Perry Books

If you have ever struggled with statistical concepts and books that only partially explain the sources of each variable in statstical equations, then this is the book for you. Their constant repetition of statistical concepts with each example case study was VERY helpful in cementing these concepts in my mind.

Confidence levels, 1-tailed, 2-tailed tests and the application of these concepts in real world marketing situations can be quite confusing. This book once again came through with clearly explained examples and scenarios.

Having read many books on database marketing, direct marketing, data mining & CRM as a consultant, I appreciate the story line approach heading up each chapter most. Many books fall prone to teaching "at you" rather than guiding the user along "through the experience of doing it".

A second critical factor to look for - once you've gotten through all the introductory books - is finding concrete info on how-to, best practices providing significant content and knowledge. This is the true value-add from the masters: learning is incremental and there must be true takeaways to get the 5 stars.

This said, the authors have made an extremely broad, detailed and well spun story out of a subject matter that can be to say the least, challenging... Moreover, the disciplines of customer analysis, database management & modeling, data mining, statistical analysis, marketing planning are all the focus of reengineering by many of today's major businesses.

Consequently, this book leads nicely and rather naturally into a major subject of the day for many IT & marketeers -- Analytical CRM. As such it is a must read for anyone interested in understanding how A-CRM works in many companies practicing DBM today.

A great next step would be to go from the marketing-IT function(-ing) to the broader enterprise, long-term (relational) infrastructure & practices preached by CRM. Show how the DBM process evolves in to and is transformed by meeting Customer Mgmt strategies. How would DBM work in a enterprise integration, near/real-time, customer interaction CRM initiative?

Finally, as an aside, in reviewing MANY course syllabi across the world in DM/DBM, I've OFTEN found this book as the course text if not mandatory-suggested reading.

I agree -- for all & anyone wanting a good complement to Shepard's seminal work - you can't do any better.

Buy it ! Good reading...

This book is an excellent tool for direct marketers who need to develop, manage and optimize a database. Tells what to do... what to avoid... I recommend it highly.

This is the first book that covers everything from statistics and database technology to the final marketing application. Perry Drake provides many realistic case studies from his experiences in the trenches as a proven direct marketing professional. His statistical, technical and university teaching background makes this book a valuable read for those just entering the field of database marketing or the seasoned traditional marketing professional.

When I first became involved with database marketing in the mid-1990s, and through my tour of graduate school a few years later, books on the subject fell into two categories: basic and trivial, or advanced and impossible to comprehend. OPTIMAL DATABASE MARKETING is the perfect reference for what is probably the majority audience segment: marketing managers, senior executives, list professionals, data processors, professors, and students who want to understand all the elements of strategic planning and analysis *and* gain practical knowledge to apply professionally or in research endeavors.

In OPTIMAL DATABASE MARKETING, you get a wealth of material on two aspects of the process - for the price of one. Co-author Ron Drozdenko does a great job defining concepts and detailing potential objectives when building files. His coverage of technical specifications and issues is particularly useful.

As for the subsequent chapters: I don't think there has ever been a book written which covers database modeling, and statistical techniques germane to direct marketing, as comprehensively and clearly. Co-author Perry Drake manages to leave no stone unturned and yet convey knowledge in a style that's both understandable and easy to follow. This part of the book is worth the cost alone.

I just happen to pick this up from a used book store....... i confess, i liked the cover.
This book was a wonderful surprise! It was so cute!
Katherine is working her way up the corporate ladder. She's given a project to find her psychotic boss a sperm donor, with a promise that if she succeeds she'll become vp at work. Katherine enlists her best friend Luc to help her find sperm candidates and what happens afterwards is hilarious and sweet.
Katherine rambles off random and odd facts whenever she gets nervous (which is often) and she will keep you laughing throughout the whole book!
This book is hilarious!
I loved everything about it...... great characters you can feel for, fall in love with, and laugh at. I read it in one day because it was hard to put down. I'm going to recommend it to all my friends!

This was a great read.. I couldn't put it down. It was funny and sweet..Fun read.

I could NOT put this book down and am paying for it today for staying up late into the night to finish it. It was fresh and funny and touching and endearing.

I did get frustrated when Kat and Luc didn't communicate how they felt, but instead Luc seemingly gave up on her and Kat let him. Given they were best friends for so many years, I think she would have given more priority to the relationship over her career problem and Luc would have talked to her rather than jumping into a relationship with her boss. But it was very heartbreaking to read about their dissolution. Luc's hurt jumped off the pages and though Kat came off as cold and unfeeling at times, her hurt was also clearly there. Also, given their longtime relationship, Luc would have known Kat well enough to know her lack of self-confidence or cluelessness in a man/woman relationship and understand her reasons for her strong drive to succeed in her career and therefore he should have been able to be up front with her about his feelings. But then it wouldn't have been as emotional as it was and I loved this book.

It's one of those where I can't get it out of my mind after finishing it. I highly recommend it!

