Clubs Books

I was a civilian working for USO in Vietnam during the same time that Dan Dane was there as a JAG officer. Dane's outstanding book is sharply honest, sharply funny, sharply sad, and entirely engrossing, acutely tuned to the way things really were. If readers are curious as to why Americans are still imprisoned, to one extent or another, by the Vietnam War, Dane's book will provide some valuable answers.
Diana J. Dell, author, A Saigon Party: And Other Vietnam War Short Stories

Dan Dane shines a bright light on another cost of the "American War" as the Vietnamese call it. Judge Dan tells the story of how Americans destroyed Americans in the name of orders and government policy. If you want to know how Saigon Warriors, class warfare, and drug use destroyed an army, this book tells it all.

Judge Dane writes a entralling story about the last years of the Vietnam War as seen through the eyes of a JAG officer. His courtroom scenes and depiction of military politics read as real as possible. All the distinctions - officers/grunts - career/draftee - white/black - combat/backup - add to the tension and conflict. He puts forth a convincing hypothesis about why we lost the war. Once realized, the hypothesis seems obvious and one further realizes that the same element echoes through American society today - still causing lost lives. The Judge is to be complimented on his rendition and understanding.

The author presents a JAG (Judge Advocate General) lawyer who represents soldiers accused of murder and drug offenses. And the censors are not allowed to lessen the brutal telling of the pitfalls.

This book brings the reader into the fray, allowing him to feel, taste, touch and react to military life in Viet Nam. Using the experiences of a non-career Army lawyer assigned during the last days of duty in Viet Nam, we discover that the justice served in the military is a fight in itself.

At times that legal battle is influenced by high command input not necessarily beneficial to the lawyer's role or to the meting out of justice to the defendant.

We follow the lawyer protagonist's fight his personal battle of bafflement and anger towards his immediate superior whose sole ambition is to promote himself. Thoughts of killing enter the lawyer's mind. This mind frame is grown out of the futility felt due to Generals doing the opposite of the facts published to the American public. "I fight to stop a moron poising as an Army officer from screwing up the life of a soldier."

This moving book guides us through the daily experiences faced by the "grunts" which, of necessity, become the foundation of the ordeal of the defense counsel. Fortunately, where he finds innocence of the purported crime, our lawyer battles through the layers of military law to bring about a "not guilty" decision.

This is a must read story of the little known area of the conflict in Viet Nam.

This is my favourite cookbook-- or should I say my favourite food cookbook (The Anarchist Cookbook is my fave overall). There are lots of recipes in here for all dishes and occasions- be it a fancy dinner or a not-so-fancy dessert- and the good news is, most of them are of the minimalist tradition, so no complicated procedures or fancy-schmansy ingredients. Just plain old good food, and believe me, if you follow Pomiane's and tips, you'll be cooking like a pro in no time!

This is my favourite cookbook-- or should I say my favourite food cookbook (The Anarchist's Cookbook is my fave overall). There are lots of recipes in here for all dishes and occasions- be it a fancy dinner or a not-so-fancy dessert- and the good news is, most of them are of the minimalist tradition, so no complicated procedures or fancy-schmansy ingredients. Just plain old good food, and believe me, if you follow Pomiane's and tips, you'll be cooking like a pro in no time!

This is an absolutely delightful read. I haven't tried any of the (delicious-sounding) recipes yet, but just reading this book was enough to whet my appetite! I particularly enjoyed his many witty asides and poetic turns of phrase. Highly recommended. Also take a look at "Clementine in the Kitchen", another charmer.

This is the one cooking book I reach for time and time again. Everything in here turns out fabulously well, and the text is so humorous and engaging, I find myself just reading it for pleasure. One word of warning; it will require some adaptations if you are on a fat free diet, as many of the recipes are loaded with butter and cream. Of course, that's what makes them so delicious!
Try this book, it's the best.

