Truman Books

I FOUND THIS TO BE A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN PIECE OF WESTERN HISTORY BY A FASCINATING AND ACCOMPLISHED MAN, WITH HEAVY EMPHASIS ON "MAN"......BY THE WAY, JOE FUSSELL WAS MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER!! JOSEPH B. "JOE" JOHNSON

Bob Fussell's treatment of his grandfather J.B. Fussell's autobiography brings to mind a word not often associated with literature: verisimilitude. What makes this account fascinating is that not only is it true, but it rings true. This book should be required reading for every 12-year-old boy and girl in America; boys need to know how to be men and girls need to know what to look for in a man later on in their lives. America could use several million J.B. Fussells about now.

Unbridled Cowboy is the autobiography of author Joseph B. Fussell, a free spirit who sought his own destiny in the wild American Southwest during the late 1800s. At the young age of fourteen, Joe Fussell took to the rails to escape the school and harsh authority that chafed him. He became a roving cowpuncher in Texas territory, rustling cattle, tilling land, working in stables, and hitting the road whenever wanderlust stirred. Unbridled Cowboy is filled cover to cover with riveting true tales of undercover work as a Texas Ranger, life on the railroads, and rough justice. A captivating true life narrative of the wild west.

Unbridled Cowboy, the autobiography of Joe Fussell, is well written and brings the reader a vivid and realistic portrait of the man and his life. His story telling ability paints a vivid and sometimes raw reality. He brings to life a period of American and western history from a personal point of view that was fraught with change and upheaval.

While reading I found myself sitting next to Joe and hearing him telling me his life story. The ease with which he wrote of his life makes this book an enjoyable journey with a fascinating man.

Here's the skinny. I've read thousands of books over the years. I keep a few; the rest I give away to friends or the library. This book is a keeper. Why? I will read this book many times and still be astonished by the history, this amazing man Joe Fussell, and how far this once great country of ours has deteriorated in a century.
The first thought that entered my mind on finishing this book was, "I wish there was more." The second thought was that a man like Joe Fussell would have made an incredible president. In TR's time, when a young man chose to ditch public school at age 14 because he had "itchy feet", he didn't get Ritalin stuffed down his throat--he left home to make his own way. Fussell was a man so full of common sense, intelligence and integrity that the USA would have been privileged to have someone of his ilk as their leader. But alas, with no "education" except life, he was destined to become a laborer. And labor he did.
The chapter on Fussell's adventures in Mexico as a youth are more riveting than anything Hollywood will ever turn out. His depiction of his railroad career reads like you were switching cars alongside him. Fussell is a storyteller akin to Twain. I am still amazed he avoided jail, but then it was a century ago. Different times--a wonderful time in our country. Get this book. Its a keeper.
Norman Woodworth, DVM

Security guard (in front of a bar): "You goin' in here, Gaunt?"
Gaunt: "Yeah."
Security guard: "There gonna be a fight?"
Gaunt: "Maybe."
Security guard: "Guess I better move then."

Damn, I love GRIMJACK! With this comic book it's always been hard for me to properly convey my feelings without resorting to cuss words, I get so into it. I was a mere teen when I first picked up GRIMJACK, and I was simply blown away by the title's flawed, world-weary anti-hero and by the fantastic concept of Cynosure. Grimjack is the street name of John Gaunt, a nasty, surly, grizzled mercenary for hire. Grimjack is a bit past his prime (he's in his 50s), but he makes up for that with vast experience, street savvy, and an implacable streak of ruthlessness. Oh, and he fights dirty.

John Gaunt is one of the most tortured souls in comics, and the man can certainly brood with the best of them. We learn why as, thru the course of GRIMJACK's run, Ostrander unveils Gaunt's sordid past and recounts the tragedies what slapped the poor bloke upside the head. Gaunt's seen everything. He's an ex-everything: an ex-gladiator (from boyhood), an ex-soldier, ex-temporal bounty hunter, ex-transdimensional cop, ex-spy...His base of operations is the dubious Munden's Bar, located on the lip of the Pit, the most murderous part of Cynosure. And, sure, Grimjack swishes a stylish cape and sports a purple beret, but there's no foo-foo in this cold-blooded killer. He's no-nonsense meat and potatoes, charnelhouse mean and alley cat vicious. He's not exactly a swell guy, but he's faithful to his friends and rigorously follows his own code of honor.

