O Books

From Basic Fundamentals to building useable skills, this book outlines in a simple constructive fashion "how to make youngsters better ballplayers". The drill sections provide practice methods to teach budding little leaguers the foundations for future success.

There have been many books that have attempted to simplify teaching this wonderful game, but this book is the first one that actually accomplishes the task, and puts it in a repeatable, useable format.

Thank you for making my job as a coach and instructor easier!

This is a great book for a complete step by step approach to coaching baseball! Very useful for coaches and parents!!

I bought this book after the youth baseball season started as a way to help my son improve his skills. I wish I would've bought it sooner. However, I will continue using these drills to help him improve his game before next season starts. The drills are formatted in a way that anyone can understand and follow. It is obviously that the authors know the sport and know children well. I highly recommend this book.

This book is very detailed and organized yet easy to follow. You could have never coached baseball before and be prepared by the time you finish this book.

There certainly is a need for GOOD how-to youth coaching books, and this is one of them. The book is well written and organized with an easy-to-follow format and lots of photos and diagrams. A new coach can't go wrong in following the user-friendly book to cover all the basics of baseball.

But perhaps more important is the emphasis on YOUTH and dealing with kids, a skill that does not come automatically to everyone involved with youth sports. In other words, the book helps to shape a coach's attitude as much as how to improve skills in young players. Ideally, the coach learns and grows throughout the season as well as the kids.

It seems to me that this book is equally valuable to experienced coaches, in helping them to get the most out of all their players, not just the most talented. Many coaches come to youth sports as successful athletes themselves, and sometimes do not recognize what it takes to bring along kids who may be having difficulties. If the point is to keep more players playing, improving, and having a good time, here's a way to strengthen a team as well as individual players.

A great investment toward a good season.

We are missionaries, so this book inspired me very much! If you have small children, take into account that it uses a lot of old English and could be difficult (but recommended still). This book is FULL of testimonies of God's faithfulness to Hudson Taylor's persistent faith. A Great Read!

Hudson Taylor's short autobiography ought to be required reading in any study of missions.

Catholic. Protestant. Evangelical. Charismatic. Everyone who is Christian and desires to serve God either through overseas missions, or in their own hometown will be inspiried to read of Taylor's humble heart and gracious service.

This could be considered a case study in prayer. Taylor did not send scores of appeal letters, newsletters, refridgerator photos. His practice was to not solicit funds, but to ask God for providence.

He endured blisters, lack of medicine, thievery, poverty on every level. He'd wait for months for resources, but the miracle of God was always there.

Written with ample selections from his personal journal, we gain insight to a man hailed as one of the greatest missionaries ever, and the foremost in China. That insight is not of a powerful speaker, dynamic personality, or shining star in the pulpit. Instead, we see an ordinary man, not so different than you or I, pressing on in faith, moving forward as God led him. God prevailed to supply him every need, though often in the last moment.

Beyond learning about Taylor, we also learn the intimate history of the founding of the China Inland Mission in 1856, and its influential growth in China. We gain a sense of the culture and interpersonal dynamics which existed in China, London, and mission leadership in general.

Because of the foundational evangelism by Taylor, China now boasts extraordinary amounts of believers despite China's present oppressive government.

I fully recommend "Hudson Taylor" by Hudson Taylor. See also the longer, two-volume Taylor biography by Howard Taylor.

Anthony Trendl

This book is an excellent book to read. You are time and again, encouraged by answers to prayer in Hudson Taylor's life. He was one who gave up much in worldly things, yet gained an eternal weight of glory! I would definitely recommend this to all serious minded Christians.

If you are in earnest about walking with God, you will love this book immensely. It will give you a hunger for excellence and a vision of the greatness of self denial. It will increase your love for God and you will find yourself wanting to travel the pathway of purity that Hudson Taylor lived. I can't recommend this book highly enough, it's probably one of the greatest books I've ever read. It inspired, lifted, and encouraged me greatly. It took my heart on a journey that I pray I never forget. This book has been out of print for many years, and to have these copies available is priceless. I refer back to my copy year after year and it continues to refresh and feed my soul in many ways. You will find a treasure and a friend in Hudson Taylor. Then you will gratefully appreciate the anointing that was on his son as he wrote down the account of his father's life. The benefits you reap as you travel through the pages of the this book will bless your life for years to come.

I asked a respected leader in America, "What do you recommend I do, so my life would be spent having the greatest impact for helping people?" He told me to read the two volume book on Hudson Taylor by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor. He was right. Wow, what a book--what a life!

This book has given me A LOT to think about and apply. I highly recommend this book to anybody who has a heart to serve people. Don't hesitate to read such a long book, it probably is better than the last five you read put together!

This text is an incredible human anatomy book. The author is very engaging, making human anatomy very fun to learn. The clinical views are strategically inserted throughout specific sections of the book, as to enhance your human anatomy learning experience. This textbook is very easy to read. It makes human anatomy FUN!!!

