Kearney Books

This book is one of the best options texts I've ever read. The material is presented in a clear, easy to understand manner and is less technical than the McMillan books, but is still useful to the experienced options investor.

One thing I like about the book is that it defines the difference between trading and investing and presents strategies for both options traders and investors (though I disagree with the manner in which he differentiates the two groups).

As the title indicates, the book concentrates on LEAPS strategies and presents a number of conservative uses for these instruments. Included in these strategies are stock replacements, covered call writing, spreads and using deep-in-the-money LEAPS as an alternative to margining stocks.

I've been an options investor for nearly 30 years and employ the more conservative strategies mentioned above to enhance the returns on my equity portfolio. While Allaire writes in a manner that is understandable to the novice, I was impressed with the subtle issues and practicle considerations he discusses for each of the strategies.

He also does not over hype the strategies as so many other writers do. This is another reason for giving the book a five-star rating.

This book is written in a very methodical manner with detail coverage of each topic. The book is not one you set down a read in one or two settings but requires careful reading and study. In fact, I have read about 1/3 of the book in depth and proof read the remainder for an overview of its contents. The reason for not giving it 5 stars is I have not applied any of the trade stategies in the book and secondly there are no stock charts in book. Stock charts are an important part of deciding which option trade to apply.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Teacher Guide)

My son had to read this book for school. It has captured his attention. It is a good book for over 10 year old to help understand prejudice. It has shown him the injustices in the world which he faces on a daily basis.

I have taught for 17 years, the last six years at the middle school level. Roll of Thunder is one of my favorite books to teach, and it becomes my students' favorite book by the end. Infact, I would say, several students go on to read the sequals. The audio version is well done and interesting to listen to as well. This is one of the best books I know of to teach tolerence and peaceful ways to protest when you are wronged.

This book portrays the vivid reality of ugly racism after the civil war. A great book and one worth your time and mine. A past of social injustice that we do not want to go back too, nor become the men or women who caused it.
Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
and "Trouble in the Elf City"
The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)

This is a great book! It is well written and the story line is very easy to follow. This book was one of three books that was required summer reading for my daughter's 6th grade class and she loved it as well. It gave her a different perspective on the different and most often times unfair treatment African American received during the 1930s. I strongly recommend this book to every young person to learn a few of life's lessons.

This was my favorite book in the world as a child. I read it over and over, beginning I think in the 3rd grade. It was deeply moving and probably shaped who I am today.

In the far north and west civilizations are primitive and brutal and attempting to cope with changes and their place in a larger, more connected world. At the farthest edges are the Erlings, raiders who have wrecked havoc upon countless coasts, ruling the seas in their dragon-prow ships. Young Bern Thorkellson's father had made his name and his wealth by raiding, but he'd bought a farm and settled on the small island of Rabady until too many drunken brawls and deaths caused him to be exiled and Bern sold into servitude. But Bern is angry that he's paying for his father's stupidity. He steals a horse and seizes his destiny, whatever that may be.

Meanwhile, two young Cyngael brothers are following their long tradition of cattle-raiding their neighbors, even though the greater threat of the Erlings are roaming off their coasts. Unfortunately, they choose the wrong time and place and escape death once but not twice.

And then there is the half-world, lingering still and strong, quite unlike the other lands Kay writes about, with magic mostly consigned to myth. Even here, the old ways are largely forgotten... only places like the spirit woods are avoided, but perhaps that's only because of natural hazards? But some people have the sight--they can see the beings of the woods, and they worry about their immortal souls.

Finally, there are the Anglcyn, with King Aeldred trying to succeed as a warrior, defending his people from the Erlings, and also as a learned man, trying to bring his lands and his court into the wider world and into history.

The Erlings, the Cygael, the Anglcyn and the last of the old beings and the fae are inter-twined in a tale of destiny, small and large, which is also just a part of a bigger picture of life history.

In a way, there is nothing but personal stories going on; a boy angry at his father and forced to make his way in the world, a father who has gained the wisdom of age only in the 11th hour, brothers whose youth and love and status are not enough to keep them from grief and harm, a king with a destiny and a son who struggles in his father's shadow... They are still great and moving stories and form the core of this book. But all characters, even the most minor, have lives and tales and parts to play. It's an interesting thought, but I did feel that the main characters were sometimes short-shifted.

This is still an excellent tale, with battles and brutality and attempts at glory. And some vestigial bits of magic, dark and alien. And the desire of man to build something more and be something more, even while excelling at destruction and surviving at the expense of others.

All of Kay's books are well-crafted and worth reading. This one may not be his best (but that will depend on the reader--it is all taste in the end), but it was an engrossing and moving tale.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I have to say I plan on reading ALL his books. I loved the story and the characters. It made me laugh and cry and I was enraptured by the whole plot, characters, the setting, etc. WOW what an amazing book!!! A definite read for anyone that loves a good story!

CAT

Kay has been one of my favorite authors of fantasy works for the last 14 years. He tends to write stories told from several points of view at once, which creates a tapestry out of the story, rather than a single thread, and allows therefore for characters on both sides of a conflict to not get portrayed as "good" or "evil". Kay does his usual brilliant work again here, with a tale set in a land that bears a resemblance to England in the Dark Ages. Amusingly enough, I finished the story by the last light of the sun on the 23rd of February, 2008.

In "The Last Light of the Sun", Guy Gavriel Kay returns to the world he started with "The Lions of al-Rassan" and his series The Sarantine Mosaic. However, as he has done previously, he shoulders the challenge of writing different material, creating another historically based fantasy involving different cultures, geography, and characters than he used in the previously mentioned stories. That is an order too tall for most fantasy authors, and Kay re-establishes his eminent position at the head of the table of fantasy fiction by doing so with grace.

