Roma Books

I'm from England and I'm studying this play for A level (as a mature student - normally taken when aged 17) but although the UK is the home of 'The Bard' this item is not available in the UK! I'm very impressed with Amazon.com who delivered it quickly and cheaply!

The CD itself is great. It really helps to hear the play, as the intonation is correct, which is sometimes difficult to do when reading it yourself.

The actors' voices are clear and suit their parts perfectly. I'd definitely recommend it - and I will look out for more titles in this series when I've finished studying this one!

Although this play is not one of Shakespeare's better known plays, it is one of his very best. It is a tragicomedy suffused by gentle melancholy. Unreasonable and cruel jealousy are also portrayed. We also have two endearing young lovers to liven up the story. These characters are very well-drawn, and the story is quite beautiful.

I have always favoured the Oxford Shakespeare series over others (Folger, etc), and the Winter's Tale is no exception. It's translation notes and lexigraphical assistance makes reading a joy and brings out the true heart and soul of one of Shakespeare's commonly overlooked tragi-comedies.

As usual in Shakespearean plays, the language here is very prettily written. As usual in Shakespearean comedies, there are plot holes that one could easily drive a tank squadron through. But since this is not just a comedy, but a tragicomedy, in which the first part is a tragedy and the second a comedy, not everything comes out well in the end: some worthy characters die. Also, as is usual for Shakespeare, we have a morality play on the evils of jealousy and closed-mindedness. Really, though, other than the pretty Shakespearean turns of phrase, there isn't much to recommend this book.

Early compilers of Shakespeare's plays classified this a comedy, but there is much tragedy in it. Later it was called a romance. Through irrational jealousy a king is apparently responsible for the deaths of his entire family -- wife, son and daughter -- by mid-play. Time is a character in the play and at his one appearance summarizes the passage of sixteen years. If you have an overy high regard for realism, you may not much enjoy this play, but that will be true of more of Shakespeare than just this one tale. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I look forward to seeing it. I've ordered the BBC DVD and it's being performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2006. These Cambridge School editions have the play's text on right-hand pages; they have summary, commentary and exercises, and vocabulary on the facing left-hand pages. As I read through the play, I'd read the summary, read the play text paying attention to vocabulary, and then read the commentary and exercises. Some additional, unusual vocabulary was only explained in the commentary. I felt I got a deeper understanding of the play than if I had just read the play proper.mmary, commentary and exercises, and vocabulary on the facing left-hand pages. As I read through the play, I'd read the summary, read the play text paying attention to vocabulary, and then read the commentary and exercises. Some additional, unusual vocabulary was only explained in the commentary. I felt I got a deeper understanding of the play than if I had just read the play proper.

I gave this book a high rating because I very much appreciate the emphasis on the relationships between noble families, and between the oligarchy and government; although I realize that this point of view is considered slighly old fashioned by some. I have read a number of books on Roman history, and I often have the feeling that I am getting a "space ship view" with an interpretion of what we see down there being filtered through my, and the author's "value filter". I this book I began to understand something about what may have gone on. The Roman concepts "Auctoritas", "Clientela", "Dignitas" and "Libertas" explain a lot. I must admit I lost my good opinion of Augustus, but obtained a better one of Anthony and Julius Caesar. I would like to know more about Agrippa. Some reader may find the details of the relationships between the families very tedious, but for me, it made the history real. I commend the scholarship that it must have taken to write such a detailed analysis. One feels it is a "behind the headlines" view, much like one gets in a book by Peter Heather.

Syme's 1939 work is essential reading for anyone who wants to have an in depth understanding of the Roman Republic's collapse. Although later works have disputed his thesis (Caesar was a proto-fascist), it is still an important book to read and well worth the investment in time and effort.

R. Syme reveals the real power players in ancient Roman society, the backers of the competing generals searching personal domination of the empire.
That empire contained two classes of citizens: the patricians and the plebs. Rome was ruled without a real constitution (legality was a casual or partisan question). In fact, an oligarchy of 20 to 30 men detained all power strings. They represented whom? The main factions involved were the optimates (wealthy nobility), the nobiles (consular houses), the equites (provincial aristocracies, captains of industry and finance) and the novi homines (senators for the 1st time). Three other groups as a whole were politically very important: the plebs, the soldiers and the Senate.
Ambitious generals tried to cement different factions into a block, a Party as a power base.

