K Books

Being interested in speculative reality and philosophy, this was a must read. I was not disappointed.
Philip K Dick writes, "All responsible writers, to some degree, have become involuntary criers of doom, because doom is in the wind...and the doom stories are intended to call attention to reality."
This is made all the more relevant by the fact that the human folly that gave way to encroaching doom(war) ~ as the interviews and essays complied for this book run anywhere from twenty five to fifty five years ago ~ is far more manifest and pervasive in our own perceived time. That much closer.

Part five: Essays and Speeches, deals with schizophrenia, LSD and Gnosticism. He delves into the Jungian concept of synchronicity regarding his own life, and the inexplicable coincidences in his novel, "Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said"...(also see the movie, "Waking Life")..of "fiction mimicking truth, and truth mimicking fiction."
What he refers to as "a dangerous overlap, a dangerous blur." Take a look with *open* eyes at the society we've created and you realize that the "dangerous blur" is scarcely acknowledged it is so routine, so deeply solidified. 'Entertainment'(of the mindless sort) has proven to be the ultimate vehicle for Big Brother totalitarianism, so to speak.

The final section, Exegesis, at times feels like listening in on a discussion, a contemplation, within his own conscience, on the matter of God/Cosmos: "Creator: time past. Holy Spirit: time is. Christ: time completed."
Overall, a fascinating and unique read.

THE SHIFTING REALITIES OF PKD is a perfect title for this material. It was in his speeches to college students that PKD exposed his mental terrain--holding little back. Here he discussed his two obsessions: What is reality? & What constitutes an authentic human? This material shows how Dick used his sci-fi novels to poke holes in simpler cosmologies. Dick made the universe his own sandbox.

In THE ANDROID & THE HUMAN he says that free will may be an illusion. Were humans also controlled by tropisms that are so evident in the growth of plants? He sounded out his greatest fear as �The reduction of humans to mere use--men made into machines, ... what I regard as the greatest evil imaginable.� Dick saw the time to come when a writer would be stopped not by unplugging his electric keyboard but by someone unplugging the man himself.

In MAN, ANDROID & MACHINE Dick found a hopeful theory at the end of his dark tunnel. In this essay he discussed Teilhard De Chardin�s Noosphere, �composed of holographic & informational projections in a unified and continually processed Gestalt,�--a summation of the globe�s intelligence. Dick never worried about the label �made in a laboratory.... the entire universe is one vast laboratory,� he writes. Here he also lays bare his own reality--one composed of a series of crystallized dreams. He cites Ursula Le Guin�s THE LATHE OF HEAVEN as his model for �understanding the nature of our world�. He adds: �I myself have derived much of the material for my writing from dreams.� PKD challenged the reader to pry beneath the facade of daily existence and knead the silly putty of the dream world into some recognized shape.

While I've read this entire book cover-to-cover, I have probably read the last half (Part Five: Essays and Speeches, and Part Six: Selections from the Exegesis) at least four times. That's where the real philosophy is. Or perhaps I should say the real mysticism. Actually, P.D.K.'s thought was a combination of philosophy and mysticism, not unlike the works of Pythagoras or Plato. Indeed, I would not hesitate to place him in such exalted company.

Dick's Gnosticism is the Gnostisism of true revelation, of epiphany and theogony (of union with the divine.) Yes, some people arrogantly write this off as the rantings of a "schizophenic", but then they would no doubt apply that same meaningless, garbage diagnosis to every great mystic teacher or shaman.

Here you get the revelations of his novel ,_Valis_, developed and fleshed out in a much more satisfying manner. Indeed, unless you are fortunate enough to track down a copy of his mythical _Exegesis_ this is the best expression of his thought that you will find.

One last note, as much as I agree with the gnostic idea of a transcedent God (or Logos, or Tao) breaking through into our material "Black Iron Prison", I do have a problem with his concept of a Yaldaboath (i.e. deranged, lesser, creator god.) You see, human materialistic, hyper-rational, civilization functions as such a lesser "god." Have we not made money, science, and ego into idols that are worshipped in their own right to the exclusion of the the true transcendant God? You simply do not need to posit the existance of such a supernatural demiurge, devil, or "Moloch" (as Ginsberg called it.) Human ignorance and evil are quite up to the role.

