Russia Books

Really great SF! Accurate historical context and well written. One of the best SF books I have read, and I have read hundreds.

I don't know why I haven't heard more about this book. I stumbled across it purely by accident but have been surprised to find it is one of the best reads I've had in this genre this year. Glad I found it.

For a very long time, this book was "Unavailable" or "Out of Print". Naturally, I found that intriguing. When this book became available to order, I wasted no time. I feel my wait was certainly rewarded.

Michael's prose is magnetic. It's as if I'm drawn to read faster and faster. These types of reads are rare, to me. Character development was effective, and the storyline is wonderful, even if controversial.

To anyone who likes Cold War books, this is a must-read. For those who want a good story to read, pick this up. I know your money will be well spent!

If you like Historic Fiction, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Spy novels, Cold War Political Intrique, or even action works (to a lesser extent) then this book is for you! It welds the aforementioned genre's together and is a perfect rainy sunday afternoon read. Hard to put down, and a fascinating scenario! I had to read it two times to be sure I didn't miss any details. Totally believable plot line and excellent characterizations, as well as interesting details on the space programs of the era from both the US and Soviet perspectives. I heartily recommend Red Moon.

So far I am about half way through the novel and it is a good read.

Mr Choron has done what few in the paranormal field have done. He has brought to light the paranormal experiences that everyday people have without the sensationalism. This is not a book about "how to" ghost hunt, it is a book about the everyday person who experiences the paranormal in a country that embraces and takes seriously the events that, as James L Choron puts it, "...exists but lies outside the accepted normal of the culture and society that surrounds it." After reading the book, I have to admit that there is hope in shedding light on the subject of the paranormal in a world that predominantly believes in a supernatural deity, but refuses to believe in the paranormal. Excellent book.

The stories in this book are very well researched & beautifully told. I hope there will be a second book!

The topic of ghostly lore never ceases to amaze me. From east to west, spirits manifest in similar manners and for similar needs. One area of untapped spectral potential is found in Russia, a vast land of diverse geographic features, which has been actively inhabited with civilizations for several millennia. It has been home to Greek traders, Gallic nomads, and Russian royalty. It has been swallowed up in conflict, from the aggressions of Napoleon to hosting a frontline for both World Wars to the inner turmoil of the Communist Revolution. These factors prove beneficial in Choron's "Footprints in the Snow" which gives an outlet to the neglected ghost stories of Eastern Europe.

One favored story includes that of Nadia Kozlova, the spirit of an over-achieving school girl. As Russia evolved into a communistic country in the 1920s children were encouraged, in the spirit of Marx, to go for an education. Nadia was an overachiever, striving to get the gold medal for academic excellence and hoping to go to university. She never missed a day of school, she turned in all of her assignments, and she came early to study in the library. This high standard proved to be her undoing. One morning, as she studied in the library, the coal bunker underneath the school ignited in a freak furnace accident. The entire building blew up, killing Nadia and the few staff and faculty there that early in the day. However, Nadia's insistence at finishing her education, and maintaining her standards, has not stopped. Every day teachers report finding her school work turned in, tucked neatly in a manila envelope that magically manifests. No one sees Nadia, but her presence is certainly felt. Her current GPA: a 4.9957.

Other stories contain mysterious World War I and II soldiers, lost to time but still trapped in this reality. Some are tied to old armaments that are re-discovered buried long forgotten under buildings and wedged in ravines. Some veteran ghosts give marital advice, while others appear hesitant to reveal their purpose to the living at all. There are remnants of tattered communist resistance movements that forever trudge their way out of the motherland, and dead children who still manifest while waiting for their parents to join them on the other side.

Choron, himself an investigator, includes some cases of anomalous imagery and extensive photo analysis. One case involves a reluctant soldier, who the author speculates is a deserter, who refuses to manifest for film. Only a fluke last minute shot, taken as Choron and his group leave the area, captures the outline of this sad figure, shading his eyes and watching the visitors in distrust.

Even the cover is intricately tied to the book. A skeletal figure dressed in the ornate military uniform of old Russia sits slumped in front of its casket. The story to this image can be found within the pages of the text - no spoilers here. You'll simply have to read the book for yourselves to find it.

