Wagner Books

Kane is an anti-hero, plain and simple. Read about him in a different post.

I really enjoyed Wagner's writing style. He moves quickly through scenes, but not without describing in adequate details that that particular character would see it. Wagner really enjoyed using collegiate level speech, but taken in context it makes sense. Being a dungeons and dragons dweeb, I can completely appreciate characters and development.. he doesn't provide *all* of the development at once and instead interjects bits and pieces, weaved throughout the tale. I really enjoyed the first of the battles on the sea, by using Kane's thoughts Wagner was able to narrate why it is that they were using the tactics that they were, really fun stuff.

If you want to see a bad guy that isn't afraid to kick some tail, this is well worth the few bucks you'll spend on the paperback!

KANE

The Mystic Swordsman commands the fleet of an island empress - a ravaged ruler bent on bitter revenge.

Once Efrel was the beautiful consort of a king. Now she is a hideous creature who lives only for revenge.

She has allies to aid her, but only Kane, the Mystic Swordsman, can rally her forces for battle. Only he can deliver the vengeance she has devised in her knowledge of black magic and in her power to unleash the demons of the Deep.

Darkness Weaves is, unfortunately, my introduction to Kane. After reading all the hype, I finally tracked down Darkness Weaves and Dark Crusade in paperback. The Gods In Darkness hardcover (OOP) was too expensive, allegedly riddled with typos (the Warner paperback still has a few too many for my taste), and contained the much-panned Bloodstone. So I figured, why pay $50 for the hardcover when I can get just the two good novels from it for $10 including S&H? Dark Crusade hasn't arrived yet, so I started my introduction to Kane with Darkness Weaves... It starts off slow as hell. It takes 31 fairly boring pages (out of 288) to get going and failed to suck me in until Wagner unveils the historical set-up. Then things start to get interesting. However, Wagner frequently flops when it comes to believable medievalesque dialogue and Kane's dialogue in particular is often excruciatingly bad, boring, or both. See, Kane is a very cool antihero until he opens his mouth, then he sounds anachronistic, like a modern man and a disinterested one at that! So we can't root for Kane because he is boring and we know he's going to live through whatever happens (like Superman, LOL). This elevates the entertaining but doomed supporting characters like Arbas, Cassi, Imel, Tolsyt and Oxfors to center stage, even though they disappear for chapters at a time or are killed off far too quickly (right after we get to know and love them). The opposition to Kane is by and large made up of forgettable stereotypes with silly names.

A few years after this book, Wagner wrote the greatest of all Conan pastiches, The Road Of Kings, and that novel suffers none of the pitfalls of Darkness Weaves. This Kane adventure is still worth a read, dion't get me wrong, but I'm going to reserve my opinion of Kane until after I get a chance to read Dark Crusade. If that paperback pans out, I'll spring for The Midnight Sun (OOP) hardcover which collects all Wagner's short stories of Kane. But so far, I just don't get the hype surrounding this series.

Frankly, some of these reviewers don't know what they are talking about. This is the best of the Kane novels, and as such it is probably the best "dark fantasy" novel ever written.

No, it doesn't come close to having the purely literary merits of Gene Wolfe's "New Sun" books, and it doesn't have the inventive cosmology or cult following of Moorcock, but those books all have deep flaws that Wagner does not, and Wagner possesses merits that Wolfe and Moorcock lack.

It is hackneyed to describe a work of art by saying it is "a cross between such and such and such and such", but in this case it is perfectly apt. Kane is exactly halfway between Conan and H.P. Lovecraft, fusing the strengths of each and eliminating their weaknesses. Wagner combines the action, atmosphere and fast paced storytelling of Howard, adds the purple prose and supernatural subtext of Lovecraft, and delivers what for my money is the most entertaining fantasy sequence of the decade of the seventies.

And while there are no bad or even merely average Kane stories, a few of them are a little too predictable and uninventive, such as his vampire tale and his werewolf tale in "Night Winds". Not so this novel. It combines all the best elements Wagner used throughout his career into one novel that is a simply perfect representative of its genre. Kane carries out a bloody sea invasion at the behest of an evil sorceress, with plot twists galore at the end...

No, it isn't high art; no, it isn't enlightening. No, I didn't want it to be. Just pure testosterone and black magic. I loved it. So will you.

