is excellent for teaching your children geography and world culture. It is very reader friendly and extremely interesting. It touches on all parts of the world with the most relevant information. We bought it for our 6 year old son for Christmas and now find it to be a fabulous birthday gift for other children. Unlike a toy that gets played with for a month and then thrown into the toy box graveyard, this book will be a favorite for many years both as general interest reading and as a reference for school projects. Don't miss this one...at a great price too!

Don't be fooled by the word "atlas" - this lovely children's book contains much more than just maps! Facts, figures, "fun" information connected to the part of the world you are perusing. Beautifully illustrated, extremely readable. Interesting even for the adults in this family. Its oversized (coffee-table) dimensions make you want to plop down on the floor with the book spread out before you, and just look for an hour or so. Or you can simply turn to the area of the world that you're interested in (or doing a school report on) and get a few quick facts.

As soon as we got home, I ordered the newest version for my son. He is 11 and very much into maps and geography. I don't understand the review from the School Journal that called this book "superficial." My son pours over the facts, pictures, and maps. Yes, it is a "pretty" book but it is also filled with much information for children. The Maps and Mapmaking sections were of particular interest to my son. We are planning to try a few of the projects as part of our homeschool this coming school year. All in all, this a good addition to a child's own library!

Candace Robb has read and researched medieval history for many years, having studied for a Ph.D. in Medieval and Anglo-Saxon Literature. She divides her time between Seattle and the UK, frequently spending time in Scotland and York to research her books.

York is very close to my own home and many of the places mentioned in the Owen Archer books are still there to be seen and of course Archbishop John Thorseby is mentioned in the records of York Minster. All this adds spice for me and helps me to picture the time and events that took place. This is the fifth novel in what is proving to be a captivating series.

The year is 1369. Edward is King of England and the much loved Queen Phillippa lies dying at Windsor. Night on 200 miles north in the city of York the harvest has failed and the plague has returned. In the heavy atmosphere and the fear from the plague superstition grips the citizen of York. Rumours are spreading that the spate of deaths at St. Leonard's hospital are no accident.

Several of the "corrodians," elderly people who have paid a sum of money to the hospital to care for them until their death have died in suspicious circumstances.. There has also been a number of thefts from the hospital. Sir Richard de Ravenser, master of the Hospital is well aware than a scandal could ruin the hospital and his own reputation also.

Anxious to get to the bottom of the matter he calls on the services of Owen Archer, a man who is gaining a reputation as a solver of mysteries. Owen is unwilling to get involved as he has his hands full helping his wife in her apothecary shop, which is being besieged daily by the people of the city seeking cures and preventatives to keep them free of the plague.

Start with Apothecary Rose and read them all. Setting, characters and plot - all excellent.

It is often hard to find a book that has all essentials elements done well. This one has excellent plot and sub-plots, characters, setting and action. The story is engrossing, both as a mystery and from a historical point of view. The characters are so realistic one feels that they could be neighbors. Please treat yourself to this book and sit back and enjoy it.

Well written, engrossing plot in an historical setting I found fascinating. Really enjoyed this one, looking for more!

Wow, I've read this series of books hungrily.... in my car at lunch, while home sick in bed, during a snowstorm and power outage by flashlight, and now on a Saturday between chores.
No. 5, Riddle of St. Leonard's brings Bess Merchet back into the storyline as well as her uncle, Jasper & Brother Wulfstan. I was thrilled to see Jasper featured in the plot again, and found the mystery to be very compelling and a little bit dark with the history revealed behind Bess' uncle's life. An excellent book. Owen Archer is an interesting, well-written character. I was also happy to see Melisende featured, as well as Lucie's deceased husband and child mentioned again. Very good writing. Nice length, enough but not too much. Leaves the reader anxious to delve into the next book, no. 6 A Gift of Sanctuary!!

This story tells about the feelings of Amanda, an elementary school-aged girl as she experiences her mother's unpredictable episodes of recurrent depression. The mother also clearly experiences anguish when she sometimes cannot respond to her child's needs. Her mother and father both help Amanda understand that her mother loves her and that the mother's depressive episodes are not Amanda's fault. Amanda conceptualizes her mother's moods as colors. The illustrations sensitively follow this metaphor to catch the moods and experiences of the mother and the household. Amanda and her mother learn that despite recurrent depression, the mother can still find ways to give of herself to Amanda.