Julius Caesar was a nobilis, backed by the plebs. By nominating many novi homines he took control of the Senate. He became the first Roman revolutionary by abolishing all political liberties and installing a dictatorship. He was stabbed to death by the defenders of the Republic.
Marcus Antonius took the helm at the Caesarean Party, but Caesar also nominated a young nobilis as his heir, Octavianus. Provisory political stability was created through a triumvirate (M. Antonius, Octavianus, Lepidus) which installed a reign of terror, wiping out all political opponents through proscription and abolishing all private rights of citizenship. After the elimination of Lepidus, the two remaining triumvirs fought the battle of Actium: Octavianus became the sole master of the situation. In the choice between political freedom (and a new suicidal civil war?) or a stable government, the power players opted for the latter.
The reign of Octavianus (Augustus) was backed by the plebs (panem et circenses), the military, the Senate (purified by nominating many novi homines) and the consuls (designated by the emperor). The power of the nobiles was broken. R. Syme characterizes his reign as plutocratic. Many novi homines were opulent men from the colonies and the municipia (Italy without Rome). In reality, Rome was ruled in secret by members of his family (Livia) and personal adherents (Maecenas, Agrippa).

R. Syme's book contains many in depth portraits of major power players. A few examples: Cicero was the head of the optimates who intended to employ Octavianus in order to destroy the Caesarean Party and to restore political liberty. Octavianus was a hypocrite and opportunist chameleon, who seized power through bribery, fraud and bloodshed.
This magisterially and clear analysis of a power struggle is a must read for all historians and for all those interested in the history of mankind

I would have titled this book differently because a revolution is rather abrupt and his discrpition is rather long. The writing is very detailed and he is one of the leading voices for Roman history. I would only read this book if you are interested in becoming better educated on the demise of the senate, not for pleasure reading.

This was required reading for a graduate course in Roman history.

Ronald Syme's book The Roman Revolution was originally printed in 1939. My report is on the book's fourth printing of 1960, which incorporated minor revisions. Syme was an Oxford professor of ancient history for most of his adult life. He is primarily remembered for this book, which was hailed as a groundbreaking analysis of Roman political life after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Syme also wrote an excellent analysis of the works of the Roman historians Tacitus and Sallust. When this book was published, many historians detected that current events of the time; such as, the rise of Fascism in Europe, had an enormous influence on Syme's book. Specifically, he ominously observed the cult hero worship of Mussolini and Hitler in Italy and Germany where he had traveled on numerous occasions in the 1930's. The excuse Caesar Augustus used to seize power was that the political structure of the Republic and the Senate became inadequate to rule Rome; thus, he was only doing what was necessary to restore public order. Syme found that the Dictators in Italy and Germany were eerily repeating this excuse some two thousand years later. In the introduction to his book, Syme stated that the new government which Caesar Augustus instituted "was the work of fraud and bloodshed, based upon the seizure of power and redistribution of property by a revolutionary leader."

The book covers the political and social structure of the Roman state between 60 BCE and 14 CE; essentially the domination of Pompeius Magnus through the Principate of Augustus. Syme correctly theorized that leading up to this turbulent period of Roman history the government was really an oligarchy, which was conveniently masked behind the façade of a republic. Syme wrote in his chapter on "The Roman Oligarchy:"

"The political life of the Roman Republic was stamped and swayed,not by parties and programmes of a modern and parliamentary character, not by the ostensible opposition between Senate and People, Optimates and Populares, nobiles and novi homines, but by the strife for power, wealth, and glory. The contestants were the nobiles among themselves, as individuals or in groups, open in the elections and courts of law, or marked by secret intrigue. As in the beginning, so in its last generation, the Roman Commonwealth,`res publica populi Romani', was a name; a feudal order of society still in a city-state and governed an empire."

Noble families determined the history of the Republic. Thus, Syme wrote that the true history of Rome could not be understood without knowledge of the noble families and clans, who provided the men that comprised the oligarchy. Men from the noble families comprised the different competing political factions in Rome. The machinations of Rome's political factions, coupled with the inefficiency of the oligarchy to rule a large empire and the rise of a professional army, all contributed to the fall of the Republic. Through Syme's investigation of the oligarchy he revealed the shifting alliances among the noble elites, and the rise and fall of various noble houses, which culminated with the great change that took place during the revolution and afterwards with the Prinicpate of Augustus.