Darkness Weaves is, unfortunately, my introduction to Kane. After reading all the hype, I finally tracked down Darkness Weaves and Dark Crusade in paperback. The Gods In Darkness hardcover (OOP) was too expensive, allegedly riddled with typos (the Warner paperback still has a few too many for my taste), and contained the much-panned Bloodstone. So I figured, why pay $50 for the hardcover when I can get just the two (allegedly) good novels from it for $10 including S&H? Dark Crusade showed up late, so I started my introduction to Kane with Darkness Weaves... It starts off slow as hell. It takes 31 fairly boring pages (out of 288) to get going and failed to suck me in until Wagner unveils the historical set-up. ***SPOILER BEGINS*** Then things start to get interesting, at least until the secret weapon of the evil sorceress is revealed to be bloodsucking alien squid-men in laser-beam shooting submarines! This is so absolutely idiotic and unbelievable as to nearly destroy everything Wagner has built up... Fortunately, the squid-men don't appear that often (just for the major naval battle and the end, but without their laser-subs, having been reduced back to properly Lovecraftian "Deep Ones" by this point, which is all they should have been in the first place). IMO, there is nothing worse than when you read a sword and sorcery novel and get cheated when you find out the sorcery is mostly just alien technology. I mean, if I wanted to read about alien technology, I'd be reading science fiction, right? Anyway, the perilously slow start, stupid squid-men/laser-subs and lack of depth to the central character of Kane make this book a very uneven read at best, though it still has some juicy pay-off here and there for those patient enough to persevere (including the nasty love scene between Kane and the disfigured sorceress). ***END SPOILER*** Another problem is Wagner frequently flops when it comes to writing believable medievalesque dialogue and Kane's dialogue in particular is often excruciatingly bad, boring, or both. Kane is a very cool antihero/villain until he opens his mouth, then he sounds anachronistic, like a modern man and a disinterested one at that! So we can't root for Kane because he is boring and we know he's going to live through whatever happens (like Superman, LOL). This elevates the entertaining but doomed supporting characters like Arbas, Cassi, Imel, Tolsyt and Oxfors to center stage, even though they disappear for chapters at a time or are killed off far too quickly (right after we get to know and love them). The opposition to Kane is by and large made up of forgettable stereotypes with silly names. A few years after this book, Wagner wrote the greatest of all Conan pastiches, The Road Of Kings, and that novel suffers none of the pitfalls of Darkness Weaves. This Kane adventure is still worth a read, don't get me wrong, but now that I've had a chance to read Dark Crusade, I begin to see where some of the hype surrounding this series comes from: Dark Crusade eliminates nearly every problem inherent to this novel, although the problem of making Kane interesting is not resolved until 2/3 of the way in! Darkness Weaves turns out to be the sequel to Dark Crusade, though I don't think it matters much what order you read them in, as they take place two hundred years apart (Kane being immortal and all).

These stories are uplifting and a joy to read. In a world where divorce always seems to be the topic, it is refreshing to read about marriages that last.

I loved this book. We received "Living Happily" as a wedding gift. My Husband and I found the stories inspiring. We read the book on our honeymoon. Since then we have given copies to friends both as aniversary and wedding gifts.

We recieved this book for our 25th Wedding Anniversary from a beloved nephew. It is full of honest stories--some shocking,some humorous,some touching, all interesting--of ordinary couples who in their own way overcame obstacles, big and small, and made a success of their relationships. This enlightening book changed the way we view committed relationships. We have given copies of this book as anniversary, engagement and wedding presents. Also, we have recommended it our committed friends.

I've included this book as part of wedding presents several times, to outstanding reception. The particular stories of how couples create their lives in a way that is satisfying to both is comforting and inspiring in its human-ness. What a treasure!

When I saw the cover of this book in the bookstore, I thought, "Oh no, another syrupy sweet collection of essays on marriage." But when I had to wait a few minutes before the tears clouding my eyes finally cleared (after skimming the first story), I was hooked. These are stories of everyday people who speak quite candidly about what it takes to sustain a relationship through the years, and you can't help but fall in love with them! I was surprised by the candidness of many couples, and thankful that they were willing to share such personal facts. And I liked that the book covered all sorts of couples...this made it even more interesting. This lovely book would make an excellent anniversary, Valentine's Day, birthday, wedding or shower gift.

I just started collecting fairy tale art like Dulac and Rackham. This book is a magnificent addition to my collection. The illustrations jump right out of the pages to tell the story. Both beauty and darkness are exquisite in this assembly of work. I now want to read the book. I also love lighter fairy tale art such as that of Nielson, but this darker approach to visually telling the tale is effective and wonderful.

I'm swiftly becoming enamored of the old-time illustrators - Joseph Clement Coll, Charles Dana Gibson, N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Alphonse Mucha to name but a few. I'm now happy to add Arthur Rackham to that list. As both a fan of illustration (fantasy, comic book, and otherwise), as well as a bit of a mythology buff, I was thrilled to see that Dover (whose name, in my opinion, always spells quality) had produced a volume of Rackham's illustrations of Wagner's Ring Cycle, which is itself based on a famed tale of Norse mythology. The illustrations, as the book notes, were first published in 1910 and 1911, respectively. They are uniformly beautiful, bringing the story to vibrant life. Rackham was clearly a skilled draftsman, and his work has that turn-of-the-century look that is very compelling (Gibson and Wyeth had a similar style).