Children often feel confused and upset when a parent is depressed. They may blame themselves or the depressed parent. I liked the fact that this book is encouraging without sugar-coating a very difficult situation. I often use this book as a springboard for further discussion.

I have been looking everywhere for books to help me explain to my 8 yr old daughter about my clinical depression (I suffer from Bipolar disorder). This book was awesome, and was able to give my daughter and I points to begin discussion about my depression. I've recently become a single parent and have felt that it is even more important now than ever before to educate my daughter about this illness that is such a large part of my life. Through this book we've been able to discuss how this affects her and how we can work together to get through the difficult times caused by my illness.

I was looking for a way to talk to my little girl about depression. This book was wonderful. It shows a little girl who has to deal with depression in her home. And it answered questions that I had no way of answering. It has helped my daughter understand that she is not the problem when things are not good at home. And that there are good and bad days. She is not to blame. And that was very important, as a parent with depression, to get across to my children. The only part that I didn't care for was about the cereal. I wish that there had been a different way to see what kind of morning it was. My kids have cold cereal most of the time, even on good days. That is the only reason that I rated it 4 instead of 5. It did make all the important points in a way that a child can understand.

I bought this and another children's book about depression to help explain depression to my kids. I thought this book did a much better job than the other one I bought. Amanda Martha's mother suffers from depression, and the daughters asks the usual questions: Is it my fault? Can I make you feel better? And the mother gives the right answers: It's not your fault. It's not your job to make you feel better.

The mother's depression was protrayed very realistically, I thought. Some days she's very down and can't even get out of her bathrobe. Other days, she can get dressed, but she's not happy. Some days, she is happy. There are no quick fixes here. However, there is a sense of hope, that when the family pulls together, the necessary work will get done and love will be shared in abundance. This book should be available for all parents who have been diagnosed with depression and who have young children.

This book is a wonderful resource to share with children. Told simply, from the point of view of a child whose mother is severely depressed, this book is affirming for parents and children. As the child tells us, "some days are sad days, some are glad days and but most are in between days."

Through a simple plot, Amanda shares her feelings about her mother's 'sad days' and 'glad days'. When Amanda first asks for a kitten she is told no, because her mother's sad days might make it difficult to care for the kitten. At the end, Amanda, knowing that most days are in between days, agrees to care for the kitten on her mother's sad days; and her mother can help her on her glad days.'

The book is very uplifting and satisfying with an honest portrayal of living with depression.

If you're a fan of Astronomy as a discipline, aren't a scientist and are curious as to whether or not and how there might be other life in the universe, this book is as good as it gets! It starts with many of the basics, but is not so "dumbed down" that you feel like you're reading a newspaper article, but a substantive paper. It isn't filled with too much "technobabble" so that someone who doesn't have a background in the sciences of more than a class or two will get lost. The book leaves virtually no stone unturned. By that I mean that when I read the book, I thought something like, "well, I get THAT, but what about ______?" In almost every instance it was as if they were reading my mind because in very short order they addressed my question. It is clear that they have taken feedback from students and colleagues seriously in writing this edition (3rd). The only problem that I had with the book was that some of the information was a bit dated. For example, Cassini has already arrived at Saturn and dropped its probe into Titan's atmosphere. I would estimate that the 3rd edition is about 4 years behind the latest discoveries. However, can they really be blamed for that? I would expect that they would update their textbook in a few years so that all of the latest discoveries are present. If you love astronomy and want to learn more about the scientific reasoning about the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe BUY THIS BOOK!

This book really explaines in simple language how scientists work on this search. It is written in a way that keeps your interest on top all the way.

This book is used as a text by the University of North Dakota Space Studies program where I was exposed to its content. It is an excellent book filled with the recent nuggets of information about the search for life in the universe. It is an excellent guide to understanding the cosmos in galatic and down-to-Earth terms. This book can be read for pure pleasure as well as for general knowledge of astrobilogy and astronomy.