Karliner has a rare eye for absurdity that makes this more than a mere indictment of corporations. His description of how Chevron pacified an indigenous tribe in Papua New Guinea--by creating a Disneyland recreation of their own culture to impress them--is something so terrifying that no novelist could conceive it. He describes how, years later, the tribe had changed their traditional war paint to mimic the Chevron logo. This isn't just a dry treatise on the perils of globalization. It's a book filled with color, stories, and fascinating details about this bizarre time in the world. From the smell of gasoline seeping up through the richest homes in Playa Del Rey, California, to the history of Standard Oil, to the fight over the forests in the Northwest, to the structure of Japanese corporations--Karliner's book is an overlooked masterpiece that details so many unexpected facets of the global economy.

Globalization is, obviously, a complicated, misunderstood, and nuanced process. And while THE CORPORATE PLANET is not the last word on that process, or on the dynamics by which corporations are emerging as key shapers of that process, it is also true that it tells stories far too often ignored by Quisslings, diplomats, and book reviewers. I write this because I stumbled across the Kirkus review printed on THE CORPORATE PLANET's page here, and it pissed me off. Particularly irritating is the use of the word "shrill," an adjective that seems reserved for books which contest the common optimism that tells us that radicalism is impractical and unnecessary, and that we need not attend too much to the really dangerous corners of the Big Picture. More statistics? Karliner already has LOTS of statistics here. And if his book is "unhelpful" when it comes to suggesting political alternatives, this may be in part because such alternatives are still unclear, and thus necessarily difficult to spell out in specific form. The corporation is the dominant political form of the modern age, and a principle engine of ecological destruction. In such circumstances, just what kind of an "alternative" does one appeal to? In fact, there are some good ideas here, and some good stories too, important stories well chosen. The emergence of the true transnational corporation is one of the most important development in recent human history. If you wish to know what all the shouting is about, you could do worse than start here.

Here are some excerpts from other reviews of The Corporate Planet

Thoughtful analysis of globalization's ecological and social impacts and of efforts by "corporate environmentalists" to control how problems and solutions are defined....With ecological sustainability, social justice, and democratic participation as his guiding principles, Karliner celebrates "grassroots globalization"--citizens demanding responsible environmental behavior from global corporations--becoming stronger and more articulate around the world.

-- Booklist

A fine effort....The book reads easily, without being breezy, moving from concrete illustrations of how giant global corporations are affecting the lives of ordinary people to more abstract discussion of underlying issues.

--The Ecologist

In The Corporate Planet, [Joshua Karliner] explains how transnational corporations like Dow clean up their image rather than their act.

--The Nation

A Magellan-like journey around the globe, giving readers a guided tour that identifies the protectors and poisoners of planet Earth.

--Monthly Review

A thoughtful examination of the new international balance of power in the global economy.

--San Francisco Bay Guardian

Joshua Karliner's "The Corporate Planet" was published prior to the Seattle WTO protests. The book's expert analysis of the relationship between private corporations and the plundering of the earth's resources successfully contextualized the protests as few other books written at that time were able.

Since then of course, many have written about globalization and its effects. But I think Karliner's work continues to stand out from the pack and has in fact gained strength as events continue to unfold. The ascendancy of the pro-oil industry Bush administration and its strident anti-environmentalist agenda seems to confirm his thesis: namely, that corporations and their elected cronies (or unelected cronies, in Bush's case) often proclaim themselves to be environmentally friendly on the one hand while simultaneously rolling back environmental protections on the other.

When push comes to shove, the quest to accumulate profits wins over the environment. Karliner does an excellent job of showing how corporate PR or "greenwash" and corporate sustainable development initiatives provide smokescreens for doing business as usual. But when given the opportunity, Karliner documents how companies such as Chevron lobby hard to roll back protections when given a favorable political situation like the one that existed when Republicans gained control of Congress in the mid-1990s.

The author supports his theory by effectively using case studies to illustrate how these dynamics play out in the real world. Large corporations such as Mitsubishi use their economic power to bend governments and citizens to their will, in the process impoverishing communities and environments as local resources are stripped away for the benefit of distant investors.

Karliner proposes a number of remedies that can help turn the situation around. He reasons that greater democratic input and corporate acocuntability is badly needed if we want people and the environment to be given primacy over the rights of the privileged few to reap the rewards of globalization for themselves. While Karliner may not have detailed a specified course of action -- no single person could be expected to do that -- it seems obvious that he has successfully defined the parameters of the struggle.

