Sherman Books

I picked up Dan Sherman's book while browsing for a book I once read called "The One Minute manager". What I found in "You can be a peak performer" was much more useful, as it gives a good account of many do's and dont's, and the case studies are really useful and make great reading. 5 Stars!!

First written in 1949 Harold Sherman gives us a glimpse of life eternal and a chance to prepare for the inevitable.

Whether we choose to believe in life after death, the time will come for each one of us to enter it's gate. Better to have a sense of our own being then to push aside the fears of dealing with this transformation in the future.

Why not go through the steps NOW and get on with our lives?

Other books for your consideration on this topic:
On Life After Deathby Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Life After Lifeby Raymond A. Moody Jr.
Testimony of Light: An Extraordinary Message of Life After Deathby Helen Greaves
Is There Life After Death? (Pere Marquette Theology Lecture)by Jurgen Moltmann
Love Beyond Life: The Healing Power of After-Death Communications by Joel Martin

This is a really good book. All the short stories in here are unique, with different voice. They are all written by amazing authors. Some stories are humorous, some are suspenceful, some are a combination, but all of them are worth reading. Some stories give background knowledge on favorite characters, like the Shang Unicorn or Helen of Sparta.

This review is purely as to the flaws of the Kindle transfer -- the book itself is a masterpiece I've reread with pleasure on paper over the years. Unfortunately the transfer is a rough scanned-PDF type that is MUCH harder to read than other Kindle books. Caveat Emptor.

This book is full of infomation about the times of the Civil War. Very informative about why things happened. Excellent.

If you wanted to read just one book to get an understanding of the Civil War and its effects on the United States, you could do little better than James PcPherson's book. It is an intimidating book at over 800 pages. This thickness comes from the fact that the book does not just cover the battles from 1861 through 1865, but examines the political war that took place long before the armed conflict continued the "politics through other means".

The book has a fascinating focus on the political dimension that may distract from those solely interested in a tactical account of the battles. There are ample books that look into greater detail of the personalities of the generals and the intricacies of the individual battles. The Battle Cry of Freedom covers these battles and their key points, but this is not the focus of this book.

Where this book is unique in other civil war books that I have read is its treatment of the political-military aspect of the war. It has an excellent examination of the political situations that gave rise to the Republican party and the debates between radicals and moderates even within this party. It goes to great lengths examining how the democratic party, whig party, no-nothings and numerous other parties influenced the political scene.

During the war this political examination gives great treatment to the political challenges that both leaders, Lincoln and Davis, faced within their governments and how they tackled issues that are eerily familiar today - the legality and constitutionality of war and the suspicion of civil liberties (to include habeas corpus) during war.

McPherson closes his book with a very well reasoned look at how the civil war altered the course of the nation and made us the nation we are today, versus the union that we were before. While there are fascinating studies of the leadership and battles of the armed conflict, this books places these studies within the larger context that is crucial to anyone who wants to have a full understanding of the Civil War and what it truly meant to American civilization and culture.

In my humble opinion, Battle Cry of Freedom is one of the best one-volume histories of the Civil War. All aspects are covered: military, political, social, economic, etc.

The narrative flows smoothly, is easy and interesting to read without being overly dry or bogged down into too much detail, and is broad in the width of topics covered. The battle descriptions give enough detail of who won and the results. McPherson does a good job of the situations faced by and strategies employed by Lincoln, Davis, Grant, Lee, Sherman, Jackson, and a host of other military and political leaders.

If you are looking for a book that covers the "high points" of the war, then this one's for you. However, if you are looking for a book for detailed battle descriptions or biographies, then you are better off looking elsewhere. It just depends on what you are looking for.

Again, a highly recommended introductory study to the American Civil War. Expand the knowledge you learn in Battle Cry of Freedom by reading books on detailed battles or biographies.

Read and enjoy!

Yes, this is an excellent political history. But it is marred by political correctness. The culture of American Indians was "vital," we learn, and all Indians are treated strictly as victims. Southerners are almost without exception villainous. Little is said of Lincoln's view of the alleged inferiority of blacks before 1860. And there is no mention of Nat Turner!