I was surprised by this book, I thought the premise a bit strange but gave it a chance anyway since it had good reviews. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!! You must give it a try.

Katherine Murphy's new work assignment: Find a donor with the perfect genes so her boss, Lydia Ashworth, can have a baby. The reward: Promotion to VP of Research. After a lifetime being uprooted by her alcholic father, this promotion means Kat can finally have stability and purchase a home of her own. Successful sperm is the only option.

With Kat's challenged social skills, asking hot men about their genetic make-up doesn't produce a willing applicant. So Kat enlists help from her popular best friend, Luc. Together, they comb the City in search of the proper genes. Completing her assignment is easier with Luc's help, and somewhere along the sperm search, Kat finds their friendship taking a new turn...

Quirky, fun, and surprisingly touching...Kate Perry's debut is a definite keeper.

Quest for the Source of Darkness is an excellent and well-told story, one which caught my interest on the first page and maintained its grip until the last. The characters are well defined and come to life as the tale progresses - the reluctant and, for much of the narrative, unknowing heroine Ramira, the Elven Prince Danyl, Allad and Zada the dark mysterious Herkahs, the Dwarf King Seven and the evil Mahn. These and numerous other participants are skilfully interwoven as the plot leads you from character to character, situation to situation, changing rapidly as the tale develops. The action-scenes and landscapes are finely detailed, allowing the reader to envision clearly the events taking place.

Patricia Perry keeps the reader turning the pages, needing to find out what happens next. Will the forces of good outwit Mahn's evil followers and find the Source of Darkness first? Will the Elves discover their magic, the Green Might, before they and the rest of the world are turned into demons, doomed to slave forever under the rule of Mahn? To find out the answers to these questions you need to read Quest for the Source of Darkness. A very entertaining fantasy novel, one I thoroughly enjoyed. This is Patricia Perry's first novel and I believe she has a hit on her hands. I look forward to reading a great deal more of this author's work.

Brian R Hill, Author, The Shintae

As a reader and writer of mainly science fiction, I read this fantasy with an open mind. Immediately, I was struck with the colourful and vivid world and characters Patricia describes in this epic battle of good against evil. The settings are rich and intricate and the characters, strong and compelling. I quickly connected with the central characters and found myself deeply caring for what happened to them. Intertwining with the good against evil central plot, there are a number of sub-plots, including romance and inter-cultural relationships.

This is a clever and intricate story with fast-paced action, tragedy and a deep underlying sense of humanity. I recommend Quest for the Source of Darkness and will look out for more offerings from Patricia Perry with interest.

In "Quest for the Source of Darkness" Ramira's world begins with no memories, only the realization that someone outside needs her. She leaves the sanctuary of her cave to save Danyl, an elf princess, and so begins a quest to their destinies as fated generations before. While the two unlikely companions learn to trust and care for one another, a great evil raises from the planet's bowel's and begins a destructive mission to find the source of darkness, a power great enough to ensure the end of not only mankind, but also of elves, dwarves, and mighty desert warriors. To survive, the kingdoms come together for one final battle.

Patricia Perry, the author of "Quest for the Source of Darkness" astounded me. She wrote in very long, descriptive paragraphs, which tend to lose my attention. I kept expecting that the farther I got into the book, the more difficult it would be for me to stick with it and finish it. Instead, I got drawn into the story to the point that I did not notice how long I had been reading. I not only wanted to know where and how the source of darkness was housed and how the leaders of the kingdoms would manage to overcome the evil forces that darkened the land, I couldn't help but care about the characters. I needed to know who survived and who died, and as the story drew to a close, I cried. I cried for the living and the dead.

Whether you like action adventures, fantasies, or character-driven stories, read "Quest for the Source of Darkness".

You won't be able to put this down, and you won't be able to forget it, either. Your mind will delight in taking the adventures into which this writer leads you. The mental images evoked are beyond your control and your imagination. If you dream, if you read, if you love, if you enjoy fantasy, don't just sit there, order this book and for that matter, order two and give one to someone you really like a lot.

Quest for the Source of Darkness, Patricia Perry's first novel, has an action fantasy story line with a strong mystery theme and an interesting romantic twist. This is no short novel, at 422 pages you'll be kept entertained for quite a while.

The main hero character is a strong and gifted woman who is stricken with a form of memory loss. Little flashes of memory come to her, but she is frustrated with not knowing who she is and what her origins are. All she can remember is her name, Ramira.

Baffled in a tumultuous world of elves, dwarves and desert nomads, whose inability to co-exist peacefully could spell doom for all. They are forced to work together to battle the evil Mahn and his minions, a variety of demons from the low demons called Kreetch to the terrifying Vox, who are capable of possessing a body and torturing its soul for centuries.

The Elf Kings, Alyxandyr and Gard, and their royal peers - the Dwarf King, Seven, and the rulers of the Herkahs, Zada and Allad - converge together at the gates of grand city of Bystyn. Together their people find solace in numbers while they prepare to battle the sourcerous evil. Ramira discovers her power and learns that she is not meant to be alone. There is also a powerful seer and the hidden elf magic to aid her - but they all must grow in strength if there is to be any hope at all.