This book is printed on high-quality glossy paper and features wonderful illustrations of dwarves, heroes, valkyrie, gods, and others that Rackham captures with skill and aplomb. Each drawing is accompanied by a discription, helping to tie the illustrations together and explain the plot to those who might not be familiar with it.While the volume is quite slim (only 64 pages, plus 4 of introductor/background material) it is very much worthwhile. I hope you will pick it up and enjoy it.

Arthur Rackham is among the greatest illustrators of what has come to be called 'fantasy' literature. His renderings of scenes from Dickens, Barrie, Grahame, and even Shakespeare are often flawless and many have ultimately proved definitive.

Here he tackles the daunting scope of Richard Wagner's vast operatic cycle DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN, and he is so successful that his images have become the model for most of its traditional stage design ever since they were exhibited in 1912 at the Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris. Yet Rackham achieves more than merely the giving of face and form to Wagner's characters and scenes. These illustrations capture a sense of space and height, light and darkness, beauty and tragedy, promise and doom which may be described as music to the eyes. C.S. Lewis first beheld them as a boy and later wrote, 'Pure "Northerness" engulfed me: a vision of huge, clear spaces hanging above the Atlantic in the endless twilight of Northern summer, remoteness, severity ...'

For me, the most evocative image in this collection is from DIE WALKURE, Act II. In the foreground we see Brunnhilde anguishing over her orders from the just-departed Wotan. Helmet cast upon the ground, her face and posture effectively communicate distress and isolation; yet most remarkable is how Rackham echoes the Valkyrie's state of mind in the landscape beyond her. The falling hillside; the stark, scraggly saplings scattered into the distance; the shadowy silhouette of other mountains marking the far horizon; the low-hanging clouds; and the muted shades of grey, gold, and brown all convey an overwhelming sense of loneliness as cold and haunted as it is beautiful.

This book is a delight for anybody who loves Richard Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" ("The Nibelung's Ring") operatic tetralogy. While I could have wished for just a little more detail in the captions - which could therefore have allowed the entire story of this cycle to be told (a few things consequently get missed - not really major, but wouldn't have hurt nevertheless!) - they are otherwise excellent; and the paintings themselves are not only outstanding art-pieces in themselves - they also are excellent visualisations of what Wagner was trying to do! They're also a wonderful corrective to the all-too-many "modernisations" that for some people like myself are hurting the visual aspect of a given opera's appreciation. [Often those "modernisations" are in bad taste, travesties of the composers' and librettists' intentions, and are either boring, shocking for mere shock value, or just plain BAD!!!!!]

Most warmly recommended for both confirmed Rackham lovers as well as Wagner lovers AND for those who're just getting started with the process of getting to know Wagner's stupendous cycle!!! GET IT!!!!

All 64 Rackham's images for Wagner's Ring collected in one book is a grate thing to have if a Rackham lover. Reproduction of the images is not the best possible though. All in all, it is still a good book to have. Rackham is magical.

Really good intro book - You should read this book and then pick up another more detailed title to really get "under the hood" of XSLT.

I usually find myself slogging through programming books, trying to keep my eyes open, but XSLT for Dummies was one of the more enjoyable programming books I've read in a while.

The material is presented concisely with humor injected to keep the tone light. Great intro for the price!

This is just a cool book. It's VERY easy to understand and has great examples.

I like the approach the author has taken to ease you into the subject of XSLT. It's not overly verbose and is quite an entertaining read considering the subject matter at hand. Compared to the other XSLT introductory books around this one has kept my attention from cover to cover.

I find that a lot of my peers are put off by the Dummies series of books because they hold themselves in such high regard that reading a book by such a title will inevitably lower their IQ. If you are a person of such ilk and looking to learn XSLT then drop the pretension of superiority and grab yourself a copy of this great book.

Actually, this book would be pretty good if you could wade through all the stupid analogies that are supposed to make the subject accessible. Each chapter begins with a bunch of really stupid examples that are simply distracting. Writing a match statement is like collecting groceries in a grocery store -- fetching the milk and cookies for your mom, etc., etc. The book is so full of this dreadful stuff that it becomes completely unreadable.

A great compliment to Wagner's "A wine Growers Guide".