Perhaps the author had no choice, given the nature of academia today. I continue to prefer earlier versions of American history, without the PC.

This collection is a touching look at what life in Indian country can be like. Smart and touching, it was one of those books that was impossible to put down, and left me feeling like I knew the characters. A must read!

You can't say hip, cool or rad without thinking wait a minute is this really THAT good. Sherman is honest,smart and knows how to use English in a way that leaves you wondering, just who is IN that body of his. I have read these short stories again and again and I am amazed how they hold up in the face of my critical,analytical brain. He's got my vote, hands down ( but not covering the page ) but then again what do I know other than what I like. I liked W.P. Kinsella too. Then again I have no reservation.

My son was required to read this book for his freshman high school class. It is full of the f-word and other foul language. It also is replete with drugs, binge drinking, and overt sexual situations among teens. I am totally mystified as to why this book is taught in schools AT ALL! It sends mixed messages to teens, who are very vulnerable to such powerful imagery and may be influenced by it. Why fill our children's minds with garbage when there are so many brilliant and inspiring books to choose from?

"The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" is one of Sherman Alexie's first collections of short stories. The collection deals with the lives and troubles of Indian in and around the Spokane Indian Reservation. The stories also deal with characters that Alexie would later revisit in his novel "Reservation Blues" (specifically, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, Victor, and Junior).

In a 1996 interview with Tomson Highway, Alexie explains a bit about the title of this collection: "Kemosabe in Apache means "idiot," as Tonto in Spanish means "idiot." They were calling each other "idiot" all those years; and they both were, so it worked out. It's always going to be antagonistic relationship between indigenous people and the colonial people. I think the theme of The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is universal."

This universal theme permeates many of Alexie's stories here and in his other writings. The stories take a fresh, sometimes painful, look at life for modern Indians on the Spokane Reservation. Alcoholism, violence, and death all permeate this collection. At the same time, Alexie brings an extreme level of humor and compassion to these characters, making their hardships bearable to the reader.

The stories here mostly interconnect, referring to the same events or at least the same characters, creating a narrative that almost flows between stories. Exceptions to this flow include "Distances." "Witnesses, Secret and Not" and "Jesus Christ's Half-Brother Is Alive and Well on the Spokane Indian Reservation" also seem disconnected but remain similar in style to the rest of the collection. A follow up to "The Business of Fancydancing," a collection of short stories and poems, the stories in this collection alternate between a poetic style and a more conventional prose style.

The characters in these stories have not reached "happily ever after," it is not clear if they will ever get there. Sometimes, the characters are at fault for these failures. At other times they are victims of circumstances far beyond their control. Regardless of the reason, Alexie portrays his characters with compassion and the hope that they will one day succeed. Even Victor, a drunk continuously falling off the wagon, and Lester FallsApart (whose name might say everything) are presented with a certain dignity and afforded a degree of respect throughout the stories.

When writing about such modern problems as car wrecks and alcoholism, there is always the risk of being too serious, too tragic. In "A Good Story" Alexie acknowledges this fact when his self-proclaimed storyteller, Thomas Builds-the-Fire, goes out of his way to tell a happy story.

Other stories remain less concerned with themes discussed and instead are focused on presenting rich narratives. One favorite is "The Only Traffic Signal on the Reservation Doesn't Flash Red Anymore" in which Victor and his friend watch reservation life from their porch while drinking Diet Pepsis. However, bar none, the best stories in this collection are the title story and "Somebody Kept Saying Powwow." Both stories are as evocative and compelling as any novel. Furthermore, in each story Alexie creates characters that are unique, well-developed and completely absorbing--no easy feat for stories of around ten pages.

"The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" does two important things. First, it illustrates Sherman Alexie's wide range of talents as a writer. Second, it tells a lot of good stories.