In an orderly fashion, Syme used thirty-three short and succinct chapters to present the progression of events leading up and through the Principate of Augustus. Syme's description of Julius Caesar's victory over Pompey the Great and his allies, as well as the intrigue leading up to The Ides of March, are most illuminating. Syme wrote that "Caesar's Dictatorship meant the curbing of the oligarchy, promotion for merit." Thus, Syme believed that the assassination of Caesar by Brutus and Cassius was not the work of patriots defending Rome's republican form of government, but was the work of men protecting the vested interests of the ruling elites. Syme's assessment of Caesar's dictatorship and the actions of the assassins certainly provides food for thought. "The tragedies of history do not arise from the conflict of conventional right and wrong. They are more august and complex. Caesar and Brutus each had right on his side." Syme followed The Ides of March with an excellent analysis of the Caesarian party, the rise to power of Caesar's heir Octavianus known later as Augustus, and the political machinations of both Octavianus and Antonius, commonly known as Mark Anthony during their Triumverate with Lepidus. The Triumvirate not only began a political revolution, but a social revolution with their proscription on their political enemies of between 100 to 300 senators and thousands of knights. The Triumvirate's revenge through proscription culminated in a vast redistribution of wealth through the confiscation of property and a harsh imposition of taxes.

Syme showed an unusual bias in favor of Mark Anthony. He described him as a great soldier and chivalrous, but politically outwitted and trapped. Syme believed his character was maliciously maligned in life and after death. What I found most surprising and the assessment I disagreed with, was Syme's description of Mark Anthony's relationship with Cleopatra. Syme called Mark Anthony's marriage to Cleopatra a mere "ritual marriage" even though she gave birth to his twin children. Syme's claimed that, "there is no sign of infatuation here," and that their marriage "left no political consequences" and that "Mark Anthony was compelled to stand by Cleopatra to the end by honour and by principle as well as by the necessities of war." I found this claim to be naïve of human affairs. When one considers Mark Anthony's actions in Egypt which led up to the battle of Actium, he was either in love with Cleopatra or she truly was a "siren" as Roman propaganda described her; which meant he was duped by her. In either case, the Roman Empire could not suffer having one of its leaders under the spell of a foreign queen.

An important aspect of Syme's book is his description of Augustus. Unlike earlier nineteenth century historians of Roman history such as Theodor Mommsen, who portrayed Augustus as a visionary and paternal ruler, Syme's description was harsher and frankly realistic when he wrote, "his sense for realities was unerring, his ambition implacable he was resolute. He had a cause to champion, the avenging of Caesar and was ready to exploit every advantage." The chapters that follow Syme's narrative of Rome's transition from the Dux of Octavianus and Antonius to Princeps of Caesar Augustus are replete with facts about the composition and inner workings of the party of Augustus. Syme's delved into the machinery of the new government, including Augutus' use of patronage as well as his many thwarted attempts at planning for his own succession. What Syme's found was a man that grew very adept politically; from the boy of eighteen when he was named as the heir to Julius Caesar in his will, into the greatest of the Roman princeps, spanning fifty-six years until his death. Augustus became the "leader of a large and well organized political party as the source and fount of patronage and advancement." Augustus knew that to retain power he had to maintain the general consent of the governed, which he did, not by following the constitution or past precedent, but by using the tremendous resources at his disposal. Augustus kept the plebeians in check; making sure they were fed, kept them amused with games, and constantly reminded them that he was protecting them from the oppression of the nobiles. Augustus controlled all of the armies of the Roman Empire by providing their retirement severance pay out of his own pocket. In addition, as his legionaries conquered new territory, he gave them large tracts of land when they retired; thus, founding several new towns in Italy and the provinces. His patronage to the army insured that he controlled a network of armed and devoted garrisons throughout the Empire. Augustus could do all this because he had become the richest man in the Empire. He ruled Egypt, which was the breadbasket of the Empire, and as its king he did not have to give account to any person or governing body. Thus, Syme's described Augustus as "A citizen and magistrate to the senators, he was imperator to the legions, a king and god to the subject populations." In essence, Augustus dealt the mortal blow to the Republic and set himself up to be the savior of Rome and the founder of the Pax Augusta, which "saved and regenerated the Roman People."