Equally instrumental to the series' popularity and success are the grimy, dank Munden's Bar and the wondrous Cynosure metropolis, these two venues being characters in their own right. Munden's continues to reflect Gaunt's melancholy nature, while Cynosure, the nexus of all dimensions and realities, presents Ostrander and Truman (and Grimjack) with an endless and exotic playground in which to romp. In these stories, steampunk technology tends to bump heads with eldritch sorcery. Because of the nature of Cynosure, GRIMJACK presents a mishmash of genres, ranging from swashbuckling adventure, to film noir, to sword & sorcery and sci-fi, to western, then horror, and even comedy. Naturally, a dash of the hard-boiled is peppered throughout.

A brief history: GRIMJACK started out as a backup feature to First Comics' STARSLAYER series. But it wasn't long before John Gaunt bullied his way into his own series. GRIMJACK's monthly issues ran from 1984 to 1991, for a total of 81 issues, after which its publisher First Comics went bankrupt and placed this title in hideous red tape. It's only been since 2005 that co-creators John Ostrander and Tim Truman were able to wrest back the rights to GRIMJACK.

The fallout to this is that, not only are we being treated to new Grimjack stories, but there's also the release of THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK volumes, which collects the regular series' entire run (it's up to 9 volumes now). THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 1 collects the 8 Grimjack backup stories in the short-lived STARSLAYER series (from #10-17), as well as STARSLAYER #18, which guest-stars John Gaunt in the main story. Here in these initial tales is where we first meet Gaunt's fellow merc and staunch buddy BlacJacMac, Gaunt's gruff ex-partner cop Roscoe Schumacher, that unmatched barkeep Gordon, and, of course, the popular and ever inebriated Bob the Watch Lizard.

With GRIMJACK, writer John Ostrander's always had the knack for seamlessly meshing a hardboiled approach with crisp dialogue and fast-paced narration. He knows how to make the weird and the fantastic seem normal in Gaunt's environment. A pulp flavor colors Gaunt's adventures. There's a taste here of Burroughs and R.E. Howard, of Lovecraft, and Raymond Chandler, as well. In these pages you can just about see the rapid improvement in Tim Truman's artwork, originally vigorous and raw but then speedily metamorphosing into more polished but still energetic illustrations. For THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 1, eight new pages are constructed to frame the stories. Those curious to see the evolution of Truman's art need no further than to compare these eight pages to the early issues. But it must be noted that Truman's rendition of John Gaunt was so immediately definitive that Ostrander, as he mentions in his foreword, didn't hesitate to hand over co-creatorship honors to Truman. At 128 pages, this volume also comes with three forewords, respectively by Ostrander, Truman, and longtime editor Mike Gold. If you're a Grimjack junkie, these are revealing must reads.

Finally, you know you're doing something righteous when Roger Zelazny declares himself a fan.

SPOILERS here.

Here are the stories reprinted in THE LEGEND OF GRIMJACK VOLUME 1:

"Mortal Gods" (2 parts) - Grimjack is hired to search for a missing God. He finds Him in a bar.
"Buried Past" - (5 parts) - This one details Gaunt's relentless pursuit of a mysterious vampire. Character developments galore as we first learn of Gaunt's lost love, of the devastated land of Pdwyr, and of Gaunt's espionage days at the Cadre.
"Night of the Killer Bunnies" - Holy Poot! John Gaunt grimly trains cute talking animals in waging war against homicidal wabbits. He gets paid in funny money.
"Blood and Thunder" - During a rescue mission Grimjack encounters Torin MacQuillon, the Starslayer.

The only reason that this gets 4 stars instead of five is that the books aren't as solid as I remember them being. Still, if you are a fan of Grimjack (as I am), this collection is for you. I hadn't read any of these books in well over a decade (probably closer to 20 years), and they are not as great as I remember them, but they are still pretty darn good. Grimjack is a cool character in a cool universe with cool stories... there is a Frank MIller-esque appreciation for noirish action and dialogue that will entertain anyone who liked Sin City. Enjoy!