This book is exactly what I wanted and it is in perfect condition. I recieved it in a good amount of time. Thank you!!

This book is well organized and user friendly. It's a good BASIC anatomy text with more simplified, easy-to-follow explanations and great illustrations.

I am a 17-year-old pianist and high school student residing in New Jersey. I am studying human anatomy and physiology to improve my piano technique. I am not going to be a professional anatomist later in my life. I am going to be a professional pianist.
I bought this textbook to study the basic detail of the human body. Although this is a college level textbook, I recommend this book for everyone who wishes to study basic human anatomy. Weather you are a professional medical student or not, you can learn a lot of detail things through this book. Whether you are an athlete, a musician, or just a person who wishes to know about the human body, this book will help you greatly. I guarantee that you will enjoy reading this book.
The author of the book regards readers as people who have no knowledge at all about the human body. So why don't you go ahead and start reading? How exciting!

I used this book for an introductory course in Anatomy at BYU. The text was good and very useful. However, I used it mostly to study for my lab and it was very helpful in that it had really good pictures and labels for help in lab. I wouldn't ever want to sell this one back, you can refer to it for your entire life.

Kudos to all of the teens who wrote their "real" stories in this book. This is a great tool for all teens to read as they go through such an important time of their lives. And congrats to the authors for pulling all of this together!

We all know bullying is a problem, we see references to this in the news on a regular basis. The bigger issue is to find ways to communicate with teens about ways to deal with bullying. This book successfully does that by providing advice and insight from teens to their peers. Excellent book!

This book is full of grerat stories by kids involved in bullying situations. There's not better way to get insight into this important subject than to read actual real-world examples. I'm particularly impressed by the solutions and suggestions the kids came up with. This is a great read for students, parents or anyone who has an interest in this pervasive subject.

From the mouths of babes! Bullies are a fact of life. Any kid who has ever experienced being the victim of bullying knows that there has to be a way to survive. This book is written by the kids who have dealt with the bully experience. Bullys strike fear in the hearts of victims and this is how they build their power. There are multiple experiences to help students feel the confidence to lessen or eliminate the effects of bullying. Congratulations to the authors for sharing these important experiences for the benefit of students and parents.

I Wish I Knew What to Do challenges notions that bullying is a natural rite of passage about which kids and adults can do nothing. The eloquent essays written by children ages 11-17 who had been bullied, been a bully, or seen bullying suggest ways to alleviate, if not eliminate, this childhood burden.
If the book seems an obvious choice for kids, it is also an excellent primer for adults. We often say to a child who has been a victim of bullying, "Ignore it" or "You're better than that person" or "Speak up for yourself" without understanding the dynamics that keep those children silent and suffering. Through the children's voices, adults can hear the kind of practical intervention kids really want.
My 11-year old happened to pick up this book from our coffee table and read through several accounts. Without my saying anything, over the course of a week, she began to reveal a bit more about the day to day life of a middle-schooler. It's as tough as it was when I was that age, but these honest essays give children and adults the beginnings of a sensible road map out of the quandary that is childhood bullying.
The MindOh! Foundation has done children, parents, teachers, and other caregivers a great service by collecting these essays to show us a way to a better society.

I have read many books on mediumship, and this one is unique in that its focus is on healing grief. Inspirational and reassuring, it is clear Carole wrote this book for the reader.
The book is beautifully written and flows well. It well organized- with a section explaining the process of mediumship and the continuity of the spirit, a section with excerpts from readings (organized into chapters based on the loss of a parent, loss of a spouse or partner, etc.) and most uniquely, a section on the process of grief and how to get through it.
This is an important book. I highly recommend it for anyone struggling with the loss of a loved one, or even for anyone struggling with the concept of their own mortality.

I was moved by this beautifully written book. Carole allows her sensitivity and grace to shine through as she shares insights into the continuity of life that truly does exist after our physical life has ended. This book will be very beneficial to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones and can help those to heal by feeling that the connectedness to every living thing goes on forever. Carole is a gifted healer and medium and many will benefit from her work.
Linda Martin, Metaphysician
Belle Vernon, PA

In old films and books, psychic "mediums" sit in darkened rooms with groups circled around a table and conduct mysterious seances, channeling disembodied voices. As anyone who has seen the many recent films and television programs about the subject knows, the new group of mediums do their work in a very different way. They intuitively read messages from the other side in a conscious and expressive way, giving help and guidance in a way that seems very natural. Their work is extremely impressive in its accuracy and power, and no sceptic has been able to discount or rationally explain what they do, no matter how hard they have tried.

A personal reading with a medium such as Carole Obley can be a very powerful and uplifting experience. Her book is a personal account of the work she has done in this field, complete with a detailed and interesting description of how the process works and quite a few stories of how clients she has read for have used the process to help change and transform their lives. It is easy to read and a very good introduction to the subject. The ultimate value of both the book and the work is that things such as these can help open our eyes to an ordinarily unseen, but higher and enduring reality that is beyond death, and the higher truth that we are all connected by a Oneness that is greater than anything that can pass away in time.