"The Last Light of the Sun" is a story about three different peoples similar to peoples in our own history, the norse, celtic(gaelic), and anglo-saxon people. Again Mr. Kay tells a story steeped in the traditions of these ancient cultures while interweaving the political and diplomatic tensions that exist between them. Through elegant storytelling, the book brings to light the violence that plagued the people of the dark ages. However, it is not an overtly violent novel. The subject violence is touched upon in a `matter-of-fact' manner, displaying the hardships of life in a tenuous time. Kay does not glorify the murder. In fact it is a more than slightly horrifying the way that some cultures dealt in death in such a casual manner.

The magic of Kay's worlds is never overpowering or the centerpiece of the story, and it does not have a role or a life of its own, as it does in some authors stories. Nor is it intertwined with the soul of the world. It is mysterious, in the background. It has a mythical aura to it, as conjured by ancient beings such as faeries and indomitable beasts. In "The Last Light of the Sun", Characters only come into contact with magic rarely, and even more rare is the character that has magical properties, or possesses control of magic. Magical beasts do have a role in the book, however small. In fact, it is alluded to that faeries and monstrous beings, straight out of myth and legend, populate the world. Although they are not abundant and do not have evil designs upon the humans.

The major moral elements of the story are honor, responsibility, relationships, and the obligations that arise from them. These are the fundamental focus of the story, acting as catalysts as well as providing the multi-hued backdrop upon which the story occurs. In fact, the most prominent story lines in the book are that of two viking raiders, a father and a son. While they interact only minimally during the story, their past actions weigh heavily upon the present decisions and actions of the two. I will not elaborate further in an effort not to spoil the story for those who enjoy a little suspense.

My conclusion is that in a more respected genre "The Last Light of the Sun", and Guy Gavriel Kay, would receive more recognition for his storytelling talents. This story, along with his other works, is a great work of fantasy fiction. It is a definite read if you are a fan of dynamic, brilliant, and critical writing. Pick up a copy and prepare to enjoy yourself.

I got a 'false start' reading this book when I was too preoccupied with other things to appreciate its complexity. While off work during the holidays I began again, and was delighted!

Once again, Guy Gavriel Kay has created a story that reminds one of the complex yet simple beauty of the Arthurian tales. Faeries, unexpected heroism, mysticism, adventure, all created in an intricate, interwoven chain-mail of triads.

Wonderful work, if you love tales set in the days of Vikings and Moors, of love, conquest, and power. This one also has a fair share of gentleness.

As an action-packed Dominion War story, this book works well. As a subtle story dealing with difficult ethical questions and psychological crises (which it aspires to be) it fails pretty thoroughly. If you're looking for a quick, exciting read, it'll do nicely. Just don't let it get your hopes up for more. And the solution to the primary ethical dilemma was a real deus ex machina copout.

Troi suffered a lot in the series/show/movies. Her empathy making her more of a subtle character than a brash one of gizmos and ideas like Data. I'm thrille dthat in this book she finally got to shine and hopefully now she'll get a better treatment in the books than she ever did acted on screen.

One of the many questions Star Trek fans were asking during the long Dominion War arc of "Deep Space Nine" was "What was the Enterprise doing during all of this?" Some of those questions were answered in a couple of other novels, as well as the movie Insurrection. But what about Counselor Deanna Troi's homeworld of Betazed? I remember the astonished feeling when I heard that it had been taken over by the Dominion, and I knew there had to be a story there. This brings us to Charlotte Douglas and Susan Kearney's The Battle of Betazed, where Counselor Troi is forced to come to terms with what her people may have to become in order to rid their world of the Dominion. Unfortunately, the book has horrible pacing and is quite pedestrian all the way around.

Betazed has fallen to the Dominion and the Cardassian forces, and a new space station is being built in its orbit, similar to Deep Space Nine. The Resistance movement on the planet is running dangerously low on food and resources and isn't causing much damage. They are in desperate need of relief, but an entire fleet of Federation ships is destroyed in an attempt to retake the planet. Why is the Dominion investing so many resources into protecting it? What horrible crime is one Cardassian, Crell Moset, committing in the name of scientific discovery? The Enterprise is sent on a desperate mission to free a man who may do more harm to Betazoid culture than the Dominion is doing, even as they discover what the horrible result of Moset's experiments might be. If he succeeds, it may spell the end of the Federation and the beginning of ultimate Dominion victory.

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Ok, maybe my description doesn't do it justice. However, the back cover blurb does make the book sound very interesting. Unfortunately, Douglas and Kearney don't succeed in making the *book* interesting. It takes forever to get going (at least as a percentage of its very short length). We get a lot of Troi angst, as she has to decide whether to go through with a mission that could bring down the Betazoid culture she's trying so desperately to save. After a while, the angst just got tedious. We spend a lot of time getting to know Elias Vaughn. Even if this is his first appearance (I'm not up on the publishing dates of all the books he has appeared in), we spend way too long learning about him. There's also the predictable friction between the Cardassian in charge of the occupation and the Vorta who oversees everything. Add to this Moset's insanity, which gets demonstrated way too often, and it all boils down to a lot of set up.