Halfway through this book I emailed the friend that bought it for me to tell him how much I was loving it. I then asked him "How the hell am I supposed to review this?" His reply was to explain that "He needs a new star, a category for 'Holy Sh!t, that one hit me hard.' But they don't make the Holy Sh!t category on Amazon." That pretty much says it all.

The truth is I was blown away by Sherman Alexie somewhere after the first paragraph of the introduction to this book. In the intro he presents himself in a manner that is completely honest and straightforward. He had me laughing from the start, and I can and do appreciate someone who can make fun of themselves. But through his introduction and throughout all the stories in this book, one word ran through my head continuously; brilliant.

I am not going to give any sort of plot summary because it's simply impossible. What I will do is give you the titles to a few of my favorites and if that doesn't entice you to want to read on, nothing will. This book contains 24 short on length but not on content, stories. Each story is unique, yet there is always a sense of familiarity, whether it's the presence of a familiar character, a diet Pepsi, fry bread or a basketball game. Each story is its own theme, place and time, but always about Mr. Alexie's Spokane Indian people and the reservation.

My favorites:
The Trial of Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Jesus Christ's Half-Brother is Alive and Well on the Spokane Indian Reservation
A Train is an Order of Occurrence
The Approximate Size of my Favorite Tumor

In his introduction he states that these stories contain some truths, but explains it as "reservation realism" and challenges us to figure out what exactly that means. My interpretation is that all these stories contain little threads of truth, some more than others, and with these little threads he weaves and enhances creating a blanket of fantasy and fiction. Whether I am right or wrong, I have to believ each tale is based on some truth, they were just too real to me to be otherwise.

I think I experienced every human emotion while reading this book, and then experienced them all over again. Some stories are horribly sad and gut wrenching, others are lighthearted and funny and mischievous; most are all of the above and then some. The one thing I am left with after reading this book is that Sherman Alexie conveys more in a short 5 page story than most writers manage to say in a full 300 page novel; that's an exquisite gift. I am grateful to my friend, eternally, for gifting me with this book and introducing me to this writer. I can't recommend this book enough, it's a treasure I will read and read and then read some more.

One Stick Song

Cherise Everhard, February 2008

Arnold "Junior" Spirit, decides to take his future into his own hands and transfer to a white high school about half an hour from his home on the Rez. This smart articulate teen talks about his life, just the way it is, warts and all. He brings some of the realities about life in Indian Country to the world at large and puts it together with all the insanity that goes with being a teenager. Wonderful book!

I am 27 and I loved this book! I would tear up and then burst out with laughter. The drawings add to the charm of the book. I would gladly let my young teenager read this. It is real issues that we can all relate to. Absolutely exceeded my expecations!

Sherman is a premier Native writer at the top of his game. It just proves how far the mainstream is from Native contemporary life and issues to see how he is reviewed, but his talent with words is undeniable.

Julia Del.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Realistic Fiction Review

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is quite a memorable book. The main character and narrator Arnold Spirit Jr. explained what was going on in his life with such raw honesty and crude humor I couldn't help smiling at every page. Arnold introduced himself at the beginning of the book with such a matter-of-fact tone about his medical problems and his situation living on an Indian reservation it sent me, and surely everyone else who will read this book into hysterics. Arnold's medical issues just made every problem and dilemma he faced even funnier, because he explains how fatal every thing that could happen to him is, and how much worse it could get. Arnold is the "zero" (as he refers to himself) on the reservation causing him to get beat up and called names all the time, it's a harsh reality, but somehow Sherman Alexie lightens up the story with a small, but hysterical cartoon of the situation. The entire book is in first person, so you read everything Arnold is thinking, and those thoughts are what everyone would only think and never dare say aloud, throughout the book there are little things like, "Oh yeah, did I mention, us Indians love to talk dirty," which really gets the idea across of what Arnold thinks of himself and where he comes from. Sherman Alexie definitely gave Arnold Spirit a very strong voice, which not many authors have been able to accomplish. The cartoons throughout the book make it as authentic as it is, the book has a unique plot, with a unique character and very unique doodles throughout that express exactly what Arnold is feeling, and his confusion, hoping to discover how he will ever get out of the reservation and how he will handle the white kids. Reading the blurb I expected the book to be the least bit depressing, because Arnold is in a very difficult situation trying to figure out what to do, to please both his family and white school, feeling like a traitor, but somehow Sherman Alexie manages to leave the reader feeling hopeful, to keep on going despite the obstacles we face.

