Peter Books

Wow! My husband and I bought this to keep us entertained on our long beach trip drives. We had so much fun with it last summer and look forward to doing it again this summer. We are both 80's children and thought we knew everything 80's music....we were wrong. We didn't do it as a game but more as a filler to keep us entertained....it did the job!

Dude. Get this book. But be careful because you'll get addicted to it and then you'll have to buy Things That Make You Go Hmmm: The '90s Music Party Game too.

My friends and I had a great time quizzing each other with this book. It's the perfect mix of challenging questions and nostalgic fun. This would be a great gift for any child of the 80's.

My favorite new party game! I got this book and played the game with some friends and was fully entertained for hours. "Don't Dream It's Over" is full of 80s questions that you'll know, drive yourself crazy trying to remember, or will be just plain baffled by. Invite over a couple of 80s neophytes, turn it into a drinking game, and watch the less 80s savvy get wasted. Well worth the price.

My husband and I attended both high school and college in the 80s, and we're still such huge fans of 80s music that our 2003 wedding had an all-80s music theme! So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover this book, which contains 10 "Quiz Sets" of 100 questions each--that's right, 100 questions all about 80s music. I have to admit, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the crazy, corny music of that great decade, but I didn't get past the back cover before I was stumped ("name the three Prince hits where the letter "u" is substituted for the word "you" in the title"--I could only think of one!).

Author Martin Quinn provides several different ways in which you can use the book for a party game, from the "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" version (no teams) to the "Don't Worry Be Happy" version (a drinking game). Also, each of the questions is given a point value, from "1" being the easiest to "5" being the hardest. This is the only part of the book that didn't quite work for me, as some of the 1-point items are pretty tough, whereas "what starts with Q, ends with T, and commanded you to 'Bang Your Head' in 1984?" appears on the first page as a 3-point question (c'mon, you've got to know this one!). Overall, however, I know this book will provide me, my husband, and our friends with hours of entertainment, and I highly recommend it for any 80s music fans.

Couldn't put this book down! I started it and read straight through without a breath. Marino gets inside his main character and creates a fast-paced, funny story that is both moving and entertaining. Will appeal to both teen and adult readers. Not to be missed!

I have a son who is struggling with his weight. I saw this book and thought I'd give it to him to read. While flipping through the pages I got hooked and decided to read it first. I was really touched. The writing is funny and sensitive. There are no cliche answers to the lead character's problems. It's quite moving the way he learns to find his own way and refreshing to see that losing weight is not the only key to his happiness. My son is currently reading it and tells me he enjoys it too. This is a very unique book and I strongly recommend it.

Tristan reminds me of a dear friend who went through many of the same trials...I would love to read the sequel about what happens to Tristan later in life.

Tristan is fifteen years old from a family of divorce. He also happens to be overweight. So start this hilarious funny and sad story. Tristan mom and dad eventually becomes divorce in the beginning of the book. Not too long afterwards his mother moves in with a man name Frank. Tristan gets along with him until the story takes a nosedive when Frank highstrung daughter pays a visit and eventually moves in. Kelly is the daughter from hell. She abuses her father emotionally by obsessing about his weight. She is a spitfire who is very argumentative and never backs down. She eventually starts obsessing about Tristan weight and starts watching what he and her father eats. This book has many comedy relief and sad turns like Tristan falling through the roof and has to be resuced by Kelly and her boyfriend (who happens to be Tristan ex-friend Marcos): Tristan going skiing with Kelly and Marcos and hearing them making love and feeling left out and alone, having to deal with his friend abandoned him and taking up with kelly.I enjoy this book thoroughly it had its highs, lows and saddness. It was many things wrapped up in one. I highly recomend.

If you are a teenager or were one, you'll identify with some of the dilemmas facing the Tristan character. A fragile era of everyone's life, this particular teen's predicaments are acutely narrated. Phrases such as, "My face glowed like an embarrassment thermometer," remind adults of a vulnerable time and relate to those still in the throes of growing pains. Teen insensibility and insensitivity are cleverly crafted into an entertaining story. Tristan's tale may be unique but his feelings are universal.

