White Books

this is a very nice book for the money, for those interested in unusual photography

Somewhat a photographic collection of the "best of Jerry Uelsmann" -the intricate, fantasy-like surrealist photographer. Works almost solely in the darkroom - not digitally. The book does not really mention Uelsmann's pristine practice in the darkroom, however provides quotations from the artist.

Had this book delivered just in time before the artist came recently to Pittsburgh. The 70 year old charismatic artist was kind enough to sign my book. Very entertaining, down to earth modern artist.

A beautifully produced book of gelatin silver photographs to be looked at and
savored. Uelsmann's photographs question our world of physical realities
and introduce us to his world of visual realities. His photographs mystify
and question. They are of things that don't exist, yet do exist.

All of Uelsmann's books reflect a poetic irrationalism, and this book is no exception. The images evoke a strange and surreal eloquence. Technically, like all of his work, the prints are tonally rich even as reproductions.

There are numurous photgraphers who currently utilize digital tools in the creation of similar collage/montage work, yet they rarely achieve the same formal elegance as Uelsmann - and he has been doing this for years - long before Adobe Photophop became a tool in the photographers arsenal. He's the photgraphic collage master - Version 1.0.

I first saw Jerry Uelsmann's work in the sixties when we were stranded in a Chicago Airport by a snowstorm, waiting for the same commuter plane. He was in his late twenties then and carrying a portfolio of his work. As we talked, he shared it with me. I knew I was in the presence of artistic genius immediately. Already, I discovered, he was well known in the art work with major exhibits in known galleries. Not only did the content of his montages excite me but, but, being an amateur darkroom photographer at the time, I had some vague sense of the skill involved in his final productions. We were friends for a number of years and lost touch, but I've kept up with his work because I still admire it so deeply. This book is a treasure and I recognize some montages from the sixties in it, as well. Jerry is not only creative, but he's an interesting lecturer and funny, besides. The child in him will never die. I suspect that's one big reason he's so good. I would highly recommend any of his books, and this is one!

What I was looking for was a clear definition of postmodernism. What I learned from this book was that this was not entirely possible. Nevertheless, with surprising ease I was able to get a good grasp of postmodernism which was just what I was looking for. It also has the bonus of discussion questions at the end of each chapter. I'm not sure that I would want to use the entire book for a Sunday School class or Small Group study, but I will use some of the chapters in my teaching. This is a topic terribly relevant to modern evangelism. The questions look interesting and good for discussion. I am looking forward to trying them out.

This book has the feel of a lot of compiled college lectures, and of being written in one sitting. It probably wasn't, but rather than being a bad thing, that gives large parts of it a sense of momentum. Later, in my view, it falls into jargon, but that's easy for a philosopher to do, especially with chapters that seem like they'd be quite interesting delivered separately in a classroom. The second consideration is that many will find the book difficult, not in the sense that they can't read or understand it, but that many of the ideas will be new and the language, and especially how the language is used, unfamiliar.

Part of that is due to the ingenious construction of the book, which is somewhat separated into pre-modern, modern, and post-modern time periods, spoken of, for instance, as modernity, and mind-sets, spoken of as modernism. These don't exactly overlap or correspond, but in general they do. The author warns that he writes (or paints) in broad strokes, which is probably the only way to write this book. Hold on, it's a wild ride. Ready? Switch it on and it goes.

My experience with postmodernism (the hyphen is optional) has been from the architecture side (Jonathan Hale) or the art side (Steve Scott). Some of the book I found disinteresting and wanted to get through (as with classroom lectures). But I also wanted to keep reading due to the engaging style of the author, who frequently anticipates reactions and objections, and provides lists of questions at the end of the chapters. I was particularly taken by the early chapter on Premodern and Modern Minds, and how much premodern and postmodern views have in common, modernism being, as it were, the odd man out. My advice to anyone tackling this book is if you find the middle tough going, don't miss the last chapter, History and Hope, and the Epilogue.

If you do skip the middle of the book, however, you'll miss what is nearly the best part, the author's own views of the Bible and the church in relation to postmodernism. From these small bits, I'd very much like to read his autobiography, were he to write one, as he can find good sides to premodern, modern and postmodern views. At first I thought the subtitle "A First Course for the Curious Christian" was slapped on by the publisher to sell the book. That may still be the case, but as with Francis Schaeffer and C.S. Lewis, confronting, in their way, "modernism", a word that seems so odd now that no one even knows what it is, so he shows that modernism, in that sense is dead, replaced by postmodernism, another word so odd that no one knows what it is. But in the same way that you can read Lewis and Schaeffer's grappling with that earlier worldview without yourself having any special knowledge of it, so White gives enough homely examples that you don't need a doctorate to follow his arguments.