Patricia does not explain things in this novel. Instead, the book expertly unfolds little tantalizing bits to the reader at just the right pace. Quest for the Source of Darkness is a larger-sized book that will take the reader on fantasy adventure for many days.

ISBN#: 141377427X
Author: Patricia Perry
Publisher: Publish America

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment - Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (...)

Odette the youngest daughter of Rulf, the Cheiftain who still holds to the old faith and worship of the Goddess Freyja, and for their faith, he and his wife have been slain, betrayed by their oldest daughter to the Franks. Leaving only Vanda, their eldest daughter and heir to the lands and Odette the youngest daughter in her uncertain care. As Odette grows into a beautiful young woman, Vanda's husband, before his death, sees to it that Odette is sent from the Christian court where Vanda has placed her, to the land of Athla where Odette will be taught the life of obedience and submissiveness to the Goddess Freyja. Not an easy life, but one much better than that of life in her sister's falsely Christian house. While Odette is learning to be a woman of Freyja, and learns to enjoy the obvious sensual and erotic life in the wonderful world of love and sexual fulfillment in the pure land of Athla, Vanda, Odette's sister seeks to recover her sister from what she considers the heathen and sinful world. Behind the falsely Christian fief of Vanda, lurks a dark plot Vanda has entered into with an evil cult. She has sent the chivalous knight Cu'lugh to return her sister not expecting the knight will fall in love with the virturous and beautiful Odette. Dark forces begin to take shape and the plot thickens as the evil of Vanda's world attempts steel Odette from the safety of Athla.
Maria O. Perry has written a wonderful, classic, and erotic tale of epic proportions. Her unique and talented style will delight the reader from the beginning as she weaves a plot that will keep your attention until the end. Ravished Wings will sharpen the reader's erotic senses and bring them to the edge of explosion, holding them there throughout the book. Her heroine, Odette, has the strength of character all women only wish they had. Strength, that enables her to endure the training and retain her idenity with grace and become the fulfilled woman of a priestess of Freyja. A wonderful read that will grace my bookshelf and my heart for years into the future. A keeper that I will pass to my daughter when the time is right.
Sheila N. Eskew, reviewer, Chat Coordinator and author.

Marie Osborne-Perry has done it. She has combined fantasy fiction with erotica and made it work. I loved the character of Odette and her brazen ways. I also liked the backstory provided as well. A really good read if you're in the mood for some escapism!!!!

Having been a fan of Maria's stories since EROTIC DREAMS AND SATIN SHEETS was released, I wasn't surprised that her second book RAVISHED WINGS was also a winner. Odette, the heroine, is another example of the sexy seductive submissive who can defeat the blackest hearted villian with one hand and pleasure her man with in ways most men just dream about with the other. This type of heroine is fast becoming a hallmark of Perry's writing. I recommend RAVISHED WINGS to all fans of erotic fantasy, and eagerly await more from this talented lady.

I thought the premise of "RAVISHED WINGS" by Maria Perry was different. I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the characters and the dialogue in this fantasy story too, I think most people that are looking for a book that is different will enjoy this one.

Loved the unusual premise in combining fantasy and erotica in this story. 'Very Nice!'

The heroine Odette -- sexy little minx with many talents...Legend has it that any man who hold the 'swan mantle' enslaves the fair maiden, but what happens when it (the swan mantle) falls into the hands of a woman???

The characters in "RAVISHED WINGS" by Maria Osborne Perry, are fun and exciting, the dialogue entertaining, and the plot 'EXCELLENT!' A thrilling combination...

John Savoy
Savoy International
Motion Pictures Inc.

One of the best volumes I've come across in the field of sound synthesis on personal computers. Provides a solid introduction to this field for those who wish to create sound on a PC (as opposed to play back previously- recorded sound).

This is not a book that introduces and uses signal processing concepts for the sake of itself. Instead, the goal of the book is to create sounds, learn the tools and theory behind creating such sounds, and grasp the essentials of many sophisticated physical modeling concepts in particular. The book is quite thin, but don't let this fool you. The author chose to leave out quite a few details so that this did not turn into another 1000 page treatise on computer music. Thus some basic topics in signals, systems, and filter design are not fleshed out to their fullest extent. To this end, the book has an extensive reference section so that if you are unfamiliar with a particular physics or DSP topic, you can research it yourself.

Chapter 1 briefly establishing the fundamentals of digital audio, and includes an introduction to the basics of quantization, compression, and Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM) sampling. Chapter 2 investigates sound synthesis starting with wavetable synthesis. In chapter 3, digital filters are introduced. Included is a concise but clear introduction to Linear Time Invariant (LTI) systems, convolution, Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters, Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters, and Z transforms. The chapter culminates in an introduction to the BiQuad filter.