These two books are virtually bibles to the grape grower and amateur winemaker. If you have one, you will no doubt enjoy and use the other as well. "A wine growers guide" has helped me immensely in establishing my seven acre vinifera vineyard near the Southeast shore of Lake Erie. "Grapes Into Wine" is as absorbing and informative as the previous work.

wagner is the original guru on grape growing and wine making. how he found the time for all of his interests is a story we will never know. first, of course , he was the editor of the baltimore sun newspaper. he founded and operated boordy vineyard and winery,which became a grape vine nursury. he somehow found more time to write books on all of this, books that were clear, consise, that covered these fields with a fullnes of purpose that is amazing everytime i read and reread them. when i am planting grapes or making wine , his books are never far from my elbow. if you have limited funds and want to buy the best books for the most reasonable prices, buy wagner!

This book provides an interesting overview of the history of American winemaking. However, being written in the 1970's this text as a practical guide for winemaking is hopelessly dated. Much of the information is either contradictory to modern stylistic norms or simply innacurate. Better chioices for the home winemaker include Jon Iverson's "Home Winemaking, Step by Step" and Desmond Lundy's "Handmade Table Wine".
Cheers.

Philip Wagner's death in 1997 was a loss to the winemaking community. Wagner lived through a broad period of wine history. His significant life experience spans prohibition through an illustrious life as a successful commercial winemaker. Wagner practiced what he preached. His life honors a love for the grape and the art of turning grapes into wine.

His book, "Grapes into Wine," chronicles the history of winemaking told from the perspective of one who knows the subject. This book is not a step-by-step guide towards the process of making a fine wine; it's an exposition on the history and high-level science of grapes and grape growing (viticulture) and the cultivation of grapes, and the manufacture of wine (viniculture).

Wagner explains the origins of winemaking, from its earliest documented sources to the present. He describes the early French winemaking period, the effects of phylloxera and other diseases that practically wiped-out this industry, the emergence of east and west coast American wine making, prohibition, and winemaking in the modern world. He then delves into the process of winemaking, both commercially and in small lots. Sugar and bacterial (malolactic) fermentation are described historically and as a modern process. He discusses the entire process of winemaking, from pitching the yeast, to racking, cold stabilizing, fining, and finally bottling. Common pitfalls are cited with a description of how these problems are addressed on a small and large scale. Different wine types are discussed, including dry, sparkling, fortified, and sweet. The book ends with a brief discussion about wine tasting. A number of Appendices are also included as are numerous pictures that give a glimpse into historical periods, people, tools and machinery, and places.

While Wagner describes the winemaking process in some detail, it's not written as a guide towards making wine. For this, I'd suggest Jon Iverson's book, "Home Winemaking Step-by-Step." Iverson takes amateur winemakers by the hand and guides them through the necessary steps towards the creation of a finished table wine. Wagner's book describes this process topically, touching on the details but not describing them in a step-by-step fashion.

The cover of this book states, "A newly written, completely up-to-date version of his now-classic American Wines and Wine-making, with new maps, charts, and illustrations." I think this was true at one time, but from my perspective in 2003, this book more closely reflects the 1976 revision.

For example, p.64 shows a chart of California wine production from 1956 to 1973 in millions of gallons. Yet on the p.67 a 1982 note references how production has increased in 1980. It seems this note was inserted to make it more current while the preceding text was left untouched. I would rather have seen the chart updated to include wine production into the 1980s or 1990s rather than end in 1973. Eliminate the note and update the text and graphic. Much of the book is from the perspective of 1976.

This aside, Wagner's book is a superbly valuable text. I don't mean to give the impression it is sorely outdated; it's not outdated in a way that degrades the value of what he has written. Wagner has documented a snapshot of history and I have enjoyed the book immensely. Many chapters I've read numerous times. I especially enjoy the chapters on the history of viniculture and viticulture. Wagner is gifted in his historical knowledge and I think these beginning chapters are the book's crowning achievement.

Highly recommended, I only wish Wagner was alive to provide an update that includes a look into the 21st Century.

Philip M. Wagner's earlier "American Wines and Wine-Making" became a bible for small producers and winemakers in America. First printed in 1933, it was revised several times and then completely rewritten over 40 years later under the current title. Although dated, it is still one of the more valuable resources for the small commercial or home winemaker intent on making excellent wine from grapes and grape concentrates.

Wagner discusses the grape and all its inherent qualities in clear, concise language. His treatment if both old French-American and new American hybrids is still a good historical and practical guide for grape selection. His appendix on wine grape varieties is a handy compendium for the single plant to small vineyard grower, while his appendix on "Wine Analysis Simplified" is invaluable to anyone wishing to make award winning vintages.

The "meat" of the book discusses the fundamentals of winemaking as an art. This is amply illustrated with chapters on making red, white, rosé, sparkling, and other fermentations. He discusses clarification, filtering, testing, blending, and bottling with the experience of someone who is at ease with their finer points. He devotes a chapter to the then growing interest in making wines from concentrates and another on what can go wrong. While not a tutorial or handbook, his treatment is more a dissertation that any but a master winemaker would find instructive and beneficial.