When the action finally does start, the authors do a decent job of describing it. The starship battles are kind of interesting, though not exactly logical at times. The Enterprise and its support ships go into battle vastly overmatched, with all parties wondering if *anybody* will get out alive, but then everything suddenly becomes too easy. Meanwhile, the action down at the prison, where Troi, Vaughn, Crusher and Data are, is also illogical. The party happens upon a Jem'Hadar patrol and manages to talk them into letting them go despite not having their identification cards. The Jem'Hadar *I* know would have just shot them on sight if they were the least bit out of line. My last complaint has Troi managing to stun somebody holding Data prisoner by firing *through* Data. I'm sorry, but if your phaser shot burned a hole through an android, there's no way it's going to only stun the target behind him.

While the prose and characterization is somewhat pedestrian (Moset is very stereotypical of the single-minded scientist), there are a few nice scenes here and there that seem to set up what happens in the Insurrection movie. Riker and Troi seem to grow closer together as he helps her deal with the weight of what her people might have to do to survive. Especially nice is the final scene between them (though I can't go into detail, because of spoilers). The plot itself is fairly interesting (despite the logic flaws in some cases). There's only one major coincidence, and while it's a doozy, it's still forgivable given everything else. The final solution doesn't come out of left field and is, in fact, quite good. It's not a perfect solution, unlike a lot of plot resolutions. It has its price. Unfortunately, the price that we expect that Troi will have to pay after what happens doesn't come to pass, as she's let off the hook by developments. It's a shame when that happens, as that really would have grown her character.

One final compliment to the book. The characterization of Lwaxana Troi (Deanna's mother, for those of you not in the know) is actually very nice. She's one of the leaders of the local resistance cell, and while she is not unrecognizable, all of the changes that the invasion and four months of occupation have wrought have taken their toll on her. She still has a couple of bantering comments with Picard, but you can tell they are just old habit and her heart's not in it. It's wonderful stuff, and unfortunately she is underused (and anybody who knows my Trek reviews knows how much I hate the character, so that's really a compliment).

Ultimately, I'm glad I read The Battle of Betazed, as it's good to know what happened (it's referred to in some subsequent books, especially Articles of the Federation). It's a very quick read, so you won't waste much time on it. I just wish it had been as interesting as the description promised it would be. A missed opportunity for sure.

David Roy

I'm almost embarassed to admit that what first attracted me to this Star Trek tie-in was the cover. I've never been a big fan of Deanna Troi, especially in her turquoise dress days, but when she shifted to a uniform and actual Starfleet responsibilities, I kinda warmed to her character. The cover, depicting Troi, armed and ready, above a trio of Jem 'Hadar, with a swirling blue star background, caught my eye one day when I was browsing at the bookstore. I hadn't bought a Trek book in years -- the last one was The Captain's Daughter by Peter David, one of the better Trek authors (although Imzadi II still leaves me bitter) -- because of the decreasing quality and my own detachment to the series... so I was understandably reluctant to shell out good dollars. I kept looking for The Battle for Betazed at my local bookstore, but then I received it as a gift... and the book languished on my shelf until I pulled it down recently and thought, "Start reading... if you hate, it goes in the bin next to Chosen."

The Battle for Betazed is set during the Dominion War, a time when shapeshifting beings and their hearty, genetically created army have invaded Federation space. In this particlar story, they've conquered the peace-loving Betazoids, a telepathic culture devoted to harmony. While horrific experiments occur on the new space station, built by the Dominion's allies, the Cardassians, the Betazoid resistence seeks Starfleets help to bring a dangerous serial killer back to their homeworld. Why? Because he can kill with a mere thought, and he could teach others how and then they might defeat the Dominion on their planet.

As with most Trek books, this is not the sole plot. There are two others, both complimentary to the primary story. Commander Riker leads a strike team into the heart of the space station, intent to destroy it from within, while Captain Picard commands the Enterprise and a few other starships to distract the enemy ships. Some Deep Space 9 characters appear including Worf, commander of the Defiant, and Chief O'Brien, whose intimate knowledge of Cardassian space stations (DS9) makes him an ideal participant in the raid. Troi's mother returns as well, but in a much more subdued role as resistence leader and it was nice to envision a calmer, darker Lwaxana. There are some new characters including a steely Starfleet special ops expert, a ruthless Cardassian commander, and Tevren, the killer himself... none of these characters are, thankfully, Mary Sues.

The writing, by Charlotte Douglass and Susan Kearney, is rather plain and somewhat expositive at times. There's not much in the way of character development that doesn't occur in a sort of passive sense. I was frequently distracted by Trek background material, inserted obviously to familiarize non-Next Gen readers with the setting and its characters. If a reader is picking up this book, chances are s/he's already aware that Riker and Troi were once a serious item or that LaForge has optical implants. Far better to invest writing effort and creativity in the emotional sides of these characters and breathe life into their actions. Admittedly, there's not much depth in Star Trek unless one injects it into the writing or performances, but it's no excuse for avoiding the potential.

Having said that, however, the book does not completely fail its promise. The story itself is intriguing and offered bare hints at what the authors could have done to create a rich, conflicting situation. The novel could have easily doubled in length without much effort, focusing deeply on primary characters, particularly Troi, who once interned at the prison where the killer has been kept for 17 years. The potential for a creepy Lector-Starling interaction was ripe for exposure, but the authors barely touched on the relationship, Troi's later reaction to Tevren's role in the war, or what happens once she's face to face with him again. The authors occasionally touch on the Riker-Troi dynamic, which would have further enriched the psychological plot.