In conclusion, I highly recommend Syme's book to any serious student of Roman history. I found that his theories for the fall of the Roman Republic were a correct interpretation of the history. Although I found The Roman Revolution to be a very well written book, I do have a few complaints. Most of the footnotes referring to ancient historians' commentaries were printed in Latin and Greek. For those who are not proficient in both of those languages, it detracts from the added information or historical points that Syme's wanted to make. In addition, the index was confusing at times to use since its scope was prosopographical in nature.

This really is a very good book. He really explains things very well. The chapters are layed out in a logical order and there are quizes and questions along the way. The book is well written too. I would recommend this book to a student, but it wouldn't be my first recommendation. There are others like Marieb & Martini that I like because the style of writing isn't quite as dry as Tortora. It still is an excellent book though. One of the best.

This book is outstanding. It has the most informations you need to know about human A & P. The book also encloses interactive CDS for learning. The book and the CDs rock educationally. I never have doubts about the authors and the information because the book is super professional and educational. I LOVE THE BOOK AND THE INTERACTIVE CDs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used this book for my undergraduate A&P course, and now that I'm in medical school, I appreciate it even more! It puts complex concepts in such understandable, clear language, with very helpful diagrams and graphics. In many subjects, it has done a much better job explaining something than my medical school professor or textbooks have done. Several of my classmates are considering forming a Tortora fan club in honor of this invaluble resource. Definitely worth the money, and they type of book you will want to keep on your bookshelf forever.

While the book itself is very informative and easy to read, there are several publishers. Be sure when you order this book that it is the month, year, and publisher that you need. The edition number, and/or ISBN # of the book is not enough. For example, the Eighth Edition was printed at several different times, and while the content of the book remains the same, not every Eighth Edition book comes with study guides, cd-roms, or term abreviations on the inside covers of the book.

My study group and I used this book for our college anatomy and physiology classes. We found that the text was quite easy to comprehend and the pictures of muscles was very clear and precise. We also used the following 3 books when we were preparing for our midterm and final exams.
Anatomy and Physiology Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers with Explanations
Volume 1 (ISBN; O971999619)
Volume 2 (ISBN: 0971999627)
Key Facts for Anatomy and Physiology (ISBN: 0971999694)

Anatomy and Physiology Study Guide: (Volume 1 and Volume 2) are outstanding study guides. It showed us the kind of questions to prepare for when we took our exams. We saw many of the type of questions asked on our exams from studying these study guides. Also, Key Facts for Anatomy and Physiology focused on the key ideas asked on the exams. I guess this is why me and my study group all got over 90 averages in our classes. This was our exact study plan. First, read important stuff in Tortora's textbook to get a really good understanding of A and P. For the test, we prepared heavy by studying the last 3 books described and using Tortora's book as a reference.

The aging of America is upon us. Boomers will start turning 60 on January 1, 2006.

To read the papers, you would think that this event is going to be the start of a long gray sunset in which older adults suck the money out of the federal treasury and life out of our communities. Freedman's lively book suggests a different and much more optimistic view in which people who have finished their midlife careers can make great new contributions.

We have plenty of problems that need solving in our communities and in our country. Freedman shows us how older adults might play a huge role in meeting those challenges, and at the same time have an enriching experience in doing so.

A must read for anyone who is interested in what our society will look like over the next few decades.

Freedman is a refreshing voice who puts a welcome human face on the aging of our society--a topic most often dealt with through dire statistical predictions and paranoia. Prime Time illustrates that, while the demographic revolution is real, a negative whammy on America doesn't have to be the result. The profiles of everyday heroes reveal the classic American values of ingenuity and social concern applied through a new generation of retirement-age people. The perspective on the formation of the notion of "golden years" is informative. The succinct reporting of the prevailing social value attached to older Americans from the Puritan era (revered sources of wisdom) to more recent decades (keepers of leisure time) is important. And the telling of the selling of Sun City is a hoot--an "only in America" tale that provides lots of context for understanding society's ambivalence and confusion in dealing with the opportunity and challenges inherent in an aging population. This is a good book for anyone interested in new visions for an older country.

Marc Freedman hits the nail on the head in this book: the coming wave of retiring boomers represents an asset unlike any other, with the potential to transform the American economic and social landscape in ways we have yet to even consider. In the same way this generation revolutionized youth, politics, civil rights, women at work, childrearing, and every other issue with which it came in contact, so too will boomers revolutionize what America thinks about in terms of retirement. Freedman rightly notes that if their energy can be harnessed and directed to solving the country's social ills, the boomers stand poised to accomplish what no one else could.