One of the best lines in the book is on page 110: "By the time of the Enlightenment, it was clear that somebody was getting the Bible wrong." "Somebody" is in italics, and this chapter, "Inquiry and Interrpretation", gives a quick overview of not only the postmodern view of the Bible, but also the modern view which gave way to higher and textual criticism, and why the latter seems so at odds with believers' views of the Bible. In White's view, the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and early Calvinist churches are all pre-modern, with some others being formed in the modern era. He never says what would constitute a postmodern church. Perhaps the warehouse churches like Mars Hill in Seattle.

This book would be an ideal textbook for a college course, being complete, as noted, with study questions. Apart from that I'd advocate a tack I've suggested before: that anyone who reguarly reads at this level and enjoys grappling with this sort of topic explain it to interested parties who don't share that level of academic engagement. For instance, it could be an adult Sunday School class; nothing says they have to be limited to the journeys of St. Paul.

In Postmodernism 101, Heath White offers lay people an introduction to post-modernism and the issues surrounding it. White teaches philosophy at the University of North Carolina and claims that he was moved to write the book in response to the large number of questions he received concerning the topic. It is written in clear, simple, straightforward prose, contains helpful illustrations, and offers a basic overview of the major facets of post-modernism and how it affects different areas of life and thought.

White begins the book by briefly sketching out why Christians should care about post-modernism, discussing the issue of the church's relationship to culture and the importance of understanding the culture we live in. He then spends a couple of chapters placing post-modernism in its historical context, showing the move from pre-modernism to modernism and into post-modernism. He then spends several chapters unpacking the ways in which post-modern ideas affect different areas of life and thought including morality, views of the self, language, interpretation, culture, and history. He concludes with a chapter which raises the question of how important post-modernism really is and which challenges Christians to seriously engage the questions it raises, even as he points to our ultimate hope in God.

The thing I appreciate most about the book is its even handed tone. On the one hand, it avoids the fearful reactionism and simplistic caricatures of postmodernism that seem to predominate among many conservative Christians, while also avoiding a wholesale embrace of postmodernism. White clearly thinks that much of the postmodern critique of modernism is correct and needed, but also sees that there are many ways that post-modernism presents problems and challenges for orthodox Christianity. Rather than simply offering out of the box answers and prescriptions, though, he continually invites his readers to further reflection and discernment on the matter. In every chapter, he attempts to reflect on the issues discussed from a specifically Christian point of view and offers helpful examples of some concrete and practical ways Christians might respond to these challenges. Questions are also included at the end of every chapter to help the reader process what he or she has read and to reflect on it further.

By ending the book with some serious unanswered questions to which he encourages Christians to seek serious answers, while also pointing to our hope in God, White demonstrates precisely what Christian intellectual endeavors should look like. Faith seeking understanding, secure in the truth of what we believe, aware of the limits of our own understanding, unafraid to face the reality of changing cultural situations and the questions they raise with generous hearts and minds. For now, this is the one book I would recommend above all others to anyone seeking a good, readable introduction to post-modernism and the issues surrounding it.

PostModernism 101 is the best non-technical analysis of PostModernism I have seen. It is well written and easy to understand. Best of all, it relates PostModernism to recent developments in the Church. A must buy for all seminarians.

This is an even-handed treatment of the subject by a Christian philosopher. The author lays out the basic tenets of Postmodernism and looks at how that might work out for a Christian. One especially helpful approach that this author has taken is to be clear that there are several streams of postmodern thought and describe each individually. Many contemporary Christian writers on the subject conflate the views of all the well-known postmodern thinkers into a monolithich philosophy that no one would agree with--especially not the postmodern thinkers whose ideas are suppossedly being described. A good, enjoyable, and easy book to understand (easy for a philosophy book).

Sasha White tells a hot, erotic, riviting story here. I want more...Lexy, Devon, come on Sasha, what a story!! Edgy, involved, open for more...

All the stories in this anthology are worthy reads, no question.

