O Books

This book was very helpful and easy-to-read, I found it even easier to follow and read than "Windows '95 for Dummies." While the size can look intimidating (bigger than some phone books), you are soon pleased to find out that the size is such to accommodate many pictures of exactly what the screen looks like through each individual point-and-click step, making it much easier to stay on track with your applications. The detailed table of contents made it easy to jump right to the page you wished to view to take care of any specific problem or question you might be having about something. Since I had never used any version of Windows before,I found this book to be extremely helpful, and I would consider it a "must-have" for anyone making the jump to Win '95 or those who would like to have a great "how-to" book at arm's length. Very well-done

I teach Windows 95 at our college as well as consult with businesses. I recommend this book often to clients and students. It is one of the best manuals I've seen on Windows 95. It is not-threatening.

This book is clear, concise, and very easy to understand. I have several books, but have worn out the cover on this one. I have never had a problem that this book has not shown me; in diagrams; how to solve. I give it a "20". Wonderful for the novice just starting with Windows 95, or as a reference for any problems that may arise. This book resides within easy reach beside my computer. I teach computer basics to senior citizens, and ask them to purchse this book in my first class

I purchased this book to teach my Windows 95 class. I taught a class before with a different book and nobody in the class payed much attention. The first class I taught with this book everyone was excited. They looked through the book and they were ready to learn. I purchased two other books on Windows 95 and neither of them stood up to The Big Basics. I really enjoy using this book because of the Guided Tours it has. It lets everyone follow along without being lost. And when they take the book with them they will have a great study guide for home.

An excellent book for both the beginner and the experienced computer user. As a teacher using this book in the classroom, I found that the numerous illustrations combined with the clear step by step directions easily walked my students through the workings of Windows 95. I would call this book a definate must have for any computer user's library.

This is a brilliant book. The author searches for the reasons why his two grandfathers - one Irish, one Turkish - both ended up in prison during the Second World War. His Turkish grandfather, Joseph Dakad, was interned by the British in Palestine on suspicion of spying for the Germans. His Irish grandfather, Jim O'Neill, was interned by his own government in the Curragh as a member of the IRA. By subtly intercutting the two stories, the book looks at nationalism in two very different contexts - the polyglot post-Ottoman culture of Turkey in the years between the two world wars, and the hidden story of Irish republicanism between De Valera coming to power and the resumption of The Troubles in 1966. In searching for the reasons why these two very different men were interned, O'Neill illuminates the unspoken ideas of nationalism and individuality that permeate (like DNA)the two sides of his family. While he sifts through British intelligence reports on "undesirable" activity in Jerusalem, and discovers who really murdered Admiral Somerville in West Cork in 1936, O'Neill's book is shot through with contemporary echoes of his grandfathers' ordeals. As the author watches Bernadette Sands reject the Good Friday Agreement in the name of Ireland's republican martyrs, and questions Yitzhak Shamir about the morality of political assassination, we realise that the ghosts of these men still haunt today's headlines, and our ancestors can assume the power of an unconscious force over our political reflexes.

O'Neill's "split" background led to an interesting life and a fascinating family history. Great read. Would like to get my hands on his other books. Picked up this book in February and missed his book signing in Dublin by hours. Would really like to know how long it took him to intricately research the book.

must read for Irish history buffs, Turkish history buffs, or WWII.

I simply could not put this book down. Much more than an entertaining portrait of early 20th century life in some remote places, this is a highly informative social and political history and a compelling reflection on nationalism, patriotism and the fears, violence and intrigues which sometimes accompany them. Mr. O'Neill obviously has talents for both research and scene-painting, and his writing is both literate and engaging. After 340 pages, I was sorry to put the book away. But I feel wiser now that I have made the journey with Mr. O'Neill.

"Blood Dark Track" provides a fascinating background into the history of both Ireland and Turkey during the first half of the Twentieth Century. These two very disparate regions actually have more in common than we would initially suppose: neutrality during WWII, an antipathy to British Imperialism, persecution of religious minorities, and layers upon layers of history underlying bloody Twentieth Century history.