I was overjoyed to hear about this publication. Taking the fabulous Grimjack series and making it available again to all. This has a quite lengthy and interesting introduction into the various trials, tribulations and stuff-ups along the way.

A very nice book, and looks great. Grimjack in all his glory from the start. John Gaunt is a troubleshooter or sword for hire, operating out of a bar in Cynosure, a city where many planes of reality meet, and anything might be seen. An ex-arena fighter, ex-demon fighting soldier, he now tries to get by and do the right thing.

This also includes a bonus new story done by the old team.

Grimjack was the book for me back in my college days. When First Comics (the book's original publisher) folded, the character and his universe fell into a sort of legal limbo. Now, I'm gratified to see that it's back, with new stories and this fine collection of reprints for you young whippersnappers to get caught up.
The eight-page introduction story (mainly consisting of familiar characters saying "welcome back") lets the old-time fans know that they were missed as much as they missed the book. It also gives the reader a chance to see how Tim Truman's art has evolved from the early days in the back pages of "Starslayer". Those stories are collected here, with the book ending in a crossover with the parent title, which is the weakest part of the book. One gets the impression that it was included for the sake of completeness only.
Ostrander shows considerable depth as a storyteller, especially in light of the limited space he had to work with at this point in time. The stories move forward briskly without ever feeling rushed. John Gaunt's internal monolgue is pitch-perfect, a steady voice of reason in a city where reality is markedly unreasonable.
Any fan of good adventure comics should start collecting Grimjack. Scroll up. Do clicky thing. Major credit cards accepted.

It seems amazing to me that it has been so long, but there it is. The Legend of Grimjack is staring at me, and I'm transported back to the early 80's and my halcyon days of comic book collecting as a young teen. I had broken out of the spell my mother had laid upon that kept me reading Richie Rich and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories well beyond when I should have, and I'd discovered not only Marvel and DC superhero comics but a wonderful world of alternative titles put out by smaller publishers. Grimjack was one of the first ones I discovered, and I was immediately hooked. The hero: a taciturn and scarred mercenary based out of a place that offered up a touch of just about any kind of genre you wanted since it was a multi-dimensional time and place - the city of Cynosure.
The Legend of Grimjack presents all of the original Grimjack stories in their original order and presentation, in color. I bought this collection when I saw the hardbound offered on an auction site and I didn't want to pay the exorbitant price they were asking. This collection is the same as the hardbound but in a trade paperback/graphic novel type format and I do not think it suffers in any way for being cheaper.
Twenty years later, Grimjack still seems just as well written and illustrated as it did to me back then. Many of the other comics from that era that I was entranced with have not held up nearly as well! Truman and Ostrander's work is well presented here and there's also the promise of new Grimjack stories to be released (I believe they have been released already in single issue format, with trade soon to come.)
The overall genre is certainly sci-fi, but there's (as I said) just about any flavor you could want and all of them are well done. I highly recommend this. It stands up to any hero book of the same era, and far surpasses many of them. First-rate stuff! (pun intended)

I FOUND THIS TO BE A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN PIECE OF WESTERN HISTORY BY A FASCINATING AND ACCOMPLISHED MAN, WITH HEAVY EMPHASIS ON "MAN"......BY THE WAY, JOE FUSSELL WAS MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER!! JOSEPH B. "JOE" JOHNSON

Bob Fussell's treatment of his grandfather J.B. Fussell's autobiography brings to mind a word not often associated with literature: verisimilitude. What makes this account fascinating is that not only is it true, but it rings true. This book should be required reading for every 12-year-old boy and girl in America; boys need to know how to be men and girls need to know what to look for in a man later on in their lives. America could use several million J.B. Fussells about now.

Unbridled Cowboy is the autobiography of author Joseph B. Fussell, a free spirit who sought his own destiny in the wild American Southwest during the late 1800s. At the young age of fourteen, Joe Fussell took to the rails to escape the school and harsh authority that chafed him. He became a roving cowpuncher in Texas territory, rustling cattle, tilling land, working in stables, and hitting the road whenever wanderlust stirred. Unbridled Cowboy is filled cover to cover with riveting true tales of undercover work as a Texas Ranger, life on the railroads, and rough justice. A captivating true life narrative of the wild west.