Overall, it is a wonderful read. It is not so heavy that it becomes oppressive and negative, yet, unlike certain unmentionable television shows, it is not sensationalized. The reader's mind can create the circumstances of the manifestation while learning a little of what life is like in Eastern Europe in one of the most transformative times in modern history.

For ghost story lovers, this is a unique book that not only focuses on allegedly true and verifiable hauntings (which makes it all the more interesting), but also on those specifically taking place only in Russia, which is a little explored & specialized subject. As a student of Russian history AND a ghost story buff, I found it particularly intriguing. For the record, I do believe in a spirit world.

The stories are written in a conversational, informal tone and most are very short, which makes the book a quick and fun read. There are some stories that are particularly interesting because the author claims there is verifiable proof and witnesses to them, such as the ghost army in "Legion of the Damned" and the ghostly little girl in "Our Little Hero." I also found "The House in the Woods" interesting because at first the reader thinks that the old house is haunted, when in fact only its creepy surroundings are. And the story about the cat called "The Countess" tugged at my heartstrings; I actually found it the most touching of all, even though it's the only one regarding an animal haunting ("I love you, Papa").

However, I did find a few historical inaccuracies in the book. For example, in the story "The Little Drummer Boy," the author writes that Tsar Nicholas II was reigning in the year 1882; however, he actually became Tsar 12 years later, in 1894. This makes me wonder if other parts of the story are true, such as when the Tsar speaks at the little boy's funeral. And in "The Legion of the Damned," it is claimed that Tsar Alexander I was Tsar Nicholas I's father, when, in fact, he was his brother. Little things like that make this history buff nitpicky.

Also, a lot of the stories have predictable and formulaic endings. At first, the conclusions are quite a surprise, but then so many of the stories finish the same way that from the beginning I started to figure out how they were going to end ("I bet so-and-so is really a ghost, right?"). It doesn't surprise anymore.

A great majority of the stories deal with the period of WWII. I'm sure this period produced a great deal of ghosts due to the massive casualties endured during wartime, but frankly I got a bit tired of reading about another soldier or war story. A little more variety in the historical time periods covered would have been appreciated.

I would also have loved to have seen pictures included in this book of the places involved. There is the story of "Our Little Hero," for instance, for which there is supposedly a verifiable photo of a ghost which I would have loved to see. Or some of the photos and news reports concerning the "Legion of the Damned." I would also have liked to see some of the haunted sites - homes, churches, forests, etc. mentioned in the book. Especially since the author claims that at so many of these places, it's as easy as walking up to them on any given night and you will be practically guaranteed to see or hear the supernatural events (probably only if you are "sensitive," though; I'm sure not EVERYONE who goes to these places will see something).

Finally, I didn't find any of the stories to be particularly scary, with perhaps a few exceptions. Creepy perhaps, but not outright frightening. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. Many of them deal with benevolent or simply unaware ghosts who don't realize they are dead. Some are residual hauntings, like a tape recorder playing their deaths over and over again, but they do not interact with anyone. The ghosts in these stories leave you with the impression that they are actually not to be feared, but to be helped or pitied, and sometimes they even bring comfort and help to the living. They left me with a happy feeling inside after reading many of the stories, and so they are not super scary.

Despite my critiques, I did enjoy the book and I would heartily recommend it to anyone interested in Russia or in ghosts, or both! And by the way, for those who are wondering, the author is planning a sequel to this book in 2008.

I love this book. It is more than a book of just ordinary ghost stories. These ghosts have personality and endearing qualities. It really makes you think about what happens to life after death.

This book is equally great for those who have little background information on the Cuban missile crisis or those who are very familiar with the subject. The research us up to data and the material is written in a way that will not turn away fiction readers.

THIS IS A TRULY EXTRAORDINARY COMMENTARY ON A DEFINING MOMENT IN CONTEMPORARY HISTORY....WELL WORTH A READ....A RECOMMENDATION FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS ACTUALLY THERE.