Chapter 4, which deals with modal synthesis, acts as a stepping-stone to the frequency domain, leading to chapter 5's discussion of the Fourier Transform. This chapter examines Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), fast convolution, and Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT), and ends with examples of applications.

Chapters 6, 7, and 8 delve deeper into synthesis/analysis concepts such as Linear Predictive Coding (LPC), spectral modeling, additive/subtractive synthesis, noise signals, and inharmonicity, using the frequency domain techniques learned in previous chapters. You'll hardly turn a page without an accompanying picture or block diagram, a particularly valuable feature of this book.

Chapter 9 explores the physical modeling concepts of string vibrations and stiff bars. Modeling algorithms are introduced using basic physics perspectives centered around the familiar string, mass, and damper paradigms first introduced in chapter 4. Here again, rather than bombarding the reader with tons of equations, Mr. Cook explains ideas mainly through diagrams, sound examples, and block diagrams, which is very helpful for the software implementation of algorithms. The ready-to-compile C++ code for this section included on the CD-ROM provide models of a plucked string (Plucked.cpp), a mandolin (Mandolin.cpp), and a bowed string (Bowed.cpp).

In Chapter 11, Tubes and Air Cavities, the author introduces more models while leaving detailed mathematical derivations of equations for the appendix. He concludes chapter 11 with "Building and Blowing a Bottle Model", and includes code and sound examples, as usual. Going into chapter 12, more complex, higher dimensional models are introduced, with the traditional mass-spring model in the context of a meshed membrane starting off the chapter.

Chapter 13 introduces modeling and synthesizing particle interaction. Some of the topics covered include Formant Wave Functions (FOFs) for voice synthesis, single particle models, multi-particle systems, and statistical multi-particle systems such as a simple maraca model, implemented in less than 30 lines of C code with an accompanying block diagram.

Chapter 14 deals with the subtleties of exciting and controlling sound models. For example, Mr. Cook discusses the differences between exciting a string with a plectrum as opposed to using the fleshy part of the thumb. He also shows some fascinating effects of the striking conditions of the Tibetan prayer bowl, which exhibits very different spectra as a function of strike-direction while keeping strike-point constant. Other topics discussed include bowing, scraping, and frictional issues in synthesis. MIDI, OSC (Open Sound Control), and other standards for sound and multimedia control are also briefly examined.

Chapter 15 walks the reader through a complete system called PhOLISE (Physically Oriented Library of Interactive Sound Effects) that could possibly be applied to areas such as gaming, animation, and sound effects in film production. The five sections of the appendix go into greater detail regarding proofs, derivations, and properties of topics such as DFT properties, zero-padding, proof of fast convolution, and ideal string behaviors.

After you grasp the contents of this book, you might want to read "The Physics of Musical Instruments" and use some of Mr. Cook's techniques to synthesize the numerical models explained in that book.

"Real Sound Synthesis for Interactive Applications" by Perry R. Cook describes elementary and advanced techniques to simulate the audio components of dynamic systems using physics. While the book is not specifically directed toward game development, the application to game development is clear. The book's organization of the major themes covered is easily to follow through three sections that detail digital audio, sound modeling, and simulation of real world instruments. The book spans sixteen chapters and appendices totaling 248 pages.

The first section (chapters 1-3) defines digital audio, compression, wave synthesis, and simple filtering techniques. The chapters form the foundation for the later sections and define the common asset formats and techniques currently used in games. Cook emphases that key components of sound manipulation are the sampling rate and quantization of the source audio. The text demonstrates how sounds with higher sampling rates allow for greater manipulation with fewer artifacts but incur a greater computational cost.

The second section (chapters 4-8) introduces sound modeling through simplified physical systems, such as an ideal spring, and Fourier series equations. While an understanding of college physics and calculus is helpful (especially if you'd like to code these methods), the book doesn't require it or bog down in theory or mathematical proofs. (For those interested in the details, they are provided in the appendices). The concepts described in this section are critical in creating computer sound models that represent real world objects.

The last section (chapters 7-16) provides physics equations that allow for the simulation of real world instruments (string instruments, tubes, and multi-dimensional objects). Each chapter describes a different system based on Fourier construction, filtering, and physics-based equations. It's the heart of the book and most interesting. The background in the two previous sections is essential to fully grasp the concepts Cook defines here.

Throughout each chapter, Cook couples clear concise writing with a touch of humor and illustrative diagrams. Cook provides a good initial foundation as the topics covered gradually build in complexity. The clean organizational layout made it easy for me to refer back to previous sections when I felt the need. In many cases, however, I found the writing to be a little too condensed and wished for a paragraph describing a concept rather than the sentence provided. Cook does supply references at the end of each chapter for those readers seeking additional detail.

The book also includes a CD containing audio samples of the topics discussed throughout the book. While reading the book, it was useful to be able to hear the point or technique made in the text. The CD also contains Cook's sound synthesis toolkit and several examples of instruments highlighted in the last section.