(...)

This book is a gathering of eclectic, mostly non-fictional, writings by one of my favourite authors -Philip K. Dick. I have given it a five star rating in spite of the fact that the material is of uneven quality. Dick can't talk to us anymore since he died in 1982, and so it is wonderful and special to come across these writings. From a literary point of view they are invaluable as spotlights on the mind of the author of such brilliant, disturbing and important works such as The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Ubik, The Man In the High Castle, Faith of Our Fathers, etc. But these works also stand on their own for their intelligent, creative and transcendent analysis of what it is to be human. If you have any interest in Gnosticism, you are in for a treat, since Dick is a kind of Gnostic warrior, and offers up many fascinating, and at times, profoundly uplifting Gnostic thoughts and speculations. There is much more -biographical material, thoughts on SF as a genre, comments on other SF works and writers, political commentary, musical musings, two excellent completed chapters from an abandoned sequel to The Man In the High Castle, and even a brilliant pitch for a never-made television sit-com about angels visiting earth on commission to help clients out of tight jams. Some of this material is frightening, since Dick is constantly challenging the very concept of reality. As with all of Dick's writing -fiction and non-fiction -there is a mind expanding effect. Your universe is never the same after reading him -it will be enlarged or even multiplied, as well as being rendered a lot stranger. All P.K. Dick fans should have this book, but anyone wanting to learn more about the views of one of the brightest, most intriguing minds of the past century will find it an invaluable and entertaining book to read. Lawrence Sutin has done us all a wonderful service by making these pieces available, some of them for the first time. These are peculiar and magical writings from a 20th Century savant. Read it. It could change your life.

PKD is my number-one writer, both for style, but more particularly for ideas. There is so much in this book that shows the man was a thinker, an explorer of ideas not just for the novels and short stories he could generate from them. With PKD, ideas developed a unique philosophy which is why his fiction is founded on such a firm basis. Even when his ideas change and we can see the change (for example 'The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch' and 'A Scanner Darkly') there is no contradiction involved, just a clear evolution. For PKD fans who haven't yet read his non-SF novels I encourage you to do so - I would be surprised if you were disappointed.

PKD has also left a great legacy of pithy quotes - such as 'reality is what is left behind when you stop believing in something'. My favourite, however, he wrote in a forward to one of the anthologies of short stories. He said that science fiction is not about 'what if ......' it's about 'My God! what if .....'.

There is a lot of this in his philosophy too.

This book is an excellent resource for students as well as others who want to know the ins and outs of the federal hiring process. From networking to resume writing, this comprehensive guide tells you all the steps you will need to know in order to obtain a federal job. If you want to gain valuable knowledge about government programs and become more effective in your job search, this book is for you! Learn from the real experts, Kathy and Emily Troutman!

Let's face it, the federal hiring process can be quite complicated and arduous. Even if you are highly qualified, obtaining a federal job can be extremely difficult if you are unfamiliar with the requirements of the government. As a graduate student of public administration, I was confident that I had suitable knowledge and skills to land a federal position, yet I was intimidated by the federal hiring process. I believe that The Student's Federal Career Guide was instrumental in guiding me through the process. By following the book's suggestions and tailoring my resume to the samples provided in the book, I landed a position with the agency of my choice.
The book is well organized as the chapters cover all the steps from how to locate opportunities to preparing for the interview. Much of the book is devoted purely to students who are seeking current or future employment with the federal government. There are a myriad of suggested resources for exploring student opportunities such as internships and part-time employment. The Student's Federal Career Guide will provide you with invaluable information on obtaining a position with the federal government.

Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM offering case studies and samples, The Student's Federal Career Guide: 10 Steps To Find And Win Top Government Jobs and Internships shows students just how to utilize networking to discover the availability of federal jobs, how to identify and locate the relevant federal agency; what internships; federal pay scales; researching federal job listings on-line; writing a federal job oriented resume; writing cover letters showcasing knowledge, skills and abilities; the federal job application process; tracking and following-up job applications and interviews; and conducting oneself in the interview process. Of special note is the accompanying website at www.TenStepsForStudents.org offering samples, internships links, job prospect information, and tips from actual government agency recruiters. Specifically designed for college students and recent graduates entering the job market, The Student's Federal Career Guide is also very highly recommended for men and women of any age seeking a public service career with the federal government.

- Betsy L. Hogan

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! I cant stop reading it, there is so much good information. It gave me alot more incite on the direction I need to go in with my resume. Also, the sections on contacting HR and interviewing definitely will help in the job search. The Government is the nations largest employer, with this book you will get a great understanding of what you need to do to get hired. The writters of the book have years of experience, they know the process from start to finsih!! This is money well spent or should I say a great investment in yourself!!!

The authors website has great information too!!!!
www.resume-place.com

Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM offering case studies and samples, The Student's Federal Career Guide: 10 Steps To Find And Win Top Government Jobs and Internships shows students just how to utilize networking to discover the availability of federal jobs, how to identify and locate the relevant federal agency; what internships; federal pay scales; researching federal job listings on-line; writing a federal job oriented resume; writing cover letters showcasing knowledge, skills and abilities; the federal job application process; tracking and following-up job applications and interviews; and conducting oneself in the interview process. Of special note is the accompanying website at www.TenStepsForStudents.org offering samples, internships links, job prospect information, and tips from actual government agency recruiters. Specifically designed for college students and recent graduates entering the job market, The Student's Federal Career Guide is also very highly recommended for men and women of any age seeking a public service career with the federal government.

Super Job Search was recommended to me by a mentor and lived up to all expectations he gave me regarding the resume, interviewing, and networking phases of a job search. The book has been very helpful in guiding me to do the things I need to in a job search, as well as informing me about things I should not do.

The book really helped me a lot. It made looking for work less frightening.

First I read the book cover to cover and then I read it through again and did most of the work sheets and did everything that was recommended, and my job search really picked up right then. I got more comfortable and sucessful at networking with people and i was getting more interest through my networking, and my new job is better then the one i got layed off from (i was Administrative Director, Cardiology and now I'm Director of Cardiovascular). If you are like most people and you need to disipline your self to do these things, then this book would be perfect. Good luck everyone! :)

Studner's book is an extensive valuable resources for outplacement. It is easily readable for all levels of employees. There are excellent examples of the perfect resume, which I have used for my own resume. This is simply the 'best of the best.'

Joan Juarez
Employee Relations & Training Manager
Little Company of Mary Health Services

Super Job Search is more than the definitive guide to successful job hunting, it is *the* career guidance roadmap for professionals and novices alike. When asked for job search advice, reading Super Job Search is on top of my list or priority actions for candidates. Over the last 20 years, Peter has emerged as one of the foremost authorities on applying practical, concrete and proven steps to finding a job. Anyone who is lucky enough to receive Peter's personal attention and counsel is priviledged indeed but reading and exercising the principles in his book comes in a very close second!

I am 62 years old and have always worked hard at leading a healthy life. I work out six days a week, train with weights, and play full court basketball three days a week. I have limited my fat and salt intake since I was 40. But I have had some problems that seem to come with older ages. This book really opened my eyes to all of the things I could do that I didn't even know about. I've only just finished the book and already I've added new things to my diet and adopted many of the wisdoms found therein.

I haven't been paining for at least one whole month. I was really shocked too. I have been to 3 doctors and had them check my legs so by reading this book I found out I had cold in my bones and arthritis. So thanks to this book, it really helps me.

If this tells you anything, to date I have bought 20 of the "Super Life, Super Health" books from Amazon. It is such a well written and informative book. I absolutely had to give this book to many people I know. I'm with Subway ("Eat Fresh") area corporate, and, as everyone knows, people go to Subway to aid in their quest for a healthier life. I do plan to buy many more of this same book for others. Health is more important than wealth!