The new edition of this book still is by far the most comprehensive introduction to Bioastronomy, touching almost every branch of science along the exciting path it follows. Remaining firmly grounded in science it shows that reality is so fantastic that it is in no way necessary to fantasize up facts and fictions. Science still is one of the greatest adventures of mankind, and the search for life in space is one of its most stimulating branches. It also is a good motivation for young college students from other subjects to further their knowledge in science - which is necessary because we live in a science dominated world.

Stefan Thiesen www.bioastronomie.de

The book deals with everything from the formation of stars and planets, to how life formed, to even the best ways to search for life and the odds of life being on other planets. It goes step by step, is easy to understand and even has review questions at the end of each chapter (along with a summary). Lots of photos, some in color, along with figures and tables to help explain and give more details. Great for people who want to understand the reasons people are searching for life on other planets, but also great for just understand the science of life on our planet too. All that and humor too.

Aside from the Bible, this is, hands down, the best book on the challenges of personal godliness. Owen, who is a Puritan theologian, brings forth the issue of sin, why it is indwelling in every individual, how it causes enmity between us and God and why we will, in this life, continue to deal with it.

This book is a must for those who are struggling with temptations of any kind (which pretty much includes everyone universally). Owen discusses how we battle sin, ways in which we can overcome temptations, how we allow sin to fester and build in our lives to an unhealthy point, and what we can do to avoid these types of problems. But let me warn you, this is not a "self help" book. Rather, this text is one which has the glory of God as its ultimate end, the awe we should all have for God, where our focus should constantly be, namely on God. This is, ultimately, how sin is conquered, according to Owen. Since too many of us are focused on everything else but God, sin is able to creep in easier and take hold of our lives.

What is more, Owen discusses the grace of God and how God's grace and mercy covers our sins. Finally, mortification of sin is covered in great detail. What do we need to do to mortify sin? Why is mortification needed? How do we practice mortification? All these are covered and more. Another nice feature of this book is that it is formatted in such a way that it can be used as a study book for Bible studies, Sunday Schools, or any other type of group study setting since it includes a very nice Scripture index, and margin topic indicators, as well as a study guide for group discussions with very user friendly questions.

I highly recommend this book for everyone no matter where you are in your Christian walk. This is the most detailed, heart wrenching work on sin and temptation that I have ever read. It can never be read too many times.

What happens when a culture forgets the doctrine of original sin? What happens when people turn their sinful nature into self-flattering, euphemistic terminology, using words like "wrong" and "mistake" instead of "wicked" and "depraved"? What happens when we hold to an anthropological view that claims humans are basically good creatures? Puritan thinker John Owen answers these questions in the most exhaustive and lucid treatment of indwelling sin, the temptation of believers, and the mortification of sin. One cannot read this book and remain unchanged. A humble self-examination will reveal that we are inherently sinful and in need of the imputed righteousness made possible by Jesus Christ on the cross. In addition, an accurate understanding of our sin will help make sense of the moral meltdown and cultural decline in America, hopefully encouraging the reader to find regeneration in a personal faith and relationship in Jesus Christ.

I read it cover to cover three times in row and bought copies for several others. It helps open your eyes to how Satan's forces infiltrate our lives, what his strategies are and how to combat it. I love the reverent classical language. It got me craving all the classic early christian works. Many modern christian books are fluffy and light. This is reverent and satisfying, yet you will crave more like it.

This is much more than a deep theological treatise. The editors have distilled three short wirtings of the great Puritan thinker and preacher, John Owen: The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin; Of Temptation; and Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, and made them accessible to the modern reader. Because the doctrine of indwelling sin has been mostly forgotten or ignored by even conservative and evangelical preachers and writers, this book serves as a much needed slap on the face, reminding Christians that we NEVER, in this life, "get out of Romans 7 and into Romans 8". Using his comprehensive knowledge of Scriptures, he relentlessly pounds home the message that sin is a constant inhabitant in every human heart, and that, although (in believers) it is weakened and irreparably damaged in its ultimate goals, it nevertheless continues to harass and frustrate and cause great damage all our days. He proposes that the only antidote is to acknowledge sin's constant presence, noting from Rom. 7:21 that it is a "LAW present in our members, that WHEN WE WOULD DO GOOD, evil is present in us". In other words, it is especially at times when we want to do good and have every intention of being obedient and feel the desire to honor God that sin reveals itself as not an intruder, but a natural inhabitant of our heart, and sallies forth to sabotage and mar our best performance. In the section on mortification of sin, he addresses an issue mostly relegated to the Catholics of previous centuries.