It is his chapter on wine tasting and drinking that sets his work apart, for these are the culminative activities for which all wine is ultimately made. His dissection of the anatomy and physiology of taste is a primer for any who aims to make really good wine. It won't make you a wine critic of Hugh Johnson's stature, but it will make you more conscious of what happens when wine is taken into your mouth. And that, after all, is what it is all about.

This is a solid addition to any home winemaker's library. For historical insight alone, it is worth the price.

In "The Big Book of Martyrs," Paradox Press takes a look at religion. Many saints of the Christian church have led amazing lives, and this volume covers some of them. It should inspire you no matter what you believe!

While many students might find reading about the lives of early or memorable Christians boring or time-consuming, the stories of religion's greatest heroes must not be forgotten. "The Big Book of Martyrs" is an excellent book to have especially if you have children or young adults who find reading a comic book much more interesting and entertaining.

Illustrated in the form of comic strips, The stories of many great and memorable Christian martyrs such as Joan of Arc and St. Paul are told in a respectful, interesting manner. Using dialogue and excellent pencil drawings, the lives of these martyrs comes to life as the reader becomes very interested with every page they turn.

Illustrated by over fifty of the world's top comic artists, "The Big Book of Martyrs" is an excellent companion book to have around when studying theology. It hits all the right spots when covering the lives of every subject featured in the book, and it is overwhelmingly entertaining. The book should be popular with the young adult crowd due to the fact that the book is composed of comic strips, however adults shouldn't rule it out of their reading lists.

Overall, this is a great book to have. It will provide countless times of very inspirational and educational reading to anyone who picks it up.

It is my experience that this is the least popular of the Big Book series, usually because it treats its subject matter with a more serious tone than all the other books. However, being an information junkie who also appreciates good art, I feel that this book does a good job of delivering on both.

While I have never been accused of being the best of Christians, it is my opinion that this subject matter deserves to be treated seriously and respectfully given that it often involves telling the stories of people standing up for their message of love and peace at the threat of violence (a lesson less tolerant Christians can learn from).

Many of the saints should not be subject to criticism, regardless of the imperfect record of the Catholic church. That being said, not everyone who has been granted sainthood is really a saint. For example, some were mere barbarians respected by the Catholic church for their zeal in slaughtering innocent people of different faiths. But this book, while being respectful of the title of saint, does not cower from pointing out these occassional pieces of hypocrisy. Also included in this book is a chapter dealing with saints who were purely fictional (and are even recognized as such by the Catholic church) including the still popular St. Christopher (of the medallion fame), but I'd be surpised at anyone taking this as an attack on their faith.

Since this book is about the history of saints and the process (and politics) of cannonization, it is factual regardless of one's personal faith or lack thereof, but I am sure it appeals to Christians the most. But the interesting stories and artwork are worthwhile for anyone to experience, and, yes, even the nonreligious can find inspiration in tales of people standing up for their beliefs in the face of persecution, including those who have been targeted by the Catholic church.

I picked up the Big Book of Martyrs because I love all of the Factoid Books. As a series, they are irreverent, concise, witty, and always interesting.

As mentioned by a few other reviewers, the Big Book of Martyrs treats its subject matter with more respect than other subjects covered by the series. Check out the chapter on Princess Di in the Big Book of Scandal to see Paradox Press at its most scathing. But while poking fun at the foibles of the British monarchy can be entertaining, mocking people who died for their faith is tasteless. So I was relieved to see that the martyrs were not depicted as ridiculous.

However, these are not wholly objective descriptions of the saints' lives. The book seems to have been written by Christians for Christians. I myself am not a Christian, and I was hoping for a more secular approach.

It is still worth reading though. There are plenty of weird stories, such as the woman who woke up with a beard, after praying to be made unattractive. The beard caused her arranged husband-to-be to reject her, allowing her to keep her sworn virginity intact. St. Christopher's story is pretty strange, as well.

I do not recommend giving this book to children, since there are some graphic images, such as St. Stephen being stoned to death.

While the rest Big book series handles subjects with more than normal dose of irreverance, this book shifts gears and handles the subject with all reverance due to the subject, while maintaining the seperation of legend and fact. The artwork is also respectful of the subject, and in all cases fitting. Noteworthy entries are the first Martyrs of Rome, with Gahan Wilson's appropriately grotesque images of Nero's atrocities, and Trina Roberts' good girl artwork for St. Agnes, the ultimate good girl.

KANE

The Mystic swordsman battles the prophet of an ancient cult of evil that began before the birth of man.