Intelligently written and supplemented with numerous footnotes and statistics, I believe it is not too much to say that "The Corporate Planet" is a classic work. I strongly recommended it for those who want to learn more about globalization and the central role corporations are playing in the destruction of the environment.

I think you should read The Cut-Ups by James Marshall because when Mary Frances puts them in Mr. Spurgle's yard and Mr. Spurgle gets mad at them and they try to run away, but Mr. Spurgle's battery died down so they got away. I am in 2nd grade.

because they are really funny and silly. They do silly things. My favorite part of the book was when Mr. Spurgle was the principal again. I am a 2nd grader.

I think you should read The Cut-Ups by James Marshall because it's a good book for me and it's funny, too. I like the book a lot. When they're being so funny because of that girl in the car, that's the best part of all for me. I am a 2nd grader.

The Cut Ups is one of the best children's books that I've ever read. It has a moral, but it is not heavy handed. It's something that my kids and I have read repeatedly - laughing every time.

I liked this book a lot. Its not the kind of vampire that you want to like but I liked the characters. In his life, the vampire has stayed many places, he was made a vampire while in the intention of commiting adultry but his lady in the night turned out to be a differnt kind of lady of the night than he expected.
Fearing for his life, the vampire flees from Brazil where the inhabitants there have caught on to him. He comes to Florida and inadvertantly encounters a few people who set off his desire for revenge against a man that tried to destroy him while he was in India. The vampire is originally from Germany.
In Florida, the vampire causes much pain. However, he should have gone someplace else instead.

Dark Revenge is a horror vampire novel filled with tension. The same as in real life, the characters don't suspect a vampire is in the works as, the same as in real life, who would suspect such a thing. If someone told them, they would probably laugh, but before this novel is over, no one is laughing.

The vampire has it in for one of the main characters and the vampire does everything he can to destroy this man mentally before attacking him physically.

Worth a read.

I was looking at the vast collection of vampire fiction and was suprised to find a book that has captured the feel of the original works. I've always liked vampire fiction but have found new books trying to change the nature of the beast and am pleased to say that this story still has the beast in original form. Two fangs, controlled with more of the raw lust of blood.

I bought and read this book and really enjoyed it. It was smooth read that kept my interest from beginning to end. I found myself actually afraid of this vampire. Worth a read, no doubt about it!

Fabulous wonderfully well written novel! Hysterically funny. Could not stop laughing at anything and everything involving The Pipster! The entire cast of characters is wonderfully imperfect and yet perfectly wonderful. Savour this book, read every sentence and every word.

Chris the 34 year old US Mail carrier and her best friend Luce the stained glass artist. Their friends Amadeus the restaurant owner, Midge the successful pastry chef, and B. the realtor who defines the type 'A' person. And best of all The Pipster. So much good will and fun it makes you want to visit Albuquerque New Mexico on vacation.

This is a not to be missed laugh out loud book.

This is a KEEPER!

Don't miss the author's other books -

Old Ties
A Question of Love?
Sweet Fire
Wish List

This books follows the adventures of 4 friends searching for love after a series of dating and relationship disasters. After many trials and tribulations, they all eventually find what they need, if not what they were looking for. A cute, light read for summer.

As usual, Saxon Bennet delivers a fantastic story with a colorful ensemble of characters. At first, I usually have a hard time remembering them all, but by the end of the book they become unforgettable.

After having little or no luck on the dating scene, four women decide to form a "date night" club. They meet regularly, planning outings in different places and hoping to meet eligible women. Close friends, they support each other in times of trouble and celebrate their successes together.

Even trying to relay a few of the details would require too much of the story to be revealed, but I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't try. Just take it from a Bennet fan and an avid reader of books in this genre - grab a copy and hold on for the ride.

Meet Chris McCoy, a charming, neurotic lesbian mail carrier living in Albuquerque, N.M., and member of a group of middle-aged lesbian friends who find themselves single, AGAIN. They decide to commit themselves to finding not just a lover-for-the-moment but a "perfect mate." Thus they form the "Date Night Club" where "Instead of letting love fall to chance, they would research it, explore all the places where it might lurk or frolic and nail it to the wall of each of their futures" (40).