Wow, what an eye opener. The book provides "great" case studies on China's industries/companies and their relationship with the Chinese government; and how they are emerging as a world economic powerhouse. Get ready and defend our industries.....

Chinese firms have a cost advantage. That is not news. However, this may be the first book to point out that emerging Chinese competitors - companies as powerful as the "dragon" metaphor of the book's title - also have a managerial advantage: Cost innovation, which involves much more than simply manufacturing products cheaply. Ming Zeng and Peter J. Williamson show how some of China's leading manufacturers combine cheap labor, competitive domestic markets and technological innovation to forge a very powerful edge. The authors contend that Western firms may have to relocate high-value activities to China to counter its cost innovation advantage. We suggest that all companies can benefit from this suggestion to march forward instead of retreating in the face of Chinese cost-innovation competition.

DRAGONS AT YOUR DOOR: HOW CHINESE COST INNOVATION IS DISRUPTING GLOBAL COMPETITION discusses China's rapid integration into the global economy and its wide-ranging ramifications for world competition and strategy. College-level business courses will find this an excellent survey of how the emergence of China as a business force will fundamentally change the global economy and its alliances over the next decade. Business owners and any interested in global politics and economics must have this analysis.

Having read countless books on the topics surrounding the Chinese economy and the rise of Chinese companies, I believe that this is certainly one of the best.

As suggested in the heading of my review, this is finally a book that deals with the business issues of China (and the greater issue of outsourcing) critically and comprehensively.

I too have spent some time in China speaking with a number of different businesses and managers, and this book comes closest to describing the way in which Chinese managers think. In fact, this book can be read in the context of Porter's "Competitive Advantage of Nations", in order to shed light on the ways in which market space and the business environments have and will continue to change.

Based on the difficulties associated with the Chinese business environment, Chinese companies have managed to develop strategies to overcome a number of basic disadvantages, and to turn these into inherent advantages.

My tip, be aware of your strategic position and your competitive scope and do not sacrifice the long term future of your company on the alter of short term gains.

great book I ever read about the new wave from China , becomes a global leader with the powerful weapon that breaks our conventional rules in strategy. How can they afford high technology, variety & customization, and specialty products without increasing costs? This book can answer every your questions. forget the past that they are producers of cheap, low -quality products.

Everyone who believes the world is flat must read this book..

The End of Baseball is a wonderful baseball novel, one that combines a rich history of the game with an intriguing look at one of the more controversial periods in our nation's favorite past-time. The author does a great job of bringing to life these characters and their very intriguing circumstances.

I am not a baseball fan or what you would call a sports fan by any stretch of the imagination, but Peter Schilling's "The End of Baseball" is one of the most enjoyable pieces of fiction I have read in many years.

Mr. Schilling knows how to engage his reader with detailed characterizations that enable his characters to escape their paper home and emerge from the pages as human beings that make you both laugh and cry -- and that's just what I found myself doing.

Mr. Schilling does not talk down to his audience and his plot advances with subtlety and suspense. The story unfolds with many surprises, heartbreaks, and hurrahs.

There are no gimmicks or mechanical gods to save the day in "The End of Baseball". Only genuine people trying to live through extraordinary circumstances.

I give it my highest recommendation.

Peter Schilling brings back the game of baseball complete with the personalities, the idiosyncrasies, the after hours stories and all of the fun that this sport once had. This is an amazing novel that just sucks you in and doesn't let go. I couldn't wait to find time every day to continue my reading. It is somewhat unique in its use of historic information and mixing of baseball story fiction. In it, Schilling has captured an era in the sport just as African Americans are beginning to be "allowed" into the game. But in this story, not just one Black ballplayer is in the Majors, an entire team is being moved up.

Schilling has written an enjoyable and moving story that shows many of the great Negro League players coming together and playing in the Major Leagues on the same team: Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige among them. The antics of Bill Veech Jr. contribute to the main storyline and how the difficulties from the all White league and their overbearing Commissioner continually throw up barriers to the entry of this special team on the hallowed Fields.