I am a healthy 50-something male, with strong interest in preserving his health. But I cannot recommend this book too highly for the excellent quality of the writing. It gives a thorough, balanced, but easy to read, account of each topic. (Whoever the writer is, he/she comes across as an extraordinarily honest, balanced, decent, well-informed individual-- a saint and a sage rolled into one!)

Even the most esoteric medical research is presented with terrific clarity, and free of all unexplained jargon--this has got to be some of the **finest** medical writing for the laity i've ever seen. Neither does the author pitch to dummies--like so much of the advertising copy of the vitamin catalogs--for he has nothing to sell, nor does he speak over the heads of his readers.

This book contains much information for improving one's health and possibly extending one's life. Perhaps the problem with this is that there is so much that can be done that one does not know where to start. For example, there are numerous vitamins and supplements listed. Is one supposed to try to take them all? There are things as diverse as Vitamin B, Coenzyme-Q10, green tea, garlic, ginger, and selenium emphasized. No attempt is made to prioritize the supplements.

Exercise is listed as the closest thing to an antiaging pill. There is also a practical list of stress-busting activities that one can do at home.

There is a good table provided for substitution of foods with high fiber in place of foods with low fiber. Other tables give the vitamin contents of various foods. This book favors the low-fat over the low-carb approach to health. However, the hazards of a high sugar diet in terms of acceleration of aging are mentioned.

Not everything in this book is something one can do without a doctor's prescription. Apropos to this, there is a section on hormone replacement therapy for both men and women.

This book is astounding in so many ways.
I wrote a short story in highschool with the same
ending, the same idea, but of course Roland here
beat me to it by say 40 years or so.
However, that didn't stop me from enjoying it
at all.

It has a meticulous, claustrophobic atmosphere
develop somewhat early on in the book and it culminates
in an ending that is so grueseomely fantastic, and PERFECT.
Some of the perspective and other aspects of the novel
remind me of Philip K. Dick.

The Tenant is Roland Topor's fictional masterpiece. In it, he offers readers one of the most underrated protagonists in the thriller/horror genre, the ultimate outsider's outsider-as Thomas Ligotti correctly puts it in his introduction-the extremist nonconformist: Monsieur Trelkovski. This top-notch 1964 French novel is probably best known to American readers due in large part to Roman Polanski's incredibly close and respectable film adaptation of the same title, which came out in 1976 and also subsequently has gone on to become a classic horror film in its own right, often appearing on film registers and the best of cinematic lists.

Through a very ordinary plot, a powerful message is conveyed. Monsieur Trelkovski is a mild mannered, docile seeker of a new apartment in Paris, a strenuous task, because he is on the cusp of being evicted out of his old one. Through the grapvine, i.e. his co-worker, Simon, he comes across a possible vacancy in a new apartment, due to the fact that one of the tenants-a Ms. Simone Choule-has decided to "off" herself by jumping out of her apartment window. Though she does not die immediately and barely clings ro life, Monsieur Trelkovsky takes a grim initative to visit her in the hospital, and in the simplicity of inappropriate desire, he wills for her demise (though it is unspoken) just so he can be the new renter of the "apartment".

Secretly, almost guiltily, wishing ill will for someone is one thing; it is quite another matter when that ill willed intention becomes an irreversible reality, and in the case of Monsieur Trelkovski, it is at this point when his nightmare begins, because it unreservedly showcases the darkness of the human heart and somehow justifies the eye-for-an-eye mental onslaught that he, Monsieur Trelkovski, battles with as the novel progresses. And it does get bizarre.

As he moves in, he is expected to behave in a manner that is in very strict accordance with the rules of the "apartment," which is no noise, women, pets, parties or people, just him in his two room apartment accompanied by his guilty conscience and a deafening silence. As he bends the rules just a tad bit, odd and unexplainable trouble comes along his path. The acts of harassment are palpable, yet the committers of them are unseen and unheard, for they are stealthy and almost invisible. The odd happenings seem to be signals (or so Trelkovski believes) from the tenants-peer pressure-to make him correspond to their way of life. The deeds somehow alter the present-day reality as he knows, sees and feels it. Slowly, very slowly, incrementally, in fact, he gradually tries to discipline himself to the tenant's way of doing things and the "apartment," which, to some extent, has an unusual supernatural energy of its own, due in large part to the suicide of the previous tenant, Simone Choule.