The club members are an eccentric mix of women who provide a great deal of heart and humor on their "quest" for love. There is Bernadette Chevez Maestas, known as B., a high-energy and highly successful realtor with a physique akin to Dolly Parton's. Sarah K. Roswell is the pastry chef/business woman behind a well known line of crème puffs available in upscale groceries. Sarah calls herself "Midge" because as a Little Person, she feels she might as well control and embrace her identity with disarming, self affirming humor. Luce is the resident bohemian-earth-mother-artist-type who works in large scale stained glass and may still be grieving her late lover. And Amadeus, a tall, blue-eyed, red-haired German Amazon, runs The Zoo, a hip restaurant that's popular with "club members."



The group makes monthly forays dubbed "date night" that include volunteering at the local pride-fest picnic and attending a book group sponsored by the local women's bookstore. In the latter scene, Alex Taylor, the author of the month's selection, is in attendance because she hopes for feedback from readers. (Her book, titled "The Heiress," bears a striking resemblance to the story line of Bennett's book, Back Talk.) Particularly amusing is the hot seat on which the author finds herself when her literary use of pickles is criticized by two very uptight feminist readers. The discussion that results is bizarre and hilarious. While no reader should assume an autobiographical origin to any novel, one can not help but wonder if Bennett is exorcising some particular experience with this wickedly funny scene. Alex Taylor's rather plaintively confused comment, "The pickle heiress was meant to be funny," (75), says it all.



Date Night Club is a very fine example of what Saxon Bennett does best: She creates a funny, charming and very human ensemble cast of lesbians, then carries her readers through an arc of challenge and growth with them. I laughed out loud several times, especially in regard to B.'s type A dominating, if well meaning, approach to orchestrating not only her own life but those of her good friends. The scene with the duct tape still gets me to smile. Dog people will love The Pipster, who makes Lassie look ill-trained, and the flyball games. Date Night Club is one of the funniest books I've read in a very long time, and is in my opinion the best of Bennett's many charming novels, in that her characters are so clearly defined and articulated from the very beginning, making the story a pleasure to follow. Give Date Night Club a try, you might not find your true love, but you're sure to enjoy the evening!

A friend recommended Dathan Charles to me as an antidote to the many formula style books on the market now. Wasn't that the truth! Warned in advance, I settled down in my most comfortable chair, put a full bottle on the table beside me with a large glass and set out to be entertained. The following morning I finished the book and the bottle. During that night I was transported to another time and place filled with characters, good and evil, so real they were like family.

When you enter the world of Dathan Charles, you encounter a rich tapestry of very human beings playing out their lives against a background of international business, organised crime and world events. It is by turn a thriller, a mystery, a romance as the twists in the multi-layered life of Dathan Charles unfold.

Born into a very old English landed family, falling foul of the Nazi regime in the early thirties, Dathan goes to New York to avoid repercussions. There she attempts to build her business which is popular one with organised crime. Lethally dealing with the opposition, she falls in love and into a business arrangement to launder money with an ex-gangster and his partner.

With her lover in jail for ten years, Dathan dedicates her life to her business to find she now has various government agencies determined to ruin her because of her connections. On the other side of the Atlantic, her problems come from the nefarious activities of her family. To her fury both are drawn together during WW2 when British Intelligence start sharing information with their American counterparts. Eventually, in 1948, she is forced to devise a scheme to bring all her adversaries down at the same time, by exposing them and diverting them into fighting each other.

By introducing real life characters and events, with historical accuracy, the narrative seamlessly draws together all the threads of Dathan's life in such a way, it's hard to believe she herself is a figment of the author's imagination.

I wondered, laughed and cried as the many plots unfolded and finished the book with regret. Soon I'll read it again for the sheer pleasure of walking around the "labyrinthine mind" of Dathan Charles and picking up what I missed the first time.

I hope to there's going to be more books about the de Charles family, this author is brilliant.