Out of the blackness of an almost-forgotten past, the cruel cult of Sataki has come to life again. Orted Ak-Ceddi, a daring outlaw, is its prophet. He draws thousands of converts to his Dark Crusade - a design to destroy mankind. His bloody cohorts conquer Shapeli, but they are defeated when they drive to vanquish the southern kingdoms. Orted knows he must have a powerful cavalry to launch a new drive - and Kane is the man who can command the conquest. But Kane intends no final victory for the Forces of Darkness.

I hadn't read anything in this genre is a long while, and was surprised to realize how much I missed it. Kane is a new character to me, and I'm now definitely interested in reading more of his exploits.
Kane combines a brilliant military mind and a ruthless savagery into a pragmatically effective package. I enjoyed the character all the way through the book. The cruel but effective means he had of solving problems kept reinforcing the fact that this protagonist was anything but heroic (though of course what hero would even consider serving the Dark Crusade?). It would have been nice to have learned more about him, though. Teasers were thrown out there that told me little.
I can't imagine, btw, how that last chapter could have worked as a stand alone short story, with no context.

This book gave me an enjoyable read. The only problem with this book that I found was the fact that I have read the other books in the series. On its own, this is a great book, but I know how Kane acts in each of his other adventures.

His character is inconsistant with how he acts in Bloodstone and later stories (novels or short stories): he doesn't learn from his mistakes. Orted Ak'Ceddi shows his incredulity when he constantly makes idiotic attacks on opposing forces.

Kane should have known this when he made the decision to stay and fight when the city was infiltrated.

Wagner did a god job with describing the events in great detail, and the only flaw that I could find (granted, a rather large one), is the inconsistency with the protagonists character.

That is the only reason this book got a 4 star level: it didn't flow well with the rest of the series. On its own, it is a solid 5-star book, but the fact that it was in series made Dark Crusade a book less than its potential.

I have read this book three times, and I am re-reading it again.

Read this book: a fantastic choice, well drawn-up, and a great read.

Dark Crusade is a HUGE improvement over Wagner's other Kane novel (and the sequel to this book), Darkness Weaves (I haven't read the much-maligned Bloodstone, the only other Kane novel). In my Amazon review of the Darkness Weaves paperback, I complained that while Kane was only cool until he opened his mouth due to lame, anachronistic dialogue, in this novel Wagner makes no such mistake. However, the author still falls into the same trap of being unable to make Kane interesting or even likable until 2/3 of the way through! Until then, Kane never says anything remarkable at all, nor do we get much insight into his motivations or past. Instead, as in Darkness Weaves, we get a small number of minor characters and antagonists that, while doomed, are far more interesting and likeable than Kane ever could be. Kane is no Elric, Conan or Fafhrd. I can only hope that Kane's short stories (collected in The Midnight Sun hardcover) paint him out to be a much more interesting, in-depth character than these novels (it's next on my list).

Don't get me wrong, Dark Crusade is still a highly enjoyable read, with vivid battle scenes and nasty surprises, but it could have been so much better if Wagner had only bothered to endear us to Kane early on, instead of waiting until the last minute. By the time we get to the end, we really do feel for Kane as he walks up the stairs of the cursed Tower of Yslsl to an uncertain fate. However, an extra "throwaway" chapter (originally published as a separate story) has been included in the Baen reprint: "In The Lair Of Yslsl," which, while clearing up Kane's fate, is poorly written in comparison and strains credulity. Yslsl was much better left as an indescribable, unknown horror lurking at the edges of the story. My advice is skip "In The Lair Of Yslsl" and let the novel end where it should have, leaving the reader wanting more, not less.

If you're considering buying the expensive and out-of-print hardcover, Gods In Darkness, which collects the three Kane novels, my recommendation is don't waste your money. Buy Dark Crusade and (maybe) Darkness Weaves separately as paperbacks. You'll save money and these novels have been way overhyped...

I agree that the fantasy genre needs more books about villains and anti-heros as the main character, but Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels don't quite do it for me (although Dark Crusade comes very, very close, and I do recommend it). If you want to read a flawless, gritty fantasy novel by Wagner, try The Road of Kings. That's easily the finest Conan pastiche ever written and puts even the best of the Kane novels to shame.

The pace is fast but with enough details to let you get into the characters.

My only complaint (if you can call it as one) is that you MUST read the next book because this story does not resolve itself or the characters.

Powerful characters and a lot of mystery surrounding the character Kane.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the story!!

I came to this book, because I heard 'The Ring of the Nibelung' was the basis for the 'Lord of the Rings'. Halfway through the first scene, I found it was true.

Written in a poetic rhythm, it was easy to fall into a cadence in my mind as I read. The story is absorbing.