This book is without doubt essential reading for any Christian who wishes to live a holy life and please God. I have made significant practical changes in how I live my life as a result of reading it. Initially, it is shocking and painful to realize the truth of the extent of sin's presence and power in our lives- but it is the only way to learn the vigilance required to fight it.

Owen has a piercing understanding of the human heart and its sinfulness. The overwhelming majority of this work deals with understanding sin, the power of sin, our adversary the Devil, the nature of temptation and the allure of evil. Expect to be cut (and cut deep) when you read this book. For anyone who has ever cried with Paul, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24), this book will expose the bone and marrow of your inner depravity and leave you with only one recourse--the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Owen deals only briefly with the actual practice of mortification (ie. destruction of sin), but his advice is to-the-point and very profound. He offers only two suggestions: look to Christ & seek the Holy Spirit.

Owen's book is virtually an exposition of Romans 7 and Galatians 5. I would recommend Martin Luther's commentary on Galatians as a follow-up to this book. While Owen will expose the sinfulness of your heart, Luther will lift up the righteousness of the Savior Jesus Christ. (And do not be decieved, the first is as necessary as the second).

This book is most highly recommended--both to those who have a deep sense of their own sinfulness and those who have no sense of sin at all.

I was very leery for a while to buy this product after the LUG debacle but was was very glad I did afterwards. Decipher put together a great psuedo-d20 d6 sytem RPG that is easy to play with tons of Star Trek backround in it that will please gamers and fans alike I think. In fact only a non-trekkie would be crippled when reading the many in rule Star Trek references from all the series except Enterprise. As other reviewers have stated, this book focuses on character creation and has little in the way of Narrator tools and it is best used with the Narrators guide. Fan books, maps, galaxy guides, technical manuals, creature guides etc. from Star Trek all are very useful one might say essential to this game as well. In short the pictures, backround, rules, and system are all excellent with this Star Trek license game and I give it my highest marks.

First, let me say that I bought this for the Trek content and for inspiration as a writer and may never play the game. I have played some previous RPGs (none Trek) so I can still evaluate it as one - I hope. Anyway, this appears to be a complete player's guide. Unlike some games, everything you need is here, and sourcebooks are extras not essentials. There are ten starting species to play: Humans, Bajorans, Betazoids, Cardassians, Klingons, Ferengi, Trill, Vulcans, Talaxians and Ocampans. Each matches what we have seen in the show in their attribute modifiers and special abilities, although Vulcans have so many that some were cut. The action is done by rolling dice once, adding your character's skill score, bonuses and penalties and then comparing the result to the number needed for success. Everything your characters can do is expressed in a skill, and the range of skill coverage is very good. Characters also have edges and flaws, character traits that help define their personalities and affect their skills. Finally, each character also has Courage points. These represent heroic action and you use them to add to your rolls, either to prevent failure or boost the level of your success. (I would love this feature as a player.) There are seven basic professions: Diplomat, Merchant, Mystic, Rogue, Scientist, Soldier and Starship Officer. There are elite starship officer professions for every one we have seen in the shows. There are other elite professions that can be entered by anyone meeting their prerequisites. This system manages transfers like Spock from Science Officer to Commander to Ambassador and then probably either Envoy or Spy, all as a Starship Officer. All in all, the system really captures the feel of Star Trek characters.

The guide has a number of flaws. Least annoying first, there are a number of canon errors, which is surprising considering how much trivia the Decipher staff know about Star Trek. It was enough to bother me a little, so some fellow Trek reviewers may be driven crazy by it. As has been mentioned in most reviews (such as on rpg.net) the chapter and section order is really bad. The sections on character mechanics and level advancement should have been consolidated and in front. Character Development should probably have been in front of Professions, since you would use them in that order, and the non-starship elite professions should have followed the basic professions. The worst flaws are outright errors in presenting the mechanics of the game. There are edges listed in training that were renamed or eliminated by the time the Traits chapter was written. There are errors in the examples supposed to clarify how the game works. The level advancement rules are sometimes unclear. The Starship Duty ability is, according to the FAQ on the web, importantly more limited than it reads in the Guide. This needed a much more thorough editing before printing.