The longer that he dwells on the life and mysterious death of Simone Choule as well as the unmentioned conspiracy that he firmly believes his neighbors have knowingly thrust upon him, his ultimate act of defiance against them happens via the altering of himself, his very presence and complete identity. To go on further would be a plot spoiler, but chapter by chapter on a wider scale here, Topor brings forth the disturbing insights of how to view institutions, "clicks," general matters of authority, "guises" and aspects of corrupt governments; as a writer of clean, detached prose, he widened the sense of seeing and perceiving. Monsieur Trelkovski acts as a sort of flashlight to be used by a wider audience. A great read.

If someone were to found a church based on the exquisite terror of identity loss, Roland Topor would be an excellent choice for its high priest. And "The Tenant"--his delightfully nightmarish depiction of a gradually dissolving sense of self--should most definitely be its bible. For readers interested in venturing off the beaten-to-death path of tiresome bestseller lists, "The Tenant" (and any of Topor's bizarre short stories) offers an exhilarating, if unsettling, change of scenery.

Topor's drama of mental desintegration and social alienation
is one of those works that never achieved success in the USA
beyond cult status. It's a shame because The Tenant is a master-
ful psycho-existential-drama written in a clear, elegant, concise
style that lends to the text a chillling urgency and realism.Worth
mention is this fine edition. Ligotti's introduction (the undisputed
master of existential horror) is erudite and informative and the
bonus materials are also very fine. Apart from the novel, Centipede
Press gives us a healthy selection of Topor's short stories and his
disturbing surrealistic art.
If you like your psycho-thriller peppered with an existential bent and a distinct european flavour The Tenant is for you.

Roland Topor, The Tenant (Millipede Press, 2004)

Topor's brilliant novel, awash in nihilism, surrealism, and existential angst, is best remembered these days as the basis for one of Roman Polanski's most universally scorned movies. Millipede Press gives us a handsome fortieth anniversary edition here with an introduction by the equally talented wordsmith Thomas Ligotti, who spends twenty pages comparing Topor, favorably, to the equally absurd, but far more optimistic, Pirandello. Ligotti's introduction alone is worth the cover price, or would be had Ligotti turned it into something a bit longer (and thrown in a few Lovecraftian horrors along the way); as it is, even if you hate the novel and selected short stories (with a bit of Topor's artwork) that follow it, you won't feel like you've thrown your money away. Anything Thomas Ligotti writes is well worth your time.

Chances are, though, you're going to like what you read. Ligotti's Pirandello comparison is, of course, apt; Topor has the same sense of whimsy, but it seems disturbingly inappropriate in a book so relentlessly bleak. This, of course, only heightens the outrageousness, the effect of which is that no matter how insane things get, the reader is willing to accept just about anything. Does it work? You bet it does.

It should be no surprise that the accompanying stories here have the quality of fairy tales, and the art will be no surprise to anyone who's seen Fantastic Planet. (Monty Python fans will recognize it as well; Topor was an obvious influence on Terry Gilliam.) There's a great deal to like about this book; if you're unfamiliar with Topor, or only familiar with his film work, this edition of The Tenant is a great starting point. ****

I never thought someone could be so creative with "This Little Piggy." My son (20 mo.) and nephew (4 yrs.) LOVE it. They used it so much I've taped & glued it back together so many times that it's time to buy a new one - one for each of them.

The story line is based on a birthday party (VERY neat & creative). The first four little piggies are preparing a surprise party for the last piggy. The toes actually wiggle - or move, and a piggy pops up. You see them shopping at the market, wrapping gifts & decorating, cooking roast beef for dinner, etc.