These areas also combine in the persona of the author, Joseph O'Neill, who has provided an intriguing personal narrative of his own family. His father's side, Catholic, poor, and Republican from Cork; his mother's, Catholic, bourgeois, and apolitical from Mersin (a coastal city near Syria). Their meeting is as fortuitous as it was unlikely.

The author deftly melds the pieces into a coherent whole, despite geographic, cultural, and temporal distances. Because of the personal connection of the author to events, people, and places, it reads more like a novel than a history.

Informing the story is the author's discovery of his grandfathers, both as family and as characters in two distinct, though subtly parallel, historical contexts. I was surprised to find the story so gripping that I finished it in three days.

This is one of the finest books published in many years. On the surface the book tells the stories of O'Neill's grandfathers. Both stories are of interest, both touch on historical events of interest; but it is the softness and absolute intelligence of O'Neill's voice that makes this book a classic. In relating the experiences of his grandfathers, O'Neill takes us through his own intellectual struggle as he attempts to apply the rational tools of the barrister/philosopher to the world of strong ethnic identities that haunted him from the world of his grandparents. If this were not enough, O'Neill treats us to a rather fine sense of humor -- again, never obvious but always there and always effective.

How can one thank an author they have never met face to face that has helped you get through a storm of life? While volunteering at Ground Zero as a Red Cross nurse, I was given this book of hope while I was mentally overloaded and feeling everyones pain in a real physical way. This book soothes the soul and if one will let it, it can start the healing process. I have brought out this small book many times as the wounds keep opening. I have found peace,and comfort.I recommend this book to be bought and given to any that are going through any kind of a personal "storm" whether it be emotional, physical, or spiritual.
As you give this gift, whisper a prayer for the miracles that will take place. Thank you Cecil Kemp for the healing words. I am writing this with tears in my eyes and cheecks as I think of my time at ground zero and being introduced with your book of healing. May you go with God.

My son and the author of this book, wrote this book to help give me comfort after my husband and Cecil, Jr.'s dad passed away. I was going through a hard time coping with the loss of my husband of 49 years. Not only did this book help me understand God has a plan for our life, but in death he helps us to understand by learning to trust in Him. We will have storms in our life, but there is hope. This book was inspirational.

Cecil Kemp, Jr. was a student of mine. After reading this book, I felt the information contained in it was invaluable. Cecil Kemp, Jr. is an excellent author, who relates well to others in coping with the trials of life.

This book was given to me after the loss of my husband. This book hit home to me. This book provides excellent wisdom to get through losses in our lives.

I felt this book was written especially for me. This is a book that I can relate my life to. I recommend this book to people who are going through trials in their own life.

este libro de veras, trata este asunto desde la perspectiva de los dos lados en una manera unica y verdadera. Hasta la fecha no sé si haya un libro tan real, tan hasta al grano que, con una certeza y verdad brutal, ataca a los dos gobiernos y sus mafias malisimas.
Los datos sobre la familia Bush sobre todo, y como se han metido cizaña en los asuntos de todos sectores de la economia, hasta contratos con el sistema penal son verdaderamente asombrosos.
Si necesitas leer algo para tu clase en la universidad, o simplemente quieres un libro sobre las frontera, este es. Sin leer este libro no tendrás ninguna perspectiva adecuada.

If issues of the border, immigration or the prison system affect you, you need to read this book. Enjoy the book.
Half of the royalties for this book are going straight to legal costs for rainforest defense so that corporate developement can be stopped. Especially pristine coastal habitat like mangrove esturaries which are critical and endemic habitat areas for many species of wildlife. We don't need anymore of the coast to look like Cancun or Acupulco now do we?
Richard Alevizos

This was a very interesting book!! Much of the material presented was first-hand and anecdotal, and sometimes reads like a diary.. yet throughout the book, it also reads like a formal treatise on the subject at hand: our country's flagrant misuse of tax dollars, solely designed to administer unreasonable immigration control, and designed to uphold a clearly pork-barrel agenda to keep the lower classes lower and the upper classes upper.

As a staunch "centrist" who generally frowns on lefist conspiratorial blather, I was nontheless able to identify with the liberal slant of this book, for the simple reason that it mostly espouses simple truths about the matter at hand with regard to our prison system. In other words, after reading this novel, even a right-wing conservative has to admit: our prison system is completely out of hand. I was also impressed by the authors' knowledge of the hispanic culture(s?) and his general ability to capture the essense of our troubled lands "down south".