Unbridled Cowboy, the autobiography of Joe Fussell, is well written and brings the reader a vivid and realistic portrait of the man and his life. His story telling ability paints a vivid and sometimes raw reality. He brings to life a period of American and western history from a personal point of view that was fraught with change and upheaval.

While reading I found myself sitting next to Joe and hearing him telling me his life story. The ease with which he wrote of his life makes this book an enjoyable journey with a fascinating man.

Here's the skinny. I've read thousands of books over the years. I keep a few; the rest I give away to friends or the library. This book is a keeper. Why? I will read this book many times and still be astonished by the history, this amazing man Joe Fussell, and how far this once great country of ours has deteriorated in a century.
The first thought that entered my mind on finishing this book was, "I wish there was more." The second thought was that a man like Joe Fussell would have made an incredible president. In TR's time, when a young man chose to ditch public school at age 14 because he had "itchy feet", he didn't get Ritalin stuffed down his throat--he left home to make his own way. Fussell was a man so full of common sense, intelligence and integrity that the USA would have been privileged to have someone of his ilk as their leader. But alas, with no "education" except life, he was destined to become a laborer. And labor he did.
The chapter on Fussell's adventures in Mexico as a youth are more riveting than anything Hollywood will ever turn out. His depiction of his railroad career reads like you were switching cars alongside him. Fussell is a storyteller akin to Twain. I am still amazed he avoided jail, but then it was a century ago. Different times--a wonderful time in our country. Get this book. Its a keeper.
Norman Woodworth, DVM

This is a great classic but you have to devote some time to listening to the CDs, as you would to read the book. Can't complaint about the convenience though; ability to listen to the CDs while driving, at work, at home, etc. is wonderful. If you haven't tried an audio book yet, do so, you will find it to be quite an experience!

I have always been a Scott Brick (Narrator)fan. Now I am also a Truman Capote fan. I can not recommend this book enough. After I listened to this masterpiece I rented the movie "Capote". It was also a great experience.

I read the book many years ago, enjoyed it then, and after the movie Capote, decided to listen to the book. It was great in both audio and book form. Capote was really intrigued by these two murderers so, most of the story involved their lives. The details of the act itself was scarey.

I have spent much of my life planning to read the great novels but as of yet just have never found the time. Recently I discovered a wonderful alternative is listening to audio books. As of today I have now heard a number of great works but Capote's novel is in a class by itself. The writing is amazing. He owns the English language. Never does he settle for a second best way to describe a thing but writes with the precision of a master craftsman. Describing the deceased mother, whose eyes remained open, Capote refers to them as "death dulled eyes". Speaking of the shrubs he speaks of their "camel-like indifference to drought". Every sentence, every phrase, from cover to cover, is both poetic and gripping. Unlike many authors who begin strong and then begin to dull as the chapters progress, Capote keeps the freshness of his prose up throughout the work.

Simply put, this novel is on level beyond what most of us have ever read. And I must note that the reader on the audio version is intimately involved in the text. The reading in no way detracts from the power of the novel, but actualy enhances it - if that is possible.

This is one of the top 3 books I have ever heard or read - a masterpiece!

When this book was first published it was a sensation, it makes the furor over the Da Vinci look mild in comparison and it made Capote a superstar. What makes this book unique, besides the fantastic writing, was the fact that Capote completely emersed himself in this project, he turned over every stone and completely manipulated everyone involved, to learn every angle of the story. This book is a complete tour de force, this is a book you will never forget, not just because of the crime, so vividly recreated, but also due to Capote's haunting prose. Highly recommended, lives up to all the hype. It's just a shame it ruined Capote, as nakedly ambitious as he was, he was also a true talent.

Wow! What a story! 666 is one of the best books I have ever read. It had the excitement of a roller coaster ride, a rare insight of human foibles and institutions, and a mystery so deep and unexplainable that it was . . . . Well, I don't want to spoil it for other readers. I was so impressed by this author that I'm ordering another one he's written: THE HERITAGE OF LUKE.