I can see why this book has been winning awards. It is very creative and clever and Mr. Alexie is a very good writer. Except for the more mature language, I think it could have been a middle-grade novel (instead of young adult), because it seems almost more geered to a younger audience. But it is a good read and I am certain that whatever audience finds it will be grateful for Sherman Alexie's creation.

There is a scene early on about his dog that struck me as I read it as profound and gutsy writing. The truth of it registered in my solar plexus. I kept waiting to be touched like that again but the book seemed to take more of a comic approach after that. Perhaps that's a good thing.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know there is a GREAT event coming up almost a week away in New York City. The American Place Theatre's Festival: Literature to Life is performing a theatrical adaptation of FLIGHT by Sherman Alexie on September 21st, 2008. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to see this moving piece of literature come to life. Here's the information and can't wait to see you there!

[...]

FLIGHT, by Sherman Alexie was a violent, yet always humorous book. In this action-packed adventure-fiction novel, the main character, Zits, passes through the body of several people involved with Native Americans during the Native American genocide era.
In the beginning of FLIGHT, Zits meets a 17-year-old boy named Justice, who teaches him to enjoy killing. Later, Zits visits a bank in downtown Seattle, where he shoots several people with a paint-ball-gun and a pistol. Zits is then transferred to the body of a white FBI agent in the 1970's. Next he becomes a Native American boy during the battle at Little Bighorn. Afterwards, Zits inhabits the body of a Native American tracker in the 19th century. Finally, he becomes a pilot of a small plane in the 21st century...
As I said before, FLIGHT is a very funny book; however, some of the humor may not be appropriate for children 12 and under. It has a great ending (which I'm not going to spoil). One annoying thing is that when Zits transfers to a new body, there are a lot of boring details that follow. Another bothersome thing is the main character's nickname throughout the course of the story.
FLIGHT left me satisfied. It was a great summer read. I suggest this book to anyone looking for a fun book to enjoy.

This book is a personal favorite of mine. Sherman Alexie never ceases to surprise, entertain, or inform me. This story is a fictional work that brings much needed attention to several issues including but not limited to race, class, child abuse, the astonishing rate of alcoholism in native Americans, the struggle many foster children face on a daily basis, the ability of people to be indifferent, as well as their incredible capacity to care. This book took me through every range of emotion, and yes, big sap that I am, I did cry at the end.

Alexie tackles some tough topics. This book is in no way easy, but it is a great and ultimately very satisfying book.

"Flight": a surprisingly sophisticated book that can be read in an afternoon. Alexie uses his classic prose that takes the reader into a world that is real and haunting. Less than 200 pages in length, yet complex- tackles the issues of hate, love, revenge, destiny, power. Narrated by a teenager who is half-Indian, half-Irish, he goes on a journey through time where he inhabits the bodies of an Indian child, an Indian tracker, an FBI agent, and a pilot in order to learn a crucial lesson- but is the lesson learned, and learned in time?

I had no idea where this book was going when I first started it, and I was kept fascinated all the way through. A beautiful story, really wonderful. Read "Flight" and come away enriched.

This was one of my very first Star Trek Novels that I read. I really have a respect for these ladies ability to capture the essence of Vulcans and do it so well and make them almost seem more Human than they seem on the television shows. It was also a great insight into the Vulcan mind during Pon Var and it's affects on their minds. Have to respect Spock for holding on like he had.

Having read the Vulcan Soul series, this was a worthwhile read.
Spock fans will not be disappointed.