This is a well-written, thoughtful book, and an enjoyable read. I now understand much better the nature of spiritual mediumship "from the inside." Ms. Obley is herself a spiritual medium and shares intriguing insight into the training, daily work, responsibilities and challenges of mediumship. More importantly, she provides abundant, compelling and fascinating evidence of the reality of life (and love) after death through numerous case studies taken from her own practice. One cannot help but also sense the genuine love and concern Ms. Obley has for all her clients. This is not a 'fluff' book -- it is all substance, and gives plenty of food for thought. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this leading-edge subject. Move over, John Edward!

Losing a loved one is a painful, unavoidable life experience, but having reassurance that our loved ones live on and are still connected to us by love makes it bearable. I had a reading with Carole last fall, several months after my husband's death, and it has helped me begin a spiritual journey and level of acceptance that has been comforting beyond words. I read Carole's first book, which is good, but this one is better. The stories she relates are very similar to the reading I experienced, and it made me a believer - - in an afterlife, in consciousness after death, and certainly in Carole's ability to act as a conduit for messages from our loved ones.

I don't have the second edition of this book but did read the first, and the authors do a fine job of introducing the reader to the computational side of algebraic geometry. I will forego a chapter by chapter review therefore, but no doubt the second edition (which I do not own) is as well-written as the first. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the many applications of algebraic geometry and to those who need to understand how to compute things in algebraic geometry. The good thing about this book is that it gives a concrete flavor to a highly abstract subject. Algebraic geometry, through its applications to coding theory, cryptography, and computer graphics, is fast becoming the subject to learn. It is no longer just an esoteric, high-brow subject but one that is taking on major importance in the information age. Even without applications though it is a fascinating subject, and readers will get a taste of this in this book.

This book explains and illustrates the algorithms used by symbolic math packages such as Mathematica, Maple, CoCoA, MatLab, MuPAD,... to solve problems involving polynomials in many variables, and along the way teaches the elements of real algebraic geometry-- most mathematics texts concentrate on the complex-variable version. It is not just for undergraduates; electrical engineers, for instance, should see it. Lots of pictures!

I learned the basics of Groebner bases from this book and its the best introductory book on this topic. Authors have explained all concepts with the help of examples which makes it readable for people from other fields also. It also talks about applications of Groebner bases to other fields. The book gives lot of exercises which help in understanding the contents more. I recommend that if you wish to learn Algebraic Geometry and Groebner bases then this is the book to start with.

This is the easiest introduction to algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, the authors had done a great job in writing a book that assume very little from the readers. To learn some algebraic geometry, you can either start with this book, or you can spend a year to read a lot of background materials in algebra and then go to a Graduate Text like Harris' book. Of course, if you want to be an expert in algebra, you eventually need a lot of background, what this book can help you is to offer you a quick start, much quicker than you would ever imagine.

Having just finished using this text in the course of an undergraduate seminar, I can attest to the fact that the authors' style is outstanding - they are able to synthesize an enormous amount of material in this volume and present it in a manner that is highly accessible to almost all students of mathematics. The presentation of important theorems (for example, Hilbert's Nullstellensatz and Basis Theorem) along with just the right amount of copncrete examples makes for a book of superb quality. All-around, I highly recommend this volume to anyone who has an interest in learning about Algebraic Geometry.

This is one of the best books written by Dr. Igor Ansoff, known worldwide as the "Father of Strategic Management". This book, in addition to its theoritical content, provides managers with a step-by-step guide to pilot their firms through the turbulent environments in the 21st century. This is one of the best books available on the topic of strategic management.