The author has lived a strange and particular tale, and unlike a vast majority of the prison populace, was able to put his experiences to paper, with the hopes that others might benefit from his ordeal. My only regret is that the book does not follow through on the ultimate outcomes of the authors' experiences as well as his subjects, and instead, leaves us all wondering, "what happens next"? A Great Read...

The border is an artificial construct designed to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. The simple fact that our companies can go down there and set up shop and destroy the environment and offer terrible wages to poor mexicans while screwing over people in this country is testimonial enough to the "border". And the fact that those who cross over it to get here become nothing more than the very economic slaves used to pick your kid's strawberries or trim the fat off your beef or pork at your friendly neighborhood rendering plant says it all. How about the economic slave getting your big maccie ready with the super size me it fries and corn syrup. And while the 65% obese U.S.A. complains that it can't get its goods cheap enough it also complains about poor workmanship or quality of product. I think it was those very same who not only weren't satisfied with John the Baptist running around the woods in a loin cloth eating off a leg of raw venison, but they weren't satisfied with Jesus in his fine clothes and decent food. Nothing can make them happy!
And so just like these self same people who complain about the quality of their goods and services, tomorrow they would compain if there was nobody there to serve their selfish obese(and overinflated) egotistical needs. And if they had the nerve to complain about the lack of service, at least they wouldn't be complaining about the quality, it wouldn't be an isse at that point. Because if tomorrow all those illegals went home for good, the U.S.A. would be on its knees and in no time at all it would be beggin for its shadow workers to come back. Heck if that happened, if all the illegal Mexicans went home, the U.S.A. would have to get rid of the border all together in an effort to entice those shadow workers to come back to their often dangerous low paying job so it could stimulate its "shadow" economy and save itself from "starving".

One could tell this book is as informed as anybody in any think tank in Washington D.C. or on Wall Street. The facts infused within the anecdotal dialogue combined with the author's common sense and street smart give a whole new twist to the immigration debate. Why are we listening to a bunch of strictly white guys on Wall Street? And everybody knows Washington D.C. is out of touch with thegeneral populace.
As one review indicates, it leaves you hanging with that sense of what is next, but it's message pressages the immediacy of a solution to this problem before it gets more out of hand and more wasteful. This should leave the reader with a sense of urgency to resolve this problem so that more of the money that gets wasted can be diverted to worthy causes, like disaster relief, true disaster relief.
Awesome book, somoebody should make a movie of it

O'Neill has created a new genre - all the action of a James Bond flick with the pithy insights of an insider who has really "been there and done that." Where Clancy and Brown extrapolate from the technology trade journals, O'Neill stays firmly grounded in the here and now to create an exciting, well-paced adventure yarn that may well be taking place today! If you enjoy fiction with a healthy dose of reality, a bit of raw romance, and a shooter's point of view, you'll enjoy this. Great read for the beach or cross country plane ride. Enjoy!

This is a fun book. There are a couple of things to like about this thriller. First, it just feels very authentic. You can tell the author did quite a bit of research or has spent serious time in the core of the middle east. I learned a lot just reading the book. Second, it's a thriller! What the heck is really going to happen to this guy and the military plot that simmers all around him? You never find out to the end, and I think there is plenty that surprised me by the end of the book. What more would you want out of a reading experience other than A) being taken on a thrilling ride and B) gaining some exposure to a very topical subject (the Middle East). Most American readers would enjoy this book, even those not particularly into military thrillers.

This was a really good summer reading novel. I was impressed by the detail about the Mid East, especially the oil industry and Saudi Arabia. I'm expecting another book to follow with Captain Chevalier as the main character.

This is a book that begs for screen time ! It is a roller coaster ride that takes you thru the real life grit of the intelligence community in the hottest area of the world needing more of it ! It exposes the quagmire of circles that the average man will never understand in ways you can't help but easily see while stil retaining it's mystery .. It is a total in your face "REAL" wicked smart suspense thriller. I would say that Mr. Clancy has to watch out and I look forward to more from this Author ! Only an insider could write this best and it was more than well done ! OUTSTANDING ! BUY THIS BOOK ! John

I found an advance copy of this novel at my postal center, laying on the table. So, I took it home and read it.