Bonnie Edwards' Slow Hand is an excellent read. All three authors present excellent stories. You will not be sorry if you purchase this book.

You'll read above and below what the book is about so I'm just telling you straight out to get it! Its an anthology that I read in one day and already ready to read it over again! The stories are:

The Bet by Lucinda Betts

Phillip Kingdom and Zoe Lauterbon were sooooo good!!! The tension between the two of them really sizzled off the pages. Too another strong heroine that both being professionals, Zoe needing loosening up which Phillip did beautifully!!! I'm so looking forward to reading more of Lucinda Betts books! She rocks

Slow Hand by Bonnie Edwards

You'll fall in love with Jared! And Teri a daring heroine! Too you'll be picturing so much on the boat cruise and not want it to be over! Bonnie Edwards is a new to me author that i'll be buying hers all from now on.

The Crib by Sasha White

I have read many stories by Sasha white and have never been disappointed, I've always wanted to read more. With this story of the bar names The Crib, this would make an outstanding series, just like those of MaryJanice Davidson's vamps, and JD Robb's futuristics. Sasha White would do outstanding in a series like those are sold as well.

This is one Anthology that you must get. You won't let go of it after either. Its for the keepers shelf.

This book was great. I loved all three stories. I have added all three authors to my must buy list. I coulnd't stop reading this book till I finished it.

This book is hot enough to come with a warning on the back cover, for good reason. It sizzles from the first page to the last.*****
THE BET by Lucinda Betts - Zoe Lauterbon is determined to get the promotion that is up for grabs at the investment firm she works for. She has worked impossibly hard and meets all requirements, but unfortunately, so has co-worker Phillip Kingdom. Phillip suggests a friendly bet with Zoe as to who will get the promotion - his bonus to her if she is promoted versus Zoe being his sex slave for twenty-four hours should he get the promotion - she agrees. The "good old boy" mentality of their company all but guarantees Phillip the win. After the two spend their twenty-four hours together, a very heated day and night, Zoe begins to think that maybe she didn't lose after all.***** Phillip and Zoe are well-written as competitive co-workers with an attraction to each other, but neither could have guessed just how that competition would play out when they left the office.*****
SLOW HAND by Bonnie Edwards - When Teri Branton finds herself at the altar without a groom, she decides to take their pleasure cruise honeymoon by herself. When she sees Captain Jared McKay, she begins to think that this trip just might be a pleasure cruise after all, especially without her cheater of a fiancé! From the first time Jared touched her, she felt an undeniable energy between them, one that deserves a closer, thorough, hands-on investigation. When Jared first spies Teri making her way alone onto his boat, he assumes that her groom can't be far behind. When he discovers that she has boarded his boat intending to take the cruise alone, his interest is peaked. Once he touches her and they both feel an unmistakable "zing" he wonders about the McKay family curse. Supposedly this zing is present from the first moment you touch your one true love. Despite the obvious attraction, Jared was burned in a prior relationship and is wary of taking the chance on a romantic future with Teri.***** The romance between Teri and Jared sizzles from the beginning, and is very sweet. They are just plain nice, and so perfect for each other; readers will be rooting for them to admit their true feelings for each other and take a chance on love.*****
THE CRIB by Sasha White - Private Investigator Alexis "Lexy" Signorino has come back home to find a killer. A member of Lexy's family has been falsely accused and she is determined to prove his innocence, going undercover as a waitress in the family bar. When Devon Kaye becomes a part of that investigation, Lexy can't help but wonder whether their heated attraction is something that she should fear or embrace. When the real killer is exposed and Lexy learns that Devon isn't who she thought, she feels betrayed. Will she be able to put past hurts and heartache in the past and start living her life for herself?***** This story is written first person, typically not my first choice, but it is excellently written, with an abundance of edge and grit, not your typical "boy meets girl" romance. Although Ms. White's story doesn't have the expected "happily-ever-after" ending, there is a hint of something more between the characters and I would very much like to read more of these characters and a continuation of their story.***** This is an incredibly erotic anthology with stories ranging from sassy and sexy to down and dirty. It's a book you won't want to miss if you enjoy and appreciate sensually charged romance.
COURTESY LAURIE/ROMANCE JUNKIES

A wonderful two volume source of Redwork information. The author's knowledge and private collection enhances the work in volume I; volume II provides patterns for the vintage Redwork (penny square) patterns. I highly recommend this resource for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating method of embroidery that originated many years ago.