This book, 666, got me in trouble. With a husband, three children, and a part-time job, I don't have much time to read. When I began reading 666 and quickly got hooked on it, old dependable Mom suddenly became unreliable. For the better part of a day, not even the squawks and complaints of my loving family could tear me away from my reading. What can I say? Mr. Godwin is a master story-teller, and 666 should stand the test of time as a major work of fiction. Getting to read it was well worth my trouble.

I liked this book. It had all sorts of twists and things you didn't expect. It made you think of the world and the evil in it. What would happen if godly people did take over the world? It was a very entertaining book, yet made you review yourself and the world and even spiritualism.

The surprise ending of this mystery is everything. The story holds your attention to the point of never realizing the explosion of the end. It truly holds your attention of what will happen next in the life of Johathan and the United States.

Like a Thomas Tryon book, Mr. Godwin's book starts out as a slow read. STICK WITH IT! You need all the information that he provides to appreciate where it's going. The books is a wake up call to everyone. He brings to light the abonminations of our political system - Things that Americans see and feel but are helpless or indifferent to change. The main character, Jonathan, is the catalyst for change. Through a calling from God, he sets out to right the wrongs and bring government back to the people. Mr. Godwin takes you on a journey not only of the government and its official but to all walks of life. Particulary touching are Jonathan's encounters with the homeless. It is truly a battle between good and evil. Without giving away the ending to anyone who might be reading this - be prepared. The ending is not only a "TRUE SURPRISE", but two TRUE SURPRISES. A rarity for any writer. The last surprise opens up another one of life's mysteries that each of us at one time or another has wondered. Have fun! - I did!

Results is ultimate guru..... I have witnesed healing in my life and my familie.... That joy and peace is happening at very deep level's....... Thankyou, Karol for sharing information at this time. A time when many can come together in a divine pattern, Using a script of inspiration. It works.

Debara from kznu 1450am talk radio
from the Devona and Debara's Calling all angels
Show. Pay it foward

The author of this book has done a great job of identifying feelings and their underlying physical manifestations. As human beings, we must understand that the emotional side of us and the physical side of us is absolutely connected...on fundamental levels. The body keeps track of everything and this book will help you to identify particular emotions, where they are in the body and what to do with them. There are some books that as a Christian, you need to glean from and throw the rest away and there are some portions of this book like that. However take what you can glean from it and I think you'll find it useful.

I would reccomend this book to anyone that was willing to talk with me about their emotional wellbeing. It changed my life and will continue to affect my life in the future. It is worth every penny and every minute of your time.

Helps in identfing causes of dis ease in the body. Therefore it helps one to work out these feelings and to help one's body to heal

This book is a solid follow-on title to Ms. Truman's book Feelings Buried Alive Never Die. It brings some enhanced content to the table, but still relies heavily on the foundation of the previous work. To get the maximum benefit from this work my recommendation would be to first read her initial book, and then read this one.

This is a wonderfully written book detailing how five exceptional American individuals literally transformed America from a country characterized by isolationism and a narrow, parochial perspective into the major player on the world stage. All five came to age in an America still locked in the self-absorbed issues of the 19th century, yet each grew with the needs of the times to become instruments for monumental change.

The most interesting aspect of this book is the fashion in which the author sets out substantive proof for the "exceptional man" thesis in history. So here we had five such individuals interacting contemporaneously and profoundly changing the world as a result. Of course, this isn't to suggest that they somehow aggressively pounded the world into their chosen image, for nothing is farther from the truth. This was a time when many titans strode the stage, men like Hitler, Churchill, Stalin, Mussolini and Hirohito. Yet the fact that these five succeeded in vanquishing Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito demonstrates the extent of their accomplishment.

Yet these five men successfully confronted the most urgent and manifest challenges of their time, from FDR's New Deal and transformation of the national government into an active instrument for change. It is no accident that three of the five, Eisenhower, Marshall, and MacArthur, were military professionals, each of whom played an unique and indispensable role in defeating the Axis powers. That each then continued to contribute after the end of the hostilities is more proof of their sense of personal responsibility and need to serve the nation in whatever manner they could. each had a sense of time and place, as well as an appreciation for the unique historical circumstances he found himself in, whether it be MacArthur in Asia, who over decades became a kind of American Centurion, or Harry Truman, thrust onto the national and then world stage most unexpectedly.