Implanting Strategic Management is a compilation of a life-timework that organizes the major contributions in the field under oneumbrella, as Ansoff ingeniously develops a model that divides the competitive environment into five levels of turbulence: 1) repetitive, 2) expanding, 3) changing, 4) discontinuous and 5) unforeseen. His strategic success theorem states: For optimal success of an organization, the strategic aggressiveness (both technological and marketing) and the components of capability (both managers and organizational climate, competence and capacity) must match the level of environmental turbulence in which the organization competes. Ansoff uses a five-point integral scale to also measure the corresponding five levels of strategy: 1) stable, 2) reactive, 3) anticipatory, 4) entrepreneurial and 5) creative and the corresponding five levels of capability: 1) custodial, 2) production, 3) marketing, 4) strategic and 5) flexible, as he develops a strategic diagnostic questionnaire to obtain the perceptions of the general managers of an any organization. When there is alignment or minimal gap between the average level of competitive environment and each of the components of strategy and capability, then the organization should have optimal success, which has been validated by several doctoral dissertations under Ansoff. This book is a comprehensive integration of several of Ansoff's scholarly articles, enhanced with each edition. Well thought out concepts involving strategic segmentation, resistance to change, optimizing strategic portfolio, strategic dimensions of technology, societal strategy issues, real-time strategic response to managing surprising changes, strategic issue management,and environmental surveillance for strong signals and weak signals in anticipating environmental change. Ansoff's theory says that at levels 1 to 3, a firm can extrapolate the future from the past. However, at level 4 (discontinuous) and level 5 (surpriseful), strategic management must be used by an organization to realistically plan for future successes in a highly turbulent competitive environment. Ansoff's theory applies to all types of organizations, and he explains how industries can have unexpected shifts from one level of turbulence to another, as in the case of Apple Computer Corp. When Apple created the personal computer, it also created a whole new marketplace with new customers at an initial turbulence level of 5, which shifted to a level 3 of marketing mentality, which seemed to be why Steve Jobs, a creative visionary, was replaced by Scully, a marketing guru, as the Board wanted to milk their "cash cow" and not be continuously creating new dimensions. However, when the envirnoment shifted up to level 4, Apple almost went out of business when they did not respond fast enough. Level 4 is discontinuous, where the future is only partially predictable from the past, and it requires 4) entrepreneurial strategy and 4) strategic capability of the firm for optimal success. Steve Jobs was brought back in as interim CEO, and he was able make Apple once again competitive by enhancing the company's technological and marketing strategy, as well as its organizational capability, by bringing the firm's strategy and capability components up to level 4, so as to be successful. (Note: The above scenario is used by the reviewer as a realistic example of Ansoff's theory being applied in the real world.) In summary, Ansoff's work is far beyond anything published in the field, and one of the most comprehensive empirical studies that validates his complete theory is called "The Financial Performance of Technology-Driven Firms Aligning Strategy, Capability and Environment" by Richardson, John F. 1996. (Ann Arbor, MI: UMI No. 9623859), 564 pp. or URL: www.ilarsystems.com. This reviewer recommends Ansoff's book Implanting Strategic Management to any individual who desires to learn from the top scholar in the field, considered by many world authorities as the "Father of Strategic Management." This reviewer has read numerous works by the leading scholars in the field, and nobody has integrated the various contributions under one umbrella or into one paradigm, as Ansoff has done. Scholars come from all corners of the world to study under Ansoff and his disciples at United States International University, San Diego, California, USA. When is America going to wake up and learn from this "latter-day saint" of strategic management, while he is still with us? We ignored Demming, considered the "father of quality management," for years until he became infamous in Japan, teaching the Japanese firms how to dominate world markets with quality management. Some of the best minds in the world come every year to study under Ansoff, but few Americans are in their numbers.

Implanting Strategic Management is a compilation of a life-timework that organizes the major contributions in the field under oneumbrella, as Ansoff ingeniously develops a model that divides the competitive environment into five levels of turbulence: 1) repetitive, 2) expanding, 3) changing, 4) discontinuous and 5) unforeseen. His strategic success theorem states: For optimal success of an organization, the strategic aggressiveness (both technological and marketing) and the components of capability (both managers and organizational climate, competence and capacity) must match the level of environmental turbulence in which the organization competes. Ansoff uses a five-point integral scale to also measure the corresponding five levels of strategy: 1) stable, 2) reactive, 3) anticipatory, 4) entrepreneurial and 5) creative and the corresponding five levels of capability: 1) custodial, 2) production, 3) marketing, 4) strategic and 5) flexible, as he develops a strategic diagnostic questionnaire to obtain the perceptions of the general managers of any organization. When there is alignment or minimal gap between the average level of competitive environment and each of the components of strategy and capability, then the organization should have optimal success, which has been validated by several doctoral dissertations under Ansoff. This book is a comprehensive integration of several of Ansoff's scholarly articles, enhanced with each edition. Well thought out concepts involving strategic segmentation, resistance to change, optimizing strategic portfolio, strategic dimensions of technology, societal strategy issues, real-time strategic response to managing surprising changes, strategic issue management,and environmental surveillance for strong signals and weak signals in anticipating environmental change. Ansoff's theory says that at levels 1 to 3, a firm can extrapolate the future from the past. However, at level 4 (discontinuous) and level 5 (surpriseful), strategic management must be used by an organization to realistically plan for future successes in a highly turbulent competitive environment. Ansoff's theory applies to all types of organizations, and he explains how industries can have unexpected shifts from one level of turbulence to another, as in the case of Apple Computer Corp. When Apple created the personal computer, it also created a whole new marketplace with new customers at an initial turbulence level of 5, which shifted to a level 3 of marketing mentality, which seemed to be why Steve Jobs, a creative visionary, was replaced by Scully, a marketing guru, as the Board wanted to milk their "cash cow" and not be continuously creating new dimensions. However, when the environment shifted up to level 4, Apple almost went out of business when they did not respond fast enough. Level 4 is discontinuous, where the future is only partially predictable from the past, and it requires 4) entrepreneurial strategy and 4) strategic capability of the firm for optimal success. Steve Jobs was brought back in as interim CEO, and he was able make Apple once again competitive by enhancing the company's technological and marketing strategy, as well as its organizational capability, by bringing the firm's strategy and capability components up to level 4, so as to be successful. (Note: The above scenario is used by the reviewer as a realistic example of Ansoff's theory being applied in the real world.) In summary, Ansoff's work is far beyond anything published in the field, and one of the most comprehensive empirical studies that validates his complete theory is called "The Financial Performance of Technology-Driven Firms Aligning Strategy, Capability and Environment" by Richardson, John F. 1996. (Ann Arbor, MI: UMI No. 9623859), 564 pp. This reviewer recommends Ansoff's book Implanting Strategic Management to any individual who desires to learn from the top scholar in the field, considered by many world authorities as the "Father of Strategic Management." This reviewer has read numerous works by the leading scholars in the field, and nobody has integrated the various contributions under one umbrella or into one paradigm, as Ansoff has done. Scholars come from all corners of the world to study under Ansoff and his disciples at United States International University, San Diego, California, USA. When is America going to wake up and learn from this "latter-day saint" of strategic management, while he is still with us? We ignored Demming, considered the "father of quality management," for years until he became infamous in Japan, teaching the Japanese firms how to dominate world markets with quality management. Some of the best minds in the world come every year to study under Ansoff, but few Americans are in their numbers. END