Book came in great condition, on time, and worth every penny. It's filled with many old patterens and lots of history, a pleasure to read. If it's Redwork you enjoy , then order this one.

I found these books to be very informative and interesting. I would recommend them to anyone interested in Redwork Quilts.

This book would make a lovely gift for anybody interested in textile arts, even for someone with little or no quilting or embroidery experience. The presentation is lovely -- two nicely bound, wonderfully illustrated books nestled inside a snug cardboard jacket. One book features a short discussion of redwork embroidery along with illustrations of exquisitely executed quilts. The other supplies brief instructions (perhaps too brief -- especially the section on transferring the patterns)and a lovely collection of redwork patterns so that readers can create their own redwork quilt. My only quarrel with the book is that a beginner (like me!) might not feel confident with the brief instructions. However, a quick trip to the fabric store to talk to a knowledgable salesperson should dispel any doubts. Despite this small problem, I give the book 5+ stars -- it was great fun to browse through, then to read intently , then to pore over as I selected possible designs for my very first quilt!

Often it is difficult to get accurate, well documented information on traditional crafts and handwork. Much of that art form was passed down from generation to generation with very little written record. Deborah Harding has done a wonderful job of finding old newpaper and magazine articles on Redwork, as well as fantastic old patterns reproduced here. A friend of mine loaned me this set of books, and I could never bring myself to return them to her, so I knew I had to have my own set!

Simple, concise and very insightful; a must read for any Reiki practioner. Written for someone who is at least a Reiki I, it gives the insights as to why first treat yourself, then others; as well as putting the 5 precepts into practice into your daily life. Also covered are just what does a Reiki practioner do; and what limits should be observed, including when to let go. This is a book about Reiki from the point of view of a Usui Master; there is nothing in here about "channeling" or other modalities or non-Usui practices incorporated into many other books on Reiki. It assumes you know the basics. It has a delicate balance of the practical and the spiritual. I feel any Reiki library is very incomplete without this work.

There are many books available which talk about the Usui System of Natural Healing (Reiki). Earlene Gleisner's "Reiki In Everyday Living" is the book I give my Reiki students or to those interested in learning about Reiki. These short essays and poems give the best illustration I've found for the "feel" of the practice of Reiki. I highly recommend it.

Reiki in Everyday Living is one of the most accessible Reiki books on the market. Author Earlene Gleisner features, through a series of essays and poems, practical advice on using Reiki for the self and for others. Her background in hospice work makes the section on Reiki for the Dying one of the strongest elements of the book...particularly helpful since the majority of other Reiki books don't address this very important subject. This book assists all Reiki students in furthering their appreciation of the healing system through the author's use of personal experience. Her commitment to the system is obvious in the text of this book. As a Reiki teacher, I find that I am often recommending it to new students looking for an easy-to-read review of what Reiki is all about and to experienced students wanting to get a fresh look at an old friend. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to own a book on Reiki...you will go back to it again and again.

One of the most warm-hearted Reiki Masters one could hope to encounter, Earlene Gleisner, R.N. displays her enormous compassion for humankind and her great gift for lively storytelling in this little book that is worth its weight in hopes and dreams come true.

As her writing shows, this genuine person, this Teacher demonstrates how *standing in one's own center* and allowing Reiki to *flow through* is at the core of wellness. Life-force energy is like an ocean in which we human beings thrive she is telling us. It is a natural blessing of life, and ever-present ebb-and-flow, and we are all free to enjoy it.

Changes, decisions and questions are part of all of our lives. "Reiki in Eeveryday Living" offers a method for attaining personal clarity within that process.

A *must read* for Reiki practitioners and anyone interested in a common sense approach to natural healing.

Earlene Gleisner did more than just write another book on Reiki; in sharing her experiences and insights as Reiki Master teacher, she provides a most useful tool for those who have just had their first level attunements and are about to begin their journey as Reiki practitioners. Students will always find there enlighthened words of wisdom born out of steady faith in the process of life and how Reiki can and will help them live their lifes consciously. It helps Reiki students understand their initial feelings and uncertainties when starting their path towards self-discovery. Even non-reikians will benefit from this book because it is in fact addressed to all human beings who are searching for understanding the events in their own lifes and are ready to take full responsibility for themselves, their choices and decisions and then learn from the results. I will always be grateful to Earlene for having so compassionately shared her deep knowledge on the workings of Reiki in my everyday living.