I suppose I'm expecting too much of a Trek novel. After reading The Battle for Betazed, I picked up Immortal Coil, a Data-centric novel that also caught my eye because of its cover, and already I'm impressed with the detail and quality of writing. This is not to say that I'm going to start reading Trek novels again or rebuild my fannish collection. The few books I have left, now in storage, are novels that I truly enjoyed and hope to read again... I'm not sure where The Battle for Betazed falls. I almost feel as if it should be rewritten -- properly as a stand-alone, non-Trek world, and then I'd probably keep it.

The Battle for Betazed is a harmless read for a lazy, rainy afternoon. I read it quickly without worrying about missing stuff and the story was compelling enough to retain my attention for the two days it took (between work and home obligations) to finish.

The recent Star Trek novels aimed at bridging gaps, such as what the Enterprise was doing during the Dominion War and so forth, are failing miserably. The only good ones are the Deep Space Nine series.

I give this book two stars because the authors really tried. I mean, they put a lot of effort into making this believable, into making Deanna a mad li'l Betazoid.

But it doesn't work. None of it works except the against-all-odds battle between the Enterprise and the enemy -- the book was so forgettable that I even forgot who they were fighting.

This book is a waste of time unless you're an absolutely inconsolable Star Trek fan. Read Mission Gamma instead.

And please... whomever's editing at Pocket, and coming up with these books... it's not working. Hire some fanfic authors, like Gina Dartt. They at least can craft a story.

the 'national security' seems to become the green light for all kinds of authorities to do whatever they like and it's exactly what we are facing right now daily. when the communism took over russian , china and other eastern europe countries, their big word was 'the people', everything is for the peoples' interest. i still remembered when doctor zhivago came back to his home and found his house was confiscated 'by the people', he just ripped off that notice from the door and cursed: 'by the people?! i am also one of the peoples!' so the national secruity voodoo term being used by most of the governments now is actually the sameold sameold crap as the commuinist countries used to be implemented to do whatever they like to do in the (dis)guise of the law.
kevin kerney in this novel has to make some unwanted compromises under the excuse of 'national security' too and that's not quite appealing at all. this series so far is the best series i've ever read, and master storyteller, michael mcgarrity, never disappointed me. i just love the plot, the dialogue and scenario a lot. to me, the stories about this police chief of santa fe and that deputy chief of new mexico's state police are far better than what john sanford delivered in his 'prey' series.

I ordered one book in the series and ended up ordering all books featuring Kevin Kerney, What a pleasure to read books with good stores and I enjoy the characters, especially his wife, Sara.

If you want good reading, order the entire series and enjoy

This sixth entry in the Kevin Kerney series once again demonstrates the talents of writer Michael McGarrity. Kerney is embroiled this time with a huge government coverup. The first victim: Phyllis Terrell, the estranged lascivious wife of ambassador Harrison Terrell. Looks like her murder might have been an act of passion. Kerney's investigation however reveals a close connection with the murder of a priest as well. McGarrity brings back officious undercover agent Charles Perry, a brief appearance by Enrqiue de Leon, Kerney's nemesis from two previous books, and of course, Kerney's wife, Sara. Sara, now pregnant, is considering leaving the service so she and Kevin can build a better life together.
Again, McGarrity uses fellow police officers to aid Kerney, and with his usual flair for scene and substance, pulls off another remarkable entry in this excellent series.
Outstanding!

When I finished this novel from Michael McGarrity in the continuing saga of detective Kevin Kerney, it tooks me a few days to formulate how to write this review. All of it was positive and I couldn't be happier with the novel, however, I didn't know what angle to expound on that hasn't been discussed so many times about his prior novels.

Then it dawned on me. It was a departure from the norm of these novels. Certain loose ends were tied up once and for all, the ending wasn't what one would expect...that is, it wasn't neat and tidy. Also Kerney has progressed quite a bit, and author McGarrity introduced new ideas that surely will breathe life into the main character and makes for many sequels down the road.

But most importantly was the introduction of many new characters. While this was and still is a Kevin Kerney novel, McGarrity debuts several new characters in this installment, and I was surprised how fleshed out they all became. In some aspects this just wasn't a Kerney novel. Two other detectives come into their own and a good deal of written word was on the following of their exploits. It was like reading the same novel from 3 different and varying perspectives which was quite unique. Only at the end was it clear they were all after a common goal, and it was done brilliantly.

Again, the ending was a nice change. The CIA and a covert black-op organization aren't always fighting for good, or are they? The events that unfold force the reader to constantly re-evaluate the 'color' of law, and even though this novel takes place in New Mexico...events taken place here will shape how US policy effects other regions and Kerney's decisions he will never know what ball he sets in motion.

Great read!

Michael McGarrity's name showed up in an article about "mystery writers." I ordered books by 4 different authors. I doubt I'll do that again...I'll stick to the Prey series and Coben.
While I enjoyed the trials and tribulations of the main character, I did NOT for one second enjoy/believe the government conspiracy aspect of the book. Sorry, Mr. McGarrity...but no more of you !

Imagine this. Doctors tell you your premature child may be burdened with slow mental development throughout their life. The child is fussy and can't sleep without some kind of mental stimulus- a quick fire candidate for ADD drugs. Rather than medicate you quickly find the best way to calm your child down is to interact with them and the child picks up things quickly. In fact, your child loves learning, retains most anything you present it and can recall the same information with voracity. You've hit the jackpot! Your kid should cruise through their classes and is likely to be the pride any school they attend. Colleges will be lined up around the block with scholarships and your baby's future is assured. Right? Not even close.