I really enjoyed the novel. I found it sensual, exciting and fun. The down-side is that it gets pretty military at some points. And I'm not a military guy.

The story tells about Captain Francis "Franco" Chevalier who is caught in an impossible situation, with a corrupt boss and an impossible task -- stopy a Saudi Army Colonel from overthrowing the government.

The story is unique in that there are two antagonists -- a Saudi Army Colonel and a wealthy British man.

I think this would make a good film. It has a solid set-up. Two good acts in the middle. Then, it has an ending that is totally different than the first 2/3s of the movie. Plus, a great surprise at the end. The suprise actually shows you your biases in thinkging about the Middle East.

The language and sentence structure of the writing are a little more complex than you'll find in the average "thriller" from Janet Evanovich or Tom Clancy. I think that made it a more valuable and ejoyable read. I also like that the main character sticks up for French-Americans!

Bread in the Wilderness, a classic by Thomas Merton so well known for bringing an enthusiasm for things of God to the Twentieth and Twenty-first century, was first published in 1953. It has been reissued by New Directions Publishing in the original large format text design with the original illustrations of a medieval crucifix at Perpignan, France. The photographs of this crucifix, taken by J. Comet, are presented in varied detail and perspective throughout the book in such a way as to complement the text. The text design, itself, is by Alvin Lustig as in the original, and presents the dropped or hanging running page information suggesting a crucifix and subtly informing the entire meaning of the book. For anyone interested in book design this volume is a valuable resource. Those who see a shocking modernity in medieval artwork and the depiction of faces high up in church and cathedral detailing will be interested as well. As for the writing itself and its importance, it is enough to say that the first chapter, based on the psalms, lays claim to its lastingness when Merton himself says, "the Psalms are one of the most valid forms of prayer ... of all time."

Who better then Thomas Merton, a poet and a monk, to share his feelings on the most significant and influential collection of religious poems ever written? In this book Merton teaches us that the Psalms not only sum up the teachings of the Old Testament, but they can serve as actual nourishment for those whose vocation is the life of prayer. This book offers inspiration on the Psalms and shows us how they can lead us become closer to God.

I highly recommend this book to all. And especially to those who seek to come closer to God daily in their contemplative life. Thomas Merton was Father Louis of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance and lived daily with the Psalms.

I commend New Directions for issuing a facsimile reprint of the original of this valuable book. Who would not say that here is a publishing company of enduring and impeccable taste? I have a copy of the original cloth bound book- it is beautiful, and easily one of my top twenty favorite books. I believe this is the book that comes most surely from Merton the poet. His consideration of the Psalms is inspired; the language in this book is as severe and ecstatic as are the Psalms themselves, and his insight into their relevance is without peer. The brevity of Merton's exposition is part of its potency. Nothing is wasted. Like the Psalms themselves, the veins of this book run deep in kingly rivers, announcing the heart of God like a morning song. Merton's interior acquisition of that song is of epic intensity, yet simple as clean water. I believe "Bread in the Wilderness" surpasses even "Seeds of Contemplation" in directness, common heart, and indeed artistic beauty. It's an indescribably beautiful book that moves, aches and rocks, and leads one, ultimately, to the inmost core of revelation, which is, after all, believability. Merton's references to the Psalms can be traced like a monk's thread throughout all of his writing, from the earliest books up through the posthumously published Journals. This book gives us a clear understanding of how constantly faithful Thomas Merton remained not only to the brilliant song of the Psalms themselves, but to the music of his own exceeding heart. And the woodcut Christ on the cover is so unfailingly Cistercian! This is a book that will live forever.