In addition to the game of baseball, the societal ills of the general population and the mind games of J Edgar Hoover, himself, are all part of the plot. This is a slice of Americana; America going through the pain of WWII with their boys of summer as their only distraction. Only this summer has the potential of bringing out real change for the sport. Bill Veech, Jr., is the man trying against all odds, fictitious and historic, to keep the team together against the powers of baseball and others desperately trying to keep the status quo. This is a baseball story for the ages. A terrifically different novel for anyone tired of the same old stuff.

I was amazed at how perfectly interwoven truth and fiction were done by Schilling. The character studies are on target and made a part of the story blurring the lines of fact and fiction like nothing I'd ever read in the world of baseball writing. The ending is beautiful and fulfilling. I am giving it my hearty recommendation of 5 stars. There just isn't much not to like.

This book has it all: the high drama of a "what if?" season of baseball, historical cameos, and real social commentary. If you're looking for an always-entertaining page turner, look no further. The End of Baseball simulates what it's like to be swept up in a particularly thrilling baseball season in 1943, and reading it is like having a spot in the bleachers to watch the team that almost was. It has subtle character studies, and closely observed details that summon up that time and place: America as a country in the midst of WWII, the African American baseball community prior to Civil Rights. It will keep you up nights reading!

Peter Schilling, Jr.'s inventive novel "The End of Baseball" describes a mesmerizing 1944 baseball season that might have been - if Bill Veeck had been able to purchase a major league team and recruit an entire team of Negro Leaguer stars.

Veeck loses a leg at Guadalcanal. Before enlisting in the Marines, he had been a successful minor league baseball team owner whose innovative promotions lured fans to the ballpark and whose competitive teams kept them coming back for more.

In "The End of Baseball," Veeck returns to civilian life and purchases the Philadelphia Athletics. He turns the ball club into an instant contender by secretly signing Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, Willie Wells, Roy Campanella, and other Negro League stars.

The book contains many poignant moments on and off the field. To his credit - and to our good fortune! -- Schilling provides the historical and social perspective the story demands. He captures the essence of the men and the game they play for life and, perhaps, death.

In real life, Veeck owned the Cleveland Indians and signed the American League's first black player, Larry Doby, and also Satchel Paige. He had less talent to work with on his St. Louis Browns ball club, so he grabbed the spotlight by sending a midget to the plate. When he owned the Chicago White Sox, Veeck put player names on the backs of uniforms and introduced the exploding scoreboard. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

This beautifully written, lyrical book is genuinely scary in a way that puts much modern children's literature well and truly in the shade. Grandmother Oldknowe is protected by all the good things of the earth - stone and water, and all the deep things of nature - in her struggle with the horrible Melanie Powers. Aided by Tolly and Ping, it's a battle for the soul with moments that will make adults draw their breath sharply.
Not a book for those who are easily scared, nor for those with strong prejudices against the supernatural - but for the bravehearted reader, an truly thrilling ride awaits.

Why is this book out of print?

In this, the fifth Green Knowe book, Tolly AND Ping come to spend the summer with Tolly's great grandmother, Mrs. Oldknow, and do battle with the forces of evil as personified by a newneighbor, Melanie Powers.

Absolutely wonderful -- my favorite part is the very end, where everything comes together serendipitously to defeat Miss Powers, leaving you to feel that all is right with the world.