I'm doing my MBA in Strategic Management and I have found this book to have ideas that helps me tremendously. I have also found another book written by Igor titled Corporate Strategy published by Penguin. I think it is equally a must read!

This is one of the best books written by Dr. Igor Ansoff, known worldwide as the "Father of Strategic Management". This book, in addition to its theoritical content, provides managers with a step-by-step guide to pilot their firms through the turbulent environments in the 21st century. This is one of the best books available on the topic of strategic management.

I bought this book for a class and was surprised at how engaging it is. This book is very well written and informative, and gave me a great general knowledge of Russia leading up to the Great War. The bibliography is extensive and very useful for anyone researching Russia in this era. Highly recommended.

The book I ordered, In War's Dark Shadow, was exactly as the seller described it - in perfect condition. Since the book is not longer in print, I feel lucky to find one that looks as if it has never been used. The book was shipped promptly, and the seller was a pleasure to work with. I highly recommend this seller!

thanks!

I chose this title, because it was true, at least for me. As Americans, we (some of us, not all) "think" Russians are not "very intelligent", "backward" and even, "less than human."
After reading this book, I tend to "get on my soapbox" to help people understand what few choices, the Russian people ever had in the outcomes of their lives! I never knew this before purchasing and reading Mr. Lincoln's book!
If you cannot be convinced by the poverty imposed on the Russians through Mr. Lincoln's words, you will be convinced by the heart-wrenching photographs; the children who appear as hopeless, hovels designed as homes with animals living within, death from starvation was not uncommon. And all the time, Russia refused (those in power prior to the Revolution)to feed her people, wheat was being shipped to other European countries.
And the Russians never questioned the motives of the Tsar; after the Revolution, they still starved and were murdered by Stalin and Hitler.
We need to change our attitudes and this book did it for me.

In the forward, W. Bruce Lincoln states the book is "...an effort to explore the lives, thoughts, hopes, and dreams of the men and women who lived in the world's largest empire and to convey some sense of the tensions that tore at the fabric of their existence on the eve of the Great War and the Revolution of 1917." In this effort he succeeds brilliantly.

We see portraits of Tsar Alexander III, Nicholas II, Pobedonostsev, Lenin, Rasputin, and a host of other generals, officials and ordinary people who shaped that era.

We get an insider's look at what life was like in a peasant community, inside the peasant's izba or house, and their attitudes towards schooling, medicine and religion. We go inside the growing factories and the slums the workers inhabited in the cities with rapidly developing industry. We see the new nobility of the industrial barons, the revolutionaries fighting the tsarist autocracy, the defenders of the Old Order...all come to life in these pages.

Graphic descriptions are given of the vicious pogroms against Jews. The impact of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in both economic and a political aspects is covered. The 1904 war with Japan is there with its criminally incompetent generals and and admirals and the war's impact on the development of the Revolution of 1905 as well as the mood of the populace as the nations slides toward the Great War.

This well written, illuminating, detailed and well documented book is a classic work on the Russian society of those years and fleshes out the soul of Russia as few other books do. 16 pages of photos. Highly recommended.