When Thomas Merton, a Trappist Monk, wrote BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS, he had fallen in love with the Psalms of the Old Testament. As a monk, he had chanted the Psalms every day of the week. The monks still do this today. This book is certaily about the Psalms as it relates to people seeking to understand God and Christ. In only the way Thomas Merton can write, one will discover many practical truths about the Psalms. As Merton writes, "The Psalms are theolgy. That means that they place us in direct contact with God, through the assent of faith in His revelation." Even though this is a brief book, it contains large amount of material for thought and study. There are five divisions in the book, and each division highlights how God speaks through the Psalms. To the poet, there are many Psalms of importance. As Merton writes, "The Psalms are poems, and poems have a meanng, although the poet has no obligation to make his meaning immediately clear to anyone who does not want to make an effort to discover it." One of the most ineresting things about the book is how Merton sees Jesus Christ throughout the Psalms. Maybe Merton says it best whe he writes, "The Psalms are more that language. They contain within themselves the silence of high mountains and the silence of heaven. It is only when we stand at the bottom of the mountain that it is hard for us to distinguish the language of the Psalter from the tongues of the earth..." In this book, Merton makes the Psalms come alive. This is a book worth reading.

New Directions was Father Merton,s first publisher and always produced art house quality books meant to last. This tradition only improves with age as this New DIrections reprint issue continues the tradition of high quality books which are a joy to handle and to hold.

I find the Liturgical Press reprint of this monumental work of Psalm theology to be hard to read and easily broken, like a small trade paperback. This New Directions reprint on the other hand has a generous size and a beautiful lay out with generous margins for your own meditations. I especially appreciate the illustrations of various aspects of the ancient French Catalan Devot Christ which I have not seen in many decades, and am deeply moved to contemplate once more within these pages.

Any spiritual library requires this volume of Father Mertons meditations and teachings of the Psalms, the cornerstone of any monastic prayer life, the cornerstone of the Rule and life of Our Holy Father Saint Benedict, who requires their full reading weekly and regularly. And this beautiful and merciful reprint by New Directions fills their contemplation with a great and gentle joy.

This volume of Father Mertons early writings also still comes with Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat, etc., for those who require such things.

This is a really great cookbook. It is well organized, has fabulous photos, and the recipes are very easy to follow. Both the recipes and the accompanying anecdotes are written in an exceptionally user friendly style, making this a cookbook that you will want to actually sit down and read! This is one I find myself coming back to, time after time, for easy preparation and terrific results!

Brendan writes exceptionally well. I like his style; it's very upbeat with a joie de vivre feeling. Comfortable punctuation makes the writing flow nicely. It's concise and unambiguous without being the least bit pedantic.
The anecdotes, biographical sketches, introductions to place, and mini-tutorial lead-ins are most enjoyable. (Man, would I have loved some of Michel's 150-pound halibut!) The complementary
information provided about the people and their environments makes the recipes that much more appreciated. I am very much enjoying the book and the learning experience. It's like a travelogue. I have never really "read" a cookbook before. But then, this is not an ordinary cookbook.

Some 35 years ago Brendan O'Farrell, an international business man, and Michel Deville, a French Master Chef, became the best of friends who shared an appreciation for good service and great food. They opened a restaurant (La Table de Michael) in Sain-Remy de Provence near Avignon in the South of France in the spring of 2005. Now having successfully collaborated as restauranteurs, they have combined their love of the culinary arts to publish a compendium of savory recipes laid out with careful step-by-step instructions so clear and concise as to be able to transform ordinary kitchen cooks into accomplished chefs of French cuisine. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with finished dishes, the recipes comprising "Brothers In The Kitchen" range from Tri-Color Salad; to New Orleans Style Gumbo; to Roast Sirloin Encrusted in English Mustard; to Jumbo Prawns Flambe with Pernod; to Spinach with Swiss Cheese Sauce; to Mint Chocolate Delight. Enhanced with the inclusion of wonderful anecdotes and stories, "Brothers In The Kitchen" begins with thematically appropriate advice about how to get started in the kitchen, matching wines with foods, stocks and savors, and goes on to include sage counsel respecting menus, special restaurants and restaurateurs, conversion tables for cooking, and more. "Brothers In The Kitchen" is enthusiastically recommended as a core addition to any gourmet quality kitchen cookbook collection!

It is unusual to be completely satisfied once you actually delve into a cookbook and try to produce the "plat".
Brothers in the Kitchen works!
It is clear that much attention was put into clarifying the recipes to make them easy to follow, each with a photograph.
The accompanying essays are light and engaging.
I have ordered several to give as holiday gifts... if not for cooking to impress, to make a beautiful coffee table addition.