After "The Children of Green Knowe," this is my favorite of the five central books of the sequence. It includes all the elements that make the series immortal: the mysterious old Norman manor house with its lush garden and bordering river, the wise and wonderful Mrs. Oldknow who often seems to have more than one foot in any time but her own, her young great-grandson Tolly (now probably about 12) to provide the spark, tales of the mysterious past of the house, and magic--some of it not very nice. Kids who enjoy identifying with the juvenile protagonists of R. L. Stine's horror tales may be well served by being introduced to Tolly and his friend Ping, the Chinese refugee boy, and following along as they slowly become aware of the character and lack of scruples of "Dr. Melanie Powers," the sinister lodger at The Firs, who wants to acquire a gramarie (book of spells) said to have belonged to a tutor employed at the house in the 17th century. While Mrs. Oldknow quickly comes to agree that Dr. Powers is both powerful and evil, it's left up to the boys to beat off her nastier efforts and, ultimately, find a means of defeating her utterly. (Ping has an excellent heroic role when he summons the shade of the slain gorilla Hanno.) Mrs. Oldknow's lodger, the scholarly Mr. Pope, also has his moment of glory when, reciting an ancient Hebrew spell for his tape recorder, he unknowingly halts a spell that threatens to literally ruin the manor. Even the time-travelling blind girl Susan makes an appearance, though I wonder that Tolly's first ghost-friends, Toby and his sibs, are conspicuously absent, this being as much their house as Tolly's--perhaps more: they've been there longer! The one question that itches at me is what has become of Tolly's stepmother: her husband, his father, is mentioned and even arrives at the end of the book, but she isn't and doesn't.

Children like to be deliciously frightened, and this book is a superior title to frighten them with--though not one you'll want them reading alone in their rooms late at night! A superior entry into the series.

The fifth book in Lucy Boston's "Green Knowe" series finally brings together our two main protagonists: the house's blood relative Tolly and the Chinese refugee Ping, both of whom have featured in the previous books, but never together. Unfortunatly we do not see their meeting, but instead join the story half-way through the summer, by which time the two are already best friends.

As always, the mysterious Green Knowe is filled with ancient and semi-magical artefacts (all of which are actually real relics that belong in the author's home on which she based the books) and Grandmother Oldknow tells the children stories concerning the past inhabitants of the house. Now for the first time, she tells them a story that holds a more sinister edge to it. In the 17th century a young boy had a tutor that was said to dabble in alchemical practices, and have a number of magical books with which he created his spells. An author with astonishing vision for her time, Boston highlights the unfairness of such a man being thought of as noble and intelligent for following such a practice, whilst harmless women were often prosecuted for dabbling in herblore. Grandmother Oldknow tells the children that Doctor Vogel eventually burnt all his equipment with the help of the local minister (whose testimony was found in "The River of Green Knowe", but only now translated), but it is rumoured that one book of dark spells may have escaped the flames.

In typical Green Knowe fashion, in which the past regularly surges up to greet the present, it is not just a coincidence that directly after this storytelling a new neighbour comes to call: Melanie Powers, whose interest in the house and in the legend of Dr Vogel hints at her true intentions. She is after the missing book, and begins a systematic assault on Green Knowe as its first truly evil antagonist, whereas up until now the worst the children have faced is meddling adults. Like the Twelve Plagues of Eygpt, Ms Powers sends nasties crawling into the Green Knowe: maggots, snakes and bird-snatching cats.

But of course, Tolly and Ping have their own spells and allies, and with this comes wonderful reappearences from previous characters, including the spirit of the gorilla Hanno and the ghostly past-resident Susan. Even the starlings, who have been pests in previous books, prove their worth. It is stirring stuff to see the children fight passionatly for the home they love and attempt to reach the book before Powers does. I only wish Boston had taken the opportunity to include more characters: what about Ida and Oskar? Toby, Alexander and Linnet? Boggis and Feste the horse?

It is the first Green Knowe book to instigate a good against evil theme, and for that reason is sure to be a favourite among most readers since all the other books make more meandering and whimsical reading. In fact, one should be warned that this installment can get a little scary at times, and even gruesome, as in the case of Powers hanging dead birds on a clothesline or the sight of a horned ritual stick, which was described so evocatively that it sent shivers down my spine: "they recognized it at once as absolutely evil." I should also warn New-Agers and modern day "witches" that Ms Powers is a witch in the medieval description of the word - with black magic and links to Satan.

A great addition to the "Green Knowe" books, though often mistaken for the final installment. This is false, as there are six books in the series, and the last title is "The Stones of Green Knowe", an essential part of the collection. Boston claims that she wrote these books for her own amusement, and that has never been more apparent than in "An Enemy at Green Knowe" since many questions are left unanswered concerning the background of Mr Powers and the real intentions of Dr Vogel, yet despite that, this book is one of my favourites.