Unfortunately in current development, real-time sound synthesis in games has a limited place. Due to the complex calculations of Fourier series, fast digital signal processor chips are required to simulate the audio effects without impacting the rest of the game. Minimally, filters and other simple routines outlined in the book can be written for target hardware to accomplish specialized effects but this is nothing radically new.

However, Cook's research in simulating audio is extremely exciting. During the calculation of an object's dynamic behavior (such as collision response, striking, falling, moving, etc.) a minimal additional amount of time can be spent to determine the audio effects. According to Cook's findings, this amount is generally less than 5% of the total time required to simulate an object's physical behavior. Admittedly, these calculations are on the order of minutes versus milliseconds but eventually Moore's Law will catch up and simplifications will allow unparalleled audio effects in conjunction with physical simulation.

Developers and sound designers interested in the math and physics of creating real-time sounds should pick up this book. Those interested in a fascinating look at the mechanisms of dynamically producing sound might also want to give it a read provided it's with the understanding that the direct applicability to games is at least few years away.

Are you a pretty good C++ programmer? Have you ever wanted to have your computer output sounds like footsteps or musical instruments that (a) sound real and (b) are continuously responsive to the user's control? Did you discover that it was basically impossible to do it by stitching together prerecorded samples, and you couldn't think of any other way to do it?

If so, Perry Cook has written just the book you have been looking for. In 250 pages, Cook explains everything, from the basics of digital filtering to the major alternatives for generating sounds: additive and subtractive synthesis, FM synthesis, and -- the real focus of the book -- physical modeling. Not only that, the accompanying CD-ROM includes lots of sound examples and the Synthesis ToolKit -- a pretty much platform-independent set of C++ classes and algorithms for writing your own code.

Not everything is perfect. Just as the first version of any program contains some bugs, the first printing of any book that uses mathematics contains some errors. In particular, typos in Appendix A could be very frustrating if this is your first exposure to Fourier analysis. (You might want to check Cook's web site for a promised list of errata and code updates.) And don't let the fact that the book is short, attractively produced, very well organized, unusually clear, and entertainingly written lead you to believe that you can master it in a weekend. Although Cook tries his best to make the underlying mathematics unintimidating, there is no getting around the fact that there are some rather deep concepts from wave physics and signals-and-systems theory behind what he has to say.

The good news is that the effort is richly repaid. Not only will you be able to write programs that can generate controllable sounds in real time, but you will develop insight into how physical instruments produce their distinctive sounds, and you will understand the basics of both the standard and the most advanced techniques that have been developed to model them. Highly recommended.

This book is useful, enlightening, and fun. It covers many cutting-edge topics in lucid fashion, topics that can only be found otherwise in academic journals. The computer code (in the book and on the CD-ROM) is an invaluable resource for the ambitious reader, who can actually try out or modify the techniques. The CD-ROM also provides examples of these new techniques in action. Finally, the author's sense of humor comes through often (this is not a stiff, boring book!).

As a "digital-sound-artist" and someone who teaches this stuff at the university level, I highly recommend this book not only to those who want to learn about the most recent work going on in sound synthesis, but to those who want another perspective on more familiar topics (like the basics of PCM, fourier analysis, basic digital filtering, etc....).

This collection of stories is the direct continuation of the storyline of the series. Starting 3 months after the events of the show, these stories don't miss a beat.

My favorite thing about these books, is how well they capture the characters. The perspective of the stories is ever-shifting, jumping from character to character. Many of these characters are well established from the Star Trek televion shows. They are very well represented, and very true to what you know about each of them. The new characters that get introduced are just as real and alive as the ones you know and love.

The stories are compelling, especially for those who always wondered what the heck happened after Captain Sisko disappeared to join the Prophets. I would recommend this to any sci-fi fan, but with so much history on the station and with the characters, these stories are truly for the Star Trek fans.

This collection of books lives up to the Star Trek name, and the DS9 brand as well, with darker and deeper ideals being explored.

I'm sure the book is good because I bought it thinking it was a new novel. But, it's a compilation of three or four previously published paperbacks which I already own and have read, so I spent my money for nothing....the stories are well written and are Star Trek...except there is no explanation that it's previously published novels all rolled up into one..

I've already read most of this book when the stories inside were published as individual novels. I still got it for 3 reasons. One, to get the Gateway stories at the end that I skipped initially and only skimmed through in the store. Two, just to have them all together in one fantastic volume. And 3 I got it for the new introduction by David R. George III. For anyone who hasn't read these books though, this is your chance to get started on the most fantastic continuation of Star Treks most epic series one could have hoped for.

The final episode of DS9 wrapped up many of the important threads in the series. But there were enough things still left hanging that we fans knew there could still be many stories to tell. Marco Palmieri, editor at Pocket Books along with some fantastic writers answered a fan's wildest dreams with these stories, and many more to keep this epic still going today.