As a young person with high hopes for the country's future, Freedman's book is a breath of fresh air. What makes America unique is its unprecedented potential for good, and nowhere has that potential been more clear than in the dynamic, thriving force of the boomer generation. Freedman's book captures that notion in compelling prose. A must-read for anyone looking for innovative solutions to society's real problems.

Marc Freedman's book communicates a forward thinking idea that is the next step in social development. Similar to how childhood was reinvented as a valid life stage in the nineteenth century and adolescence in the twentieth century, the new life stage of older retired adults represents the potential for dramatic civic renewal in our time. Those who believe Marc Freedman is advocating for further work after retirement are sorely mistaken and have missed the basic founding premise for his book. He is by no means attempting to guilt trip retirees out of taking a deserved break and rejuvenating themselves with plenty of golf and travel. Marc Freedman points out that the key is to achieve a better balance of work across generations. Our society manages to skew work into a massive time commitment, monopolizing our entire lives for the span of our careers and leaving time for nothing else. People naturally become either absolutely addicted or repelled by the idea of further service. He emphasizes that most people do need to get an R&R fix after working hard for decades but that after a certain amount of relaxation, many older people testify to needing deeper purpose and something to commit to in their retired lives. This empty place in their lives may be best filled through meaningful civic service, perhaps in areas that they had never considered before like mentoring school children or by continuing their lifelong career paths such as the doctors at the Samaritan House Clinic.

Freedman advocates for a revolution of society's attitudes towards older people in order to give them the option of remaining active and contributing to society or not. His heartening message of potential social renewal seeks to "expand opportunities and option, not obligations" and to show what a massive potential resource we have at hand. I found especially inspiring the idea of "the aging of America as an impending civic renaissance."

The book itself is extremely well written, and even if you do not agree with its message, it is worth reading for the first person narratives of older Americans. These are very inspiring and interesting because many of the perspectives are ones that I would never have encountered otherwise and that give me a greater hopefulness for my own ability to continue to affect change in old age.

Marc Freedman's book communicates a forward thinking idea that is the next step in social development. Similar to how childhood was reinvented as a valid life stage in the nineteenth century and adolescence in the twentieth century, the new life stage of older retired adults represents the potential for dramatic civic renewal in our time. Those who believe Marc Freedman is advocating for further work after retirement are sorely mistaken and have missed the basic founding premise for his book. He is by no means attempting to guilt trip retirees out of taking a deserved break and rejuvenating themselves with plenty of golf and travel. Marc Freedman points out that the key is to achieve a better balance of work across generations. Our society manages to skew work into a massive time commitment, monopolizing our entire lives for the span of our careers and leaving time for nothing else. People naturally become either absolutely addicted or repelled by the idea of further service. He emphasizes that most people do need to get an R&R fix after working hard for decades but that after a certain amount of relaxation, many older people testify to needing deeper purpose and something to commit to in their retired lives. This empty place in their lives may be best filled through meaningful civic service, perhaps in areas that they had never considered before like mentoring school children or by continuing their lifelong career paths such as the doctors at the Samaritan House Clinic.

Freedman advocates for a revolution of society's attitudes towards older people in order to give them the option of remaining active and contributing to society or not. His heartening message of potential social renewal seeks to "expand opportunities and option, not obligations" and to show what a massive potential resource we have at hand. I found especially inspiring the idea of "the aging of America as an impending civic renaissance."

The book itself is extremely well written, and even if you do not agree with its message, it is worth reading for the first person narratives of older Americans. These are very inspiring and interesting because many of the perspectives are ones that I would never have encountered otherwise and that give me a greater hopefulness for my own ability to continue to affect change in old age.

This Saga of the Renunciates, makes only any sense if read all togheter. Dismiss all those comments that say you can enter Darkover at any novel.
And this books are a proof of that. "Shattered" is a short novel, almost nothing realy important happens, is just an introduction for the characters. "Thendara" is long book about the lead roles, Lorne and Jael, and as all this saga, this is a story about two particular beings, and has no impact on big planetary scale, or in Darkover history. Altough very long, I found the books very adult oriented, and heartbroken, wich made me feel the troubles and sorrows of this two girls. I was amaze how Bradley managed to pull me inn with her view of the woman`s world. "Sorcery" on the other hand is an adventure driven story, and is very entertaining. (spoilers head) But the end is somehow dissapointing, more even so, considering that is the end of all the saga. It took some time to read them all, (one after the other, I might add) and I felt exausted at end, but somehow altough this is not best on Darkover, I end up missing those the girls.