We remember the Cuban Missile Crisis as the most dangerous moment of the Cold War...when we were "eyeball to eyeball". As time has allowed access to records and players on all three sides, the truth turns out to be much more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. Michael Dobbs does a commendable job following the chronology of the crisis from a variety of levels: in the Kremlin and the White House; as well as in the cockpits, conning towers, and firing rooms. JFK's cool leadership was a product partly of his searing experience as a rookie president with the Pentagon and the CIA during the Bay of Pigs fiasco. 18 months later, in this penultimate crisis, he was very skeptical and cautious of the vehement demands of Curtis LeMay and others to launch airstrikes and an invasion. We can now see how the invasion would have turned out: armed to the teeth with battlefield nukes, our invasion force would have been vaporized by the Soviets and Cubans on the beaches, with WW III immediately following.

It is just by the most remarkable luck that some little thing didn't go wrong, accidentally or in anger by any one of a vast number of warriors on both sides, armed to the teeth, eyeball-to-eyeball, on hair-trigger alert. Kennedy and Khrushchev both understood the danger in no longer being in control...that, as Kennedy remarked, 'there's always some s.o.b. who doesn't get the word'. That we both were able to disengage is nothing short of a miracle...again, thanks to Dobbs able retelling, a vastly greater miracle than we ever knew. Like a man in the street who is just missed by a swerving car, every day for humanity since October 1962 is our renewed lease on life.

I also remember the Cuban missile crisis. I was in college and remember the Sunday night speech and watching the Russian ships heading for the blockade line. I also was of age to idolize President Kennedy and be inspired by him.

I reading Mr. Dobbs work all the memories came back. This book really covered the back stories. The CIA almost silly attempts to overthrow Castro, the mistaken U2 overflights of Russia and the lack of the ability to communicate. Also I learned for the first time the number of troops the Russians had in Cuba. Lastly, I was so impressed with how human error got us closer to war.

The most important part of the book was the understanding how both leaders realized that war was the last option and not the first. When looking at the abyss they each understood they needed to find a way around it. Mostly, I was impressed with the wisdom and sense of history of JFK.

I could not help reflect upon our current leadership. Before going to war did they really understand the costs and the dangers. As we come closer to the return of the Cold War, reading this makes me understand the importance of judgement in our leaders. This book really explains not who will answer the phone at 3AM but what will they do when it rings.

With all the historic lessons Mr. Dobbs wrote a book in a thriller format. There were sections I was at the edge of my seat even though I knew the answer. This proves great history does not have to be dull

This book should be required reading for every college student in the US. Thank you Mr. Dobbs for such a valuable lesson written in such an entertaining way.

Wow. Even though everybody knows how the Cuban Missile Crisis ended, this book had me sweating it out. The new info that Michael Dobbs turned up made me realize that no one really knew what was going to happen. The politicians, from Kennedy and Khrushchev on down, were kind of making it up as they went along. I had learned about the Cuban Missile Crisis in school, but this book brought it to life in a way that no textbook on any subject ever managed. This book isn't just for history buffs. It's really a book for everybody, I think, because it shows how much international relations ought to matter to all of us.

Easier reading than Gulag Archipelago (also 5 stars),
and with more about life in the motherland,
politics in the motherland,
death in the motherland,
a real close look at prison in the motherland,
and life in the motherland again.

The motherland sucks, wear a helmet.

If you like this book try
The Gulag Archipelago: 1918-1956

I've read this book twice and coming behind the Holy Bible it is one of the best books I have ever read. To read about the hardships that Victor Herman suffered, endured, and survived is nothing short of amazing. I realize that I have absolutely nothing to complain about for the rest of my life.

In America we take so many blessings for granted - family, church, friends, freedom, food, sports, ect. Material blessings are nice but they are not as important to me anymore. I will try to always keep a grateful attitude and to never take the blessings of God in my life for granted. I agree with the other reviewers that this book needs to be reprinted and required reading in all high schools.

My perspective on life has changed for the better because of reading this book. When times get tough, I am reminded of Victor Herman and 2 Timothy 2:3 which says, "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." Trust in God, overcome all obstacles, and never, ever quit.

Easier reading than Gulag Archipelago (also 5 stars),
and with more about life in the motherland,
politics in the motherland,
death in the motherland,
a real close look at prison in the motherland,
and life in the motherland again.
The motherland sucks, wear a helmet.