The Kearney's found themselves in just this situation and quickly discovered there is a vast difference between learning and the US education system- big emphasis on the word "system". The first thing they found is that our system prefers children to step through it at the it's pace- not the child's, regardless of how disinterested the child may be in the curriculum. The first assumption our education makes is disinterest represents laziness or reluctance to learn- even if the child has already learned the material, finds repetition dull or just needs a small break. Aside from trying to feed a bottomless mental appetite the Kearney's had to make a very difficult decision: Let the public education system take a bright child and knock that bright light down to a normal level and possibly create endless behavioral problems in the process, pay an expensive private school to do the same or home school their child and hope the state recognizes their efforts. They tried the first two but eventually accepted the last option and even then they were always plagued by double standards, dimwitted officials, inept professionals, and little to no outside help. In fact, it seems that rather than foster intelligent students the US education system is simply more interested in simply reporting that they have students. Why is this? Because our education system is a joke.

Think about how teachers are resented on all sides, ridiculously underpaid, under budgeted and checked by conflicting bureaucratic standards then think about how dumb someone must be to consider that as a career choice. There is humor or at least an illustration of a nation which pays education lip service but doesn't really take it seriously. Perhaps the thought of intelligent children eventually competing for our jobs is frightening. Perhaps the thought of not raising a generation of consumers who define themselves only by consumption is frightening to corporations. Perhaps the old guard (i.e. Ivy League alumni with vast contributions) are happy with things the way they are. Again, who is most precious to our future- another parent's prodigy or our own child? And does our education system really matter when two of "the best Ivy League" schools are churning out people like George W. Bush through? To quote him "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." This book highlights the problems with and conclusion any hopeful parent will discover about raising a gifted child in America: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. It may bankrupt you, bring you under suspicious of child endangerment, create envy in pretty much every parent you know and wear you to a nub, but that's the gift of having a gifted child in our current system.

Should you be looking for "how to create a prodigy" advice, there really isn't much here. The parents don't outline lesson plans. In fact, they seemed to simply do what many parents should: encourage, support, provide positive reinforcement, take their child's education seriously and try to make learning as fun as possible for their child. In that respect I believe they deserve an A+. The rest (prodigality, genius) is really genetic.

I would give this book five stars but the editing is the worst I've ever seen in a published work. Numerous spelling errors and accidentally repeated passages litter the book. Even the title is odd considering the authors state repeatedly and clearly that they don't consider their children geniuses, but prodigies. I had to wonder if anyone actually bothered to edit the manuscript at all or how drunk they were when they did. I can forgive the shoddy jacket artwork but I really feel the publisher did a half-hearted job on this one, which is unfortunate for such an interesting book and wake up call for our national education system.

Yes, that's right... this was a fascinating story. And it was easy to read almost non-stop until I had heard it told. However, the book really does have many shortcomings. Perhaps just because the story is so fascinating that it raises all sorts of questions that are not addressed here. Most notably missing is Michael's own view on his childhood. How could the parents not think of including him in his own story? His own analysis would be at least as insightful as that of his parents. Especially since some of the speculation engaged in by the parents is of limited cogency. Particularly unsettling, in the midst of an already loose and casual narrative style, is the large number of spelling errors or similar proofreading errors that are in the book. Apparently this small press charges more money but offers less quality in its product. The story is fascinating and merits a 4 out of 5 rating for its interest alone. But the parental interpretation could have greatly benefited from editing, proofreading, and supplemental material provided by a third author - either a subject area expert or their "whiz kid" himself. Strangely, they refer to Michael's autobiography as if it is a published book somewhere, but web searches have turned up no sign of it. Nor is it included in the reference section at the back of this book. This book is fascinating, just as if one could meet directly with the parents and talk with them all day long. However, it really feels like a draft manuscript, rather than a polished and completed work. I am grateful it's available, but the story and subject deserved more thorough treatment.

This is one of the worst books on giftedness I've ever read. I bought the book thinking I would learn something about acceleration. What I got was nothing but a sad tale of a dysfunctional family whose mother is completely obsessed with her son's intelligence and her rationalizations for why she kept pushing him. Everything in their life is put on hold and everything in their life is sacrificed for the education of this ONE child. I'm sure Michael believes the world revolves around him -his family certainly believes it...and they don't do anything to teach him any different. Sadly for Michael, life only revolved around him,his education and his intelligence. He never experienced what it was like to be part of a family where EVERYONE was valued for who they are...not just their intelligence.

My daughter entered full-time college at age 13 and graduated at age 16. This book gave the most accurate description of what it is really like to go through the acceleration process. Although the book details the personal experiences of the Kearny family, the reader should know that many families that accelerate will experience a lot of what the Kearny's write about. The first chapter of the book that is provided in the Amazon description is not really representative of the book. Once you get past Chapter One, the real story begins. The authors are painfully honest about their feelings and experiences; and do the reader a great service by sharing their personal stories. I have been through the acceleration process with my child and I believe that the Kearny's had a lot to do with the academic acceleration abilities of their children. They should be congratulated for thier enormous efforts and brilliant teaching methods.

The Kearny's are pioneers in the area of acceleration. There are now hundreds of accelerated kids attending colleges across the nation. If you are interested in accelerating your child, I highly recommend this book. You will encounter many of the same roadblocks and negative opinions from teachers and administrators. Reading this book will give you an idea about what you will encounter so you're prepared to deal with the negatives when they happen. The book also shares the joys of acceleration and shows how beneficial early college can be. My daughter and I would do it all over again and encourage others to think about it too. This book is a great way to start your journey. Give it a try!