In my opinion, Return to White Plume Mountain is one of the very best adventure modules out there! It features a very clever central plot, realistic encounters, logical combat situations, and several opportunities to roleplay and interact with the dungeon's inhabitants.

This supplement provides very clear and detailed histories for both Keraptis and White Plume Mountain. The plot is unique, realistic, and intriguing. The effects of roleplaying and of interacting with the non-player characters is outlined. In addition, the dungeon crawl itself is not linear at all, allowing the players to roam at will. And the maps look great!

Although a lot of information is presented, the module can easily be altered or customized. There is no setting specific material, so White Plume Mountain can easily be inserted into any ongoing campaign. However, no addition work is needed to fully enjoy this adventure.

I have run this module with 3 separate groups of players, experiencing 3 very different, yet wonderfully memorable, adventures. Do yourself a favor, purchase Return to White Plume Mountain - it is worth every penny!

On the long, bitter-sweet journey through life, can you ever go back home? Sadly, no. But you can plop down and stay at some really cool motels, replete with cable, mints, and mini-fridges, on your wayward jaunt into the unknown. Such is my mundane, quasi-philosophical revelation after DM'ing this adventure. No, it's not quite as profound as the "Belarius maturity conundrum," but hey, it's enough for a few weekends' worth of glorious casual play. Which is all we really need sometimes! Old-timers (*hack, cough*) on the Greyhawk scene will probably be most enthusiastic about the adventure's detailed "world" trappings, more so than with the actual plot. Remember Erol Otus' cryptic, enchanting pictorial map of the Mountain's environs, in the original S2? Now, we actually get to meet Thingizzard (and find out why her potions are something to be wary of!), hack our way through the Twisted Thickets, and perhaps even fall into the beguiling clutches of Dragotha. But, once the adventurers venture into the shadows of a cave known to hundreds of thousands as the Wizard's Mouth, everything changes. And that's where both the problem and the beauty lie. Anyone looking for a mere re-tread of the original spectacle of Lawrence Shick's magnum opus is bound to be disappointed. It's a new age. Now, monsters need food, logical housing, a reason to live, and a reason to die. (I guess Belarius wasn't the only one psychologically scarred 20 years ago.) Dungeons need architecture. And adventures need a conclusion, answers to questions, and yes, sadly, a plot. If you can detach yourself from the nostalgia of the original, and appreciate this work as an entirely separate entity, you'll be absolutely thrilled with the sheer ingenuity of Bruce Cordell's story. I can virtually guarantee that no veteran AD&D'er will be able to figure out what's going on until they're well in over their heads. Keraptis' ancient experiments, it seems, have left quite a magical legacy; a new, mutated form of meta-magic, nearly sentient, has evolved in the dungeons below White Plume Mountain, with horrifying (and extremely amusing) repercussions. As the adventurers enter, several power-mad warlords are fighting desperately to control Keraptis' dreaded Indoctrination Center, and the notorious weapons of the first White Plume module are being used as the primary symbols of power and destruction. (I'm being intentionally vague here, because if you haven't read it, get this module! You're in for a treat.) A few of the encounters are misplaced, or over-powered - Mossmutter, a corrupted great wyrm, may well wipe out all but the most experienced adventurers in an eyeblink, and Killjoy the efreeti is more of a cardboard cutout than a true, deep-thinking nemesis. But these are merely trivial concerns - the adventure is a joy to run (and experience!), the full-color maps of the dungeons are gorgeous, and veteran players will get a serious overdose of nostalgia as they slog through the original level and witness the cataclysmic changes two decades of chaos and mayhem have wrought. New players may be overwhelmed by the colossal challenges and Byzantine intrigues awaiting them on the Indoctrination Level, but nevertheless, a great time will be had by all - and hey, if you have to lose a character, what could be cooler than having his soul schlorped into Blackrazor? Minor reservations aside (which are fixable anyway with an hour's worth of fine-tuning), Return to White Plume Mountain is easily the 2nd-best adventure of 1999. (Only Return to the Keep on the Borderlands is better.)