It's not possible that there's a more painful-to-read memoir than
'Coming Out Of The Ice'-which was somehow made into a forgettable
movie.'Ice' was written by Victor Herman who went to Russia for the Ford Motor Company in 1931 and was his family's only survivor;he was finally allowed to leave Russia in 1976 and
accomplished the ultimate longshot by dying in his hometown of Detroit at 69 in 1985.Herman,who spent 10 years in an extermination camp,where he was sent in 1938,initially got into
trouble with the Russians after he set the world parachute record of 24,000 feet in 1934-and refused to renounce his American citizenship.The book feautures one of the prime exhibits of Henry Ford's Jew hatred;Ford,according to the book paid a personal visit to the Herman residence to hasten their departure from the US.Ford later beat Herman's lawsuit for
deliberately abandoning the Herman family by arguing that the deal to send the Herman's back to Russia,was made with Victor's parents.Anyone with half a heart who reads this is sure to believe that Victor Herman should've become the first Jewish president of Ford.

I was training for a marathon while I read this book. When I started to get a cramp or my legs hurt I would think about what he went through and keep going. I gave this book to a friend who took it on a trip to hike Kilimanjaro. When he got back he said that at the end of the day members of the team were reading the book but couldn't complain about how tired they were especially after reading how Victor Herman's wife and daughter trekked through the snow to be with Victor in an 8x8 hole in the snow living off of potatoes. This book also puts into perspective how little communism cares for individuals and how evil Stalinism was and is.

This is a great book, all of Kapuscinski`s books are great. It takes you for a journey you don`t expect. Great style and I always regret it`s over, after I finish to read his book.

As stated in most of the reviews of this book, Kapuscinski is a great writer. If you have not read him allready, read this book and understand why. If you allready have read him, you are going to read this book based on what you allready have learned to know.

Having given Kapuscinski the credit he obviously deserves for his writing, I believe there is some points that should be done.

-First Kapuscinski stands on the shoulders of giants. His writing is to a great extent the result of the local people that he meets on his journeys and agrees to open their region and their lifes to him.

-Kapuscinski is a very gifted writer endeed, that have read a lot about the places and peoples that he visits. On one hand this is what always makes his writing so alive, something to go back to and read agian, so informative. On the other hand gret litterature sometimes can serve as a way of getting away with having little or nothing to really report from the battleground when his plan fails or when he does not get what he intended out of a trip. Striking examples of this is his journey at the Trans-siberian railway where he only observes the Soviet Union through the train window or to Nagarno Karabakh where he is stuck inside an airport, a car and a flat. That his stories is as intriguing, even when he hardly experience "what the war looks like on the ground" is a clear sign that his capabilities as dramaturg and writer can make up for a rather thin story. Even when he gets the chance to write the story he intended from a place he visits, the timeframe and the difficulties he worked under limits his insights compared to the writers that have covered the area afer him.

-Some paragraphs in the book makes me a bit uncertain about how good the translation is (my review is based upon the Norwegian translation). In the first chapter - Pinsk '39 the comment of a NKVD officer visiting their house "Muzh kuda?" is traslated "where is your husband" instead of the correct "Where have your husband gone", meaning that the NKVD officer allready knows that he has recently been in the house, meaning someone has infomed the NKVD that Kapuscinski's father (a hunted partisan) has recently been in the house. Things like this is not a big deal, but it makes you start thinking about the quality of the translation in general and if it can be the case that the author underplays the role of ordinary people as informers in the terror.

-In his story about the war in Pinsk 1939, his memory of the events as a child probably is an important expalianation behind the qualities of the stories. In the memory of a child events that would probably be described as horrorful and sad by a grown up, in the eyes of a smal shild gets exciting, intriguing, colorful and down to earth.

All in all, Kapuscinski is good reading and Imperium is a great intruduciton to the former Soviet Republics. To get true insight in the contemporary former Soviet Republics, you will need further reading though.

Perhaps history will never be told better than through the eye of this travelling writer (or is it a writing traveller?). Read and be awed by the staggering proportions of recent history in the vast empire that is no more, the Sovjet Union. And be chilled to the bones by the unimaginable amounts of suffering inflicted by the sovjet leaders on their own people. And be astonished that in the midst of the most utter despair, poverty, and enslavement, Kapuscinski can find optimism, humor, and love of life.