And as always, Peter Boston's illustrations are excellent, and I love Brett Helquist's new covers; let's face it, these books were in need of a face-lift.

I remember reading these books on my summer vacations to my grandparents...I was bored and the local town librarian recommended them to me. Many years later, looks for books on mysterious houses for a nephew, I remembered and re-discovered them. My favorite is An Enemy At Green Knowe. The story is full of twists and turns and quite frightening events, with the excitement lasting just long enough to tantalize the reader. You feel the house itself is a living breathing character, as is true of the entire series. This is the kind of book an adult needs to put in the hands of the student -- as is true with A Wrinkle In Time -- and sit back while the child becomes wrapped in the world of Green Knowe. A superior children's book!

Great news for anyone interested in the traditional folk ballads known as the "Child Ballads" that Francis James Child's late 1800s compilation "The English and Scottish Pupular Ballads" is now republished in a fully corrected and revised edition with the traditional tunes reunited with the texts. The new edition by Loomis House Press (...) is now available in paperback and cloth editions - so far volumes 1, 2 and 3 (of 5) are issued. Amazon lists them but the three volumes are hard to find on the Amazon site. The earlier 1965 facsimile edition by Dover has also now been republished - but the Loomis House Press edition is greatly superior - and is available from Loomis in USA and Springthyme in UK as well as from Amazon.

I first heard of the Child ballads when I was about 13 years old and have been looking for a copy ever since. I was delighted to discover they have been brought back into print. This publication is particularly exciting since the editors have chosen to include musical notation collected by Child but not included in the original publication. Many of the ballads still sung today in Eastern Canada and the US were derived from these ballads, so these books are a facinating study of the earlier origins of these and many other ballads from the british iles.

Child's "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" is THE sourcebook for anyone interested in the traditional ballads of the British Isles, and also invaluable to all aficionados of European folklore and folksong in general. For those not up on their terminology, a ballad is a folksong with a plot, and Child's collection covers everything from foul murders to star-crossed lovers to Robin Hood, in five volumes.

I am extremely happy that someone has finally issued an edition incorporating the various addenda and corrections that Child made before his death. There is nothing here that Child did not write, so if you are looking for additional scholarship or commentary you will be disappointed; but the Loomis House edition vastly improves over the Dover facsimiles in completeness and convenience. Additional variants, comments and even some tunes (the one big omission in the original) are placed conveniently near the main text of each category rather than buried in appendices (most of which aren't included in the Dover editions at all). It's well worth the few extra dollars over the Dover books.

My one quibble is that they do not reproduce some of the typographical distinctions that Child occasionally used to indicate different features of a text, but this is overshadowed by all the good points of this edition.

Overall this is a wonderful and affordable edition; I fervently hope that all five volumes are issued as planned (it's been almost a year since Volume 3 came out...). I have no idea why Amazon makes these books so hard to find on their site: fix this, guys!

In summary: Buy this book. Now if someone would only reprint Bertrand Bronson's "The Singing Tradition of Child's Popular Ballads" as well....

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads are, as noted here, out of print in their Dover edition ... but fear not, they are being re-issued (in 5 volumes, 2 of which are actually done) by the folks at Loomis House Press. (I am not affiliated with Loomis in any way; do a Google search if you want to find 'em.) The books are authoritative and complete, and it's disappointing that Amazon doesn't list them.

Superb. For anyone interested in either the words or origins of English & Scottish folk music this is essential. You can settle those arguments (over a beer) as to who has the correct words or the origin.

The biblography needs some getting used to but when you understand it you will find this book a good companion.

Awesome book. I enjoy reading it. It's easy to read and very comprehendable. It's good information!

I ordered this book and received it very quickly. The book came in new condition as described. Thanks!

The book arrived ahead of schedule and it was in mint condition. I am satisfied with the service and the product.

I am happy with the purchase that I Made. It was delivered on time and was in great shape.