In a time like ours, when we are surrounded by public pygmies like Clinton, Gore, the Bushes, Newt Gingrich, and those nine comedians over in Supreme Court land striving to be giants, it's instructive to remember that we weren't always hampered by such venal, self-interested, and morally corrupt leaders. Indeed, it is refreshing, hopeful, and perhaps even a bit nolstalgic to remember that America is not necessarily the eternal land of manipulative mental midgets, and that it once was a place whose titans strode and literally saved the world. Read this book and remember.

This book is a riveting account of the lives of thoughs who changed American politics and foreign policy in the twentieth century. Anyone interested in the rise of America in the world and the roots of her assention to global dominace after World War Two must read this book. Fomkin is a skill writer and historian who takes the tales of significant events and shows how they changed our nation.

I read Fromkin's A Peace to End All Peace in preparation for travelling to the Middle East earlier this summer. This book continues his ability to bring history to life, with details on the diaries, conversations, and interactions of both the known major players in the World Wars, as well as those that were influential but behind the scenes.

I was already fairly conversant in the major events of the time, but even so, Fromkin's retelling is set in a class by itself by his portraits of the leaders of the time: Wilson, FDR, TR, Churchill, MacArthur, Ike. By bringing together painstaking research as well as acectodes, it's amazing to see how much just one man can electrify and fire up a nation -- FDR yanking America out of the Depression, or Churchill stalwartly leading Britain through WWII as notable examples.

This book is sort of an in-between point between Fromkin's almost too-detailed history in A Peace to End All Peace and his recent ultra-summarized history of the world (150 pages, well worth your time) in The Way of The World. I'd recommend them all highly, but in order from most-summarized to least.

In this marvellous book, David Fromkin tells the story of how the United States made the journey from introverted isolationist to global superpower. He begins his account with the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, whose accession to office as a result of the assassination of President McKinley must be regarded as one of the most significant accidents in history. The tension between TR's "big stick" internationalism and Woodrow Wilson's more idealistic version is vividly described, and Fromkin does an excellent job of showing how the ideas (and policies) of FDR, Truman and their generation were both indebted to and yet reactions against the ideas of the great scholar-President. America's reluctant path to the centre of the world stage is presented as a mixture of fait accompli, idealism and enlightened self interest. It is a great story, and Mr. Fromkin does it justice. Warmly recommended.

Frompkin pulls all of the major players together and tells a story that fills in the blanks left out of the history books. He also describes why and how these men came together to end, once and forall, European wars. We can truely thank these men for the past 53 years of European peace. We can thank Frompkin for telling the story.

Imagine my suprise to read this account from the very unit, cavalry group,squadron,troop and possibly platoon in which I served. What a revelation to think I may have driven the author's jeep and fought with the men he left behind. An erie feeling since I was a replacement who followed in his footsteps after he was wounded. This is the only account I have read of the special soldiers who were trained as replacements to be inserted into fighting on the line. He recounts the incredible lonliness and feelings of isolation as the teen age replacement moves through training camps, trains, ships, encampments, trains, more camps until making it up to the front. Each move means new strangers and parting with short term friends who are really only aquaintences. The final assignment means an entire new order of friends meeting under fierce combat conditions. The author accurately captures this atmosphere of isolation and dread. I highly recommend this book which balances the reality of the young soldier in war against the usual histories which suggest that the fighting units were fueled by glory and esprit de corps.

I've read many World War II memoirs, and this is one of the best. Few veterans express the terror, dread, and danger of combat as well as Prof. Pagliaro. He faced a difficult situation and handled himself admirably. I recommend this book to everyone. It is on a level with other great World War II classics such as "Those Devils in Baggy Pants", "If You Survive", and "The Other Side of Time." Very moving to read.

I had the opportunity to read a pre-publication draft of this engaging book. When it appeared in print I was delighted to see that the publisher had produced such a handsome volume--in both paperback and hardcover. I immediately placed "Naked Heart" on the reading list for my U.S. History class at Drake University, and in many years of teaching I have never had a book received and reviewed so favorably. It provoked interesting class discussions and prompted many students to visit with their grandparents about World War II experiences. A number of students purchased extra copies to give to members of their families. It is hard to imagine a book that matches this one in cross-generational appeal.