I purchased this book after reading about the author in the Wall Street Journal. He died earlier this year. The author, a journalist, kept two notebooks while on assignments throughout the world, one for his assignment and one for himself. In this book he combined his observations from several trips he took within Russia and its states over a span of many decades. At times his writing style can be quite poetic, and the book is not unlike a travel book, although Soviet Russia was not a friendly place at the times of his visits. I intend to read his other books, and highly recommend this one.

A lyrical masterpiece by this superlative writer! Nowhere have I found a dissection of the Evil Empire done with such fluid verse. He goes from the periphery into the heart of the beast and everywhere he discovers that appearances deceive and what seems to signal change is really a re-hash of old. Kapuczinski's sharp analysis and trenchant comments will be sorely missed!

"The Romanovs: Love, Power & Tragedy" is perhaps the best book on the last Imperial Family of Russia. Its aim is to not only tell the story through written text, but also through large, beautiful photographs - some which have never been published elsewhere, and most specially, through the very words of the Imperial Family themselves. It begins with the Tsar's and Tsarina's childhood, to their courtship and marriage, coronation, their family life, the 300th anniversary of Romanov rule, the Great War, and to the Tsar's abdication, his family's imprisonment and later their execution. It is not an ordinary book, but is so lovely and charming and will surely be treasured and cherished.

This wonderful book contains beautiful pictures of the last Romanovs. I own about 50 books related to Tsar Nicholas II, and this one is my favorite!

This book is too good for words!!!! The pictures are wonderful and the text is just as good. I suggest this book to anyone. It is worth it!!!

If you are the type of Romanov buff that really enjoys seeing a good deal of photos of the family as you read, then this is the book you need to get. This book is awsome, the pages are filled with photographs of the family. Some of the pictures take up the entire page. The photographs range from Nicholas's family, to Alexandra's family, and then to the family they made together as the Tsar and Tsarina of Russia. Some of the photographs are really rare, that have not been seen in other books. You will really appreciate that when you look through this truly well accomplished book.
When you have had your fun looking at all the great photographs thats when you should start to sit down and read the book. The text is so rich and well written. The author goes into great detail in describing the life of this wonderful family. Each major event of their life is carefully laid out into a well researched story. It's an easy read that is not at all boring or misleading. The book is not entirely political, which is a big plus to me. If you just want to educate yourself more on this extrodinary family, don't get a book that is completely focused on Russian politics of the period. This book is the one to buy and trust me it is well worth the money.

This book is THE best pictorial/essay on the last Romanovs. I am a Russian history buff and probably have most, if not all, books on the Romanov family (up to this last Tsar-Nicholas II) and this book is by far the most interesting and fascinating with many photos that have never been published before. This book remains close at hand since I find that I go back to it to either re-read, or use as a reference as I am reading another book. It definately belongs in your library if you find that this time in history is of interest to you.

Anastasia's Album is definitely the best children's book on the Romanovs! The main personality is Grand Duchess Anastasia Nicolaevna - the youngest daughter of Nicholas and Alexandra, and a very lively girl who enjoyed activities and taking photographs. One very charming aspect of this book is seeing Anastasia's very own photo album, which she often hand-decorated herself - drawing and painting borders around her photographs and even adding a little colour to her pictures. Anastasia's Album also informs the reader of the Romanovs' family life up until their last days in Ekaterinburg.

Although the book's main targeted audience are children, Anastasia's Album will charm readers of absolutely all ages! Very cute book!

Since I'm writing a research paper, this was such a useful source for me to use. I loved the pictures and the information. It had so much of it! I was amazed; blown away. This is an amazing book for both kids and adults and I hope you get something out of it too!

This is an excellent book about Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Russia's last tsar. As many know, Anastasia was murdered with her entire family in 1918. This book tells Anastasia's story through her own words. Her letters reflect a happy, secure young girl who came from a loving family. It shows readers a world that is gone and will never return. Though it was written for young children, all ages with enjoy "Anastasia's Album!"

The first time I found this book at the public library I just barely seen Fox's movie Anastasia for the first time. Surprised to find out that Anastasia was a real person, I checked out the book expecting it to be similar to most biographies.