I was asked to evaluate ths for the textbook selection committee at a local high school for possible use as the text book for an environmental science class next year. Since my degree is in Environmental Science, and I have done a lot of work with environmental education, I have read a large number of environmental science books and have seen the good, bad and worst of books on the market.

At first I just planned to skim the book, but after reading a few pages I decided to look at the book more closely, and I was impressed with what I saw. The book is well written in clear, easy to understand language, using a good amount of well done graphs, charts and photos. The layout, in addition, was good, making the book flow in an orderly manner.

The information in the book was excellent, and covered the entire range, as much as is possible in one book, of environmental science. The biology and chemistry were integrated nicely and flowed smoothly.

I have rated this book as four stars only because I feel the authors didn't cover the section on renewable energy as well as I would have liked. The book tended to move through the subject rather quickly, offering only a limited view of what can be done to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. In all other ways this book was superior to many I have read.

I would highly recommend this for an introduction course in college, and also think it would bean excellent choice for a text at the AP or regular high school level, provided the students had enough science background to be able to understand the science. I even believe that a motivated home schooled student could study from this book and do quite well in the subject. Overall, one of the best introductory text books I've had the pleasure of reading.

I first read Henry Mitchell in the Washington Post when my husband was receiving cancer treatment at NIH in 1982, and when I realized that his columns were collected in The Essential Earthman I immediately bought a copy. I have subsequently owned (and loaned out and thus lost) two or three more copies. As each planting season arrives I remember how much I've missed reading Henry's wisdom, and I berate myself for having loaned out (and lost) those books. So for the sake of upcoming generations of gardeners (and the old hands among us), would someone please reprint this valuable book? It's a book to read in the depth of winter and the heat of summer, in a spacious country garden or a tiny city yard, for beginning gardeners and old timers with permanently-stained hands. There never has been anyone quite like Henry Mitchell on gardening, or on life, for that matter. Grouchy, opinionated, funny, informative, brutally honest--his words will never go out of style.

The two books I have read cover to cover as gardening advice and as literature are this book and Christopher Lloyd's Adventurous Gardener. I have shelves of gardening and horticultural books.
It gives you more each time you read it.

Dear Publisher...please reprint this book. I love Henry Mitchell. I was one of the 'blessed' because I actually read Mr. Mitchell's columns (both of them) for years. I live in the Washington DC area, and subscribed to the Post. Those of us who gardened locally were twice blessed because he was not only one of the best garden writers ever, he struggled with the heat, humidity, and high winds that attack us from all sides. Whenever I am in my garden I think of him. When I look at my Japanese Anemones I remember he said "Once you have them you'll always have them." There have been times when I thought for sure they were goners, but they always survived. When I see a little plant struggling under a bush, I remember him saying, "One of these days I'll have to crawl under there and pull it out." When I see a fish tank, I think of him and his horse trough. I miss him.

I bought this book a few years ago based on the reviews. When I got it I tore into it and was sorely disappointed. That's the reason for 4 instead of 5 stars.

Why even 4 stars you ask? Well, about a month ago, for whatever reason, I picked it up again and now I LOVE IT!

Henry Mitchell is dry - like the soil under an oak. But he's terribly warm and fuzzy once you get to know him. I write a newsletter for my local garden club and have found quote after quote that I want to use for future issues. They're not la-dee-dah quotes that speak vaguely about the lovely joys of gardening. BLAH! Rather, they're jewels that point fingers at snobby gardeners and kill-joys who scold children for picking crocuses.

This is not a "pretty picture" book. It's sort of a how-to in an essay form. But more than that, it's great writing by a wonderful author on a topic I am crazy for.

My original copy of "The Earthman" is in shreds. Why?

I have read (and re-read) The Earthman for more than 20 years. Every time I returned to The Earthman, I had a patient, passionate teacher by my side.

With Henry's guidance, I matured. I learned to accept the rains that turned my garden into a sea of mud. I learned to accept the dogs who had a deep need to explore and "investigate" my treasured plants.

Henry is my friend and mentor. I cannot imagine life in the garden without him.