These problems are irritating, but they are fortunately simple to resolve. The character generation system and the skill test system are solid and very simple to implement. The guide also explicitly states that the players can create their own skills and edges, and even rules for doing so, and that the Narrator can change the type of skill test as he sees fit, if necessary. Should I ever choose to play, I would be very happy to use this system. As a collector, the insight into the skills and abilities of the character types, especially the elite professions, was worth the price. Also, nearly a third of the guide is given to chapters on equipment, starships, the galaxy and the Federation. Those sections were really interesting and informative. As a player I would give this a four for the errors, but as a collector I give it five stars.

This book is one of two core books, the other being the Narrarator's Guide. This book is full-color, with pictures from the original Star Trek all the way through Voyager and Enterprise. It has just about every gadget you've ever seen, and some you haven't, available to characters. Classes include Trader, Rogue, Starship Officer, Warrior, etc. If you're a Star Trek fan and enjoy roleplaying, do yourself a favor and get this book!

This is the best. I'am a narrator and I own all of those decipher manuals. This is the best rpg I ever played. Not just the best of trek rpg ,but the best of all I have played, and I have played almost all.
Perfect rules, Perfect manuals (that explain deep the ST universe and clear all on the rules for roleplaying and starship battles, spece astrogation or space hazards), perfect universe : what u are looking more? I have only a thing to say: buy it, and play.

This is the first book of the Star Trek RPG series. In this volume, it gives you the basics of character creation and gameplay from the player's point of view. It's a pretty simple and flexible gameplay system. However, there are a few complaints about this book. First of all, I feel that it wasn't organized very well. There isn't a checklist for character creation (I had to get that from another GM), so at first it's a little confusing. You have to jump around to different chapters to get all the information you need on character creation. Even just adding a checklist would have helped a lot. A second complaint is that a lot of skills, especially racial skills and abilities, are not listed on the character sheet, so again, you'll have to use resourses created by other GMs or make your own.

Even though this book has weak points, they can be overcome with resources available on the internet. Just be warned, this book only presents the game from the standpoint of the player. While the book claims that the game is playable with only this book, it's very difficult because there are no adventure seeds, or even many races or creatures to play with. If you're planning on running a game, you'll definitely need to pick up the Narrator's Book as well.

I'm delighted to see this book available again. Last year I spent $100 for a copy (well worth it!) because it was out of print. I plan to buy the new version for the additional pictures promised. I've been fascinated with this book since I was a kid (and his other out-of-print books). I have too much to say about Bill Owens' work and not nearly enough room! I love "Suburbia" and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to study people just "doing their thing".

The 1973 original edition, which contained only black-and-white photos, may not have been to everyone's taste. I went to the library and compared the "NEW & IMPROVED" (as the red 8-pointed star on the cover proclaims) 1999 edition with the old. The new edition is a lot better. First, some photos that did not have much impact for me (e.g., a shot of adults kissing on Halloween) have been deleted. Second, 18 pages of color photos (some of which have the gaudy color combinations typical of the 1970s) and a number of B&W photos were added. Third, the order of photos is more meaningful; for example, "I believe in women's liberation" was the second photo in the old edition but is on page 21 in the new edition (opposite a depiction of two chairs and a TV). Fourth, Owen's editor Shimshak has added captions for photos that previously had none (e.g., on pages 16-17). Finally, there is a new introduction by journalist David Halberstam.

It's long overdue that this 1972 rare cult classic book was republished. In the early 70s, photographer Owens acted as an anthropologist objectively documenting suburban inhabitants, their native environs, and their daily rituals. By pairing the images with quotes made by the subjects, Owens has created a hilarious and absurd account of life in the suburbs. Tupperware parties, backyard barbecues, and going to the hairdresser have never been so riveting! You must own this book!