Prepare to devote an entire weekend to an extraordinary new novel written by Dione M. Coumbe. Through 600 pages of mystery, intrigue and compelling action, Coumbe chronicles the life and times of Dathan Charles, the charming, beautiful, devious, always ingenious tycoon phenomena of a huge international business empire. Crossing the ocean from England at the age of 21, just before the outbreak of WWII, Dathan Charles begins her odyssey by opening a small bridal gown emporium with her own, made-to-order designs. Coumbe hereby sets the stage for the herione's rise to head Dathan Charles International. But on the way to that goal lies a world of amazing business acumen, thrilling adventures involving the Nazi SS and the flight of the Jews from Germany, maneuvers in high finance, intrigue in gangland NYC and wonderful piano concertos which fairly waft among the pages. Behind all this is yet another facet, the world of art and the artists who mingle in Dathan Charles' life.

Coumbe has brought together an absorbing cast of characters, each wonderfully rounded and complete in themselves, yet interdependent and integral to the heroine. Coumbe, as a historian and genealogist in her own right, follows the history of pre WWII to the mid 90s in this country, England and Europe, allowing the reader to visualize how each character is a product of history and their own family trees. The weaving of this web is so deft that one is amazed at how smoothly it all comes together. A risky flight from the SS, a chilling gangland shoot-out, financial finagling of the highest order, romance which warms the heart, fashion, art and music all surround and intermingle with the international cast.

This is a heart warming, heart rending, heart stopping story, one guaranteed to fascinate, captivate and dominate the reader. Coumbe, already a published author, has come on the fiction stage with a truly distinctive concept and a wonderfully unique and thrilling reading experience.

Where has this author been all my life? A brilliant and intelligent book. human, serious, flippant, romantic, comic, written with a real knowledge of the events and places. In Dathan Charles, the author has created a larger than life character, who leaps from the pages with joi de vivre, deviousness, loyalty and an iron determination not to allow her business, family and friends be destroyed by any organization, good or bad. Her greatest asset is her ability to keep silent. "She's so secretive, she does n't even talk to herself", sums up her prime tactic and her philosophy,"Justice,! Government,! the Mafia, there's them and us!" The author knows her stuff on the period and the psychological aspects ring true. The reactions described after the rape scene are atypical of a victim as are those of someone receovering their memory afer injury, rationalising sexual sadism, or homosexuality. Each are treated with sensitivity and understanding, without crudity. This is not sex and incident for the sake of it, each event is integral to the plot. The panoply of all virtues and vices which everyone has make you want to laugh and cry. Either Dione M. Coumbe is an ace researcher or her insights come from personal experience. A really terrific fast paced read, I could not, and did not, put it down.

A friend recommended Dathan Charles to me as an antidote to the many formula style books on the market now. Wasn't that the truth! Warned in advance, I settled down in my most comfortable chair, put a full bottle on the table beside me with a large glass and set out to be entertained. The following morning I finished the book and the bottle. During that night I was transported to another time and place filled with characters, good and evil, so real they were like family.

When you enter the world of Dathan Charles, you encounter a rich tapestry of very human beings playing out their lives against a background of international business, organised crime and world events. It is by turn a thriller, a mystery, a romance as the twists in the multi-layered life of Dathan Charles unfold.

Born into a very old English landed family, falling foul of the Nazi regime in the early thirties, Dathan goes to New York to avoid repercussions. There she attempts to build her business which is popular one with organised crime. Lethally dealing with the opposition, she falls in love and into a business arrangement to launder money with an ex-gangster and his partner.

With her lover in jail for ten years, Dathan dedicates her life to her business to find she now has various government agencies determined to ruin her because of her connections. On the other side of the Atlantic, her problems come from the nefarious activities of her family. To her fury both are drawn together during WW2 when British Intelligence start sharing information with their American counterparts. Eventually, in 1948, she is forced to devise a scheme to bring all her adversaries down at the same time, by exposing them and diverting them into fighting each other.

By introducing real life characters and events, with historical accuracy, the narrative seamlessly draws together all the threads of Dathan's life in such a way, it's hard to believe she herself is a figment of the author's imagination.

I wondered, laughed and cried as the many plots unfolded and finished the book with regret. Soon I'll read it again for the sheer pleasure of walking around the "labyrinthine mind" of Dathan Charles and picking up what I missed the first time.