There's a lot to like in this book. It's comprehensive and easily the most readable 1500 page book you are ever likely to encounter.

Two substantive criticisms (i) it can be astonishingly opinionated at times. There is a pronounced pro-Bell bias and a dismissive attitude toward regulation and regulators generally. Not every reader will consider that a bad thing, but I found it shrill and annoying. (ii) The book can be very weak and frequently inaccurate when it wanders off the law and into policy analysis. I didn't sense that the authors were particularly knowledgeable about economics or technology and it showed in a poor comprehension of the reasoning behind FCC policy.

I was surprised that another reviewer recommended Benjamin's 'Telecommunications Law and Policy' as an easier introduction. Benjamin et al is an excellent casebook, but Kellogg et al is an easier read. In fact, they are excellent complements as Benjamin provides the more authoritative reference with lots of source materials. Sharon Black's book is an excellent but basic introduction to Telecom Law.

My recommendation. Read Black, then Kellogg, then Benjamin. That's not an order of preference, just the best sequence to peel away the onion of telecom law.

This is a comprehensive introduction to all sorts of telecommunications (mainly telephone regulation) issues. It's probably a bit much for the novice; something like Stuart Benjamin's Telecommunications Law and Policy is probably a better match there. But, if you want all the details, this is definitely the place to go.

This book was amazing. I could not put it down. The interesting and comprehensible writing was magnificently crafted and very thought-provoking, a real page turner.

This book gives the novice a very accessible route to the world of telecommunications and gives the expert a very comprehensive reference book. Very highly recommended. The FCC wants universal service? This book is universal in and of itself.

There isn't anything else like this on the market. It contains all the FCC and court and DOJ lore on telecom from the beginning of the century through the 1996 Act up to the present. The spicy bits apparently were written by pundit Peter Huber (who isn't identified in the listing above).

There is something for players and GM's in this book. The new weapons, feats, and tallents are a real plus to any game. If you want to add really hard to kill sith to your game then look here.

This truly was a great purchase. This is one of the easiet time periods to run a campaign and your players heroes are not shadowed by obi wan or luke. Your heroes make the difference and set the table for new hope. A wise purchase for Star Wars gamers.

As in the title, the greatest of witch is the unleashed one. A must have if you're running the Dawn of Defiance adventures. Optimum product by WOTC as always!

Hands down a great book. Wizards has been hitting homers all the way to the galaxy far far away with their new campaign guides, but The Force Unleashed guide is just pure awesome.

The most notable addition of the Unleashed abilities puts SE into a new level of cool.

If the Dark Times are your times, get The TFU guide. If they aren't, Get the TFU guide. You won't regret it.

And come on, stats for the first droid with Jedi levels. How can you say no.

I am a casual SW:SE player and I find that I truly enjoy the two recent campaign settings that WotC has put out for it (This and Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide (Star Wars Roleplaying Game)). Each adds a great deal to your options, has splendid flavor and lore intertwined and seems like it had some decent production value (especially Force Unleashed, as it has actual concept art from the game of the same name Star Wars: The Force Unleashed). But now, onto the review.

Chapter 0: Introduction
The introduction is done exceedingly well. It begins by giving a short situation report on the status of the galaxy; How the Republic has fallen and the Dark Times are upon the beings of the galaxy. Then, it goes on to summarize what you will find in each chapter of the book. It then explains how a Force Unleashed campaign is markedly different from the other era's you might play in. Much more so than the Rebellion Era, the Empire is supreme. There's no Rebel Alliance to help you when you're in dire straights, it's quite an epic set up for You vs The Empire. The last part of this chapter is six item timeline of events that span the Dark Times. It begins with the execution of Order 66 and Palpatine's New Order speech, and ends with the Corellian Treaty, where the Rebel Alliance was born. This is an excellent primer for the rest of the book.

Chapter 1: Species
We have 10 new species for everyone to try out. Each species block is approximately a page long, give or take, and they're as detailed as they were in the Core Rulebook. I found each of their descriptions to be brief, but full of good information about their species and important events in their history. It's a very nice smattering of races that cover a good bit of the spectrum, from feral Felucians to the pacifistic Caamasi and the mysterious Yarkoa. Other races include the Aleena, Gran, Nosaurian, Talz, Togorian, Togruta, and Whiphid.