My son loves this book. He received it for Christmas when he was 10 months old. He wants us to sit and read it to him over and over and over. Once, twice, three times is never enough. He just cannot get enough of this book.

What a fun book! It adds an extra storyline to the popular Piggy nursery rhyme. Everyone we've given this book to has loved it too. Though the book is pretty durable, when my daughter was younger, she did rip many of the pop-ups. That's okay -- we just bought another one now that she doesn't rip books anymore. : )

Nice and sturdy to take the rugged treatment of a toddler's hands. This book get passed around at play time and parties by all the kids - very popular. Great book

My son absolutely loves this book and has since he was about 10 months (he is 19 months now). We didn't even realize when we first received it as a gift that the little toes moved (duh!). He did it on his own. He tries to grab the piggy that pops up before we pop the piggy back into hiding. I'm also buying a second one because he has "used" this book almost every day for the last 9 months and has beaten it up pretty bad. I can't wait for him to see the new copy -- he'll be so excited. Anyway, it is so unpredictable which books kids will love. I think this one has been the reliable favorite of my son.

I really enjoyed this book. I bought it to read to my four-year-old and the book well exceeded my expectations.

Here you will find classics such as the Three Billy Goats Gruff and tales you may never have heard of. They are all beautifully put together and could be told as a traditional story teller might or read aloud for maximum impact.

Great stories well told, and a treasure trove for children and folklorists alike.

I bought this book for my 9 yr old son who is interested in fantasy. The stories are really entertaining and he very much loves to read about the trolls, dwarves and other beings. The illustrations are also great! I would highly recommend this book.

I love children's books and I love sharing them with children. I have high standards... I like good writing. I expect illustrations that truly add something to the quality of the storytelling and which are truly artistic. Usually one or the other, and often both, is lacking.

Lise Lunge-Larsen brought my Scandinavian heritage forward in a respectful way when she retold these tales, and Betsy Bowen's well known woodcuts did everything art can do to encourage the telling of a tale. The art actually has a nostalgic feel that lends to how old troll tales are and seemed to have been dug out of the past with them.

I had begun reading about trolls to my son with D'Aulaires' Book of Trolls (New York Review Children's Collection), and while I love the d'Aulaires artistry and it's a well written book, it was as much the history of trolls as it was stories. My son sat through it, but he didn't beg for me to read like he did with this one. Lunge-Larsen takes the opposite approach with a little bit of Troll lore followed by mostly story. Having already read d'Aulaire aloud and taking my son's age into consideration, I read the commentary to myself this time and only read him the stories. He has continued to come back to this book to hear favorite stories again (which is good -- memory has its development in the early years and hearing stories repeated is beneficial) and asked for felt board characters to go along with the books and to aid him in narrating the stories from memory both for my benefit and when he is on his own.

I was so happy to find these wonderful troll stories told the way I remember them! My mother (who grew up in northern Minnesota) told us kids these stories when we were very small (that's a long time ago). Lately I thought the tradition was lost because I could only find watered-down versions of the the Three Billy Goats Gruff, not the fascinating and powerful tales I remembered. But all is not lost. Here is a collection of genuine Troll stories, with ugly, scary trolls in all shapes and sizes, and clever boys and girls who persevere through wild and strange adventures and eventually save the day. Great stories, wonderfully told. The illustrations are beautiful.

I first borrowed this book from the library, but of course had to then buy a copy of my own. I highly recommend this book.

My kids love these stories. Some of these I remember from my childhood but most were new to me. I love the intros to all the tales. They really describe what true Norwegian Trolls are like. The illustrations are perfectly done. They match the way the stories unfold and the ruffness of the illustrations really brings out that uncivilized Troll imagery.

From the first few pages this book hooks you. I really loved the lead character, especially his name "Jacob Slaughter". Great story, it really sucks you in. I just hope none of that stuff really happens. Wes should be writing screenplays.

