Authors Books

This was the book the Lord led me to when I expressed a desire for complete surrender. The cleansing, the power, the sanctification -- God is showing me that everything I need for victory is in the Blood of Jesus.

If Christians would just learn about the power in the Blood, we would never look to anyone but Jesus Christ. We would have joy and victory even during trials and storms in life. We would never backslide as long as we meditate on God's law day and night and abide beneath the fountain of blood.

I am coming to believe that the blood of Jesus Christ is the most powerful, yet misunderstood resource God has given us. If I could just learn how to pray without ceasing and appropriate the power of the blood, I could truly do all things through Christ. Christians are weak because we substitute Sunday and Wednesday church services for intense daily prayer, fasting, travailing, and learning how to use Jesus' shed blood to enter into the holiest of holies.

Oh, the resources we willfully ignore! Get this book! Discipline yourself to surrender totally unto God and ask Christ to teach you the power inherent in His blood. This book is deep -- very deep and very true. In fact, it is a big, juicy T-bone steak. Can we properly digest it, or is meat too strong for our tummies? Too much milk weakens the stomach, I think.

Andrew Murray has written a tremendous discourse on the blood. He has done the Body of Christ a great service, and I thank God for the old-school preachers. People get grossed out when you talk about the blood. Nothing has changed in the last 2,000 years. The truth is, there's nothing gross about this -- it's meat, pure and simple.

Would be to God that Christians would grow up, get out of their theological playpens and denominational frameworks and learn about the blood and apply it their lives.

Enough pleading the blood; let's drink it!

This was the third Murray book I have been privileged to read, and won't be the last. As always, he skirts the shallow subjects plaguing modern Christian writings, and plunges into a deep, meaningful subject.

He discusses appropriating the blood by faith, and why the blood of our Lord is so powerful. One of the subjects which most impressed me was that of the effect the blood has on the diposition of a believer when he takes communion. It is powerful because it works in him the same self-giving nature which was in our Lord Himself.

A must read for believers hungry for the depths of Christ. Now however, I must forewarn you that this book will not entertain you. In fact, you may find the first three chapters to be slow, as I did. However, almost each chapter ends with tremendously powerful prayers and meditations of the subject just discussed.

Truly a magnificent work which will undoubtedly have powerful repercussions in your life. Read it twice!

In these days, many who hold authoritative positions in the various ministries in the church avoid discussion of the Blood of Jesus and the mighty name of Jesus. Little wonder the church is powerless today and many passionate Christians are opting out of the church experience.
Read this book. Make the blood of Jesus your foremost thought since that is what enables you entrance into the Kingdom of God. Interlace your conversation with the blood of Jesus. Tell men of the blood of Jesus. There is nothing more powerful and dreadful to the enemy. The Gospel, which neccesarily is based upon the blood of Jesus, spoken by you, with effectual fervent prayer, issues utter defeat to the enemy.

Murray's book will help the reader gain a greater understanding of the significance of Jesus' shed blood for us.

Murray describes the following important points: we will operate in God's power only through faith, conditions for enjoying God's blessing, definition of sanctification, how the blood has opened the way for fellowship with God, and how we can have this privilege.

Read the book and be encouraged!

I just happened to be browsing through a Christian bookstore & noticed the discount table of merchandise. Amidst the scores of large books with showy, attractive covers, I was attracted to this very small book with a very plain cover. Never had I heard of the author before. After glancing through this book, I purchased it and have been enlightened ever since. It's my next most important book next to the Holy Bible itself.

To my fellow believers in Christ, I say, "Powerful truths are published in small, plain covers."

This book gets you back to the basics of holiness of God and deliverance through the blood of Christ Jesus. Here the author covers the foundations of our faith and hope. When was the last time you heard a sermon or even a weekday bible study on the power of the blood of Jesus??

Think about it. Then purchase 3 or 4 copies of this book and mail/give it to your family, friends and yes, the pastor/teachers of your church. This is my first reading of this author's works but it won't be my last. Please buy, read and mail several copies of this book.

God works in mysterious ways. He helps us along in our journey with nuggets of hope and refreshing moments of renewing our trust in Him. My alarm wakes me up every morning to the Chicago Christain radio station at Moody Bible institute and one morning I awoke to an interview with Chris Coppernoll. He was talking about God's providence and about his book "Providence" - I felt a nudge in my spirit to order the book and I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed the book from cover to cover. God used this book to renew my trust and hope in Him and to wait with excitement for how God will work all things together for good in my life. Chris has a wonderful talent for writing! The story was very nicely written, I felt like I was there watching the story unravel like in a movie. It had a "Notebook" type of feeling to it :) It's a great story and I look forward to reading his next novel.

Providence is a sweet and mysterious story - the ending took my breath away. I loved every page of this book. Can't wait to read another by Chris Coppernoll.