At first thought, the original WPM would seem to be a poor candidate for a "modernized" sequel. Contemporary players would probably laugh at Lawrence Schick's 1980 classic as an archaic dungeon crawl full of over-complicated traps and large, deadly monsters that sit in tiny rooms with nothing better to do than wait for a group of PCs to come along and (hopefully) provide some much needed feed. Which, of course, is exactly what WPM was, but it was loads of fun nonetheless. Revisiting WPM and injecting a more logical and realistic story framework without destroying the familiar aspects of the original is a daunting task, but the Silver Anniversary edition succeeds beyond any expectation.

RTWPM starts by detailing many of the mysterious NPCs and strange locales that were only hinted at in the original. Thingizzard and her potions, the cursed ruins of Castle Mukos, the Great Swamp and the dracolich Dragotha finally get their due and Keraptis' infamous Indoctrination Center plays a central role in the scenario. While these details are entertaining in their own right, the strength of RTWPM is a central plot device involving "sentient magic" that is not only consistent with the events of the original WPM scenario, but is exceedingly clever in its own right. It wouldn't do to reveal the secrets of the story here, but the execution is a brilliant example of how to create a subtlety challenging and wildly novel situation for the PCs without violating the spirit of the D&D game, using heavy-handed DM tactics or requiring a substantial rework of any existing campaign standards. The NPCs are wonderfully sketched and run the gamut from sturdy locals to deranged gnomes and rebellious efreet. Hardened veterans and green novices alike will be entertained by ample doses of humor, danger and drama that culminate with a surprise ending.

Flaws are few and minor in nature. The map are pleasing to the eye but have been printed on the inside front and back covers which means that the DM cannot refer to the map and text at the same time, but must flip back and forth. One area (the old inverted ziggurat) has a monster that should have been encountered and destroyed by the existing denizens long before the PCs come on the scene and the answer to the feasibility of feeding and keeping happy a large number of creatures in a relatively small number of caves doesn't seem entirely adequate.

While the nostalgic aspects may be lost on the half-dozen or so players who didn't play the original version in their youth, RTWPM will definitely entertain all comers in high fashion. Although WPM was originally set in Greyhawk, there really isn't any setting specific material here and the scenario can easily be dropped into any campaign world. Best of all, RTWPM is a veritable bargain combining a relatively low price with enough high-quality material sufficient to keep the average group of players busy for several sessions. RTWPM deserves the highest recommendation.

This is easily one of the best adventures for D&D that I've ever seen. It's very imaginative, well-written, and has plenty of information for DMs. It's got just enough story backing up the hack-n-slash to keep players interested, and the final encounter is monumental. It's great fun to play for both DM and PCs.

The original S2 was one of the more clever and interesting A&D modules I ever read. Most of the others were just an excuse for hack and slash and grab the booty.

The original adventure encompassed more thinking and even a little negotiation which was uncommon in 1st edition AD&D.

So, that's why I'm happy to see a revision to the old module into a book form. This new edition has some very interesting twists and a big moral dilemma at the end which I thoroughly appreciate. It also has a method in it that potentially will ruin the lives of foolish PCs so DMs may want to be careful in playing this one out if their players aren't the thinking or cautious types.

Overall, there's a lot more room for negotiations in this series. I like that as I'm trying to push more roleplaying in my players. Moreover, the storyline is set up with four warring factions; all evil but I plan to change that to a few neutrals since the PCs in my campaign are all good and would never negotiate alliances with evil groups.

This game is great for an adventuring group from 7-10. I would add that they should be interested in thinking out possible traps and tricks and also be adequate (or better) at negotiations. The weapons may unbalance the game so make them either super evil, which means good PCs must destroy them, or have them destroyed at the climax (will make sense when you read it). Lastly, you may want to give the different warlords more allies as the module gave them a skeleton crew of thugs.

This book is very helpful when you are trying to learn how to use Second Life.

I love this book!! It rocks!! It really helps you get around in Second Life (SL) as a struggling "Newbie" those first few days and weeks. The book is beautifully presented, with high quality illustrations, great tips, and the author's Avatar; "Ansel Gasparini" is a cool dude : ) It really enhanced my whole SL experience.
After you read the book and get on Second Life, go visit the in-world site where you can see some of the stuff in Brian White's book. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to start their Second Life adventures..! Let's get this party started... let the adventures begin!!