I hope to there's going to be more books about the de Charles family, this author is brilliant.

This is one of the best books I ever read to my kids. And they usually picked it first for bedtime reading. It is written in rhyme and the illustrations are absolutely wonderful.

This is a great rhythmical story that supports early readers because of it predictablitly of the story. The antics are fun and exciting. Also, the illustrations are absolutly FABULOUS and is what kept me interested as a child and still today as a new teacher.

This book is one of my all time favorites. I started reading to my children when they were babies - it has great rythm. It is delightful for adults, and my children have always been riveted. My one year old twins stop whatever they are doing to listen to the story whenever I start reading it. (I even "read" it to them in the car or bath because it is an easy little poem to memorize!)

Written in rhyme, this book makes it easy for young readers to experience the thrill of reading all by themselves. Of course, the goose's antics only add to the excitement. This is a great book to motivate your preschooler to want to learn to read.

This is a complete departure from his other books. It is a clever approach to thought provoking subjects of our times. Makes you sit back and think about whether our current and future politicians will ever get it right and get the job done. A great read and one I highly recommend.

I have to admit that I'm a bit biased about Harris Baseman's latest book "The Dead Presidents Club" because I strongly encouraged him to go forward with it after reading an early draft of the first two chapters!

What grabbed me right off -- and even more so after reading the finished product, was that this book gave me an easy and entertaining way to get an in depth grasp of today's major political and social issues. And the big bonus is that I also received an entertaining history lesson along with many looks at the personality quirks of many of our U.S. Presidents now long gone -- until Harris brought them together for these historic interviews.

Great summer reading -- or for that matter year round reading!

PS: I'd give "The Dead Presidents Club" Five Stars even if I weren't biased! :-)

Interested in immigration reform and global warming? The author presents these and other issues in the interesting context of a lively discussion between the likes of Theodore Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson. The book combines a somewhat whimsical review of the personalities of the famous and departed along with provocative thoughts about issues facing the United States today.

This book really resonated with me as I am sure it will many other Americans who are disillusioned with the current administration's complete and utter incompetence and total disregard for the middle class. The author (Harris Baseman - also published "Turncoats"), actually brings back to life some of America's most well-regarded presidents like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, Jack Kennedy and other deceased Presidents who are interviewed by a local tv reporter to find out how they would solve 21st century issues like the energy crisis, the Iraq war, terrorism, our government's ineffectiveness, environmental issues, along with a host of other serious matters that affect millions of Americans every day. The dead presidents actually do come up with actual solutions which, if implemented properly, could probably help our nation recover and heal from all the damage that has been done in the last eight years. It's remarkable that a book author and several dead Presidents are more effective than our current government at solving today's issues. A must read!

A brilliant scientist, a twisted man who loves her beyond measure, twins separated by time, an ancient religious book, speech-control and more. Mix these up and what do you get? You get Degranon, a fascinating read that blends intrigue, time-travel and the attempted resurrection of what was thought to be an ancient religion. Filled with the undercurrent of how important family is, Mr. Simolke successfully combines all of these elements into a suspenseful story about betrayal, lust for power, love and the need for truth. Set on Valchondria, a far away star-system, Degranon refers to the Book of Degranon, an ancient text that is thought by some to be the ultimate source of truth. But, perhaps it's just a story. Degranon mirrors Earth's current events in many ways. Reflecting the clash of fanatical beliefs due to modern-day monotheistic religions, Degranon speaks to the extremes that they produce in our own civilization, as well as for the civilization that is the setting of this story. I was constantly reminded of our own modern day woes while reading this tome. All in all, Degranon is fitting entry into the science fiction genre.

I recommend DEGRANON for its exciting, well-constructed narrative, its often intriguing characters, and its wealth of ideas both political and philosophical.

However, I do have a couple minor - and I hope constructive - quibbles. Although we're all used to colorful invented words in SF (from "Barsoom" to "Arrakis"), too often I scratched my head over whether there was some allegorical, and hence thematic, significance to a word or name. Take "Degranon" for example: It sounds like "degrading" and "anonymous" - and that sort of fits with what's in the novel... but it's not a snug fit. And the gap, both here and in other instances, produced a nagging doubt that I'd missed something important. And that pulled me out of the story.