Boy was I wrong. This book absolutely blew me away. Anastasia's album is a wonderful look into the life of the Grand Duchess Anastasia, daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, the last tsar of Imperial Russia. Imagine my surprise to find out that Fox's movie was nothing like Anastasia's real life, although many of the costumes and sets came from real items. Full of pictures, this book also included bits from Anastasia's real diary. A remarkable biography about a remarkable girl.

I remember this book from when I was a kid, after the 'Anastasia' movie came out my friend had this book, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. It's full of beautiful photos and pictures the Grand Duchess drew herself. It seems really heartbreaking now that all she got to leave was her scrapbook.

I used to read Bony Legs when I was little. I was so excited when I saw it on Amazon. It's a silly story about a girl named Sasha and a witch who wants to eat her...good verses evil. Sasha helps some creatures along the way, and it turn, they help her escape the evil witch.
It's a quick read and it's lots of fun!

I have purchased this book for my neices usually around Halloween time.
It is a book not many have heard of, but always enjoy.

Tracy

This book by the Magic School Bus author is really fun to read. It is a russian fairy tale of a witch named Bony Legs who likes to eat children. The story is about a little girl who escapes because of all the good deeds she has done to help others -- a cat, a dog and a gate. My kids (5 and 3 years) really enjoyed it.

My four year old son REALLY enjoys this book. It's a fun read and reinforces the value of being kind to others. It's also a great introduction into Russian folklore.

I wouldn't normally bother to add a review when so many others have already written reviews, but I do have some noteworthy information for people considering buying this book. I'm a teacher advisor for a large public school program serving kids in grades K-12 who are out of regular school due to medical conditions. I have to tell you--this book is a HIT! It's an easy reader, but it's not babyish at all. I've had kids in grades K-8 like it, including middle school kids who are poor readers (often for ESL reasons). The story is just scary enough to be intriguing, but it has a happy ending; there's also an excellent theme of how kindness pays and a fantastic chase scene at the end. As a fairy tale connoisseur, I'm convinced that Baba Yaga--from the Russian tradition--is THE coolest, scariest witch ever. (For a longer variation of this story, see Baba Yaga and Vasilissa the Brave, retold by Marianna Mayer and illustrated by K.Y. Craft.) I only wish there were more stories told this simply and effectively, with this kind of broad appeal.

The author writes beautifully & this is well-translated.

The pages fly by. Terrific story, wonderful plot with twists & turns. Highly enjoyable.

i ordered this one and the 'special assignments' book at the same time and read them both back to back. the way that 'achilles' slips from fandorin's view to achimas's view is seamless and well crafted. the story moves quickly, and the internal politics between the different departments are just as interesting as the battle between our hero and his main adversary. i liked very much that akunin gives the antagonist a human side (as much as possible for a professional killer). the fact that fandorin is not entirely perfect, and he's not entirely invulnerable makes him so much more believable. this book is well worth your time if you loved earlier fandorin mysteries.

This is the fourth Fandorin story to be translated (with kudos to Andrew Bromfield for a great job) of the eleven stories that Akunin has written. It would be great if the publishers could get moving and get more than one book translated each year. Much of this book is a continuation of the story line from the "Winter Queen" and the conflict between Erast and the assassin Achimas.

The book itself has an inventive structure. The first part (which is divided into chapters) deals with Erast and the 'Death of Achilles' (aka General Sobelev) who was a hero to most of Russia. We learn that the General was planning a 'coup d'etat' and that he planned to set himself up as Tsar. He dies though, inflagarante and this is just the beginning of the story. Erast is certain that the General was murdered but he is not sure why, how or on whose orders. As he works his way through the maze of misinformation, double and triple agents, just as he is about to confront Achimas, the first part ends.

The second part (where chapters are headlined by names) is the biography or history of Achimas. How he came to be an assassin for hire and his training and background. We even see how he first encounters Erast. In the end we follow him through the murder of Sobelev and fill in some of the information left out in the first part. Again this section ends as he is about to be confronted by Erast.

The third part is the short (only twenty pages, two chapters) where the two antagonists square off and we learn the identity of the man who has ordered the 'Death of Achilles' and why.

Though I would have preferred to read more about the six years that Erast spent in Japan (I assume there will be flashbacks in future novels) the background on Achimas is entertaining reading.