These are some of the comments sent to Providencebook.com

I purchased your book on Sunday and literally could not put it down once I opened the first page. The story you have told is truly amazing and it defies logic trying to find the right adjectives to describe it. I will be expecting the next installment of the journey that Jack and Jenny have embarked upon, I am sure it will be a winner. Skip

I finished reading your book today. And there are not words to describe how profoundly it has affected my life. I don't know what the future holds for me, but I await the day where I can fully be what the Lord wants me to be. JH

I just finished reading your book "Providence". I just want to gush, I thought it was wonderful. I've never heard of you before, I was just looking for a good Christian book, and I got one. There are so many issues that you touched on in the course of this story that touched my heart. There's good truths and quotes that I will keep with me for a long time. Singleness, Selfishness, Death, Love, Forgiveness in the real world and current world. Your book has done far more than entertained me, it has blessed me! Arline

Providence was a beautifully written book and I loved it. My reading selections have become quite predictable and boring (Sorry, Karen Kingsbury) but after a while, they all seem alike. I had no idea how it would all come about so it kept me going. I loved all the descriptions and places and people. I have them all imbedded in my brain. Keep the books coming. I can't wait for the next one. Pat

My bookclub is reading your book for Monday. Wendy

I have read your book "Providence" and I have to tell you that I enjoyed reading it very much. It is well written and you are truly a gifted author. I also found myself tearing up when I read certain parts of the story. I found myself identifying with Jack in a way that stirred some things up in me. It was good that he found peace and forgiveness and got to marry the true love of his life, because of his obedience to go to a painful place, even though he didn't want to. Sally

I just finished reading your book and I loved it. I've never cried while reading a book and this one just touched me like no other. I'm single now too after two painful divorces and could relate to many things that Jack experienced. I just wanted to let you know that I think you did a fantastic job with Providence and I can tell that God has blessed you very much with the talent to bring God's teaching to others through your book in such a subtle, yet powerful way. I hope you continue to write other books! Karen

I have been married since I was 20 and read your book last night as I struggled to find renewed love for my husband of 35yrs. Stayed up half the night reading and must say I found what I needed. Your book is for any of us seeking to smooth the edges of the past so that we can live and love more fully in the present. Thank you for being faithful to share your gift. God bless you! Virginia

I just finished reading your wonderful novel, Providence. I couldn't put it down; I didn't want it to end! What a wonderful story of soul searching and forgiveness! I'm a 58 yr old homemaker with a wonderful husband, an 18yr old son and a 24yr old married daughter. I enjoyed thinking back to my youth, knowing that God and others (hopefully) have forgiven all of my mistakes. You did a great job giving the credit of Jack's success to God, as well it should be. Please do a follow up novel to Jack and Jenny's continuing life or at least another fiction novel. God Bless You, Margo

I want to thank you for allowing God to lead you into writing this book. I am a mother of 18 year old triplets that started their freshman year in college. My daughter and I love to read and I always recommend books to her. I can't wait for her to come home this weekend to give her your book. It was such an inspiration to me and a glimpse to what college life can be. I was not able to attend college so I am getting to live a little of the life through our children. I can't wait for your next book. Debbie

I read your book and thought it was awesome! How it brought back painful times in my life. I so enjoyed how Jack was real and not so "spiritual" with the situations he encountered. I just loved how Jack so loved God but he still felt the pain of life. How he still wanted God to get all of the credit even when he was such a mess. Lana

Just read your book. Excellent! It was a great read, and hard to put down once I started reading it. Thanks for a great book! Judy

Just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed Providence. I am the exact age of the characters in the book so the music clips took me back to that time period in a second. That was such a unique and creative way to share the story. I also work full time ministry and was blessed by the way that the characters hearts and wills were broken and put back together by the hand of a loving God whose desire was to shape and mold them. Thanks for a wonderful book! It really blessed me! - Kathleen

Jack Clayton Campus Missions office staff member couldn't believe his name was associated with a scandal! How did this happen? Why did people want to know so much about him and his past? He didn't ask to be famous. He just wrote the stories of the poor in Norwood. Why couldn't they accept the fact that he didn't do interviews? In the past Jack had many skeletons. I loved it when Jack says "I don't have a few skeletons. I have enough to build a whole skeleton army, and I'm not about to parade them down main street."

The simple life that's all he ever wanted, a waitress shows him her Time magazine; she wants him to sign it. He takes a look, he's on the front cover - Person of the Year? Him? There must be some mistake all he did was write "Laborers of the Orchard" a non-fiction book that sold 18 million copies. Now Arthur his publisher wants him to write his Memoris; he says this is the thing to do. Arthur is already pre-selling it and it's not even written. Jack felt torn. Digging up the past was not what he wanted to do but he sensed that the Lord had other plans for him. The Lord's ways are not our ways Jack was finding out.Jack Clayton tries to explain this to Arthur when he says "Are there issues in your personal life, things you find particularly challenging that you scarcely have strength to face privately? Things you might speak about with a counselor or a clergy man? Now picture working through your issues in front of the whole world, surrounded by Journalists and cameramen. I don't want to go there, do you?"