The characters, although vivid, spoke a bit too much in "exposition-ese." On the other hand, I was often fascinated by the details of Valchondria or Degranon which they revealed. As I said, these are minor criticisms of an ambitious and entertaining novel.

I hope that Simolke will continue exploring these engrossing worlds in future books... or take us to entirely new places.

Duane Simolke adds yet another dimension to his diverse literary offerings with this science-fiction novel. He has already established that he can create whole communities with his Acorn Stories-a book of short stories. With his collection of essays and poetry in Holding Me Together, he has shown that he is equally adroit with research and a breath-taking turn of phrase. In Degranon, Simolke brings it all together, creating not a single community, but a whole world. His characters are as unique as anything he creates with his Acorn Stories, but in Degranon, he weaves a tightly plotted story of a planet on the verge of political and social ruin, exacerbated by those with misguided and therefore "evil" intentions. Layer upon layer of intrigue and counter-balancing moves make this scifi story one that will hold your interest and surprise you with its twists and turns. Definitely a good read. --Ronald L. Donaghe, author of the fantasy novel, Cinátis (coming in 2002)

"Degranon"
Duane Simolke
Review by Mountman
Degranon is Duane?s first venture into the world of Sci-Fi. And what a venture it is. Duane really shows just how talented he is with Degranon. When I was asked which of Duane?s book I wanted to review it was very hard for me to choose. As you may know, I reviewed Acorn Stories. I was excited about reading it, but, when I got Degranon, I chose it because I am a Sci-Fi fan from way back.

The story begins on the world of Valchondria. A negative utopia that is ?Maintained? by, who else, the Maintainers, sort of, like the Firemen in Ray Bradbury?s Fahrenheit 451. They watch for people using words from a banned word list. Words that are considered anti-glory to Valchondria, words such as colonization. There are no books, like in Fahrenheit 451, only wallscreens that project the things that the Maintainers want the people of Valchondria to see and think. For their own good, of course.

There is a ?miracle drug that has given the people of Valchondria a virus that makes them immune to almost all diseases and the ravages of time? but, along with that there are things that it takes away also like, the ability to see in color, and hear as many tones as we do now. With this loss people have lost interest in music and anything related to it, such as dancing.

There are some that have not lost the ability to see in color. One such person is Dr. Lorfeltez. A 26-year-old scientist that recently became a representative of the SSC (Supreme Science Council), a strong branch of the government. She is as strong willed as her adversaries. She thinks that Valchondria should reopen space travel exploration, something that is considered anti-glory.

She along with another brilliant scientist, Dr. Nabold, creates Life. Life is a computer that had many tentacles that reach deep into the Valchondria soil looking for energy deposits. There is another ?scientist? along with them, Dr. Geln. Did I say scientist? I forgot to add the word Mad. Dr. Geln is also an operative placed there to watch, and make sure that Life does what it?s actually meant for, creating a doorway to Valchondria?s past.

Dr.?s Lorfeltez and Nabold fall in love and become married. At the same time, Dr. Geln falls in love with Lorfeltez. Which creates some very interesting twists later in the story. When Dr. Lorfeltez becomes pregnant with twins, something that is forbidden on Valchondria, Dr. Geln, with the help of Life, takes one of the twins, Telius, to the past, where Alom brings him up. Alom is an aging priest of his time.

Dr. Geln has got to be fashioned after 20th Century?s worst criminal, Hitler. He creates a youth organization called Youth For Valchondrian Reform. Where he brain washes, Argen, the twin that stayed in Valchondria?s present. Argen, best friend is Kryldon who happens to be same-gendered, something that is considered normal in Valchondrian society. Sometimes it is even preferred. Kryldon unwittingly, gets Argen involved in the Youth For Valchondria?s Reform. You can take it from there.

Whether you are a Sci-Fi fan or not, Degranon is a must read. It is fast paced, and compelling. Thanks Duane for giving us another place and friends I would like to revisit again.