Nibelung is a race of dwarfs in this Opera from Wagner. (pronounced Vagner) A Nibelung steals the gold of the Rhine maidens and has it made into a magic ring. A ring to rule them all (just kidding). Only one ring, but it has the power to enslave the world. The gold is also made into a chaimail (no not mythril), giving the wearer the power to change into any shape.

The ring changes several hands through the story.

Enter in a loose interpretation of Norse Mythology. The character 'Wotan' resembles Odin. The hammer wielding god is called 'Donner'.

And, it wouldn't be an Opera without a tragic love story and a Hero. An incestuous relationship upsets the Goddess Fricka and puts Wotan into an emotional decision, keeping the reader guessing as to how the God will handle his wife's nagging demands. Gods, have it rough, too, eh?

The book itself is dual lingual. One side of the page is German, the English translation is side by side with the German. It was fun to compare the two languages and it shows how true to the translation was the English.

This novel is copyright dated 1976, coming after Tolkien's LOTR.

The story is fantastically imaginative.

The Ring cycle by Wagner is a big, popular, and important work. Yet, the story is not as well known as you might assume. It is one thing to hear the music and some idea of the broad strokes of the story, but it is another to dig into it. Here is a way for English speakers to get to know the story. It provides the original German for comparison and checking the translation, if you wish. But the story reads very well in the English.

Andrew Porter provides an opening essay explaining his goals in this translation and what problems and compromises had to be made. He made this translation in order to be SUNG with the music. It is practical in that sense. Some of the literalness of the translation had to be sacrificed, but the meaning of the passages has been preserved.

This translation was never meant to be a poetic translation, although there are some very nicely done passages. Wagner's German isn't all that lyric, for that matter.

What is the story? This is Wagner's attempt to reuse some ideas from the Norse myths into a modern (for the 19th century) Germanic myth. It revolves around some gold stolen from the Rhinemaidens and fashioned into a Ring by a miserable dwarf. This Ring gives its bearer the power to enslave the world, but brings with it a great curse. The Ring brings its power and curse to its maker, to Wotan, to Fafner, to Seigfried, and even Brunhilde. These are stories of hatred, love, betrayal, promises made and broken, heroism, cowardice, and death. So, it makes for great dramatic opportunities for a great cycle of operas.

Enjoy reading the story so when you listen to it in German you have a much better understanding of what is going on.

I am an avid reader of the Nibelung legend and will acquire it in any form I can find. Whether it be Wagner's opera, Lang's motion picture, illustrated books, novelized accounts, or various translations of the epic, I seek them with much vigor. This work of art escaped my attention until now, and it is with great fervor and joy that I heartedly recommend it to you. The reproductions of the paintings are exceptional in quality. The coffee table size book allows you to clearly see all the details that Ul De Rico invested in each painting. The paintings represent key moments in Richard Wagner's Der Ring Des Nibelungen and there are multiple images presented in each painting which presents a vivid progression of a scene. Whether it's Alberich's theft of the ring or Fafnir's slaying of Fasolt, you will be transported to the time of myth by the fabulous artistry of Ul De Rico. His paintings display the passion and sensual nature of the Ring that so eludes current opera directors and designers. Since this book is now out of print, you should not hesitate to purchase it now, at an incredibaly reasonable price... I guarantee you will not be disappointed, but you may become so if the few editions that are available vanish before you decide.

I had the pleasure to acquire a copy of this book in the summer of 1981 in Seattle during the annual Ring festival. Almost 20 years later it remains a treasured part of my library. This large and heavy coffee table book is devoted to reproductions of Ul de Rico's numerous paintings of various scenes from the Ring. The original paintings were rendered in oil on solid wooden panels, and were rendered in a highly realistic manner with very bold and dramatic color saturation. Compared to the works of Arthur Rackham, Ul de Rico in my view is the more effective and powerful illustrator. These images come as close as one could imagine to ideal, producing visual effects one is never likely to see in Bayreuth or anywhere else. The photographs are printed on high gloss paper, and are accompanied simply by a few lines each, in English, of the applicable libretti. Interestingly, all of the images from the first three operas have the Three Norns exchanging the thread of fate around the perimeter, which is a very interesting effect. This continues early in Gotterdammerung until the moment in the Prologue where the thread breaks, upon which the Norns have a dramatic descent. This very image was used as the cover of the Ring highlights recording that Solti made with the VPO in 1983, just prior to his conducting in Bayreuth of the centenary Ring. Incidentally, the book also includes a very high compliment, in the Preface, by George Solti himself.

This book is well worth seeking out and will provide years of lasting enjoyment. I can't speak highly enough for it.