A dilemma for Jack the pain of unveiling the past; he'd be reviewing things done in his youthful immaturity, things he would rather forget than announce to the whole world! Yet Jack felt this nudging from the Lord to dig and tell. He wanted to be faithful to do His will. He knew that God would forgive him for what he had done - already had. But can he forgive himself?Then an encouraging word in the middle of Jack's storm. "Do something about today. It's the only day we truly have. And if you'll make this day matter for the things Christ taught us you'll be doing what He wants you to and live with purpose. You won't have regrets". Now that was something Jack could hang onto as he faced writing of this Memories, facing the deep pain of the past, the media and Arthur his publisher.

I loved how Chris Coppernoll quickly drew me into Jack Clayton's world and his circumstances. I really enjoyed the hometown feel of the story. I liked how Chris portrayed his characters in the book. They were believable and honest. I cared about them and the town of Providence right from the start. I was encouraged by the many inspiring messages in this book like the one I just quoted. Chris has them throughout the book. You will love Providence the town Chris created, the people that live there and this book.

Chris Coppernoll has hit a home run with his debut work of fiction Providence: Once Upon A Second Chance. Chris has deftly crafted a tale of the complexities of of the Christian walk, exploring how we can do great things for the Kingdom of God while still struggling with our human weaknesses and failures. I found myself drawn into the world of Providence, it's places and characters seem so real and are thoughtfully developed. At the close of the book I was rewarded with the warm satisfaction of an unexpected and yet gratifying ending. There is nothing better than to come to the end of a good read and long to continue on.

Chris' biggest challenge now will be to find a way to top one of the best fiction releases of 2007.

This was a great collection of stories. I feel that the first stories were the strongest and the last stories the weakest but even at it's worst these were wonderfully crafted stories. The writing style never fails to make you sympathize or in some cases, even empathize with the characters involved. Great to get you started in the always colorful, probably with gore, Punktown (Paxton to the socialites). Great stuff. Highly recommended place to start for all P-Town related books. Move in to Monstrocity after this and find out how bad things in the city REALLY are.

"Punktown" is a collection of short stories of the futuristic city of Paxton (a.k.a. Punktown).

This collection is Thomas at his best (and if you have read his works "Monstrocity" or "Letters from Hades", you know this is high praise). Speaking of "Monstrocity", it is a novel also set in Punktown and is highly recommended as a follow-up to "Punktown".

While each story in this collection can stand on it's own, they are best when read together. There is a continuity present throughout these stories, and as a whole, they create a collage of a fantastically creepy city. Thomas delivers in creating a world like no other, and he does it well.

In the realm of the concave of space, in the infinite palette of stars, we experience this broad brush of great talent in Mr. Thomas's aspect of his eye. He is brimming with imagination, almost choking the literary world with this book's essence and flair. I thoroughly enjoyed this series of stories of the incredulous, and can't wait to read more, and to stoke my memory with the imagery it hangs in midair like a surreal Dali freakout. Suspended by sheer imagination, this book is a complete work by itself, evenly charged with bountiful prose that guts even the most mundane of human boor's soul, peels it back, and hoses out the insides. Bravo!

Jeffrey Thomas' is a grim, grimy, and enthralling world. A genre-busting collection, Punktown has cyberpunk and horror (even a touch of splatterpunk) in its lineage, and a compelling collection of tales merging a smattering of species on a faraway planet with the gritty, crumbling, degraded desperation of life in a huge megopolis slowly suffering the unstoppable enfeeblement of its advancing age. A future noir in its own vein. Thomas' stories bring life and death, excess and blight, triumph and failure to Punktown with a clear, sharp writing style. Punktown is not to be missed.

All I can say to this new author is...WOW! What a great compilation of stories. Interesting, well written, imaginative, and absorbing; you won't want to leave Punktown once you submerge yourself into its seedy depths.

On the planet of Oasis, an Earth established colony is formed called Paxton, but is known to everyone on Oasis as Punktown. In this colony, people from many different worlds and cultures live crowded into the apartments and streets, the colony overflowing with teeming life forms from the native Choom to the strange L'leweds and Antses and Waiais and of course the Humans.