This book could have benefited from better editing- it has a lot of typos, some incomplete sentences, and at one point two paragraphs are repeated almost word-for-word in two different chapters. It is, however, an interesting case study of an exceptionally gifted child and the family who raised him. Parents seeking advice from other parents of gifted children might find this book hard to put down, but I think they could find better resources by starting with "Smart Boys" or "Smart Girls" by Barbara Kerr, or the books "Re-forming Gifted Education" and "Stand Up for Your Gifted Child."

When we first meet Dora in THE CHALLENGE we learn that she is more than a just a computer, she is a sentient being with emotions and a curiosity about human relationships, particularly love making. One human in particular, Zical who is rather liberated for a Rystani male, she finds extremely attractive.

Zical enjoys verbal sparring with Dora and considers the computer a friend, but lately he finds her more exasperating than anything else. Four years after fleeing his home planet to settle on the new world, Mystique, the job of recolonizing his people has been completed and Zical must now decide what to do with his future. Being a physical being Zical decides on a mountain climb rather than meditation to relax him, and help him to make the decision. Not an easy task when a sexy voiced computer keeps upsetting his balance with her personal questions about his love life.

Dora has been dying to know what it's like to be human, and when her friend Tessa challenges her to do something about it, she takes the challenge seriously. Borrowing stock DNA, Dora decides to grow a body for herself. All she needs to know now is what a man like Zical finds attractive in a woman.

This whole line of questioning is off putting to the man who had been subjected to an arranged marriage with a child bride. His wife had been afraid of her own shadow and unable to cope to cope with her new role, or to make the smallest decision for herself. That inability had resulted in her death at the hands of the Endekians while Zical was off hunting for food. Zical suffered great guilt over her loss and the loss of their unborn child. The last thing he wanted was to get involved with another woman.

During the climb, Zical discovers a hidden cavern complete with machinery left behind by the "Perceptive Ones" the same technologically advanced race that had created the body regulating, life extending suits all citizens of the Federation wore from birth. The discovery trips a recall of a Sentinel, which had been placed at the far reaches of the Milky Way galaxy to alert its inhabitants of attacks by the hostile Zin of the Andromeda galaxy.

Zical realizes that his life decision has been made for him. He must find a way to send the Sentinel back to its post, even if it takes a lifetime. To add to the chaos, Dora had found another way to discern exactly what Zical's dream lover would look like and had incorporated these features into her new body. Dora is eager to experience new sensations, but is not prepared for the limitations of her new body. The adjustment was somewhat overwhelming, but Dora had devised a way to link up to the new sentience in the computer enabling her to experience more than her new human eyes and brain would normally allow. It is through this link up that she discovers the Sentinel's recall.

Zical is stunned by Dora's appearance. Her intelligence is still far above that of most humans, and her body is the stuff of dreams, but she is new to being human and her lack of control has made her afraid. Another immature female in his life is not something Zical needs. Dora, however is not about to be left behind, never to know what it would be like to mate with the man of her dreams. Imagine Zical's consternation when Tessa insists that Dora is essential to the success of his mission! He accepts this as logical although his feelings regarding the new Dora have absolutely nothing to do with logic.

As they journey into the unknown with the prospect of danger all around them, events occur which force the pair into a meeting of the minds.... and then some! With two strong willed and sensual protagonists steamy love scenes are given, however the overall plot is so intriguing at times it's almost tempting to rush through them to find out what happens next...Almost. Susan Kearney is a consummate story teller. I can't wait to get started on THE ULTIMATUM which is the next book in this enthralling series. ---- Reviewed for PNR Reviews

... but instead it fizzled. I picked up this book on a whim, and I hadn't read The Challenge (which preceeded this novel). In the beginning, I was drawn in, very much looking forward to Dora getting her human body so she could persue the love of her life.

The attraction seemed very real on her end. I wanted her to get Zical, I felt her longing, her need and her desire.

Zical, on the other hand... his attraction to her seemed more forced. One minute he doesn't want her, refuses to be able to accept that she was once a computer. And eventually, he does... for reasons that made it all seem like he was trying to convince himself that she was right for him. I didn't think he truly felt love for her as she did for him.

I didn't like this book at all, and in the end, Dora throws Zical a curveball that actually made me put the book down with only about 20-30 pages to go. I couldn't take it, I didn't feel it. I never do that. I gave it two stars, though... because Kearney shows a lot of promise as an author. I would try her again, but because of her style, not because of the plot or characters of this book intrigued me enough to do so.

I was very interested in this book. It features one of the more interesting secondary characters from The Challenge, Dora. Dora is a sentient computer who wants to be in a human body and experience the human world, specifically the sex and the love.

I LOVED this idea! And Dora pulls it off well. The whole is a great exploration of her feelings and actions. Zical is a bit confusing for me, hey, what man isn't?

Dora wants to make love to Zical, the warrior she has been friends with. However as she is a computer that cannot experience human senses like touching, that is impossible until Dora decides to create herself a body that will appeal to Zical.

Zical, a Rystani warrior, loves the sound of Dora's voice and values her highly as a friend, albeit a computer friend, until Dora creates herself a body that he's extremely attracted to.
While exploring a hidden doorway into the mountain he was climbing, Zical belatedly recalls the machines that guards them and puts the galaxy in danger of being attacked. Soon Zical and Dora embark on the dangerous mission of trying to correct the problem while they also figure out how to deal with the emotions of Dora being human and the growing attraction between them. Can they survive their dangerous mission and restore the protection to the galaxy and will Dora finally get to make her dreams come true?