I'm delighted to see this book available again. Last year I spent $100 for a copy (well worth it!) because it was out of print. I plan to buy the new version for the additional pictures promised. I've been fascinated with this book since I was a kid (and his other out-of-print books). I have too much to say about Bill Owens' work...and not nearly enough room! I love "Suburbia" and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to study people just "doing their thing".

I think this new edition of Bill Owens wonderful book is slightly better than the original. Having both editions I find that although the halftone screen is less than the original (first edition was over 200, this edition is 170) the printing quality and paper are better, giving the photos more depth. After all these years the images still look fresh and fascinating and the amount of detail the photos contain is amazing. As far as I am aware no other book comes close in capturing the feel of the American suburb of thirty odd years ago.

The book is always favourably mentioned in photo history books as an example of the `new topography' with photographers like Lewis Baltz, Robert Adams and Stephen Shore and the critics suggest that the citizens of this suburbia lead superficial lives because they live there. But they can't get round the fact these folk, living in Livermore Amador Valley, California, or perhaps three thousand miles away in Levittown, Long Island enjoy the life-style of suburban living and Owens photos capture this feeling so well.

On the visual strength of `Suburbia' I bought another book of Bill Owens photos, `Working: I do it for the money', published in 1977, a super collection of photos showing Americans at work and Like `Suburbia' it includes many observations from those in the photos. Well worth searching out for.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

I don't know how Todd Borg learned so much about so many different places and activities, but Ice Grave is not only rich in plot and characters, but in ambiance!

Owen is quite the Renaissance man. I never cease to be amazed at what Owen can explain. At one point, he explains, "scuba no decompression limits" to a local copper.

The whole scene just came to life for me. All of a sudden, I wasn't just "watching" a scene with a diver chick and a couple of middle aged men standing on a beach in Tahoe, but I was standing there with them - listening to the conversation, feeling the chill air, smelling the lake. Todd Borg has a talent for drawing a reader into a story.

An of course there's Spot. As the bookmark says, "Spot Rocks!" For most of the book, he's a bit more of a minor character than in Blowup, but he's still hanging about, drooling, lazing around, and making new friends.

I'm happy with my purchase, and recommend this book to anyone that wants a quick enjoyable read.

Borg writes with a style that makes writing books seem easy. His characters are simple and interesting. The plot is unique, and the ending couldn't be better. My steaks burned on the grill because I was reading this book--no regrets.

Todd Borg knows how to win fans...
Taho Ice Grave is a well executed story that
provides fast moving, compelling suspense.
Owen and Spot pack the realism that all mystery
readers enjoy.
Add Todd Borg's name to your list of favorite
authors!!!

Murder in the deep icy waters of Lake Tahoe; the search for a priceless manuscript and the ruthless killer who would do anything to get his hands on it; a frantic chase up frigid mountain cliffs to a hidden ice cave-Owen McKenna and his faithful Great Dane "Spot" are at it again.
"Tahoe Ice Grave," Todd Borg's third thriler in the Owen McKenna myatery series, is every bit as fast paced and spell binding as his first two, "Tahoe Deathfall" and "Tahoe Blowup." Borg's attention to detail and unique talent for character portrayal go a long way to make "Ice Grave's" people and places larger than life. A fast paced read that will keep you turning the pages 'till the wee hours of the morning.

Todd Borg is a Tahoe resident and small businessman. He also teaches part time at Lake Tahoe Community College. TAHOE ICE GRAVE is his third Owen McKenna and Spot mystery. Mr. Borg's first two novels in the series, TAHOE DEATHFALL and TAHOE BLOWUP, won several awards, including "Top 5 winner of Bay Area Independent Publishers Association" and "Librarian's Choice, Best Fiction 2001" by the Cincinnati Public Library.

Thos Kahale's body is found naked near Rubicon Point in Lake Tahoe, his clothes neatly folded onshore and a bullet through his head. Thos's mother, Janeen Kahale hires Owen McKenna to look into the death. Thos was an upstanding young man with a successful business and a discreet nature, and there is no apparent reason for his death. Owen has to dig deep to find the reasons, and in the meantime the Kahale family seems to be dying at an alarming rate. All Owen has to go on is a suicide note left by Thos and his family history:

"'Janeen, Thos's note says he was responsible for the deaths of three people. Jasper's father and brother have died in the last few weeks. Could they be two of he people Thos referred to?' 'Of course not. Jasper's father died of lung cancer. His brother in a car accident. Obviously, Thos could not have had anything to do with either death.'"