See you in Second Life!! : )

I've read many books on Second Life but none come as close to being the perfect book as this one in terms of helping a newbie understand this exciting virtural world, and how to make the most of the environment, the community, and the economy. Each chapter starts with an overview but quickly gets down into practical applications of the chapters topic and then adds a step-by-step tutorial on how to use that feature or principal to get real stuff done inside of Second Life using common building tools already available to most residents. I just wish I had started with this book instead of having it be the last one of many. A must read for anyone wanting to get the most positive experience out of Second Life. And technical enough for even those who have been residents inside of SL for awhile to learn new concepts and how to apply them.

I highly recommend reading this book if you are even the least bit interested in finding out about Second Life and how it works. And for the verteran an overview but also practical steps to making your experience even richer inside Second Life.

If you want only one book to read for Second Life this is your book.

This is an excellent first book for those who have signed on to Second Life, fooled around some, and have lots of questions. My advice is put a few hours into Second Life, then read this book. The presentation level was just right for me as an intro. But start by going on Second Life, THEN read the book.

A good intro that is well illustrated. Almost all the tutorials work like they are supposed to. Much better than the Official Guide.

A mendicant bush father ends up with his young daughter, something that he really doesn't want to have happen.

The daughter, of course, needs a parent, although a tough and independent kid. Gradually, she grows on him, even though he sees her as a burden to start with, etc.

This 1955 Australian literary classic is hardly known at all in the US. And for a good reason: no publisher has seen fit to publish an annotated edition that would put translations of the copious "Strine" expressions (Australian slang) at the bottom of each page. Some geographical and cultural annotations would be a big help too. As it is, the reader is obligated to have an Australian dictionary at hand at all times to get through the story.
Why bother to publish an annotated edition? Here's why. Out of hundreds of novels dealing with the important topic of parental kidnapping ("PK"), this is the finest (in English at least). Not only is this a masterpiece of the PK sub-genre, it is a profound and poetic evocation of parenthood, fatherhood in particular. It's the sort of book that one might choose as required reading for high-school and college students if the topic of fatherhood ever overcame educators' lack of interest in fatherhood.
Like Joyce's "Ulysses," "The Shiralee" is inspired by an ancient epic, "The Odyssey." Unlike Joyce, Niland is spare with words and wears his learning so lightly you might not even realize you are reading an epic studded with symbols Melvillesque in scale. Like the Homer's hero, Niland's is a physical, not merely mental, wanderer.
Niland's hero is an Everyman who evokes another precursor as well, the voyager of Pilgrim's Progress. The Shiralee's pilgrimage is, however, the progress of the soul of fatherhood itself.
There is so much to be read "between the lines" (the place from which the story's real power emanates) that the book virtually demands a prompt second reading.
How many copies can sell in the US market? Just count the number of fathers in this country and add all their coming-of-age sons and you'll have that figure.

My mom recorded the Shiralee on tape some years ago. I love it! It is such a good story. They really need to get it on DVD.

I was fortunate enough to have recorded the movie, The Shiralee, when it was on Masterpiece Theater all those years ago. Actually, my grandparents taped, it as I about 10 years old. This film moved me in a way, even then, that I can only describe as profound. When I watch it today, it brings me something different each time. I only wish I could get my hands on the book!

I loved the book. My husband saw it on Masterpiece Theatre the same 10 years ago as other readers. I would like to know if the video is available to purchase or if it will air again soon. I've tried desparately in the past 5 years to locate the right people that might air it again-No luck. please help. Thanks

I liked this even more than Graverobbers! The action was non-stop, basically from page one. Great mix of horror, comedy and action..I CAN'T WAIT to get the next one in the series, Casket for Sale. Highly entertaining, highly recommend!
Happy reading!

Yes, read the first book, first, but this one was just as much fun and horrific. If you want to laugh, gasp, and sigh Jeff Strand delivers.

I read this one because of Mandibles, and it retains all the humor and horror of his ant spectacular.

I thought it was quite original that the killer maniac created a killing amusement park, of sorts, and Strand does a good job of describing it. Though it bothered some readers, I did not mind the jumping to Roger's point of view every once in a while.

It took me quite a while to read this, as I was not much in the reading mode when I started, but I am glad I finished it. As they say, there are only so many ways to kill someone, but there are a million ways to write about it. Jeff Strand does it in a very unique and humorous way. Highly recommended.

The second entry in author Jeff Strand's highly popular humorous horror series from Mundania Press starring Andrew Mayhem, Single White Psychopath Seeks Same, takes up Andrew's adventures eighteen months following the events of Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary), with his agreeing to do another favor for another strange woman he meets in the local coffee shop (will he never learn?). Word has gotten around about his exploits, which led to the previous book, which, in turn, made him rich and famous (the former of which was quickly turned around by a bad investment strategy), so $600 for playing bodyguard for a night sounds pretty good (at least when compared to getting a real job).