This book was a pleasure to read & the pictures made my mouth water. The recipes are designed to be successfully followed by both the seasoned chef & the newly initiated, with pretty impressive results. I tried the "Death by Chocolate" and was ready to go to heaven! Anyone who yearns for a taste of Provence, whether it be at the dinner table or in a favorite reading nook, will be deeply satisfied. Also, unlike some other books of this genre, I think that men would especially enjoy its particular combination of culinary craftmanship, staightforward writing & entertaining stories.

This is the closest thing you'll find to Peter Gent's North Dallas Fourty novel. Absolutely enjoyable from start to finish, if I could find just one book like this a year...oh well! Savor this one.

If you think you have become jaded by the "strong character triumpths over life's adversity" themes in today's fiction, you are in for an amazing ride flying past the known boundaries that have been established by the common writer. Connelly simply removes the line between the real and surreal while guiding you through a man's shattered sense of reality and self as he tries to make sense of his world around him. The cutting humor brings you back from the dark recesses of human nature that Connelly explores just when you need it the most. Few writers are bold enough and talented enough to take us between the themes of killer asteroids and exploring what loss really is. Move this one to the top of your list.

Buddy Cooper Finds a Way is an inventive, completely original novel that does not invite comparisons to anything that's being written today. In it, Connelly creates a world in which the hoopla of professional wrestling blends seemlessly with the insanity of daily life. It's a world that the reader can easily buy into, thanks to Connelly's tight, no-nonsense prose, his sharp eye for detail, and the wrestling lore that he expertly weaves throughout the narrative. The material is often hilarious, yet darker, more serious issues also permeate this many-layered work. Buddy is a fully-realized character; his situation is dire, his fate uncertain. Connelly has crafted a thoughtful, compelling, page-turner of a novel that will resonate on many levels. A must-read!

Prepare yourself for a rocket ship of a ride, fueled by brilliance and vision, through Buddy Cooper Finds a Way. Here you'll find alien graffiti, oracular lobsters, drive-by cavemen, and asteroids that fall from the clear blue sky. Neil Connelly's characters walk the same streets as us, yet they see the subliminal and sublime, and in every detail, no matter how funny or fiercely imagined, is the secret script of the human heart. How can a book be both startlingly new and timelessly wise? You'll find out when you turn the last page of this grand debut, and suddenly feel like it's always been with you.

Yes, Buddy Cooper Finds a Way is a meaningful work of fiction, but it also offers something far too rare in today's literature: entertainment. Want round, unique, interesting, developed characters? Great plot shifts? Twists and turns of desperation, of human imagination? Want action? Tenderness? It's all here. You won't find a hackneyed literary novel with lots of talk about art and no plot. But you will fall in love with Buddy Cooper, the long-time loser with a big heart. Connelly is a genius. He works pro wrestling, QVC, cultists, and Patrick Swayze into a novel full of beauty. He sets the planets in motion, and you will keep flipping pages to see if they align...or if they collide. It's a hell of a ride, and a rewarding one. Do yourself a favor and read it.

John R. Knaggs, the author of "The Bugles Are Silent," has accomplished a rare feat: He has produced a historical novel that has pleased readers on both sides of the Rio Grande. The book provides a balanced account of the Battle of the Alamo that allots equal time to military and political considerations from participants on both sides of the conflict.

The bravery and sacrifice of the doomed defenders of the Alamo are probably better known to many American readers, but the author devotes considerable space to the motives of the Mexican Presidente and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. The defense of the Alamo delayed the Mexican advance by nearly two weeks and bought valuable time in which Sam Houston, a discredited politician who fled to Texas in disgrace, was able to field and supply a small army to oppose Santa Anna. At the battle of San Jacinto, Houston's ragtag band of Texans scored a singular victory against the numerically superior Mexican army. The frontier amateurs had defeated a professional force. Several more battles followed with similar results and the Republic of Texas was created following the Mexican surrender.