As a Psychologist I found this trilogy about women claiming their own power and moving away from societal mores and predictive expectations an excellent study in self empowerment. The story is written in the context of a futuristic science fiction world and addresses the many issues that contemporary society presents as we know them today. Although I am not a gay female, I am sensitive to the issues that present to women who are, and the countless challenges they face on every level of their being. Intellectual, emotional, societal, spiritual and beyond, and not the least is the physical strength that they must also develop and hone to defend themselves when bullied by men or while dealing with work that demands strength akin to the male whose strength is clearly superior due to body mass and musculature.

These stories progress from the starting point of Jaelle who is a child being rescued by Renunciates from the horror of being forced to live in chains, literally, a cultural expectation on that part of Darkover, as she approaches womanhood in Dry Town. This desert area represents a male dominated society lead by her father a cruel, punishing tyrant, and her mother, a highly educated and talented psychic, which is called "laran" in these stories. Jaelle's mother was captured and abducted by a bandit and forced to live in absolute captivity with this sadistic, depraved, misogynistic, bestial man. Jaelle's mother dies in childbirth during the escape orchestrated by her cousin who had hired the Renunciates, and she is left as a 12 year old orphan full of fear, distrust and grave conflicts.

Thendara House is part two which introduces Magda Lorne, a Terran whose parents were off-worlders who settled on the planet Cottman 4 called Darkover by it's inhabitants. Magda's self exploratory story is about a woman who is evaluating herself and finding no "true home" on either her birth planet Darkover, or in the world of the Terrans where she was trained and functions as an intelligence agent. Her conflict is due to the Darkovan rigid societal expectations of feminine behavior which is to serve their husbands without any real voice in decision making at all. She is deeply conflicted and frustrated. During the course of her story she interfaces with a traveling band of Free Amazons or "Renunciates" who capture her, albeit due to her own error, and in order for her to not betray them they force her to take the Oath of Renunciates. Jaelle, now an adult becomes her Oath Mother and helps Magda on her solo journey to rescue her former husband also a Terran Intelligence agent named Peter Haldane, who has been captured by a hill bandit and mistakenly confused as one of the sons of a neary ruling lord who looks like him due to the red hair genetic characteristic of Comyn blood of the seven ruling domain lords. Haldane is facing death unless ransom is paid. Magda and Jaelle successfully rescue Haldane and later Magda must honor her Oath and come to live in the Thendara Renunciate House for 6 months in order to learn, be trained and to find herself. In the process she recognizes that she is a "lover of women" in a relationship with Camilla, an emascua mercenary, and she is forced to reevaluate her life in the context of being torn between two worlds Terran and Darkovan, gay and straight, and, additionally, she finds herself gifted with "laran" that confuses her further.

Part Three is a terrifying and riveting story of the search and rescue of a Terran woman Lt. Alexis Anders of Mapping and Exploring who is in direct competition with the Terranan "Lorne Legend". Through sheer bad luck Anders and her guide Rafaella get involved with a sisterhood of evil sorceresses in the frozen mountains past Nevarsin. Magda and Jaelle are freemates now, and had left the Renunciate House to study at the Forbidden Tower for seven years in order to fully develop the psychic skill "laran" they possess. Each woman has had a child who is being fostered by others in the Forbidden Tower while the freemates continue to pursue their respective careers. Jaelle is restless and wants to get back on the road with her former business partner Rafaella. Terranan Magda is asked by Jaelle to become involved in the rescue attempt that Rafaella mistakenly took due to her greed for Terran gold offered by Lt. Alexa Anders who is setting out to find this alleged "hidden city" she believes that she saw during one of her M & Ex excursions. Her self serving goal is to "one-up" Magda and surpass the "Lorne Legend" as she creates her own "Legend" should she discover this unmapped city. Camilla, and two other women join Jaelle and Magda on a treacherous journey through unbelievable challenges.