First up is Avatar, by S. D. Perry, which had all the action, drama and exposition as a pilot episode, which this basically was for the post finale novel series. In addition to having its own fantastic story, it lays the groundwork for many of the novels to come, and sets up new and familiar characters to fill the vacancies left by several characters when the series ended.

The other stories are more stand alone stories, one being part of the Section 31 series they did and the other 2 being part of the Gateways series they did, both being larger series spanning the entire Trek universe though only the DS9 installments are included here. The Section 31 and Gateway plots weren't my favorites, but both contained material that furthered the plot introduced in Avatar and would continue into future books.

There is much to love about today's Star Trek novels. They are much more connected overall and far more ambitious than the mostly stand alone novels of the past. But among all the great novels I've read these past few years the DS9 post finale stories are my favorite. And these stories are your chance to read them from the begining if you missed your chance before. I hope they follow this with more omnibus editions of the stories that follow. They could do one for the "Mission Gamma" series, another for the DS9 10th anniversary novels, and another for "Worlds of DS9" and possibly "Warpath" unless that would be better suited to be included with the next few stories down the road.

Im glad this book was published because I was not able to read the last 2 of the storys when they were originaly published and I enjoyed them here.

Twist of Faith offers everything:

*what a bargain! 660 pages of truly wonderful story-telling with enough action, variety, mysteries, and fun to give you hours of reading pleasure

*a truly beautiful cover and binding. Not something I usually care about but the artwork on Twist of Faith is just fantastic.

*Avatar, by S. D. Perry, is as rich and detailed a story as you will find in the Star Trek universe. Mind you, this is NOT an easy read - the book is painstaking in its detail, carefully building up characters and story until the book positively takes a life of its own (literally!). Most amazing of all, it brings utterly brand new characters completely alive, from an "old hand" Star Fleet officer to a young Andorian to a brand new take on the Jem'Hidar. And if that weren't enough, it takes backstory from the series to a remarkably vivid and logical extension, with the book filled with both heart-wrenching tragedy and great triumphs.

*an action packed middle book (Abyss) which, while it can't keep up quite the momentum found in the first book, serves as effective action piece for our good Doctor.

*a very well written 3rd and final book (Demons of Air and Darkness) which shows that a very simple and somewhat monotonous premise - catastrophe and rescue - can be greatly enhanced by skillful, amusing, and action-packed writing ability that neatly fuses races from not only Deep Space 9 but also Voyager in a way that makes sense and provides edge of your seat excitement.

*and if that weren't enough, there's a special treat in the Horn and Ivory novella which is a different sort of story (more would spoil the fun) that is immensely enjoyable and remarkably entertaining, especially since it involves a series of characters and events which don't go beyond this single story.

In short, this is a fantastic volume, attractively to view, wonderfully priced, and an absolutely stellar set of stories. They outdid themselves with this one!

Kudos!!!

The first maybe six or seven chapters of this book were really tedious for me as they really didn't seem to delve into the life of Mr. Perry as much as they explored the "times" of Mr. Perry. It wasn't until around chapter 8 or so that I was able to enjoy the book as it went into more detail about Mr. Perry's life in and out of show-biz. Mr. Perry was a character, to say the least. Flamboyant with his riches and fame, but seemingly not so smart about his future. I just don't understand why some don't see just how much of a contribution Mr. Perry made to the world of Black cinema. Yes, he perfected the character of a slow-footed, shuffling, mealy mouth, but had he not made those enroads in film, would there be the Poitiers and Washingtons of today? I wish that there was some way to actually view In Old Kentucky and Hearts in Dixie so I can actually see the character Mr. Perry created and watch as his talents were displayed. Given the times that Mr. Perry and others of his generation had to work within, I'd say that he did what he had to do. Watkins does a fine job of providing us with a fact-based and well-documented glimpse into the life and times of Mr. Perry.

This book was well researched, and provides an entertaining and enlightening insight into an era that could not exist since the civil rights movement of the 60's. It speaks to social justice and inclusion, bias and the ability to transcend existing norms to earn a living at a time when, for black America, second class citizenship and economic hardship were the norm. Mr. Watkins is the professor and we are his students.

A Fascinating Character"

I'd heard the term "Stepin Fetchit," but I didn't know that there was a real person (Lincoln Perry) or movie star who used the name. So when a friend suggested I read this book I was leery. But after a few pages I was caught up in the times and in Perry's struggle to break into films and establish himself as a star. What surprised me most is that he was apparently an intelligent, gifted performer who was nothing like our picture of the "Uncle Tom" that the name is associated with. Who knew that Perry wrote for the Chicago Defender, fought for higher pay and better roles for black actors, hung out with the heavyweight champ Jack Johnson as well as Muhammad Ali, and, for years, lived such a lavish life in Hollywood. Watkins gives us a rich, detailed account of this complex, talented black comic actor. And when one reads about the racial restrictions and circumstances of black actors in the 1920s and 30s, the reasons for his being cast in the cartoonish movie roles he played become clear. He was a man before his time. I finished the book thinking that Perry, with his ambition and outrageous knack for publicity and self-promotion, could have been a star today. It seems that Perry had more flair and attitude than many of today's biggest stars.
This is an entertaining, eye-opening book - a great read. I recommend it for anyone interested in entertainment history or the bumpy road that black actors had to travel to become accepted in Hollywood, and for everyone who wants to be introduced to one of the most fascinating characters I've ever read about. Lincoln Perry's achievements need to be reevaluated and "Stepin Fetchit" definitely deserves * * * * * Five Stars.