"Saving Private Ryan" will undoubtedly generate reader interest in books about WWII and the individual experiences of combat soldiers. The most dramatic lines in this movie came when actor Tom Hanks says in effect: "I don't know if I can ever tell my wife about today or what I've seen." This struck a chord with me because my father was a WWI combat veteran of the European Theater, but he would never talk about his combat experiences. So prior to the release of "Private Ryan" I had read many books about the individual experiences of combat veterans trying to understand why combat had affected them so.

I recommend Naked Heart above many other excellent books about WWII held in high esteem by professional historians, who prefer to use a broad brush to paint the picture of the stories they tell. Naked Heart is the story of the military service of Harold Pagliaro, retired Professor of English Literature at Swarthmore College, Pa. The story begins with his induction into the Army, ASTP and Infantry training and transfer to a Cavalry unit prior to shipping out. His service in combat takes place in France, and ends in Alsace when he is seriously wounded.

It is the story of only one man but the same reveals the shared experience of thousands like him who faced all the fear, misery, uncertainty,and horrors that combat has to offer. The language, details, and writing style are clear, vivid, and straight-forward. The reader will have little difficulty envisioning or understanding what he is reading.

A medium like any movie as well done as "Private Ryan" is very visually graphic as well as audibly compelling with all the theatrical flair of the actors, the script, the special effects, sound effects, and background music to fill the viewer's senses. A book lacks most of these, but a book as well written as Naked Heart tells a story in a very personal way, much like a father might relate his wartime experiences to his son. I recommend Naked Heart for anyone interested in trying to understand the psyche of our WWII combat veterans.

John R. Walker

While I served in the European Theater during World War II, Professor Pagliaro's experiences and mine were significantly different. He served as a replacement, while I joined my armored field artilelry battalion before the unit went overseas. Infantry and cavalry performed the most difficult and dangerous tasks in combat and replacements served even more difficult roles in these units.

I found this book to be an excellent description of Pagliaro's combat experiences and also an excellent espression of his feelings and reactions to some very difficult combat assignments as well as difficult miltiary leaders. Pagliaro suffered problems similar to many ASTP students, but many of these persons failed to survive their assignments in the infantry and cavalry and few have expressed their feelings so adequately.

I highly recommend this book not only for veterans of World War II, but for all who wish to learn more about the role fo the "little people" in that conflict.

This is a wonderful book that really has a comprehensive and step-by-step process to successfully starting your own business. It is really easy to understand, and it's interesting too! I would recommend this book to any teenager that ever even thought of starting a business. "Whiz Teens in Business" makes you realize even you can do it, and gives you the confidence and tools to start it. Check out their website

This is a really good book to use whenever you need to know something about starting a business. For me, it wasn't something that I would want to read cover-to-cover. As a 14-year-old, there was one thing I could really do without: the sketchy pictures of wizards and dragons. They're just plain corny, and something that I don't want to look at when I'm thinking about starting a business. But don't worry, it's not that bad, you just have to be able to ignore things very well. Don't let it stop you from buying the book, cause other than that, it's pretty good. I am glad that I have it, and I would reccomend it to the ambitious teenager.

I WaITED 3 WEEKS FOR THIS BOOK, WELL WORTH IT!!!!!! BUY IT TODAY, GREAT TIPS ON WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BUSINESS IDEAS AND HOW TO FINANCE THEM. IM 14 YEARS OLD,... AND THIS BOOK REALLY SHOWED ME THE WAY TO SUCCESS, ...

I recently bought this book. I Have always been interested in starting my own business. Whiz teens in Business told me everything i needed to know! It inspired me to start my own business! I have figured out a way to host domain names for free. I am soone going to open Next Level Networks with only a budget of $30.00! My Expected Return: Over $1,000.00 a month! That is pretty good for an investment of only $30.00! I recommend this book all teens, and Adults too!