Exodus: Vulcan's Soul Trilogy, Book 1 (Star Trek)
Vulcan's Soul Trilogy Book Two: Exiles (Star Trek)
Vulcan's Soul Trilogy Book Three Epiphany (Star Trek: the Original Series)

1. Spock is betrothed to Saavik by T'Pau on the planet Vulcan reciting the words: "Parted from me and never parted..." and "Never and always touched."
2. Reunification: Ambassador Spock, son of Sarek. "Revisiting my request of 2342 that a research team be assembled with the long-term goal of evaluating the potential benefits and philosophical challenge of reunification with the sundered, I wise to observe that a study of Romulan linguistics does, indeed, point to a closer link between the Sundered and those of Vulcan than the Department of Xenolinguistics initially believed." The response, Vulcan Science Academy was solid, "Request denied" and reprimand that Spock's course was illogical in the extreme. Saavik would remind Spock that the Romulans had never withdrawn capital charges of treason against him. Oh well, Spock is determined to prove his cowboy diplomacy works and reunite beyond the balance of power between the Romulans and Federation. Secretly, since Khitomer, Spock had maintained communications with Pardek, but Pardek had faded from power and Parkek's populist views too blantant.
3. In 2296, Ruanek, of Obsidain, had proven for Spock, a honorable Romulan connection. Ruanek would provide the means to change the political power head.
4. Charvanek, Commander of the Romulan Star Empire had fallen in love with Spock and Spock under orders from Jim had betrayed her, saving the Enterprise. Charvanek kept the honor blade at her side. Spock betrayal did not destroy Charvanek's career, nor did the honor blade. What saved Charvanek was her kin line, the emperor's blood line. Charvanek no longer hated Spock, "he'd done only what he must do, in all honor, for his sworn allies."
5. Ruanek reveals to Spock an encoded message describing "something dangerous and underhanded is definitely being planned by the leader", Praetor Dralath. Praetor Dralath had built and designed a giant bird of prey, three times regular size. The weapon design was for offense to create a war and was a danger to the federation. The Romulan underground cooperated with Spock to save guard both empires from destruction. Dralath had become increasingly unpopular with the people. Dralath rules the military and so he rules the empire. "Once to be a ruler was to serve the people, once to be a Romulan was a matter of pride, of knowing that one's word was good, one's ways was pure, one's heart and soul were sharep and clean as the edge of a blade.'
6. On Ki Baratan, Spock was identified as Symakhos, First Academician of Bardat."
7. Spock found Charvanek pleased to see and realized she had been barely touched by the years. "The past is just the past." Spock combated Romulan emotions which could overpower Vulcan control, if caught off guard.
8. Captain Uhura contacts Saavik and tells her about Spocks defection, Saavik replies, "I assume that you wish me to extricate him", find Spock and bring him home. Uhura tells Saavik that Praetor Dralath has a condition known as T'Shevat's syndrome which involves green blood cell deterioration, increasingly debilitating and painful. Saavik will offer new medical research that suggests using RNA splicing and ribosome transfusions to force the syndrome into submission." That will be the ticket in and her betrothal with Spock, the ticket out.
9. Jean Luc Picard, captain of the StarGlazer will take Saavik into Romulan space using a small ship, a fast runner.
10. Saavik presents her information to Dralath. Dralath invites Saavik to his quarters. Spock comes under the influence of Pon Farr and provide no aid for Saavik and must mediate to control intense passionate outbursts. "Fingers steepled, Spock turned his mind and will inward, seeking the center, seeking control...down though levels of flame...down to the center...cool, logic at the center." Saavik gets Dralath to reveal an surprise attack plan on the Klingon colony of Narendra III and then to be followed by an attack on the Federation, Melville Colony. Dralath plans to use seven of the new war bird models. The new war birds can fire under cloak. Saavik nerve pinches Dralath and Spock and her reprogram his mind through mind control.
11. Charvanek says, "There are almost no warriors in the output, nothing but women, children, helpless elders-Dralath cannot possibly be unaware of that. Even for him such an attack would be obscene!" Dralath plans on war even at the cost of dishonor.
12. Saavik escapes back to Vulcan and warns the federation of the attack. The warning will not stop the massacre, as the Romulans overpower resistence and kill innocent men, women, and children. Captain Garret would listen to Saavik report of attack, intercept the Romulan invasion, engage in a brief fight, be defeat, transport of the enterprise prior to self-destruct, and become Romulan prisoners. One of the federation prisoners is Yasha Yar.
13. Saavik will not live without Spock. Spock must escape with Ruanek and reunite with Saavik in marriage before she or he dies for the pressures of Pon Farr.
14. Spock meets Narviat. Narviat will rise to power and become the new Pradeor after Dralath demise. After the massacre, Narviat speaks to the people revealing Dralath's treachery charging him with the destruction of four warbirds and their crew. Narviat's proof of the treachery is the testimony of Commander Charvanek. The people revolted against Darlath and put Narviat in power. The underground warriors attack Darlath and his guards and capture him and Narviat takes possession of Darlath. Narviat promises Justice, "I shall not stain my administration with murder, that-that is Dralath way. There shall be an honorable trial of criminal Dralath in accordance with our sacred customs." Dralath manages to escape by transported code sequence given verbally by himself.
15. The Klingon outpost Narendra III is attack without warning. Narendra III was destroyed. Charvanek attempts a fight with the Romulans aiding the federation, but is defeated in the space battle and taken prisoner back to Romulus. "In war, all men were women's enemies". Tasha must consent to the Romulans to save her crew. Vokskiar tells Tasha about Charvanek's defeat telling her, "This time, the old emperor won't be able to protect her, and you shall watch her punishment with me, and know how I have risen in importance."
16. Spock arrives at Vulcan. Sarek mindmelts with Ruanek and pronounces him clean and a non Romulan weapon. Spock and Saavik are married. Logical thinking would be impossible without emotion. Spock proves he can not exist without emotion. Love is the most powerful emotion and without it, existence is impossible.