I bought this book hoping to better understand the text that appears poorly translated in CD librettos. I found that not only the poem (as Wagner called it) is more readable and understandable, but also perfectly matches the music sung in German, so one can read it in English following every syllable along with the music. And that is an important feature for the ring operas, or for all Wagner operas for that matter, mainly because the orchestra contributes so much to the meaning of what the characters are saying. I highly recommend this book to whoever is in the pursuit to better understand the ring operas. I only wish from this book that it had a Spanish translation as well, but I guess that would be asking way too much.

I really excellent read. Will really chill you through and through.

This book was printed in a hardcover trade edition of only 2000 copies (which is the version being sold here at Amazon) and a limited edition of 100 signed copies. The book is excellent (see the other reviews for details), so do not delay if you are interested in buying a copy. The editorial review for this book should state that this is a very limited offering.

Having spent a lot of hours and days reading the adventures of KANE 20 Years ago, this book came to me as pleasant surprise. It does not only include some nearly perfect horror-stories but some odd Kane-pieces and a lot of information about the author and his life. The two recollections (one by Peter Straub) about the man himself show us that Wagner lived his stories. So he belongs there: With Howard, Poe and Lovecraft. I hope this never gets out of print.

For those readers who have come across the works of Karl Edward Wagner and enjoyed his work, then this is a must buy! As most of Wagner's books are currently out of print, obtaining this collection is the easiest way for readers to become exposed to Karl's works.

Included in this collection: The very first story Karl ever wrote; Short stories involving the mythical warrior Kane (set in both the past and present!); Adventures of his Western hero Becker; An invaluable bibliography for Wagner collectors; And of course his popular "horror" stories, which brought Wagner some well deserved critical acclaim.

Most of these stories are reprints (although there are a few "Uncollected Stories" appearing for the first time in this book), however Stephen Jones has done a fantastic job of selecting those stories which have most likely not reached the mass market.

Included as well in this collection are a series of photographs and articles from those closest to the author. I found many of these essays to be depressing as they overshadow the author's actual work, in favour of negatively commenting about his personal life. David Drake, his friend and one-time co-publisher/author, for obviously personal reasons, decided to take a particularly vicious stab at Karl as his farewell. Evidently Mr. Drake is not a sentimentalist.

On a final note, this collection does NOT contain some of Karl's more popular work (including Lacunae, More Sinned Against, and Sticks), which can be found in one of his three other collections. It does, however, provide a wide range of enjoyable stories, and for those who mourn the loss of one of the most creative imaginations of our generation, this is a fitting denouement. Farewell Karl!

This collection is an essential purchase for Wagnerphiles. Buy it now.

The Houseboat Murders is a mystery that takes us into the lives of Jack McBride and his son, Troy, who are still struggling to settle into a life after the death of their wife and mother. Jack takes life one day at a time, ignoring the nagging thoughts of alcohol while Troy cringes with the introduction of yet another bimbo into his father's life. When Jack receives a call from the Sheriff's office where he once worked, he takes his son along to check out a murder scene. Horrifyingly, they discover three blood spattered victims dead in a houseboat. Jack completes his assignment, and while he doesn't plan to continue his involvement in the investigation, he is drawn further in as the story unfolds.

Troy, a typical teenage boy, discovers that one of the victims was a schoolmate, which preys upon his young mind. While drug dealers and corrupt law enforcement complicate the plot, Troy focuses on befriending a lonely "new girl" at school. When he begins to question her mysterious behavior, the plot thickens.

This story is a well-written mystery with all of the necessary bells and whistles to keep the reader coming back for more. The characters are compelling and the California setting completes the picture while the intricate plot unravels. As with all good mysteries, I was fooled right up until the end. At 130 pages, I only wish the book had been longer. Good job, Paul!

This book is so good, I couldn't put it down. That comment may be overworked, but I literally did not stop reading it once I started. What a great story. Well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

I read in my spare time, and when I started this book, I conveniently had a lot of spare time! The ironic plot and twisted events make The Houseboat Murders one of the best books I have ever read!

There are so many mystery/cop/detective stories out these days, it's hard to find new ideas, but the author does it here by having the killer (an adult) pose as a high school student to avoid capture. The kids in the story are as real as next-door, and serve to lighten the tone with their humor and teenaged concerns. This book manages to make you feel like you know everybody involved as well as you know your uncle and cousins-maybe better. You've got a very complicated murder case here, and several sub-plots. But the whole thing knits neatly and in relatively few pages. I liked it, a lot!

A friend sent me this book, and I read it in one shot-two hours. The story grabs you with three quick murders and then just flows. Characters are well done, but the author was too sketchy in developing the romance between the main cop and the assistant medical examiner. However, by involving a bunch of self-centered teenagers (is there any other kind?) Wagner delivers a story entertainingly different from your usual detective story. I've sent it on to another friend with a "good read" recommendation.