A remarkable series to say the least , with an incredible backdrop of Russia towards the end of the period of the Tsars. The one thought which crossed my mind when I put down the novel was , just where was Boris Akunin all this while. Erast Fandorin , a 24 carat hero, is one of the best sleuths that you will encounter in literature.
The setting is 19th century Russia flirting with enlightenment , with significant tension simmering with imperial neighbors. The nation is rocked with the death of its favourite general in rather suspicious circumstances, conveniently in the same hotel where Erast Fandorin is lodged. What follows is a remarkable story of unravelling layers of intrigue .Every murder seems to indicate an acceptable closure to the mystery , but a never say die pursuit by the detective takes you deeper into the darker forces involved. Fandorin has a remarkable Japanese man friday which tends to deviate from the usual diet of dumb counterfoils to brilliant detectives. Fandorin is Holmes with Zen nay a Bond with restraint. There's much more than just Fandorin to savor here. The rather brutal rural Russian setting gives rise to a diabolical assassin who almost proves too much for out hero.
Its a great commentary on Russian society during the 19th century, much as the pipe smoking Holmes characterises Britain. Never a dull moment , this is a book to savor.

Erast Fandorin's return to Moscow is marred by the death of his war-hero friend, The White General - Mikhail Sobolev. Although the apparent cause is an unexpected heart-attack, Fandorin, exercising his unusual observation skills suspects foul play. As he investigates the circumstances, it seems he's correct, but nobody is willing to acknowledge the reality. Fandorin, in fact, sees any support for his seeking the truth not only whither away, but become outright hostile. This is a very political crime, indeed. In an excruciatingly twisted and seemingly endless story, Akunin has again demonstrated the skills that have made him one of Russia's most popular contemporary writers.

Unlike some of the Fandorin books, such as "The Turkish Gambit" where our hero often seems limited to almost cameo roles, the "collegiate assessor" - his innocuous-sounding official title - is more present and accounted for in this story. He even demonstrates his skills at disguise to enter one of Moscow's less salubrious evening entertainment establishments in search of information for his quest. Although the politicians fail to provide Erast with any support, the "registrar's" time in the Orient enabled him to gain a helpmeet. Masahiru, who bears an interesting resemblance to Peter Sellers' "Kato" in the Inspector Clouseau films, has interesting tastes in both food and women. A samurai, he's taught Erast much, but is seriously challenged in adapting to the West. Still, it's a team with amazing potential. Akunin has a talent for giving us only a partial view of Fandorin. Even after four introductions, we remain uncertain of with whom we are dealing. Which certainly doesn't detract from the story.

In this tale, a new prose style and an unexpected element appear as a departure from the rest of the series. The style is slightly more open and there are flashes of humour rarely present in Akunin's work - if you set aside ironies. In many ways, this is the most "readable" of the Fandorin tales. Subtle differences from the rest of the series - it is less "imitative" than the previous books -providing it with a characteristic flavour. The element is to set aside over a third of the book to a [seemingly] new character - Achimas. Akunin develops this man in exquisite detail, weaving a compelling, if disturbing narrative around the forming of a dedicated killer. Known as Aksahir - the "White Wizard" - Achimas moves through Russia and into Europe building a reputation. With so much space dedicated to Achimas' story, it's clear that a confrontation with Fandorin is inevitable. Its resolution, of course, will have surprising twists. After all, this is Akunin! [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