I am Russian so I knew quite a lot about Russian history before opening this book. The book is the best guide to Russian history of the period. Here's why:

-It is written in a wonderful language - very easy to read, yet directed towards scholars.
-History is divided into chapters that concentrate on specific subjects.
-It is full of detail that other history books often lack. I was suprised to see Bruce Lincoln use original Russian words instead of finding an English equivalent for it (such as "izba," "domovoj," "dvorovoj," "lapti," etc.).
-Finally, I've not yet read a book that concentrates so much, and gives such an in-depth study, on the subjects that are usually avoided being talked about "pre-revolutionary" times (simply because they are deemed not important in the light of a warfare).

With this book you will get a clear idea of what the Russian society looked like on the dawn of WWI. Bruce Lincold actually spent several years in the Russian archives doing research (but not just for this book), so he has a first-hand knowledge on the subject.

The chapters discuss the following subjects:

Chapter 1 - 1891: The Fateful Year:
Basic overview of the situation in Russia by the yar or 1891: camine, construction of trans-Siberian railway, some politics.

Chapter 2 - In the Wake of Famine:
Famine, peasants and life in the country.

Chapter 3 - Russia's New Lords:
Emancipation, new layer of society "Kuptsi" and arts and trade associated with it.

Chapter 4 - Life in the Lower Depths:
Proletariat and life in cities and towns.

Chapter 5 - The Few Who Dared:
Revolutionaries - formation of the political parties, radicals, impact on literature.

Chapter 6 - Defenders of the Old Order:
Royal Defenders - key figures that supported the old "tzar" order; their lives and activities.

Chapter 7 - "A Small Victorious War":
The Japanese War - why, when, and how. Gives the background, as well.

Chapter 8 - 1905: The Year of Turmoil:
Revolution of 1905.

Chapter 9 - "What We Want is a Great Russia!":
Government - parties, duma, people behind the law, the lawmaking process.

Chapter 10 - "The Childre of Russia's Dreadful Years":
Art revolution.

Chapter 11 - The Last Days of Peace:
Political situation on the dawn of the WWI - foreign relations and repressions.

Chapter 12 - The Drums of War:
WWI and how it affected Russia and its people.

I loved this story. Not the kind of thing I usually read, but once I'd begun I couldn't put it down. The story is fast-paced and held enough action to keep even the most impatient reader reading. All day I found myself thinking about the story, the characters and what was going to happen, and I couldn't wait to get back to the tale.

Stopmouth is an endearing character among a book full of memorable ones. Can't wait for the second installment in this series to appear! Write faster, Mr. O'Guilin!

Stopmouth is the younger brother in a family that faces daily struggles to survive. They are living in a tumbledown city on a world where the only thing to eat is their fellow sentient inhabitants - who can in turn, only eat their fellow sentinents (including humans). The life of Stopmouth and his tribe revolve around meat - obtaining it, trading their fellow humans to get it, and not becoming someone else's meal. This struggle means that some humans must volunteer themselves as food in the meat trade - and others must be volunteered.

The stuttering Stopmouth is a young hunter for his tribe, and because of his speech difficulties is generally considered stupid, and as a potential volunteer. He is, of course, anything but dumb!

His whole life - and that of his tribe changes the day that his elder brother betrays him - the same day that a lovely warrior woman falls down from the sky...

This well written book - reportedly the first in a science fiction trilogy - features an action packed plot (and some of the featured aliens are nightmare inducing!) as well as some very well developed characters in Stopmouth, his brother Wallbreaker, and the endearing human hunter Rockface with his love for children.

It also features mystery (who and what is Indrani, the woman from the sky? why are the people in the sky fighting with each other? how did Stopmouth's ancestors come to this brutal world and way of life? how did all of these aliens get there?) and quite a lot of ethical questions about the ways and means of survival.

While this book is being marketed as a YA, it features some pretty intense scenes of humans hunting and combat with aliens (as well as the other way around) - and some human cannibalism scenes. I think if I had read it as a tween or young teen, it would have bothered me quite a bit.

You can read a sample at the author's website at:
www.frozenstories.com

I cannot wait for the second book!!!!

Run, Stopmouth, run! Stopmouth's stammer makes his tribe think he's dim-witted, but he compensates by being a very fast runner. In his kill-or-be-killed world, speed is at least as valuable as intelligence. But Stopmouth's no dummy, as he gradually comes to realize when his familiar world, terrible as it is, begins to crumble.

Stopmouth has always idolized his brother Wallbreaker, a great hunter. Things begin to fall apart when Wallbreaker is captured on a hunting trip. Stopmouth's fleetness serves him well, and he escapes capture, but then, against all reason--by the standards of his tribe--he goes back to save Wallbreaker. In the process he kills three Armourbacks, an impressive feat. But Wallbreaker runs off, leaving Stopmouth to fend for himself, tells the tribe that Stopmouth is dead, and claims the kills for himself. Their relationship deteriorates from there. We watch Wallbreaker becoming increasingly erratic in his behavior, thwarting his brother at every turn, until finally Stopmouth finds it necessary to leave the tribe.

