Wagner Books

Just when you thought you couldn't figure out why you weren't "happy" all the time, along comes this book...get it, read it, and buy two more copies to give to others...make sure they read it, too.

With a growing interest in the life and literary works of the English writer G.K. Chesterton, I was in the market for a modern, one-volume biography of the man. A friend suggested this book, and I am SO glad he did! As literary biographies go, this one is excellent. Coren not only covers the great Chesterton's life with sympathy and humour, but also manages a solid critique and evaluation of the writer's output...and Chesterton's output was very substantial (rather like the man himself)! What is a real joy though, is to read a biography of a fine writer, written by another fine writer. And Michael Coren is all of that. This well-educated, erudite, and witty man is a wonderful author in his own right, and I look forward to further works by him. I suspect that a century from now, people may be reading a biography of Michael Coren, just as we can now read Coren on Chesterton. We can only hope that such a future author creates as pleasant and stimulating a work as the Canadian Michael Coren has here! I'll go so far as to say that this biography is a worthwhile read, even if you don't care about Chesterton. Biography doesn't get any better than this! -A wonderful book.

It's a great book about operations research apllied to naval operations. It presents a simple approach to search methods and explains thoroughly the lateral range curve.

"The New Temperance" has been selected for listing in "Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy." http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy

The Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy yet again struck gold, enshrining history's greatest thinkers in pre-eminently handsome texts, robust and readable translations, and scholarly and timely commentary and introductory exegesis.

Despite Nietzsche's admonition greeting us in the very first prefatory page, this book belongs not to the few, but to all seeking meaning beyond society's regurgitated paradigms and ossified constrictions.

A philosopher-bibliophile's "must have"!

A very strong Sword and Sorcery collection, and here the meat is actually in the middle, as a lonely wandering Kane meets women, old comrades, elders races and monsters and ambushes while trying to survive life in general. Which is a long job for an immortal.

Night Winds : 1 UNDERTOW - Karl Edward Wagner
Night Winds : 2 TWO SUNS SETTING - Karl Edward Wagner
Night Winds : 3 THE DARK MUSE - Karl Edward Wagner
Night Winds : 4 RAVEN'S EYRIE - Karl Edward Wagner
Night Winds : 5 LYNORTIS REPRISE - Karl Edward Wagner
Night Winds : 6 SING A LAST SONG OF VALDESE - Karl Edward Wagner


You should listen to Kane when he tells you what his woman is like.

3.5 out of 5


Desert dinner convo with a giant leads to a search for a dead king's tomb, and a monster cave sabretooth.

4 out of 5


Kane has a poet friend who Lovecraft probably would have got on really well with. When an arcane statuette comes into Kane's possession thanks to a gambling loan, his mate sees a chance for inspiration.

Eldrtich trip undertaken, Kane must endeavour to keep the people still in the real world alive, both against human steel and floating demons.

4 out of 5


Kane, injured and barely conscious and the last of his decimated outlaw band head for shelter at an inn. No love for them there, bounty hunters close, and the Demonlord in the shadows.

4 out of 5


A captive girl leads Kane back to the horrors of an old war.

4 out of 5


A wizard's ritual plot doesn't quite work out.

3 out of 5




4.5 out of 5

I just recently became a lector and I was desperate for guidance. This book provides some incredible step-by-step tools, with exercise suggestions at the end of each step. The FAQs are handy -- the book is portable (small enough to stick in your bible cover!) -- and I feel MUCH more prepared now when I step up to the lecturn on "my" Sundays!

I like older books like this one, and I have long refused to adopt the contemporary notion that "new" somehow means "good" or "better". I also admit to being a Custerphile and, for most of my years, I have been intrigued by the life and times of this historic personage and, in general, fascinated with the Souix and Cheyenne Indian wars.

Along with the virtuoso/composer Franz Liszt, I identify with Custer. Both personages -- brilliant, bold, and brimming with life and energy -- apparently evoked powerful responses in the people they came into contact with. It seems that they were either adored or despised; reactions were rarely lukewarm. This fact speaks volumes -- if you are passively doing nothing that really matters to anyone and are viewed as just another mindless "go along and get along" mediocrity who appears to stand for nothing, you will be categorized as non-threatening and everyone will seem to "like" you. But if you are meaningfully involved in "action", "change", or in "making a difference", you will provoke the envious crowd and rapidly accumulate enemies. Take heart, I say! You can be distinguished and even honored by the level of the opposition -- it's like a sign of success. Just think, Custer eventually had the President of the United States out to get him!

John Burkman, like a willing follower in search of a worthy leader, was one of those who had strong, positive reactions to Custer. In fact, he came to idolize Custer, and apparently for good reasons. Burkman, nicknamed "Old Neutriment" because of his late-night kitchen raids at Ft. Lincoln, was Custer's devoted "striker". This book was compiled by Wagner from interview notes taken by I. D. "Bud" O'Donnell, who befriended the reclusive and somewhat eccentric Burkman late in life. Burkman -- gradually coaxed out of his reticence by O'Donnell and family -- romantically and sentimentally remembered the "merry times" (that's what Libby Custer called them) when he spent nine years as orderly in the service of Custer and "Libby", eventually becoming almost like a member of their family. Author Wagner does an admirable job in endeavoring to preserve the old striker's crusty speech.

Burkman's life appears to have lost meaning and purpose with the demise of his golden-haired master at the Little Big Horn. Years later, an aged and melancholy Burkman observed that, "Seems like they want no use me goin' on,..." After spending years working himself up to it, Burkman committed suicide in 1925. He was found dead on his boarding house porch in Billings, Montana, a smoking pistol in one hand and a bag of candy in the other.

Burkman knew Custer close up, and his memories cast significant light on what Custer was like as a personality. My advice is to read Libby Custer's books along with this one to get the best "feel" for the times, the person, and the circumstances. There is also much of historical value lurking in these pages, in addition to the plain-spoken, genuine human warmth and affection, sans the ubiquitous, snide cynisism of our modern times.

It's a shame this book is out of print. I bought it the moment I read a review of it in the New Zealand Herald. I didn't realise how long it is since it was published--1992. Anyone who wants to write for children will certainly find this a helpful book. Come on, Allen & Unwin, Australia, get your act together and reprint it, with revisions if you feel it is necessary. L A Barker

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is one of the better ones in this series. Some of the projects take longer than an hour but they are worth it. Lots of unique ideas.