Although each chapter is a separate story, they all blend into each other as a single fully developed tale of the colony itself, and the lives that carry out their existence there. When I read the first two chapters, I found myself being a little disappointed that they seemed to end rather "unfinished", like there should have been more wrap up to that particular tale. But as you read along, this feeling will fade because you realize that the overall concept of the book is that "life goes on", and you begin to feel the continuum of Punktown itself; as an entity comprised of individuals and not the individuals themselves.

My favorite chapter has to be the first one, "The Reflections of Ghosts", about an artist who clones himself to make artwork out of his creations, twisting the helix here and there to cause mutations according to whatever specs his customers wish. He calls them "Starfish" because of their complete lack of intelligence, but his narcissistic captivation with his "art" will be his downfall. Wait till you read about his "wall piece". Yuck.

Next, in "The Flaying Season", we follow a human woman named Kohl who lives in the Antse part of the neighborhood, and cannot seem to let go of her past even though it has already been erased.

"Wakizashi" is a very strange tale, introducing us to the L'lewed, one of the strangest residents Jeffrey Thomas dreamed up for Punktown. This chapter gives us a reason to ponder just how far does Tolerance extend when you are dealing with such diverse cultures?

"Precious Metal" is a new look at "Man vs Machine", a rather interesting tale that would be at home in Asimov's "I Robot". (Yes, it's that good!) Mob bosses and a robot jazz band and beautiful women make this tale a tasty and satisfying addition to this collection.

"Heart For Heart's Sake" is a beautiful tale of love conquering both evil, and artistic desires. Teal has created the perfect piece of art, his best work ever, and his girlfriend Nimbus does the performance art within his creation. But what price could possibly be worth such a treasure?

"Face" is a different kind of love story; the unconditional love of a parent for their child. This chapter is not about the conquering power of love, but the gut-wrenching pain that familial love can cause, and just how far one will go to never let go of their love. Or avenge it.

"The Palace of Nothingness" is a short, futuristic Haunted House story.

"Immolation" is an interesting and sad tale of a "Culture"; which is a clone specifically created for work. Would these "Cultures" have feelings? Love? Anger? Would there be room in their "brain-drip educated" minds to feel friendship, affection, or perhaps even seek vengeance?

The last chapter in the book, "The Library Of Sorrows", is about a cop named MacDiaz who has a photographic memory chip installed in his brain. This proves to be great for solving crimes and tracking killers, but just how many grisly scenes can he handle having total image recall of? At what point does one grow weary of the carnage?

This is the first book I have read of Jeffrey Thomas's, and I must say it is absolutely wonderful. I loved the world he created, and the different aliens. His descriptions of the strange beings bring them out into flesh without teetering over into boring repetitiveness or patronizing "you should know what I'm thinking" prose. The characters are well though out, believable, and likeable; and the scenes they wander through flow like mind candy past the eye. Punktown is a fast read, which is good, because you will want to stay up reading this one. Enjoy!

This collection of Ian Fleming short stories is a must have for any Bond fan. I have been discovering Fleming since the release of the film "Casino Royale" and have found his books to be not only thrilling but also very well written. His prose is as lean, hard and ruthless as James Bond himself. He is a joy to read.

Here in "Quantum of Solace" I was not disappointed. All the stories are wonderful and it is amazing to see how Fleming can pack so much drama and excitement into a few pages just as he does in his full-length novels.

Among the best short stories, at least my favorites are;

"Risico" has a wonderful Roman setting and a surprise villain, just so much fun.

"Quantum of Solace" is an incredible tale of the death of love told over cocktails.

"View To A Kill", Catapults the reader into a trill ride which is very cinematic and a great story.

"Property of a Lady" shows the cool everyday aspect of what being a Secret Service agent is about.

"The Living Daylights". Here the cold winter cityscape of cold war Berlin is wonderfully described and a little romance too.

And of special note you can find a scrumptious recipe for scrambled eggs in "007 In New York" (The character of Solange in the film of Casino Royale seems to have come from this story)

All the stories are wonderful, and this is a must have for any Bond fan. It is fascinating to pick out scenes from the stories that have ended up being incorporated into various films in the franchise, some intact with their stories titles and some buried into a plot for a film not related to the title. Such is the case with "Risico". You will have fun just as I did in the "Ah ha" moment of realization on this point.

So Bond is back in the movies now in a bigger way than ever before thanks to the reinvention of the franchise and to Daniel Craig who is by far the nearest to Bond as he appears in the books. And here in "Quantum of Solace" you have the opportunity to enter into his world by way of mere vignettes where you will find no solace for James Bond but a lot of adventure fun, and fine writing.

I really just got this to get the very short story 007 in New York, as it was not readily available anywhere else. I have listened to the rest on CD books from the library. But this is a nicely put together compilation with all the Bond short stories, and there are quite a few. A good thing to have on hand for any Bond fan.

Absolutely love the new format of the whole James Bond series of books. Wonderful coloring and illustrations, unique size make these instant collector items to update the yellowed, dog-eared versions many of us have.