There's plenty of action here, and lots of gory killing, as the various species in this strange place follow the dictates of "eat or be eaten." But over and above the fighting, the killing, the cannibalism, is the mystery. What is this strange place, with its ruined buildings housed under what is obviously some sort of artificial dome? Who built it, and why? How did all these different species, all apparently intelligent although unable to communicate with each other, come to be in a situation where their only food is each other, where there is no edible vegetation, and no domesticated animals? What are the lights in the "sky" and who are the people in the sky ships?

As O Guilin alternately tantalizes and doles out tidbits of information, we come to realize that the title refers not only to Stopmouth's supposed standing compared to his brother, but encompasses all the warring beings of this place in comparison to the sky people. And perhaps the label is mis-applied there as well.

It's a fascinating riddle. I'm anxiously awaiting further revelations.

"And ten heartbeats past, you grabbed a piece of flesh out of my hands. Didn't you like the taste? Because if you can be a savage, maybe I could be civilized? It's possible, isn't it?"


Stopmouth is a young man in a world where humans live solely by hunting and consuming flesh. He is a hunter blessed with incredible speed, which is the only thing that saves him on a daily basis. Stopmouth, considered stupid by his tribe due to a stutter that impedes his speech, must prove himself constantly in order to survive. In his world when people outlive there usefulness they volunteer for flesh trades between the other beasts, because some beasts prefer their flesh still living. Stopmouth will be encouraged to volunteer if he ever fails.

One day Stopmouth's older brother, Wallbreaker, betrays him on a hunt. Thinking him dead Wallbreaker leaves Stopmouth behind to save his own neck. This cowardly act forms a gap between the two brothers that is only widened further when Wallbreaker takes all the credit for himself and uses that to buy himself a bride; a young woman named Mossheart, who Stopmouth has always had feelings for.

There are other things going on in this world. For one thing, there are people who watch over the tribes. Not gods, surely, but real people, as evidenced when a woman named Indrani falls from the sky. This strange and beautiful woman fuels desires in Stopmouth's heart that Mossheart never did. When Stopmouth breaks his legs and knows that he is on the volunteer list Indrani saves his life by splinting his legs and preventing the elders from taking him. Thus begins a friendship that will blossom throughout the course of the book, even though Stopmouth knows nothing of this strange woman who fell from the sky, or what that even means in the grand scheme of things. And even though his brother has designs to make her his in an endeavor to become the greatest warrior the ancestors have ever boasted.




"Are you truly human?" Stopmouth asked. He hoped she'd open her eyes and look at him. Another part of him wanted her to keep them closed so he could watch her without making her angry.

They stayed closed.

"I'm human," she muttered. "As human as you are, anyway."

"What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled.

She lifted her head. "None of your men have hair on their faces. You live on a diet of pure meat, most of it non-human. Your women never die in childbirth. You rarely get sick, any of you. And all of a sudden I'm the one who's not human?"





O'Guilin's first installment in the trilogy is a marvel. A... Marvel... plain and simple. It's one of those rare books that comes along that has such depth to it that the reader gets instantly overwhelmed and transported. It reminds me of many things that I love... "Watership Down", "Lord of the Flies", "Tarzan"... it echoes many things I adore. It also speaks to me of Frank Frazetta paintings and of a world that blends complicated Ethical dilemmas with a sensuous carnality. Do not belittle O'Guilin's own originality though, because trust me this book oozes original thought and raw, unadulterated talent. O'Guilin has such skill at creating a believable and real world that draws you in. Added to this is O'Guilin's wonderful ability to write such dynamic and interesting characters that the reader actually gives a damn about. This is a rare thing as many writer's don't really seem to be able to pull all of these elements together, particularly with such a concept as O'Guilin has established. This world, in all of it's brutality, is complex and surreal. Watching the humans go out again and again to face their doom inspires the reader and leaves them with an intense empty-stomach feeling with every campaign. I would love to say that it's jaw dropping, but in honour of O'Guilin I would prefer to call it eye popping, and you will just have to trust me on that. Fans of action novels will thrill in the details that O'Guilin shares, because there's enough bloodshed to make any gore enthusiast squirm. But there is a lot of heart and soul to be found in the relationships between the characters that any softhearted reader will find themselves tearing up, as I did. Boys will love it, girls (like me) will love it... It is not for the faint of heart. But it's for readers who like having their hearts stopped.

Brilliant. Utterly. I await the next book in the series with heightened enthusiasm.



"Your blood has come back to me," He whispered, "and so will you."



Bring me more blood, O'Guilin. My soul demands it.

Survival of the fittest is understood by Stopmouth and his tribe; either kill or be someone else's meal; although his people expect him to be fodder because his stupidity makes them believe Stopmouth is inferior to them. Expediting his demise is his brother who betrays Stopmouth.