Lincoln Perry, the man the world came to know as Stepin Fetchit, was a complex man. After reading this book, I realize I have childhood memories of seeing Fetchit in films on television. I also remember some of his imitators. Mel Watkins brought to mind cartoons like "Who Killed Cock Robin?" where a Stepin Fetchit type character was being beaten by the police. I asked my sister to quote our deceased mother using the title of this book. She said, "Stop acting like Stepin Fetchit." That made us laugh. But I also remember being taught by my elders who were the great grandchildren of ex-slaves, the subtle form of "playing dumb" to avoid being oppressed by the oppressor. Unfortunately, when "the oppressor" saw Stepin Fetchit movies, he didn't get the joke because it was at his expense. Therefore, forward thinking black people had to cringe watching some of movies movies in mixed company because they knew that this comedians "act" was being accepted as typical black man behavior. Mel Watkins did a fantastic job of explaining Lincoln Perry and the time in which he lived.

Chances are you don't know who Lincoln Perry is, and chances are you do know who Stepin Fetchit is, even though you may never have seen any of Fetchit's movies. Fetchit was Perry's stage persona, famous for playing the "shiftless darky," the slow-talking, drowsy shuffler that was the comic bane of his white masters. Perry was as full of contradictions as the character he portrayed, and both get a full biography in _Stepin Fetchit: The Life & Times of Lincoln Perry_ (Pantheon) by Mel Watkins. Watkins has previously written a history of African American comedy, and so is well acquainted with Fetchit, his fellow performers, and the social changes of the twentieth century that led to the changes in feeling about Fetchit's screen character. This biography is not just about the man and character, but about a particular aspect of twentieth century American race relations.

Perry was born in 1902 in Key West, Florida, and followed his father into performing, working tent shows, carnivals, and eventually vaudeville. Movies were not a career that black performers considered at the time, because if depicted, blacks were played by whites in blackface. Perry may have taken a job as a porter at MGM, and in 1927 he acted in _In Old Kentucky_, his first film appearance, one which got him some critical notice. Perry did not invent Fetchit's "torpid physical presence and halting, meandering speech," but he performed the role with meticulous attention and timing. When onstage before an audience, a key part of his act (it sounds like the sort of transformation for which Andy Kaufman was famous) was to come meandering out, looking lost and confused, and start a whining, incoherent monologue. He would then suddenly burst into a spirited dance that showed that the sloth and stupidity were nothing but pretense. Watkins makes the point that on the screen, there was no such transformation; Perry's sluggard, always performed with skillful languor, was the only role he got to play. He became the first true black movie star, and one of the first to have a studio contract. Like so many actors of his time, he spent lavishly and foolishly. Throughout his movie career, he would irritate studio executives so much that he would get fired from a movie or from his contract, whereupon he would go back to the road for work on the stage. He was criticized by the civil rights movement in the 1940s, and was unemployable because of it, although he could have made a comeback in drama in the sixties. He died in a home for Hollywood actors in 1985.

Watkins has provided a full picture of a complex man of real talent who used it in a timely way, a way that simply became unfashionable as times changed. Perry's aggressive demands to be treated (and paid) like white stars branded him a troublemaker. His fame opened doors for other black actors in less controversial roles, but his name stands for a now-regrettable image. This entertaining biography shows that there was more to him than the image.

A very good technical resource for those dealing with a family member who has BPD.

There is a terrible glut of misinformation on BPD. Many books on the subject are seriously flawed, and the Internet is worse than useless. Searches for BPD are more likely to reveal "hate sites" put together by estranged ex's than anything with a scholarly or clinical basis.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone affected by this terrible disorder. It is balanced, readable, and based on the best available research. Gunderson and his co-authors discuss the nature of BPD and treatment options without demonizing either those who suffer from BPD or those who care for them.

Ce collectif est utile et réconfortant à la fois. Avec beaucoup de simplicité, d'empathie et d'humanité, les auteurs laissent la parole aux spécialistes et aux patients confrontés au trouble borderline. Clair, professionnel, argumenté, en un mot brillant, " Understanding and treating Borderline Personality Disorder " fait toute la lumière sur une maladie encore méconnue en France.
A lire absolument.

Useful book for families trying to figure out what is going on with their child.