Fleming wrote a series of novels and a number of short stories featuring the Bond character. All of the novels have been made into movies. Now, Fleming's estate is apparently turning to the short stories that have not been used yet (though one or two have been already). If you want to understand the meaning of Quantum of Solace, you don't need to buy this book, which is obviously marked up and marketed to cash in on the up-and-coming movie.

If you want to save money, buy the book FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. It's been available for decades and contains the same five short stories. From a View to a Kill and For Your Eyes Only have already been loosely borrowed. The remaining three stories - Quantum of SOlace, Risico and The Hildebrand Rarity. This is nothing but a retitled paperback of FOR YOUR EYES ONLY so you can save money and buy that instead. Unless you like slick covers and packaging.

This is a collection of all of the nine short stories about James Bond which were written by the late Ian Fleming.

(Fleming, of course, created the character of James Bond and was the author of the books which became the basis for all the James Bond movies. In addition to the short stories, Fleming wrote twelve novels about Bond.)

Over the years, these short stories have been kept in print in two collections: _For Your Eyes Only_, with five stories; and _Octopussy and The Living Daylights_, with four.

Now, for the first time ever, every one of the nine stories have been collected in a single volume, _Quantum of Solace_, which makes owning all these stories more convenient and economical.

That's the good news.

The not-so-good news is that the publisher here exercised no imagination, merely sandwiching together the contents of the two books.

Looking for a well-written foreword or afterword about these stories or their author? No such luck: The publisher includes no foreword or afterword at all.

The stories as earlier collected were not arranged according to the sequence of James Bond's life -- or to any other discernible plan. This new omnibus collection does absolutely nothing to fix that -- it just puts one unchanged collection behind another unchanged collection. This is disappointing, because we know from books by researchers like John Griswold (_Ian Fleming's James Bond: Annotations and Chronologies_) that there are sound ways to sequence the stories (and novels) by events in the life of James Bond.

Here are the contents of _Quantum of Solace_, as arranged in the book:

(Repeating the contents in sequence from _For Your Eyes Only_ ...)

"From a View to a Kill"
"For Your Eyes Only"
"Quantum of Solace"
"Risico"
"The Hildebrand Rarity"

(... and then repeating the contents of _Octopussy and The Living Daylights_)

"Octopussy"
"The Property of a Lady"
"The Living Daylights"
"007 in New York"

I've been using QuickTime for nearly ten years, and have often been frustrated when trying to explain to people that it is not just for video and sound any more. The frustration stems from the lack of examples and explanations to use these powerful features for non-programmers. This book changes that. It explains clearly and wittily how to use QuickTime to enhance your website or CD-ROM, and take advantage of over 10 years of cutting-edge digital media technology for free.

[Full disclosure - I work for Apple on the QuickTime Engineering team, and know the author - believe me I wouldn't endorse this book if it wasn't great]

This book is a must have if you plan on working with QuickTime to make multimedia content available! I call this book 'a rare find', as it is great for beginner through master, leaving few questions unanswered or stones unturned. The text is a good mix of "how to" information combined with "tips and tricks" to get your implementations to work.

I purchased this book for its material regarding steaming content over the Internet, and learned a great deal in the process. The chapter on QuickTime VR answered my "how do they do that?" questions, and has led me to explore the use of this technique for my upcoming projects.

The QuickTime VR chapter is a good example of the depth of knowledge used to develop this text, as it gives in-depth information on photography techniques that only a mid- to experienced photographer would know.

My only criticism of the book is that it only begins to explore about half of the knowledge needed to set up your own streaming web server, but I can hardly fault the authors for that -- it says right on the cover "A Hands-On Guide for Webmasters, Site Designers, and HTML Authors." It says nothing about being aimed at System or Network Administrators. If your main interest in this book is the setup of streaming servers, you might want to consider another book (or better yet, purchase this book along with another to round out your knowledge).

With the ... QuickTime Pro included, I can say without reservation that this is one of the best computer book values I have ever purchased. The book paid for the rest of the cost by showing me how to trick Microsoft Internet Explorer / Windows Media Player in such a way that it will not try to open your .mov files (great in a Windows-dominated environment)!

Highly recommended, even if you have only a passing interest in QuickTime.

This is an important resource for anyone who is serious about maximizing the potential of Quicktime. At Rayhawk.com we have been using this book to enhance our web productions and the results have been noticable, not only to us, but to our clients (KFC, Taco Bell, BMW, Porsche).

The book is full of useful info and the author is fun and helpful. He assumes we have little prior knowledge with either QuickTime or HTML and by the end of the book, he teaches us how to produce some amazing content.

