Stanley Books

There are a few books with better rare Lennon photos, but ths is still an excellent effort and a worthy purchase for die hard Beatles fans. So many Beatles-related books trot out the same photos, again and again. You all know the ones I'm talking about. But this book is decidedly and refreshingly different. I have many Lennon biographies in my library and this book contains many previously unpublished photos of John, especially ones from his childhood and in the period 1975-1980. The paper quality in the book is exceptional and is thick, glossy material which results in a stunning display of black and white vibrancy. The text is incidental but adds flavor and gives you the year each photo was taken.

The photos of the Beatles are a little weaker, and contain many previously known shots. But the individual pictures of John are outstanding. Consider the beautiful profile view on the cover of the book, taken in 1967. This is just a sampling of what this treasure trove has to offer. There are many other such nuggets within the covers. Any serious fan of John Lennon will adore this book and get many hours of pleasure perusing these photos of a great cultural and musical icon. John himself would scoff at such a description, but it's oh so true.

The fun continues with boys vs. girls, Tubby's gang vs. the the West Side guys, Tubby aka The Spider vs. Lulu's pop, Lulu vs. Witch Hazel, and so on. This volume is special for the story "The Little Men," marking the debut of the miniature space men in a flying saucer who show up in Tubby's bedroom.

Marge Buell's single panel comic, Little Lulu, began in the Saturday Evening Post in 1935. Her unsinkable Moppet made her appearance in Dell Four Color comics beginning in 1945. "Sunday Afternoon" collects all the stories from four successive issues published in 1946 and 1947. Since the four color series alternated various characters, these issues were numbered 131, 139, 146, and 158. As with the hardcover series from Another Rainbow, these Dark Horse editions are reprinted in black and white line drawings with color covers. However, the edition I have of "Sunday Morning" is not like the Amazon picture; It has different cover art with a purple background and no volume number.

John Stanley storyboarded the Dell Marge's Little Lulu comics, but many staples of Stanley's later stories are not yet in place. The boys just got their clubhouse, Eddie was just introduced in issue 120, Annie is not yet Lulu's best friend, Tubby is not yet sleuthing aka The Spider. But Stanley's zany story sense is already apparent, and the clean, simple panels suggest Crocket Johnson's Barnaby.

Cars and horses co-exist in these stories, and it's the first time Lulu's seen a TV. One of the first stories Lulu tells Alvin is a story within a story. Lulu narrates her fantasy narrative, which jars against the "real" version shown in the panels (except that's also a story). "Lulu's Lamp" ends in a conundrum. "What would you have done?" asks Stanley, "well, that's what Lulu did." All of which only hints at what a Stellar job Stanley did on these comics. Lucky for us they're back in these reasonably priced editions of around 200 pages each, courtesy of Dark Horse.

I have ordered several of these books, which I read with my 4-year-old son before bed. The visuals help him understand the stories, which are simple and innocent, yet engaging and creative enough for an adult to get something out of. They were written in the 40's, so I've had to give him some nostalgic background on what things like a "soap box derby" are. The stories are quite long and usually clever. The art is simple yet enjoyable.

In the United States today, there are fewer households comprised of mom, dad, and the kids than of single people living solo. What is life like for the new face of America, the people who are living on their own? In Living Alone Creatively, author Stanley E. Ely has given readers the gift of the wonderful stories of a dozen very different people. They are solo dwellers who are savoring solitude, pursuing their passions, and living full, creative, and connected lives. Never mind what you see on the "reality" TV shows - these are the real stories of one of America's fastest growing demographics.

Bella DePaulo, PhD, author of Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After
Singled Out: How Singles are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After

This book was very good. It is fairly simple to read, but with alot of information to ponder. I read a chapter a day in addition to my regular devotions, and it supplemented them wonderfully.

At the end of each chapter is Life Applications which normally has two or three verses to memorize that correspond with that chapter, an acrostic to remember things brought up in the chapter, a prayer to say which summarizes that chapter, and how to implement what you read into a habit.

This was my first book I read by Bill Bright and I highly recommend it to others. He was a true warrior for Christ and has much insight into areas of life many of us struggle with. Great for beginning Christians and seasoned alike.

A very detailed and accurate depiction of the origin of nuclear weapons, the arms race, nuclear proliferation, and history of nuclear weapons. A must read!

In a nutshell the _Lonely Planet: Eastern Europe on a Shoestring_ guide was lovingly referred to as 'the bible' by travellers I ran into from around the world (myself included). Checking in at the hostel in the evening with my _LP_ stuffed in the side pocket of my pack always generated a look of envy from those carrying other, less comprehensive guides. In the face of the perpetually changing environment of Eastern Europe, _LP_ has managed to compile a list of places to stay and food for the hungary (among other handy things such as maps and phone numbers). Prices and availability change as frequently as the currency in Bosnia, but nine times out of ten when I followed the guide to an address not only was it reliable, but a comfort to know I had friends on my side in unfamiliar and distant countries. Absolutely a must for people starting out on a mision to explore the world (Eastern Europe in this case) and not a bad resource for those of you who have already learned how to make all your train connections and find a place to stay. The peace of mind you have knowing that there's help along the way is well worth the price.