(and about TIME too, geeze...)

Just an FYI, from all accounts a romance between Spock and Saavik was planned from the get go, but for some reason the plotline was dropped after ST3. From the beginning I saw this one coming and I was quite pleased that they were going there once I got a good look at Saavik.

I must admit I much prefer Kristie Ally's incarnation of the character to Robin Curtis's but in so far as the character is concerned I have nothing but affection.

I have enjoyed her appearences in other sanctioned books, and in this series in particular.

To those who decry the relationship as inappropriate may I point out the fact that during the time Saavik was growing up Spock was not acting as a parent per se, but more as a mentor. Most of the novels that have explored her history clearly indicate that she was reaching maturity during the time that Spock was still serving in Starfleet, on the Enterprise as Kirk's first officer.

No offense, but being a military brat myself I can tell you that attempting to parent a child while serving on a long term missions isn't really logical.

Saavik in ST3 stated that she had never previously been to Vulcan, but she does seem well known by Spock's family and it's implied that Spock's mother Amanda in particular is fond of her.

And that too is "logical" given that Sarek is a diplomat who has probably spent more time on Earth since his son's birth than not.

Spock may have been Saavik's legal guardian, but that doesn't make him her father.

From what we have seen a more likely conclusion would be that Spock took some time off to get her settled, probably with his folks who were likely living mainly on Earth at the time, and then returned to his duties on the Enterprise, keeping in touch as much as possible, and visiting when he could.

The Savvik Spock found on Hellgard wasn't an "innocent." Not even really still a child. She was an uncivilized savage who would do almost anything to survive. That she stole, lied, perhaps even killed to survive is likely as she DID survive in a place that even a devil would hesitate to call home.

She was most likely the product of rape, and she knew what that meant in terms of her joining Vulcan society. While they might shelter her and give her all she needed, being a half-breed, the likely result of an act of violence would put her at the fringes of Vulcan society, would be awkward, at least at first.

That she did not automatically lay a claim on being "Vulcan" that she instead chose to be her own person, to admit to being BOTH Romulan and Vulcan, says a lot about her. She could have chosen adoption into a Vulcan clan and completely disowned her Romulan half and perhaps in time married etc, but instead she chose to go to Earth, to find herself, and eventually to adopt the Vulcan way as something she wanted for HERSELF.