In this dangerous environs of the law of eat or be eaten, Indrani falls from the sky landing in the midst of Stopmouth's tribe. They debate what to do with the intruder as some want to trade her to those who relish fresh human meat. Stopmouth is attracted to her and wants to keep the beautiful intelligent woman who fell from the glowing Roof as his even though that violates the one commandment of eat or be eaten. Meanwhile she hides from her protector the truth of what she knows about the origins of her benefactor and his tribe and their prime reason for existence.

Avoiding a spoiler makes the review difficult to write as the key to the story line and the relationship between the lead pair is the knowledge that Indrani possesses although that takes quite a while before the obviously not so stupid Stopmouth figures it out. The action is fast-paced but not enough of it especially for the intended young teen audience as much of the plot is used to describe in too much detail the surface world. Still this homage to Tarzan in the Twilight Zone will engage the reader who will be appalled to learn the truth behind the connection between the Roof top intellects and the INFERIOR surface dwellers.

Harriet Klausner

I have just written a brief article on "faith" for the benefit of those in AA who want to be healed of alcoholism. I cite this book and seven others as resource books that state positively just what the Creator of the heavens and the earth can do for alcoholics and anyone else who needs healing. Others have reviewed this Michael Brown book quite well. So I will just stamp it as an important, recent, scholarly affirmation of the healing power of "Yahweh that healeth thee." Its citations and resources alone warrant this as a key book on healing alcoholism--particularly because its author was delivered from that very scourge.

I just now finished reading this book. I have been reading it very, very carefully - writing notes from time to time - for close to three months!

From the cultural background of the Hebrew Scriptures to the etymological study of the Hebrew (and Greek) word translated "to heal" (and the convincing suggestion that it should be translated "to restore, make whole") to a rather full study of significant Biblical texts on the subject of healing to the discussion of healing in the NT to his "Conclusion and Reflections", Dr. Brown gives believers the necessary tools to build up faith in God's desire to miracuously heal today like Jesus did and poses a serious challange to those in the Body of Christ who hold to a cessationist view or have a distaste for the teachings, which they may have heard or read, on the subject.

This book is so important, I would suggest a careful reading of end-notes and, even though Dr. Brown suggests in his preface that the "nontechnical reader may want to skip" the sections on the root meanings of the Hebrew word "rapa", I think it is important that the nontechnical (like me) read it anyway; you may not get all of it but you will gain some basic but vital understanding (along with a section that discusses healing deities), that I believe undergirds and is foundational to all else that is said. If you do not get a satisfactory and firm grasp of what he writes in the Introduction and first chapter, I think you will miss the central significance of everything else fail to achieve the necessary firmness of understanding to strenghten any area where your faith may waver concerning God as Healer.

I cannot over emphasize that those in the Church who do not believe God is healing today should read this book. It is a challanging read and his arguments are logical and persuasive. If you are adamant and serious about what you believe, let me suggest that you gather up all your books on the cessationist view and read them alongside Israel's Divine Healer and see where it all takes you.

The book, as a whole, is not technical but it is packed with information that would be hard for any Biblical scholar or theologian to refute. If anyone knows of a book that challanges Dr. Brown, please let me know.

Brown makes it clear that the Old Testament root concept of healing was that of being restored from a broken or unhealthy state. This is a key concept and one that present (and often past) philosophers and theologians have not considered carefully. The mindset today is to contain an illness, to splice new genes into the old (new patches on old cloth?) with the conviction that the new will satisfactorily replace the old. However, there has to be, as Brown notes, restoration to God and ultimately our resurrection bodies will be like Adam and Eve's before sin overtook the world. In one sense restoration is figurative because we can't go back to Adam and Eve, but it is also literal because our "new" bodies will be recognizable when at the resurrection we are restored with God and taken out of a sinful world.

Israel's Divine Healer is the most scholarly book that I have ever read on the subject of divine healing from a Pentecostal perspective. Many books that I have read tend to focus on the individual or positive confession but Dr. Brown does neither and focuses rather on building a case that God is indeed a healer based on His revelations to Israel.

Dr. Brown further argues that God is immutable and therefore His promise of healing is the same for today. Dr. Brown's book has thousands of footnotes and is full of Scripture. For those not use to reading a book on divine healing from a theological viewpoint then you will want to skip this book. It is quite technical and deep. However, don't let that scare you. Read this book and be filled with faith that Jesus is a healing God.

Drawning on a depth of learning in Biblical Hebrew, Brown demonstrates how the key Hebrew terms for healing have been systematically and almost universally mistranslated and misunderstood by Biblical scholars and most existing Bibles. From this linguistic evidence, Brown reinterprets Biblical healing in a radical fashion. Absolutely essential for anyone studying healing in the Bible. (Some serious students and scholars may be surprised at the portrait of Jesus on the cover of a book labelled as an "Old Testament" study, but not to worry. Brown is a meticulous scholar. The footnotes alone--more than a hundred pages--are worth the price of the book.)