I found The Dare by Susan Kearney to be a fast paced sci-fi adventure that was completely engaging, very sexy, and highly addictive! The characters were very well written and with such a human factor to them you can't help but love them. The action in this story was explosive and
will send your emotions in all directions. You can't seem to help feeling the same emotions that the characters do.
I had never been a big fan of sci-fi before reading this book but, I can guarantee that Ms. Kearney has found a new life-long reader.

Tammy
Fallen Angel Reviews
www.fallenangelreviews.com

A sentient computer named Dora, a secondary character from The Challenge, wants a body so she can make love with Zical, a hot-shot Ryastani warrior. The idea of a computer creating a fully-functioning body is well-thought out and intriguing and she is a rather endearing character. I found the love scenes repetitive of the first story - and rather one dimensional, a variation on the "Me Tarzan, you Jane" theme. One thing about this entire plot line, though, that bothers me is this cultures reliance on shrink-to-fit suits that link to a person's psychic ability and provide - literally - everything the person needs. Nobody exists without wearing one, from birth to death and these suits provide an artificial manipulation of existence - rather like medication does today. When their suits don't operate and "fall off", they don't even know how to take a shower or use the toilet. I found the idea of a grown person needing to be toilet trained rather intrusive.

I'm normally a big fan of mysteries, particularly the novels of Michael Connelly, Steven Cannell, Ridley Pearson, and Ian Rankin. I was eager to dive into a mystery set in the undeniably intriguing setting of the Washington DC area. Nonetheless, I have to chalk up A Murder of Honor as a disappointment.

There's some promise to the setup in the novel. Certainly the setting is a plus. The buddy dynamics between the cops are reasonably developed.

Nonetheless, I strained to find anything particularly original about the protagonists. Kearney's malaise was all too generic and Jose Phelps never rose above being the Trusty Black Sidekick. Their gutless supervisor, Emerson, seemed to be borrowed from central casting. Worse still was the mayor character, a weak cardboard cutout imitation of Marion Barry (without even a change of initials). There was nothing to compare to the strong characterization one finds in the writing of Connelly, Pearson, or Rankin.

The plotting, for that matter, left much to be desired. The joy of police procedurals is often the attention the authors give to the means by which little bits of evidence can be exploited. The cops here seemed to get a little too lucky. One strained for the Connelly or Cannell-like details that would indicate a thorough understanding of police procedures.

The novel held my interest, but only barely. There really is a lot of room for improvement.

This is the first book which I have read by this author; I came across it @ my local library. I like it for it's credibility, it's action, and it's fast pace. I plan to read all of this author's books...

I think the author should have stuck to spy thrillers. It's just on cliche after another in this one: black cop/white cop, both are rebels, both have been there 25yrs, one is a lieutenant who's still investigating cases, there boss is a prissy type who sits behind a desk,,,,,blah.

Reminds me of John Lescroart with his lawyer Dismas Hardy and homicide lieutenant Abe Glitsky series. A believable
police procedural, except for the ending.

Andrews has written a solid, entertaining, if unoriginal, "tough cop" police procedural set in Washington, DC. He does a good job in depicting DC, and his plot is intricate and fast paced. But his characters lack color and intensity (as compared to the characters created by George Pelecanos or Michael Connelly, for example). Overall, I put this one in the middle of the pack.

Kearney's ground-breaking Monarchies of God series opened my eyes to the world of fantasy fiction aimed at an adult audience. The entire series was richly textured and exciting and full of interesting and nuanced characters, all set in an intriguing universe with a deep history. While, as a whole, the series was not perfect, at its high points, it contained some of the best fantasy writing I've ever encountered. The battle sequences and the sack of Aekir in particular will always stay with me.

The Mark of Ran, by contrast, offers nothing particularly memorable. A young man of uncertain parentage has a series of misadventures, none of which particularly illuminate his character. He meets some people, gets into some fights, grows up, and becomes a dull and bitter man.

There is lots of action in the Mark of Ran, but none of it is very engaging. In truth I struggled to reach the end of the book. Most disappointingly of all, the quality of the writing was generally very poor. As I was reading, I felt that Kearney's heart wasn't in the book at all. It's a short novel and yet it seemed that Kearney had to struggle to fill even as many pages as he did. I will not be reading any of the other books in this series.

I picked this novel up never having heard of Kearney before, and I have to say I enjoy his writing. I have read in some other reviews people have put him down for using common themes in fantasy. Unfortunately these themes have been used since time immemorial. You might as well scold Tolkien for ripping off Finnish folk tales.

Kearney brings a new twist to the old themes with a gritty hero who isn't a great person, in fact is relatively amoral. Kearney's writing is very stark and graphic, the hero doesn't always win, or get the girl. I get the feeling also that he has served time in both the military and on the ocean. His imagery has a lot in common with Glen Cook's Black Company series, in that it doesn't gloss over the harshness of life, whether fantasy or otherwise. His writing is spare clean and powerfull, and I relly felt immersed in his imaginary world, which is really why I shell out my hard-earned cash for a book in the first place.

I have the second book which I will be cracking open and I am hoping that it is as well written and entertaining as the first.

I've been meaning to read some of Paul Kearney's works for some time now. This author is not widely known in North America, but he's been on the European scene for quite a while. Even better, I've only heard good things about him. Last but not least, Kearney comes with the Steven Erikson seal of approval! All in all, the odds appeared to be in favor of my liking Kearney's novels.