When Hitler was asked about the possible negative consequences of the "final solution" in gassing all the remaining Jews in the world, he is reported to have responded by asking the question of "Who remembers the Armenians" who were killed by the "young Turks" at the end of the Ottoman Empire. While the numbers are in dispute, the reality is that over a million were killed outright or died of hunger during the campaign to exterminate the Armenians. But the real hidden holocaust took place over a decade later, when the Communist jackals running the "Evil Empire" in Moscow set about to eliminate the Ukrainians by systematic starvation, in far greater numbers than Hitler was able to accomplish with his ovens in concentration camps all over Europe.
Whoever Miron Dolot is, since he wrote this under a pseudonym for some reason, he lived a horror for many years that is incomprehensible for normal human beings. His description of the day-to-day struggle to exist under a system so evil that it boggles the imagination was very eloquent. Dolot talks about the neighbors who starved to death, families who engaged in cannibalism in order to survive, mothers committing suicide after the last of their children had died from malnutrition, frozen bodies stacked like firewood, roads littered with the remains of those who died trying to find a kernel of corn to ingest, and many other horrors that bring tears to your eyes. The Soviets did everything they could do to kill their opposition, including killing dogs and cats to keep them from becoming the last remaining food source for farmers who had no other option to stay alive. Even birds were shot from the trees to keep them from the starving peasants. But it was not limited to the Ukrainians; just ask the relatives of the millions of Chechens, Ingushetian's, and others who wanted independence and were rewarded with death in Soviet concentration camps called Gulags. Most of this story deals with a small Ukrainian village, but it is a microcosm of what happened in the Communist utopia under Stalin. Some of the stories from those who returned to the village after the horrors of being transported in cattle cars and escaped from the gulags are no different than the pictures of the same form of transport shown in many Holocaust movies.
But this story is far better than many of the holocaust films we have seen from Hollywood that concentrated on the one committed by Hitler. And why have we not seen this book on film to put all of the holocausts committed in the last century in context? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that McCarthyism still exists in its original form, when the communists controlled Hollywood in the 30's and apologists like Walter Duranty of the New York Times, who carries the label of "Stalin's Apologist" won a Pulitzer prize for his misreporting from Moscow about how great Stalin was. Ken Billingsley and his masterful book "Hollywood Party" shows that the real "blacklist" existed when loyal Americans veered from Moscow's party line, and explains Ronald Reagan's contempt for the communists who controlled his union until he won election to rid the union of these lice.
This is a great book. Hopefully someone like Mel Gibson will convert this to film for those who do not read, but are mislead by the Hollywood elite who condemn the USA and would have lasted two minutes under the Stalinist regime they glorify.

In 1929, Joseph Stalin ordered the collectivization of all Ukrainian farms. During the resulting upheaval, some seven million Ukrainians died of starvation. But, while it ended with mass starvation, the Soviet program of oppression started with property confiscation, arbitrary arrests, judicial and extrajudicial murder, and a whole constellation of unspeakable mistreatment.

One of the survivors of this holocaust was a young Ukrainian boy, who survived the conflagration and World War II, and succeeded in escaping to the United States. Written under the pseudonym of Miron Dolot, this heart-rending book tells the story of what he saw throughout the holocaust, and what he felt and thought.

I originally picked up this book because my own family, who were Russian Mennonites, left Ukraine before this time, but all of the relatives that stayed were annihilated to the last man, woman and child. Even so, I dare anyone to read this book and not be moved. The author does an excellent job of bringing the heartless insanity of this holocaust home to right where you live.

So, if you are interested in Russian or Ukrainian history, then I highly recommend this moving book to you.

This book is a record of what some daily life was like in the Ukrainian villages during the Great Famine.
It is his memoirs, so it cant really be judged for facts and such, but it seems very intresting to read, and accurate.
The numbers couldt be a tiny bit too high, but it might actually have been that, but we will never know due to the destruction of any documents concerning mass death in The Famine.
I say its a good book, but would only recommend it too people intrested in Russian History specifically, because its such a specific and narrow read on a subject, from a first hand account, which usually dont know everything. There are better academic books out there documenting the famine well, but this is nontheless a good read and history.

Excellent first hand account of the attempts of collectivization under Stalin; attempts that met with little or no success. I earned and received a Bachelor of Arts in History and this subject was never covered as well as it should have been. The "less hidden" Holocaust always seems to take center stage in this society. I became interested in the subject due to the flight of my paternal grandparents from the affected area prior to the full onslaught being felt.

It seems impossible that, in a place comparable to the American Midwest for rich soil, that the people who live there, millions of them, starve to death in spite of the bounty of their land. But their Ukrainian farms are collectivized by orders from faraway Moscow. The food is shipped to wherever the authorities decide it will go. This is not a dry history of bushels shipped and numbers of private farms collectivized, but a compelling depiction of lives progressively ruined as an ideology takes over. Families who resist collectivation are demonized as dirty, selfish kulaks, and are punished. The promises to the communities sound good, early on, but the resulting devastation of the Ukrainianian people that results ultimately reveals that there was not much in it for the people who worked the land.