As a tourist, I was surprised to learn how the growth of San Antonio was spurred by waves of German immigrants. At one time, it was considered wise for local residents to develop conversational skills in English, German and Spanish. The actual mission church of San Antonio de Bexar (now known as the Alamo) is quite small. Like many historical sites, its reputation has grown to be quite outsized in comparison to the site itself. In retrospect, this is appropriate and fitting.

"The Bugles Are Silent" is an example of historical fiction at its best.

This is an excellent book! I purchased this book at the Alamo and was fortunate to have the author sign it. I have read several books about the Texas Revolution, and this one stands out because of its format. It is writen like a novel and like a great novel, it is very easy to get engrossed in it. The book follows the revolution from the Alamo through San Jacinto. Both the Texan and Mexican sides are detailed.
The manner in which this book is written really brings history to life, making the reader feel as if they are in 1836 Texas. You read conversations between Travis and Bowie, and also Santa Anna and Houston's thoughts. You follow a young Texan from his narrow escape at Goliad to his part in San Jacinto. See Santa Anna from the view of his closest aides.
This informative book is a highly enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in Texas history. If you don't know a lot about the Texas Revolution, this is a great place to start. If you already have some background knowledge, you will still learn a lot from this book, including a greater understanding of the participants in both sides of the Texas Revolution.

This is a superb book! I bought it and got it autographed by the author while visiting the Alamo with my wife (a Texan). As an introduction to the history of Texas, this is a real gem.

The fictional characters added to the real history are interesting and serve well their purpose in the book as presenting the story as if it could have been really seen from the real actors. The only thing I would have like is a little "Prologue" telling us what happened after the Battle of the San Jacinto Plains but I guess other books go into these details.

Highly recommended for people interested in learning more about Texas and, well, in history in general!!

It has been a few years since I have read my autographed copy that I also purchased at the Alamo. The book is an excellent read for any Texas History buff! John Knaggs certainly did his homework! Would love to see more works from this author, especially one on my favorite subject, the Texas Rangers (Not the baseball club!).

To my knowledge this is the only account of the Texas revolution in which both the Texan and Mexican viewpoints are revealed. The novel received solid reviews from local newspapers and an endorsement from the state of Texas, and the Library of Congress. An autographed copy may be obtained by calling the author himself at (512) 459-9404. My motivation behind writing this review is that I am quite proud of my father's work on this book and his knowledge of this historical period. The book is also sold at historical sights acroos the state of Texas.(The Alamo, San Jacinto Battlefield, Presidio La Bahia)

I read this as a kid and loved the idea of a secret robot community hidden on a deserted planet, the story of a smart kid on a mission that his parents can't come along on, and the friendships between the characters. It just has that quality of being great fun to read. You don't have to read the books that came before it, although they're pretty good too. This one was my favorite. Fine for boys and girls alike, but definitely for those under 14.

C.O.L.A.R. is a magnificent book! I wasn't really into reading science fiction books, but when I read C.O.L.A.R. by Alfred Slote, I just had to read his other books.

So, to all of you out there who doesn't like reading science fiction books, read C.O.L.A.R. Once you start reading it, you wouldn't be able to put it down.

I read this book 16 years ago and remember every part of it. It was huge in third grade. Everyone wanted to read it and there was a long waiting list at the school library just to check it out.

Jacks family gets lost in space, and Danny gets kidnaped by robots!

The Jameson family is on their way back to Earth from a vacation on M Colony when they run out of fuel. They make an emergency landing on what they think is a desolate planet. But then a horrid sound starts coming out of their robot, Danny. He jumps out of the spaceship to save them, only to be taken below ground by a group of rocks. Naturally, this confuses his parents and brother Jack. What's going on? When Jack follows him below ground, he is shocked to discover what this planet's secret is.

I remembered these books fondly from childhood, and was thrilled to discover they hold the same interest for me now. The sci-fi storyline still holds up today, over 20 years after it was first written, and is interesting enough to keep kids reading. The characters are well crafted, and it's easy to care for Danny, Jack, and even Anne Two. Plus the story provides some interesting things to think about worthy of the best of Star Trek that I had completely forgotten were in this book.

This fun kid's book is well worth the effort to track down. Hopefully, someone will decide to republish it soon so another generation of kids can enjoy it.