This author is known for the brevity of his books. And in this day and age, fans are screaming for epic fantasy works of titanic proportions, or so it seems. Hence, Kearney's novels are a far cry from the "doorstopper" works which have made Tad Williams, Robert Jordan, Steven Erikson, Peter F. Hamilton and George R. R. Martin famous. As as such, can the man compete with authors like these? Well, the answer is yes! Believe me when I tell you that great things come in small packages!

The Mark of Ran immediately grabs hold of you and won't let go. The pace is fast and crisp, with a narrative that flows effortlessly. Much like a thriller, the novel is a page-turning reading experience. With relatively short chapters, you always tell yourself that you'll only read one more. And then you reach the end of the book!

One would tend to believe that a 400-page novel would be rather linear and simplistic. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a work that echoes with depth and an assured knowledge of the sea.

Unlike writers like Jordan, Erikson and company, Kearney doesn't go overboard (no pun intended!) with secondary characters and sub-plots. As a result, his main characters are more fleshed out more rapidly, and the novel moves along without a glitch.

Umer appears to be a far-reaching world, even if Kearney only offers us a glimpse in this opening chapter. Something tells me that the worldbuilding will continue to impress me as subsequent volumes are released.

The storylines don't necessarily offer anything new, but Kearney's style is definitely his own. The high seas and other naval elements make The Mark of Ran something special.

Hopefully this review will pique people's curiosity enough for them to give Paul Kearney a chance. Especially in the USA and Canada, where he remains little known. This is an author worth discovering! It's with great pleasure that I'll now read the second volume in The Sea Beggars sequence, This Forsaken Earth.

In my opinion, The Mark of Ran makes a fine addition to any fantasy collection.[...]

An enticing fantasy/adventure by Paul Kearney.

When I started to read this book I had some initial concerns that it may have been meant for an adolescent audience; such is not the case. Although the story seems to begin rather tamely, the main character (Rol) quickly becomes engrossed in a story of travel, intrigue and combat; then add to this some sexual innuendos, betrayals and a liberal dose of magic, and you have just about everything anyone could want in a good adult fantasy novel.

The quality of writing is good, however it is the story line, with its many twists and surprises, that really make this book hard to put down.

All in all, a excellent start to (hopefully) a ongoing series of entertaining novels. The second book is coming out soon and I'm looking forward to being able to continue to follow the story of Rol. 5 Stars.

Lets put it this way: The book sits unfinished collecting dust on my coffee table with about thirty-five pages left. I will not completely bash it, for it is an honorable introduction for some to sci-fi, but for those who are veterans of the genre, don't expect too much.

I picked up the book because I was interested at some 'On-the-sea' writing and was convinced by other reviews that this book was just what I was looking for. Well, thankfully it is pretty easy reading, because I did not want to spend much time on it. I will finish it one of these days, but I am not excited to find out what happens to the very predictable storyline...which is full of outrageous coincidences. For instance: a ship in the distance breaks apart on the rocks, all sailors are lost except for one man, the same man Rol, the lead character, befriended in a bar two years ago. Its a bit wishy-washy and not epic in the least.

Beginners only.

This is a good introductory book on options.
Pros: comprehensive coverage of a subject,fairly easy to read and understand for a beginner in options.
Cons: the same concepts explained multiple times in different parts of the book. That's probably because chapters are written by different people. For example, look at put-call parity or covered call in the index. It's not a reference book. A short chapter summarizing option trading strategies in one place is clearly missing.

This book presents a highly readable overview of the subject of options and I would recommend it to anyone. I have not been able to find one book on options which is as wide ranging in its scope (i.e., history, pricing, strategy, individual and institutional investors' approaches, how the trading floor operates, how market makers trade, etc.). The authors have struck a good balance between depth of the subject matter and readability. There are more detailed texts available in the area of strategy (McMillan's _Options as a Strategic Investment_) or pricing (Natenberg's _Option Volatility and Pricing_), but I would especially recommend this book to individual investors interested in options. After reading this book they will have a much stronger footing from which to approach the forementioned other books (which are also excellent, by the way).

The previous reviewer's comments should be disregarded as I cannot conceive of anyone writing about this subject matter any more clearly (yes, I have read both of Fontanills' books) -- the authors appear to have put much effort into this book judging by its clarity, and one nitwit's daffy comments should not dissuade you!

This is definitely not an easy reading book. It's essentially a dry college textbook, drier then most Physics textbooks. I am not too sure why people like this book. It's rated fairly high, which was why I initially bought it, but now I regret it. The book is written by multiple authors, therefore some chapters are better then others. But overall it's difficult to read because in some areas, the descriptions are too terse, in others too detailed to the point of confusing. I've owned this book for almost three years and I've never been able to consistently read through it. I will drop it because it's too frustrating. Then I try again a couple of months later and I drop it again. I essentially gave up and decided to go ahead and read Lawrence McMillan's Option book. His book has a better flow because it's the same author throughout, and he does a pretty good job of explaining the subject. This book is only good for probably a reference book, but not for advancing your techniques of Options trading. I am going to try and sell this book instead of using it as a reference.

Wow, amazing, excellent, insufficient superlatives to describe my feelings - this one and Sheldon Nattenberg's Option Volatility and Pricing and you know more than most of the wall street professionals in my opinion. I found it practical and insightful, particularly with respect to the institutional trading strategies and how the trading floors operate.

This book is somewhat like 'A Random Walk Down Wallstreet" only applies to option trading, not just Wall Street and goes beyond.To the nit wit that blasted this book, I seriously doubt if he took the time to read it.I also recommend Safety First Investing and Wall Street Money Machine for more option techniques.Good books.