Mastering QuickTime is essential to quickly and easily building exciting, dymamic and interactive web sites. This book (QuickTime for the Web) is essential to mastering QuickTime for the web. It has saved me more time and energy than any book I've bought in the last two years.

This book is a must have! From how to create VR with interactive sounds and sprites - to getting your video or photos streaming on the web - this book shows you how. As a web master of a site with over 100 different Virtual Reality and QT movies, I found this book (and the free tools and interactive sprites for my use) to be invaluable. I reccommend it without hestitation. Luke Wonderly, Web master - vrbakersfield.com

A very intense story of a family's history. The author told everything, she did not hide any of the family problems. It was very hard to put this book down once I started to read it. What it was like in Alaska before any real public services were available. The depth of drinking and diseases that came with the white man. And the other social problems that existed because of no government or social structure to help the people deal with these problems.

All I can say is that it was hard to put down. I enjoyed learning about her life's experiences and her "coming of age" as a Native in the "modern" culture. Highly recommended read.

This is Velma Wallis' third book. Her previous works, "Two Old Women" and "Bird Girl & the Man Who Followed the Sun," deal with traditional stories told by the Gwich'in people of Fort Yukon. Her latest, "Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in Coming of Age Story from the Yukon River" is an autobiographical account of her growing up in Fort Yukon, Alaska. The book offers a very open and candid look inside not only the community of Fort Yukon, but also into the intimacies of her immediate and extended families.

For thousands of years, the Gwich'in people lived semi-nomadically along the Yukon, Porcupine and Black rivers until, within the course of two generations, they found themselves settled into a static community surrounded by evidence of modern day life. Wallis represents this "lost generation" caught between wanting to move forward into the modern world and yet yearning to retain the traditional ways of hunting, trapping and other forms of traditional knowledge. Through her, an outsider can see the struggle within the village and it's people as they are forced to adapt and evolve to the new ways.

The major issue that strikes the reader squarely between the eyes is the epidemic of alcoholism in Fort Yukon. It is not something that only affects the adult community, but as Wallis points out, teenagers and even children in some cases. One paragraph in particular brings the issue home:

"After days of drinking and fighting came the slow, painful task of sobering up. My mother's swollen face would gradually heal. My father's face would go blank as if nothing had happened. That was an emptiness about our cabin as in the aftermath of war - a war no one had won." (p. 107)

As a result of her parents' almost continual drunkenness, Wallis and her siblings were forced to quite literally raise themselves as best they could. Relying on their ingenuity, and each other, she and her fourteen siblings managed to make it to adulthood (a fifteenth child had been killed in a tragic accident).

"Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in coming of Age Story from the Yukon River" paints a fantastic story about growing up in bush Alaska. Descriptions of children cutting firewood, hauling water by the bucket from the river to the cabin, and even the family outhouse hold the reader's attention and keep the pages turning.

Wallis herself paints a picture of being a self-reliant, rebellious individual who, right from the start knew that she would have to take on the world on it's own terms. Somehow she managed to avoid many of the pitfalls through her own tenacity, and win. In the end, the book is obviously an attempt to deal with not only her past but that of her people as well, to begin the process of breaking away from the demons and healing the wounds of alcoholism.

I can't really say anything else. Just Thank You. My mother grew up during the "Great Depression" here in the USA. She raised several children alone. Your story is very much like hers. My oldest sister doesn't "read books" (????!) but I made her read the book jacket on this book, and she cried.

Oh the trials and tribulations we go through as human beings. And all the feelings we share. I look forward to more stories from you, and THANK YOU AGAIN, lovey. Thank you.

This story reminded me of my own growing-up years, not in Alaska, but on a reservation, nevertheless. It is a powerful book and reminds me of the strength our people have to survive, despite the odds, and interference of another culture. Velma, thanks for sharing in an honest and sensitive way, and letting us know we were not alone.

What a great read, just a pleasure to read the works of Sigurd. His stories give a real feel for what it is like in nature and gives a desire to enjoy the outdoors! His writing style is inviting and detailed, Truly a classic!

Every small story in this book seems to bring us peace & serenity. Sigurd brings out the part of a person that is called to nature and is connected with the earth. Every time we read from the book it seems to recenter us and put us back on track for better more fulfilling living.
The only semi-negative comment would be that his writing is very male dominated. This is not totally surprising since it is written in the early to mid 1900's.

This is the best book ever written on wilderness.

This book consists of 28 essays, each a few pages long. The essays discuss general themes related to the outdoors, with reference to the North Country from Minnesota to Alaska. Olson is a marvelous writer, and the essays are captivating.

The book is divided into three parts: "Primal Heritage," "Search for Meaning," and "The Imponderables." The first group of essays ruminate on themes such as nomads, hunter-gatherers, silence in the woods, and the implications of these themes for modern life. The second group on meaning concerns one-word themes such as harmony, aliveness, beauty, and simplicity. These essays would provide an excellent basis for discussion in a book group or a classroom setting.