Chapter 2: Heroic Traits
This chapter begins with ideas for character origins, such as what first made your character start upon the path of a hero. It continues into a section tailored to each Heroic class, explaining their lots in the new order and offering new options for talents, or even new talent trees! Jedi get two new talents for each the Consular, Guardian and Sentinel trees. Nobles get a single new Inspiration talent, two Lineage talents and a new Ideologue tree. Smugglers make out with three Slicer talents, and five new talents from a Smuggling talent tree. Scouts get a single Awareness talent and a six-talent tree called Spy. Soldiers get five skills from the Mercenary talent tree. After this, there are new ways to use current skills, such as Acrobatics helping out in Low/High gravity or how to conceal large items with Stealth. 20 new feats await your discriminating eye, a couple new Destinies, and, of course, the much awaited Unleashed Abilities. The Unleashed abilities seem very interesting. They are very cinematic and can potentially turn a very dire situation into a favorable one.

Chapter 3: Prestige Classes
Bounty Hunters, Elite Troopers, Force Adepts and Jedi Knights get new talents to fill out their own trees, while new classes are introduced. Enforcer, Independent Droid, Infiltrator, Master Privateer, Medic and Saboteur are what you have to look forward to.

Chapter 4: Organizations
The Rebel Alliance is not around yet, but this chapter gives you the tools to create your own small resistance group, planetary rebellion or even, should it tickle your fancy, a group that spans the entire galaxy. it explains what benefits, risks and power levels such bodies will represent and what the players can do with them. It goes on to describe organizations such as the Antarian Rangers, Black Sun, Bothan Spynet, Bounty Hunters Guild, Car'das Smugglers, House Organa, Kota's Militia, and he Lok Revenants. Each has a section on history, what type of group it is, Enemies and Allies, Operational Scale, Criteria for positive and negative modifiers for the group, Titles, Benefits, Duties and Roleplaying applications. Very good stuff here.

Chapter 5: The Force
A section on how Jedi are living, how the Force is viewed in game, six new Force powers, six new Force talents, ten new Force Techniques, five new Force Secrets, and yes, even eleven new Unleashed Force powers. There are even two more Force using traditions to round out the chapter.

Chapter 6: Equipment and Droids and Chapter 7: Vehicles and Starships
The are both lumped together simply because they're both equipment and it's easier this way. There's a good bit of new equipment, droids and ships. Enough to keep most players busy, at the least.

Chapter 8: Campaign Guidelines
From here you can mine quite a bit of inspiration for character histories. It can also help figure out how to get your group together to begin with. Following that are common campaign elements such as trying to remain hidden from the Empire, scarce resources and garnering allies. The end of the chapter has a few challenges that you might throw at your heroes in game.

Chapter 9: Galactic Gazetteer
A good bit of information on new planets, and additional information on previously described planets, but with the Dark Times in focus.

Chapter 10: The Empire
Everything you'd want to know about the galaxies best Monolithic Authoritarian Regime. It explains the Imperial Government, personnel such as the Dark Troopers and the 501st Stormtrooper Division. It even goes on to detail the Death Star. Fans of Timothy Zahn will be happy to find stat blocks for the Noghri and Chiss in this section. At the end of the chapter you'll find Stat Blocks for Admiral Thrawn and Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, and the big ships of the Empire during this time.

Chapter 11: Allies and Opponents
This chapter finishes the book and relates to you a few important characters, such as Bail Organa and Garm Bel Iblis. It also gives you some NPC people to use with or against your heroes.

Overall, an amazing book. There are a few shortcomings: I wish the Chiss and Noghri stat blocks were included with the other ones for ease of use. I wish some of the Imperial/Droid equipment was thrown into the equipment chapter, but all-in-all, this is a fantastic buy. It's a very well made campaign setting, it's well written and it inspires excitement in me to play this game. What more can you really ask for?