Probably she originally did that because she wanted to follow Spock's example, but in the end she was her own woman, and clearly much admired by those who encountered her.

When you think about it aiding Spock with his Pon Far on the Genesis world must have been horribly awkward for her, but she did it, to save him. To save him, as he had once saved HER.

That the act was likely to bring them together in a new way, that someday Spock might remember and that they would have to deal with being more than teacher and student, friend, that is a risk she must have considered immense but worthy of taking.

It is not logical to assume that Spock would remain unbonded for the rest of his life. Finally putting attempts at a more religious life behind him, Kohlinar, he like any other of his race, would therefore have to carry on with the matter of acquiring a mate at some point or another.

Sarek might have (as was custom) arranged it?

But I do think Saavik was SPOCK'S choice.

and I think Spock was SAAVIK'S choice.

I think Sarek realized it and being the ultimate dimplomat suggested the match to make it less awkward for both of them.

They are in a word "perfect" mates.

Who can understand Spock's struggles with his dual-heritage better than Saavik?

Who else but Spock can accept and understand her struggle to understand and to be herself?

I have often thought Spock's desire to unite the two people, Romulan and Vulcan must have started with his relationship with Saavik.

"It seemed the logical thing to do..."

That is what Sarek once said to his son about why he married his first human wife.

If you ask me that statement also applies to Spock and Saavik.

:)

As a couple of other reviewers have noted Spock and Saavik were introduced as teacher and student. She was his ward. The Pandora Principle did a beautiful job of telling that story. If you are going to change the nature of their relationship that dramatically you better do some darn good writing that explains how it happened. There was not one word in that book that explained this major role reversal. Quite frankly I felt the authors were demonstrating that they either didn't have the ability or didn't have the guts to tackle that very difficult and touchy issue. How and why does someone go from being a persons surrogate father to husband? Very disappointing book on many levels but this was the most egregious as far as I was concerned.

. . . is the last sentence of this novel, and leaves us with just the right swirl of emotion and wonder gyrating in our minds as we close the book. As others have pointed out, Niven's ideas often carried his stories - much more so than his plotting. But the plots explore the ideas in a way that is pure ambrosia for the hungry mind of a reader who enjoys having their imagination stretched. These are thought-out ideas, with ramifications that Niven presents to us quickly and succinctly. In the ancient tradition of all good reading, Niven's 'Protector' presents possibilities with implications, that have you looking up from the book for a moment, to let what you just read process in your mind.You don't just feel entertained ... you've grown. The idea that the aging process in humans is really a vestigial remnant of a metamorphosis to another form is pure Niven, and pure fascination, and just waiting to hear more about it produces enough anticipation in the reader to replace any deficits in plot. Watching a Pak mind solve problems is another of the hugely entertaining and mind-expanding aspects of this story. The Pak could have ruled the galaxy,but for their hormonal imperative to employ all of their matchless strength and intellect to just protecting their own bloodline against other Protectors. The Brennan-monster's base, Kobold, where he manipulated gravity as easily as a magnetic field,is yet another banquet of ideas. It may be that Niven's mind was so caught up in imagining these things, that his story plots were just delivery vehicles for them. But even then, there was method; once we had a Pak mind on our side -Brennan- the events of the story progress for reasons that are 10 steps ahead of us - and we enjoy playing catch-up as we read more. The details of interpersonal relationships is one place where Niven struggled as a writer - something his friend Jerry Pournelle helped with in their collaborations. But in a very real way, in a very Niven way, this novel was a story of the visceral love a transformed human had for all of his own kind. He had become a Protector. There were a lot of technical problems he had to solve, a lot of strategy to analyze, a lot of . .ideas . . for a reader to consider, but out of all the "hard scifi" there coalesced, unambiguously and poignantly, a love story.