Wes Demott has written a great book and that is all there is to it. Wes Demott is also my neighbor but that is not why i am writing this review. I remember when he was writing this book i always want to read it but i was to young. I just finished it after a couple of weeks and absolutely loved it. I am yet to read Vapors and hope that he will write again. So overall i am just telling you to READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rare is the book that combines non-stop action and ompelling story lines to evoke true emotion. But Walking K does just that thanks to the talented hand of Wes DeMott. From the opening scenes and our heroe's tortured past, to the horrific dilemna and hitman confronting him, Jacob Slaughter faces his past and future with the US government hot on his heels and the issue of Vietnam POWs once again rearing its ugly head. Not only can we empathise with Slaughter's twisted nightmares in a POW camp, we can sense his knawing need to right the injustice of those left behind and the intense heat from a bomb blast meant to silence him. Slaughter is truly a man alone set out to free those the government says is dead and in the process, his soul. The characters are real, emotions raw, the action non-stop and the hale-Mary pass delivers. Walking K is an exciting and thrilling ride through the political and emotional landscape.

Despite some overdrawn scenes early on when the narrator, a former POW named Slaughter, a negotiator in Hanoi at the specific request of the Vietnamese, is taken under guard to a rundown building where his former Captain, still a prisoner after more than 20 years, is dragged into his presence in chains. Walking K by Wes DeMott soon calms down and takes on a more believable tone.

The Vietnamese reveal that they still hold 22 more American prisoners, to be released only upon the granting of most favored nation status by the US. Slaughter must get them out or die trying.

The pace of the read accelerates as he reports what he's learned to his boss, the Secretary of State - who despite Slaughter's statements seems anxious to deny the possibility of any prisoners remaining alive.

The Department of Defense too, and maybe even the White House, play their own private hands, and everyone Slaughter goes to flatly rejects the possibility that Americans might still be held prisoner.

Slaughter is a hard one, though, completely honest and sincere. With live-in psychiatrist Laura, who once cured him of the nightmares only now beginning to haunt him again, on his side, he's not backing down, no matter what. Slaughter knows the response to his refusal to desist might be terminal, and begins to take precautions. Sure enough, he's fired. Soon, his bank accounts, credit cards, driver's license all disappear. So far as officialdom is concerned, he never existed. Slaughter must hurry. There will be an assassin too. He's out of time.

At this point, the reader is totally immersed in author DeMott's story. What began with difficulty is now a roaring juggernaut. I won't spoil the ending, but men who like hard-as-nails adventure will share my enthusiasm for this work.

Art Tirrell is the author of The Secret Ever Keeps

After quitting on the last "thriller" I was reading, this book was quite a welcome surprise. It pulls you in on the first page and it doesn't let you go until the conclusion. The characters are exciting, very real and believeable and easy to relate to. I found myself siding with Slaughter's cause, admiring his courage and rooting for him in the end. Without giving away the plot, it disturbed me very deeply and made me question the line between DeMott's fiction and reality. The writer came across as a very credible source, although the book jacket did not mention him as a former POW. I have already bought his second book, Vapors. I'll review it when I'm finished. You shouldn't miss Walking K. Hope DeMott does well. Be cool.

With his subtle, yet powerful, words, Oglesby has effectively delivered tangible guidelines by which to pattern our lives. While reading, I realized that the author has truly discovered the secret to the success of the Black man in America: Success begins with how we feel about ourselves, how we think about the world, and how we act upon those thoughts. With so much negativity being attached to who "we" are, it was a great pleasure to read such positive and insightful comments about what "we" can be. The book's easy flow is a testament to Oglesby's obvious commitment to integrity and genuineness; unlike many authors who like to flaunt their pseudo-intellect, Oglesby's motives are seemingly clear. I felt that he wanted the reader to gain and benefit from the knowledge that he was presenting.
This was an excellent read. Furthermore, I will definitely continue to recommend this book to my friends, family and work associates.

J. Hunter, National Association to Broaden and Enhance Images, Inc.

This book is right on time for the man of the new millennium--we need to know how to live better and do better. Wish something like it had been written when I was young and careless about life a few short years ago. I'm 52, and I enjoyed it from cover to cover, and highly recommend it for men and women alike (and their MATURE teenage sons and daughters) to read. You, nor the old or young man you buy it for, will NOT be disappointed--I guarantee you!