Lost Worlds of Space and Time, Volume Two is the eagerly (well, by me) awaited second volume of fiction written based on, in tribute of or using themes and characters by the incomparable Clark Ashton Smith. I very much enjoyed Volume One. Just like its predecessor, Volume Two is a handsome trade paperback. Page count is 230, very generous, a little higher than Volume One. Like before the cover art is by Steve Lines, and is based on works by CAS. The aliens are different and facing a different direction. I like it better than I did Volume One a year ago; it's grown on me. The interior art was most welcome and also by Mr. Lines, who did the editing honors. On the whole, I am glad to have this book although I think Volume One is clearly stronger than Volume Two. Maybe the prose was more derivative across the board in Volume Two? Here is a bone I have to pick with these genre anthologies in general, not just with this book in particular. It is about publication history. Who is responsible for the copyright info and publication history? For example, Black Massif by Stanley Sargent is listed as a first publication, and © 2005. But I have a copy of Ancient Exhumations +2 by Sargent from Elder Signs Press, © 2004, and it contains Black Massif. Hmph.

Here are the contents. Again the atories are divided based on what work by CAS influenced them:
Introduction by Steve Lines
Xiccarph
The Lord of Xiccarph by Ron Shiflet (poem)
The Maze of Maal-Dweb by Steve Lines (poem)
The Reprisals of Maal-Dweb by Henry J. Vester III
The Death of Maal-Dweb by C. J. Henderson
The Legacy of Maal-Dweb by Ron Shiflet
Earth
The Gordian Knot by Robert M. Price
Orpheus at Sea by Mark Francis (poem)
The Cave Wizard by Richard L. Tierney (poem)
The Letter by Warlock G. Vance
The Night that Wins by Joel Lane
Aihai
Cavern of the Golden Fleece by Edward P. Berglund
Yihh
The Sarcophagus of Yiolh-Ngwehh by Simon Whitechapel
Xulthoom
The Xulthoom Dispatches by Scott Urban
Zothique
The Vainglorious Simulacrum of Mungha Sorcyllamia by Mark McLaughlin
The Fane of Mordiggian by Ann K. Schwader (poem)
At the Yielding of Twilight by Ann K. Schwader (poem)
Maraeva by Ran Cartwright
Plagues by Franklyn Searight (poem)
The Storming of Vrookhal by Laurence J. Cornford
Cincor During Necromantic Rule by Ron Shiflet (poem)
Deepness by Phillip Ellis (poem)
Gylas' Hymn to Mordiggian: A Fragment (poem)
The Villanelle of the Last Days by Phillip Ellis (poem)
The Black Massif by Stanley Sargent

I freely admit I was not won over by any of the poetry. Regarding the stories, they are each set in some corner of CAS' fantastical worlds. For example, note all the Xiccarph stories written loosely as sequels to The Web of Maal-Dweb.

The Reprisals of Maal-Dweb by Henry Vester was set in the future time when an earthly spaceship comes to Xiccarph and humans try to outwit/out fight the potent old sorcerer. This was OK, easy to read if not too inspired.

The Death of Maal-Dweb by C. J. Henderson is a direct sequel to The Web of Maal-Dweb. Again, reasonably engaging, not disagreeable. CJ Henderson has written many other fine stories.

The Legacy of Maal-Dweb by Ron Shiflet is also a sequel to The Web of Maal-Dweb, although in a very different way than the Henderson tale. For whatever reason, this was my favorite of all the Maal-Dweb stories. The mordant twist would likely have brought a smile to CAS' face.

The Gordian Knot by Robert M. Price - Not bad! Price gives a very readable story of the real history behind the Gordian Knot, with some OK CAS imagery.

The Letter by Warlock G. Vance - OK! Now we're getting somewhere! A detective on a murder scene finds a letter written to him, years ago
by CAS. I found this story evocative and effective.

The Night that Wins by Joel Lane was a creepily effective story about a man who loses his family and seeks to understand what happened, and maybe get revenge.

Cavern of the Golden Fleece by Edward P. Berglund - Now here is a story that is a clear winner. I really enjoyed this from start to finish; Mr. Berglund really delivers the goods, with humor, grotesque touches and nifty prose.

The Sarcophagus of Yiolh-Ngwehh by Simon Whitechapel - an acolyte plans to steal a relic from a priest and doesn't realize that spells may be effective even if their caster moulders in his sarcophagus. Decent read, didn't knock my socks off.

The Xulthoom Dispatches by Scott Urban - Better than most of the other stories here, a young girl visits Xulthoom and does not enjoy the trip. I liked this story rather well but I found the mock photo at the end didn't really have much impact. Maybe a prose finish would have been better.

The Vainglorious Simulacrum of Mungha Sorcyllamia by Mark McLaughlin - Another nicely evocative tale about a man who longs for woman he cannot have, and then tries to cross to her dimension. This brief description does not do justice to the prose or world painting.

Maraeva by Ran Cartwright - I really wish I liked this story better. For me it was too derivative and the prose didn't hold up to the better stories here. On the other hand, the time travel paradox and denouement were handled nicely.

The Storming of Vrookhal by Laurence J. Cornford - Good story of a wizard and the advisors of a vain and foolish king who seeks to find an ancient magic that will give him eternal life. OK, the prose is no match for CAS but whose is? I liked it.

The Black Massif by Stanley Sargent - A decent effort by Sargent about wizards trying to circumvent the end of humanity in the last days of Zothique.

Am I being too harsh? I dunno, another person might be more favorably inclined. For the most part I just happened to like the stories in Volume One quite a bit better than most of the ones here. Certainly the Berglund story made me smile. There was nothing here I disliked; every story had some merits. I was engaged for the whole book and never set it aside until I was done, so there is some charm to it; I can safely recommend it to all CAS fans and fans of weird fiction. I just wish I liked it better. In any event, I sincerely hope Rainfall will give us a volume Three in the future.

Another nightstand selection by Jim Cymbala. Having read his two previous books, I find his writings to be both educational and spiritually uplifting. A must for every Christian, every pastor and for those searching for answers.