One of the real strengths of the Owen McKenna series is the characterization. Mr. Borg has a knack for telling a "tall tale" with larger-than-life characters. Owen himself is 6'6", and his dog spot is a Great Dane who is perfectly tuned to Owen's commands. McKenna's girlfriend Street completes the triad; an entomologist (science of insects) who deals with the grisly forensic side of murder. Together the threesome make for a winning combination of grit, intelligence, strength, and tenderness that is captivating to the reader. But Mr. Borg's plots are also super-twisters that take the reader back and forth, into and out of the mountain scenery at a dizzying rate. TAHOE ICE GRAVE is as compelling as any of Todd Borg's tales to date. With each book his writing advances to a new level, much to the delight of his growing audience. A big thumbs up.

Anyone who fears the possibility of mining interests encroachinginto the wilderness will understand the real threat thatfaces the Native American "hero" of Wolfsong. With an Abbey-like view to Monkeywrenching when the time is right, Tom Joseph learns to set his priorities and do some great backpacking up the Suiattle River in the process. This is Owen's first novel, begun in 1975 when he was a Wilderness Ranger in the Washington Cascades. There still is a valid copper claim on Miner's Ridge, north of Glacier Peak. This is a scary story; it could really happen.

This is not a politically correct book.

It challenges ideas of Native "authenticity" and gives short shrift to out-of-town environmentalists (rather shorter shrift than I entirely agreed with, in fact). When Tom decides to act against a copper mine, he does so not out of simplistic ideological purity but because of a complex of reasons, largely having to do with his own identity. (And he was uncritically working as a logger before that.)

Nevertheless, this is a profoundly environmentalist novel, with intensely beautiful descriptions of wilderness. It's an environmentalist novel because of the unbreakable connection it creates between humans and their environment and because of its challenge to the ideals of short-term profit. (At the same time, the problems of poverty are never glossed over.)

Owens wrote beautifully and incorporated stunning passages of magic realism. Tom is a believable character--confused, irresponsible (college drop-out), lonely, fierce, and ultimately heroic in the same way animals are in those old Western novels where wolves and mustangs leap off cliffs rather than be captured.

This book combats the usual conservative white male destruction of the enviornment, and offers instead a compelling look at the incredibly brave and noble traditions of Native Americans and their conservation efforts. Copper mines are not usually something I could care about, but this book challenges the assumption of the domineering white patriarchal culture, and I for one am grateful.

Wolfsong is a cautionary tale of what could potentially happen in the North Cascades. Congress conveniently neglected to ban mining in wilderness areas where old claims were established. This is Owens' cry of alarm: don't even consider mining in places like this. Wolfsong is told through the eyes of a local Native American, Tom Josephs, who inherits the mantle of protector of this sacred place from his uncle. Funny, insightful, true to the environment and the community, this book deserves a place on the shelf next to Desert Solitaire and the Monkey Wrench Gang

It is the "forks" in the river and the road for the citizens of Forks, a small town which perviously had logging money running through its veins, but now it is considering an infusion of mining dollars as the mills close down. Native American Tom Joseph returns home to attend his uncle's funeral and to unconsciously assume the mantle of trickster and to learn what drove his uncle to acts of ecoterrorism and monkeywrenching. Readers will get a true feel for the temperate rain forests of Western Washington while reading this novel, and may be tempted to don a slicker or their climbing boots by the time it is finished. Owens lets the reader decide many of the outcomes in this novel, though the meaning is always clear, the humor is rampant and the small town was probably a role model for Northern Exposure, right down to troubled sexy waitress and a fly bouncing around in the pie case.

For wilderness supporters, this book is a horror story. The book is based on the very real possibility that a copper mine could be opened with the attendant roads and carnage, on Miner's Ridge, north of Glacier Peak in the Glacier Peak Wilderness Area. Congress left a loophole big enough to drive a front-end loader through when the Wilderness Act was passed. The road isn't there yet, but Owens' vision is remarkably clear. Take heed, and enjoy