"What Black Men Should Do Now" is an essential guide-to-life that reverberates with enlightenment and encouragement. Oglesby presents sage advice in a tone that is firm but fraternal, much like an older brother warning you of the bumps that lie ahead on life's road. While acknowledging life's complexities, the book outlines 100 truths, ideas and concepts with such simplicity that any man (whether successful professional or struggling student) can glean practical solutions to the daily dilemmas that face us all. The author even includes "action steps" for the proactively-challenged. Black men should buy this book now and study it at least 100 times.

This is an outstanding book for men!! It covers just about every aspect of being a man in today's society and utilizing the information to be a positive apsect in their community. From penis size to smoking, making love to reading magazines, and health issues. The preface by Tavis Smiley is very good and straight-forward especially on the "endangered species" aspect. This book is easy to read and the type is a decent size. The format is extremely solid and a definite page turner!! I highly recommend this book to all men!!!

I have to say, this is the book that is going to set a lot of brothers free from feeling they have to play the unrealistic role society has told them they must play. I read the hardback version of this book last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I gave a copy to my father, and he did too. But this updated edition is even better. It includes a great deal more information on men staying healthy, dealing with their emotions, staying faithful to their wives or girlfriends, and being a real man in 21st century. And a whole lot more.

The principles in this book are amazing. The author tells it like it is, and he doesn't hold back. Man, he is a bold brother. (It is not for the faint at heart!) It is well written, and is a got-to-read for black men and women. Even a lot of our young African-American boys growing up today will get a lot out of it (if they read it). It will prepare them for true manhood as they grow into adult men. It just needs to get into their hands.

This book will change its reader's life. I suggest if you want to change your life, buy it here and read it, because it will make you look honestly at yourself and your life, and will inspire you to change it for the better.

Highly recommend it!

I just love Joan wester Anderson she is the most amazingly nice person and really knows how to write a story that just brings you right into it.
Its like watching a mini movie in my mind every time I read her books.
This one was no different. I purchase these angel story books only from Joan Anderson and I also buy extra's every time so I can have them as gifts to give and they are a gift that last and last. Its helped me through alot of trials in my life to know that there are angels here to help me with whatever I need them to. you have to buy all of her angel books there amazing! Diane Essary

I have read most of Joan Wester Anderson's books about encounters with God and His angels. They are all wonderful! I like to keep them by my bed and read a few of the supernatural experiences each night, and I find my faith and joy increased daily. My family and I have been very blessed to have seen God answer our prayers and manifest His presence in our lives on many occasions. There is nothing more wonderful than "a touch from heaven!"

Like Joan Anderson's other writings, this book is chocked full of short, uplifting real-life stories that appear to indicate we are not here alone. Divine intervention seems to be the only viable explanation for the events described in this must-read, life-changing book.

Do you believe in miracles? Do you think that God still intervenes in the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary ways? Do you ever see God acting in your life? If the answers to any of these questions is "no," "Where Wonders Prevail: True Accounts That Bear Witness to the Existence of Heaven" by Joan Wester Anderson may just open your eyes and your heart and change your mind.

Anderson shares thirty-nine stories of human experiences that cannot be explained by ordinary means. There are angels and loved ones who have gone on to their next life who make guest appearances. There are situations where the laws of physics seem to be suspended momentarily. There are medical cures where no hope was given. There are simple instances of coincidence that are too fortuitous to be considered mere happenstance. Yes, there are truly situations where God does intervene, although the reasons for such intervention are His and His alone.

"Where Wonders Prevail" is an amazing read, a page-turner that will keep you moving from story to story. It bears witness to God's presence in our lives, and assures us that, yes, we are being cared for by a power greater than ourselves.


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The only book that gave me so much of inspiration after the Bible is the book 'Where Wonders Prevail'. After a day of stress that we humans go through, this book gives us the assurance that someone loves and cares for us, which is enough to bring us through another day.