After his ineptness makes that career path moot, and while trying to improve his marriage with a little parking-lot nostalgia, Andrew and his wife Helen find themselves face-to-face with a serial killer known as The Headhunter and his scimitar. During the struggle, Helen shows herself to be quite a hand with a car jack.

The Headhunter's eventual defeat brings Andrew in contact with Craig Burgin, whose wife is missing. He wants Andrew to accompany the private detective hired to pose as The Headhunter to New York. When Andrew bring Roger along for the trip, Roger gets to play hostage when a last minute mix-up forces Andrew to pretend to be The Headhunter.

Things really get going when Andrew and Roger arrive at the Alaskan mansion of Daniel Rankin, independently wealthy homicidal maniac and entertainer. Rankin's home has been designed as a hedonistic center of slaughter, where he and his friends can kill with impunity, and Andrew is expected to join the fun -- unless he wants to be part of the show. Andrew Mayhem gets to be quite a bit more heroic, and somewhat less bumbling, in this one. Single White Psychopath Seeks Same is slightly less funny, but considerably more horrific than Graverobbers Wanted (No Experience Necessary). The tension is always high, as Andrew is determined to save the hostages even while he is trying to stay on the good sides of a group of bloodthirsty pleasure-seekers. I think it's actually a better novel all around.

I can see why it took Strand three years to follow the first Mayhem book with this one. There is an amazing amount of detailed planning and imagination present in Single White Psychopath Seeks Same, most of it involving the setup at Rankin's house -- if you can call a structure that has forty-eight bedrooms and is surrounded by a twenty-foot-high electrified fence a "house." Everything from a gladiator arena to a theme park is present here, and each one is described to the last detail, even the ones that are not yet complete (an extra bit of inspiration). While I was reading, I really believed that such a place could possibly exist. On the negative side, some of the situations were less believable than others, and the choice to shift to Roger's POV occasionally breaks up the flow and doesn't offer much of interest, but these are minor complaints of a book that I read in a single twenty-four-hour period. Now I just have to get my hands on a copy of the third volume, Casket For Sale (Used Only Once) -- I guess fans balked at the lack of parentheses in the second book's title -- and hope that Strand continues to write more books about this incredibly likeable and surprisingly relatable character.

Strand has a knack for great set-ups and one-liners, and suburban dad Andrew Mayhem is the most unique hero in thriller fiction; henpecked, ineffective, and a constant screw-up, but you love the guy.

Don't let the nonstop laughs fool you (and there are at least three per page)--there's some really creepy stuff in this book, and the premise is pretty disturbing.

Intelligent, humorous, and often scary. I freaking loved it. It's like Dave Barry for gorehounds.

This is a wonderful collection of thoughtful and beautiful stories - for all ages. A delight.

This is definitely not a book that should be judged by its cover. The short stories are entertaining for children and adults alike. However, what I found to be the most enjoyable was that although all of the short stories were intertwined, each had their own distinct and uplifting theme.

I am greatly impressed by Mr. Akkerman's first work of art. If only I had a child or other small relative to share these stories with. The author blends the perfect combination of daydreams and dark tales. I finished the stories knowing that there is always hope in the world, and there is no better message to convey to a child than that.

I ran accross Mr Akkerman's book whle searching for a night time reading book for my 5 year old nephew. My local book store owner showed me Somewhere Below the Great White Clouds and I was immediately curious about the short stories. At first I wasn't sure this was going to work because the stories and lessons presented are not surgar coated like so many of the books I have read to my nephew in the past. The poof would be in my nephew's reaction to Mr. Akkerman's work.

Well, I can only say that my nephew gives "Somewhere" rave reviews, he esspecially likes and asks for the story call Plastic Man to be read over and over again. What I find so appealing about this book is that a young person has to think about the messages contained within each short story and dig for the larger meaning in their lives.

My nephew and I look forward to reading more from this talented author soon.

My six-year-old daughter loves this book. The memorable characters and dramatic story lines continue to capture her attention and imagination even though we have read this book many times. It is a wonderful addition to our collection of classic children's books. It is hard to believe that this is the author's first book.