The third group is the least successful, and moves to a poorly-developed religious climax. In earlier essays in the book, Olson revealed himself as a Christian who sees the beauty of God's creation in the great outdoors. In the third part he moves toward a more synthetic position, finding common ground among many religions. That's fine, but it leads him to two essays on an "emergent God," which don't really work. He is a nature writer, not a theologian, and it shows.

Though many of his themes are timeless, such as the need for people to discover their true nature away from their urban lives, Olson discusses many anachronistic practices. When he would arrive in camp, his chores might include cutting pine boughs for a mattress, chopping down a tree for firewood and tent poles, and other destructive practices. Those are no longer possible.

Olson also reveals himself as a man living in a patriarchal time. He would disappear into the woods for weeks or months at a time, leaving his family behind. In this book, he mentions his son Sig several times but never mentions his wife, who presumably raised Sig and managed other household chores. Olson also sings the praises of his canoe-makers, and the joys of simple food in the backcountry such as rice, beans, and meats, but he does not raise any of that food himself. This reveals him as being connected to a wider economy and to people such as farmers who cannot disappear into the woods as he can.

Would Olson have been able to live his life in the woods without his wife, farmers, canoe-makers, and others living their lives in a house? The thought never crosses his mind, but we should ponder it.

This book compiles some of Olson's best writings. In it, his last book, Olson further explores the concept of self-reflection and self-discovery through wilderness solace. His writing will be of interest to anyone who enjoys the outdoors (especially canoeing), but also readers who enjoy general contemporary philosophy.

Back in 1990 on a rainy night (or maybe it wasn't) I happened across a book in a bookstore entitled: Puzzles of the Black Widowers. I thought it looked interesting...it was! In fact, it was awesome, and so are any of the Black Widower books you can lay your hands on.

Tales of the Black Widowers
More Tales of the Black Widowers
Casebook of the Black Widowers
Banquets of the Black Widowers
Puzzles of the Black Widowers, and now
The Return of the Black Widowers

Each story follows the same outline. A monthly meeting is held in a private room in an exclusive New York Restaurant. The members take turn bringing a guest. Over dinner a mystery is revealed. The members of the club try to work it out, but in the end, their faithful waiter, Henry, solves the mystery. Does the formula ever get old? Never! These are incredibly well written stories, each one being very different and unique. There are 12 stories per book. This book "The Return" is a posthumous volume. Asimov died in 1992 leaving only 6 unpublished Black Widower stories. These are collected here and grouped with 10 of his all-time classics. Also included are two, paying homage to Asimov. Although the book is paperback, it is larger in size than the standard paperback and a screaming buy at $10.

This was one of my favorite series when I was younger, as I have a thing for short mysteries. The last of the Black Widowers books, this one was a good as any I've read. A must-have for any true Asimov or mystery fan.

Of course I had to buy it! I love Asimov, I love his style and wit. He passed away in 1992, but that only slowed his output without stopping it.

There are 11 stories repeated from previous collections, six stories gathered for the first time, one Black Widower story by someone else, and an hommage to the Black Widowers also by someone else. There's an essay by Asimov and Harlan Ellison's forward.

Ellison's forward is the first thing wrong with the book. Asimov was famous for refusing to have anyone else write introductions to his books. In his story collections he also appended miniature essays to each story, often about how he came to think of a particular plot; obviously these essays are missing here. Further, the two stories by other writers just didn't belong in an Asimov collection, they're intruding. Finally, a few of the last stories were written when Asimov was dying and they are simply no good. I read and enjoyed them for sentimental reasons only; they would disappoint readers new to Asimov or the Black Widowers.

So if you are already a fan of the Good Doctor's fiction, indulge yourself and enjoy. Otherwise, do yourself a favour and pick up another of his 400+ books.

Vincent Poirier, Tokyo

The Return of the Black Widowers


The Return of the Black Widowers (2003) contains:

The Acquisitive Chuckle

Early Sunday Morning

The Obvious Factor

The Iron Gem

To the Barest

Sixty Million Trillion Combinations

The Wrong House


The Redhead

Triple Devil

The Men Who Read Issaac Asimov

And some previously uncollected stories,including:

Northwestward

Yes, But Why

Lost In a Space Warp

Police at the Door

The Haunted Cabin

The Guest's Guest

The Woman in the Bar

The Last Story, by Charles Ardai

And an Afterword on the Birth of the Black Widowers







The Foreword by is by Asimov's Friend Harlan Ellison

If you've enjoyed The Black Widowers before or if you just enjoy a good mystery short story, I highly recommend this book.


Please be advised, it might be hard to put down.