Professionals John Gunderson M.D. and Perry Hoffman Ph.D., with the aid of other expert contributors, present Understanding And Treating Borderline Personality Disorder: A Guide For Professionals And Families, a straightforward discussion of how to live with, care for, treat and help borderline patients. Chapters discuss the diagnosis and treatment of borderline disorder, and issues directly pertaining to families including forming a support system, living with the possible negative effects of borderline disorder, family involvement in treatment, and more. Sample cases, plain- terms discussions and definitions, and a highly accessible style and format make Understanding And Treating Borderline Personality Disorder immediately comprehensible to readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended for anyone whose family or professional life places them in contact with or makes them responsible for borderline patients.

What a hoot! Millard Fillmore gets in more trouble than [anyone]. Don't pass it up! The "Photographer's Scene" is absolute pure genius. Never underestimate the power of constant tumescence. Wish more writers were as "crazy" as this poor 44288 guy was purported to be way back in his time.

Sit back and unbuckle your belt for this one because the old stomach muscles are going to get one helluva work out. Constant Tumescence? You gotta love that euphemism. This 44288 guy rides this little pony to a super wonderful surprise ending. This book's worth it at thrice the price.

The premise of constant tumescence is worthy of a Mel Brooks book and movie and if he's secretly floating this book as an advance script, I'm sorry to out it. But this is wild stuff that gives you whole clusters of great Mel Brooks guffaws that shakes your chucklings all over... only this book takes bites out of the butts of America's obsession and conflicted attitudes toward sex. I still can't get over the "photographer's scene." A riot. It causes me to break out laughing in strange restaurants even now. I hear this 44288 was some Ohio Beautiful Mind type with serious work under his belt in his Some Die Mad quatrain. OK, so add another title. How about comic genius? But I gotta ask: "Izzat you, Mel?"

What a romp! You'd think a one trick plot like this would fizzle quick, but not in 44288's hands, he just keeps getting funnier and funnier with this constant tumescence gimmick. No wonder they locked the guy up and probated him; he was 35 years ahead of his time. History has a way of doing that. I'm going to buy his Some Die Mad quatrain because if he's half the tragedian as he is comic genius then it's got to be Pulitzer and National Book Award time... that's fer damn sure!

...write outrageous laugh tracks like this. It's funnier than a rubber crutch. But the afterburn tells the real story. When the laughter pauses and you pick yourself up from rolling on the floor you realize this guy just pilloried the whole sexual scene of America in the era of the Seventies, if not the entire American sexual scene period...

I consider myself a moderate in social issues and conservative on economic issues. This is a very relevant book. The author really understands how our government, at all levels, occasionally anoints itself with greater power than provided by the Constitution, to the detriment of regular citizens. It seems that this occurs more regularly in the West, where government controlled land abounds and political power falls below that of both coasts. The author, and the Foundation he heads, appear to have both the skills and mindset to stand up to the government and champion the rights of the rest of us. Good for them. Read and learn, and spread the word.

A thought provoking and revealing study on some of most significant and successful legal challenges to the Federal Government's ever-expanding reach into the lives and land uses of those uniquely American Westerner.
Who better than William Perry Pendly, a true "western warrior" in every sense of the phrase, to bring us these inspiring stories of the men and women he has led and the court battles they have waged in their noble yet unsung effort to preserve true Republican ideals and the Western way of living.

The United States is fortunate to have Perry Pendley and his Mountain State Legal Foundation. Pendley's most recent book, Warriors for the West, is one of those accounts that law students should read as Introduction to Legal Reality 101 and internalize as illustrating some of the problems that an ordinary citizen can encounter.

It is not that the federal government is deliberately malicious in dealing with its citizens; to so think would be paranoia. It is more that vast bureaucracies have their rules and guidelines, and for the well-meaning innocent caught up in the process, it often appears that even with the best of good will, the citizen will be wrong/wrong/wrong. And, if (s)he has the temerity to suggest the USG is wrong, it will be a painfully expensive and humiliating experience--and "common sense" is highly unlikely to be part of that process.

Pendley illustrates this reality in a series of highly readable case studies ranging from the grisly fate of those who encounter grizzly bears to why racecar driver Bobby Unser is a criminal. These stories would be funny, if they were not so infuriating. Over and over in the reading, one cries out for the official who would say, "Wait a minute; this is really too silly to continue." But you end with the impression that stopping the grinding mill before you are finely ground, is more a matter of luck (and good lawyers) than not. We need more Perry Pendleys; it is not only the West that requires warriors.

This is a book that goes to the heart of the struggle for America as the founding fathers envisioned it. This book attacks the lies that radical left wing groups have been using for over a generation to scare the American people into inaction. This book shows us the real story behind the hype and media attention on environmental policy, affirmative action and public use. Mountain States Legal Foundation is the voice of the silent majority in America today.

This book is filled with interesting but very disturbing true stories of westerners (and others) who must fight in the courtroom to protect their liberties and rights guaranteed by federal law. Although the author is an attorney, he writes for lay audiences and makes a very compelling case that government is much too big and powerful and its lawyers do not care about justice. The willingness of ordinary Americans to go to court for years and years is inspiring. All of the book is very well documented. I recommend it most highly!