I had a desire to start my own business, but did not know exactly what to do and how to do it. When I looked through this book, I knew I had a gold mine in my hands. It had everything I needed, from Ideas to registration information and basic contracts, it even comes with a diskette that has spreadsheets and other basic documents you'll need, and it tells you how to use them all! Let me tell you it was well worth it. I am now in business, and I have only one thing to thank, the Whiz Teens in Business book. It tought me how to take my ideas and make them realities. This book answered all my questions, I ONLY HAD TO LOOK IN ONE PLACE. If you have any desire at all to start your own business, take a look at this book, it's not a purchase, it's an investment, i give it five stars too!

The early scoop on Grimjack : how he got Munden's, among other things. Some more great work here. I had been waiting for this for a hell of a long time. Hard to believe that we actually have new Grimjack work. Vampire assassins, and all the other crazy and nasty stuff that happens in Cynosure is again to be seen here, thankfully!

John Gaunt a.k.a."GrimJack" isn't a simple character to understand. He is as multidimensional as his home city, Cynosure. This tale goes a long way in explaining what went into his makeup. He was the greatest gladiator of the Pit. He fought with distinction during the Demon Wars as one of the legendary Demon Knights. He was a bounty hunter with the Law Killers. He served with the Transdimensional Police. He was Cadre's most efficient assassin.

Through all this he just obeyed orders. He was a weapon that others wielded- no questions asked. It was easier that way. It was easier because he could never forget that the one time he had made a major decision on his own a world, and a woman, had died... People assumed that he was a sociopathic killer without feelings. He wanted them to think that. Yet deep inside he felt it all, all the pain, for that is the price that we pay for human life. It was this that finally taught him that the ends do not justify the means- it merely corrupts them. It was then that John Gaunt resolved that by any god that existed, he would be his own man until he went down to his grave. That's really where the legend started, when he stopped serving the powers-that-be and became a b*stard on the side of the little guys that needed him.

While you don't really need to be familiar with the old series to appreciate this story (as Ostrander points out in his excellent intro) it does revisit and expand much of the old territory. It is completely faithful to the original and well worth the wait. I especially appreciated knowing just how he ended up owning Munden's bar. It is difficult for me to imagine how Ostrander, and co-creator Tim Truman, could have done a better job.

Great hardboiled action by Ostrander and Truman works his magic as usual. Fills in some of the blanks of Grimjack's backstory following the Dancer rebellion. A good intro to the series if you're new to Grimjack, or just a regular at Munden's Bar. Check it out.

GRIMJACK IS BACK! .......Well, folks just call him Grimjack, his name is Gaunt, John Gaunt (no...he's no relation to the "War of the Roses" ) Gaunt, is a hard-boiled detective / former police officer, soldier and gladiator who looks like a cross between a swashbuckling pirate and a futuristic private eye with a sword. Like the great pulp detectives Gaunt's adventures take place in HIS CITY, Cynosure, a city intersecting crossroads of several universes intersect, allowing for locales that blend elements of fantasy, science fiction and the detective stories. GrimJack is a gritty anti-hero, often prone to violence The comic features some adult scenes, language and violence. Creator John Ostrander has explained,
"Jack does have morality. He is not in there just to punish the bad guys. He has learned through a hard life that the only thing worth knowing is the truth, and he may kill to get to the truth." Originally the series began in 1983 as back-up stories in another comic book, "StarSlayer," published by First Comics soon getting its own comic, and was published until 13 years ago, never achieving mainstream comic appeal, but garnering a dedicated fan base First Comics folded and the rights have been in legal limbo until NOW! Not only are the trade paperbacks of the original run rapidly being published (in the LEDGEND OF GRIMJACK #1 and up...) but now with GRIMJACK: KILLER INSTINCT. Co-creator and artist TIM TRUMAN rejoins JOHN OSTRANDER for this welcome return.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK IN CYNOSURE!.....

I really wanted to gush about how great and fantastic this was, and all that jazz.

But, I can't.

I can gush about how it was a great story, well done, though the art was a little too pretty at times - I preferred Truman's less polished stuff on the original series, years ago... but hey. The covers are phenomenal, and the majority of the interior art is balls-on. It's great, but...

The story is a prelude - it takes place before any of the other stories we've seen to date (except for flashback stories, of course.) This introduces John to us, takes him from being a TDP cop to a member of the Cadre, and even has his first ever visit to Munden's.

It's got most of the major characters, somewhere, somehow. It's an excellent story, and it's fun, and that's all that matters.