Gunner April,2007

Being an avid fan of Issac Asimov my whole life, I have read many to most of his fictional works including the casebooks of the Black Widowers. But this particular edition and its highly intense forward by the Doctor's dear friend is the best mystery collection by far. Any Issac Asimov fan will love it as much as I do and any reader of the genre will be highly gratified by the intelligence and plot twists the dear Doctor ingeniously supplies in his stories.

This book starts off with a bang. Lucy Roseman, mother of Hollie, 8, Joshua, 7 and Lisa, 4 takes a drastic step with Hollie. Her oldest child has severe autism and is incontinent and nonverbal. Her destructive behavior, while never willful is taking a major toll on the family. After taking a less than successful stand with the local special education authories, Lucy steps up her quest to find a good residential school that will meet Hollie's needs.

This book is full of unique plot twists and some expected curveballs, such as an affair Lucy has with a delightful attorney who is involved with her legal case for Hollie. An odious barracuda named Paula and an equally unpleasant doyenne who is running for mayor add to the intrigue.

Poignant parts abound; Lucy's palpable delight at the prospect of making a dollhouse with her younger daughter shows her understandable longing to enjoy normal milestones with her child. Lisa and Joshua equate Hollie to Pinocchio and ask when Hollie will become "a real girl" the way Pinocchio became real. The younger children, their interests and needs which must also be considered is a major part of this story.

This book is a bonus and a very realistic look of life raising a child with severe autism and the education system in England. Lucy is a plausible and sensible character; readers keep hoping the family will find a good place for Hollie and respite for themselves as well. Hollie's destructive behavior range from ruining a wedding (albeit unintentionally) when she soils herself; dirties the bride's gown and demolishes the cake. While a disastrous affair, one can't help smiling a bit imagining the whole scene. It takes on a Dick Van Dyke-like pratfall humor, although it could not have been remotely funny to those present.

Still, readers are hooked - one cannot put this book down until reaching the intense conclusion. Ideal companion book to Tilt

From the first page, A Rock and a Hard Place grabs the reader and doesn't let go.
Ms Sutcliffe's style is full of dry humour and genuine warmth, with vivid descriptions which leave you in no doubt that she writes from personal experience.

A very human tale, offering an insite into the joy and pain of living with, and bringing up an autistic child, along with all the usual pressures of normal family life, and the dilema of what you do when a tempting but forbidden lifeline is offered.

The story speeds along taking the reader with it. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys reading and learning about how normal people cope in extraordinary circumstances.

I am sure other readers will ask themselves what they would have done under similar circumstances...

Coralie, Oxford, UK

What a fanastic book giving the reader an insight into life with an austistic child. This story based on Hollie and her family shows just how challenging life can be but always you know that Hollie's family will do their best for her and you can share their high's and low's in this wonderful book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this outstanding book.It is an enlightening and riveting read which I highly recommend.

As a mum, I couldn't believe another mum needing to put their child in boarding school could possibly be the right thing. But after reading this humorous but very moving tale,I completely understood and sympathised with this lovely lady.

This book is very inspiring. I would recommend it to all my friends.

-Terence

"Ruff Poems from the Heart" is a masterpiece from a new and talented writer. The book is collection of poems that inspire and motivate. Ms. Ruff in a "Thoreaun" sense inspires the reader to be all that he can be. Her poems reminds us of things we often think and feel but not able to verbalize.

You learn that "you cannot solve a problem with the same mind that created it." That "its what you expect, what you think about that expands." Once you have read the collection of poems you will learn how to avoid all thoughts that weaken you....that you do not have problems---you only think you do.

I short I found her poems to be refreshing, inspiring and highly motivational. I look forward to more and better things from this "new star."

This book is pertinent to all ages and walks of life. The universal content reaches out to anyone who will read it. The refreshing inspirational and comical poems add a new view to the mundane events of life. The true-to-life poems from the author's views are so good, that no one goes untouched. Monica-17 years old.

I am an English professor and I am always on the look-out for short inspirational readings to inspire my students. I had the great pleasure of meeting the poet, Leanora Ruff, at a doctoral seminar in May. It was then that I purchased and read her book of poetry. It reminded me of the qualities of Maya Angelou's poetry, especially "The Roaring River" on page 13 which reminds me of "On the Pulse of the Morning" by Miss Angelou. Leanora's poems speak to her children about her hopes and dreams for them. Her poems are meant to inspire you to overcome obstacles in your life. I am especially fond of the poems that praise God for his glory, presence, and the strength a strong faith can lend to one's life. Purchase this book and it will bless your life!

This book was very inspiring to me. There are so many facets that I can personally relate to. When I read it my mind is opened to new ideas and simple creativity that we sometimes take for granted. Optimism and challenge are words that the author was not keen on holding back. I am encouraged and determined to make this book a guideline for goalsetting.