It's a decent SF potboiler, but I personally found it the best book about parenting I've ever read. Undergo a magical transformation that gives you amazing powers you never knew you had... but you can only use them in the service of the offspring. Yep, pretty much sums it up for me.

Too bad the "practically immortal" part is just fiction. Ah well.

Protector


I went into this book thinking that it would be the story of a really old alien who came to earth and found something in us worth saving. Boy, was I in for a surprise. The biggest was that very little time was spent with the original alien at all; in all the story was passed through three different narrators before its completion - not a challenge to the story but interesting when I had expected the main voice to stick with grandpa-ET the whole time.

What did I like about this book? I liked the fact that it recognized that people were missing something. Even though we've evolved into this form and this way of life - we are missing something; and although the author didn't put this much into words he did address it indirectly by providing the solution: we weren't always like this.

In fact, at one time we were very different from who we are now as a species, and something happened that made us lose a part of ourselves, a part that we've been missing ever since - and that msising has been gnawing away at us for some time.

I liked the book. I read it in a single sitting, so it wasn't hard to go with. It turned out well; a little lackluster as far as endings go and maybe the plot didn't move as fast as it could. The problems that characters faced were all solved without much effort or ingenuity involved on their parts, seemingly - and I didn't find myself engaged by that much. Sure there was some killing and explosions - but those aren't why I read books and they aren't that good in books anyway.

I would read it again, it was worth the $4 I paid for it buying it from Powell's in Portland, but Amazon has some great copies too I'm sure, I just didn't want to wait for them to arrive.

Good luck, and enjoy discerning if there's a little Pak in you too.

Dr. Dominic Ebacher
ebacherdom.blogspot.com
071108.0221

If you like epic SciFi with positive endings and colorful characters, which I do, this is a good book. It does suffer from "simple" logic though, but sometimes things do work out like that. I do reserve more stars for better writing though.

The Pak protectors have both a strange physiology and psychology. They mature from the breeder stage to the very intelligent protector stage, and develop a serious protective parental impulse to go with it.

When a protector has nothing to look after, he goes on a quest for purpose, as without one, he will literally die. Enter humans and their little solar system.

A great book that goes into the background of both men and goes into the bond of these two men. They would unlike many other officers, would go out of their way to support the other in any way possible and to coordinate together, making the war more effective for the Union. Their simultaneous attacks, Grant against Lee and Sherman against Johnston and the Deep South, would be the most effective campaigns in the war.

The book is well written and researched. One detail I have an issue with was how the author says that England was hurting because of a lack of cotton, due to Union blockades of Confederate harbors. What I was taught, and seen nothing to contradict this at all save this, was that the English had stock piled cotton for years and during the American Civil War they no longer had a need for cotton and so they had no need to buy Confederate cotton.

The only other complaint I had was how the maps were all at the beginning of the book instead of being in the chapters that they had to do with. But over all this was a good book.

This book was a well-written account of a remarkable relationship between two ordinary men who became extraordinary as a function of circumstance. I learned a lot from this easy read. It doesn't disappoint.

I loved this book! After reading various books on the Civil War, I was looking to explore more about Sherman and Grant, 2 Generals I find to be fascinating. With no pretense, I happen to come across this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! It reads like a novel, it is not the usual dry history you often find. His style reminds me almost of Shaara. The author also did a good job describing the campaigns these two fought in, both together and separately. I also liked how the author delved into their past, to give the reader some background on these 2 men. If you are looking for a really good book on the Civil War that is really easy to read, then I highly recommend this one.

This is an excellent read with excellent insights into the personalities and temperments of the two great Union generals in the Civil War. The personal observations shared between Grant and Sherman show how much of the strategy of 1864 was a combination of the minds of these two military giants.

This book was OK if you haven't read any other books on Grant or Sherman or on their campaigns. However, if you've many of the excellent books that have been printed over the past 15 years on the campaigns of Grant and Sherman or the excellent biographies on the same individuals, this book pales in comparison. So, I would recommend getting some of the other books out there on this topic. (See my listing of these books for examples).