Overall, The Saga of the Renunciates is a fantastic trilogy of well thought out stories and I really enjoyed them. In the process, I found myself able to add greater depth to my understanding of women in the totality of their experiences. Although this is presented in the context of a fictional world it reflects the Universality of the feminine journey through various attitudes and behaviors experienced in this world which we identify as real life. Excellent.

I've read most of the Darkover series during the last five yrs. I started off with MZBs Avalon books & ended up hooked on the Darkover series.
In many the Darkover books the renunciates (free amazons) are mentioned, but usually not in much detail. It was wonderful to stumble upon a whole trilogy of books about them. They explain
how & why the group started, and how they worked out a way to marginally fit into the society by being of service to both Darkovans & Terrans. I thoroughly enjoyed this series & would highly recommend it to any MZB fan.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book - I loved Mists of Avalon, but wasn't fond of the other Avalon books. I wanted to like Darkover, but the two other Darkover novels I read (Stormqueen and Hawkmistress) didn't appeal to me much.

And then I began The Shattered Chain.

It started off exactly as I'd feared it would - a band of Amazons (just...read the other reviews for technical details) walk into a town and are laughed and jeered at by the men and treated with greater hostility by the women. I thought at this point that the book would be full of "Woman Power" and show how strong these Independent Women had to be to exist on a world like Darkover.

But the novel quickly became something more than that. I felt that it greatly picked up when we were introduced to Magda, the Terran - because for the Terrans, men and women are pretty much equal. And this viewpoint GREATLY helped balance out the supressing Darkover views, and made them not just bearable, but interesting. The resulting main plotline between the Terrans and Darkover people, with the Amazons building the bridge between the two worlds...it was pretty awesome. And of course there's all the subplots, and the huge personal developments taking place within the two main characters: the Terran woman and the Amazon one.

This book has some good action scenes, but the major focus is definitely on the characters themselves, and their relationships to one another and the world. Normally I would stay away from something like that, but the Terran/Darkover worlds created here are so interesting that it's pretty much impossible to not be caught up in it.

It had great, memorable characters, a great plot, and scenes you'll remember for a long, long time. I'd say it's definitely worth a read for anybody who likes fantasy/sci-fi...and books in general.

I am an avid MZB fan and have read most of her novels, but the Darkover series is the closest to my heart and The Saga of the Renunciates stands above all. This novel is more than just a story, deconstructing femininity is a central part of this trilogy: as a reader I found myself pondering the same questions that trouble the women on Darkover and thinking that eventhough they are only sci-fi characters, their insigth would change a lot of women.

The first novel is about a group of mercenary warrior women who hire themselves out to Lady Rohana to rescue her cousin from the Dry Towns, a country where married women are kept in chains. Rohana's cousin never makes it but she does bring back Jaelle, her 12 year old niece and a very unconfortable awareness of the invisible chains she has fashioned for herself.

In the 2nd part we meet Magda and Peter, two Darkover-born Terranan and the best spies the Empire has on Cottman 4. Altough Magda is the better agent, as a woman there is not much she can do outside HQ. When Peter goes missing on a mission and his superiors have no plans to rescue him Magda disguises herself as an Amazon and goes looking for him. All goes well until she meets some real Amazons whose leader is none other than a grown up Jaelle.

The final chapter in this story is about a journey to a mythical city in the enormous mountains of Darkover where an all-knowing sisterhood of wise women is supposed to be hidden from all but those by whom they wish to be seen. Jaelle leaves everything behind for even a chance to get there and Magda has no choice but to follow.

In this text the reader is treated to a different POV of the times around Hawkmistress! (a Zimmer-Bradley novel). Varzil, one of the greatest Keepers, is shown from the beginning of this training AND this novel takes up a few years after the first book in the trilogy left off (but that news is slow in being told to the reader).

Several different subplots are skillfully woven together, and at the end enough is left hanging to leave me wondering how Deborah will interpret Marion's notes.

That said, this is not a book to start with if one has never read any of Zimmer-Bradley or Ross' work, but it is an excellent and worthy addition to the Darkover fold.

The world of Darkover is a richly imagined place, with a long not-completely-remembered history, a society rich in intrigue and appropriate niches for many kinds of people, a technology solidly grounded in its people's unique laran abilities - in short, this is a complete world. A world that you can easily get lost in for many hours of enjoyment, a world so complete that at times you find yourself feeling that it is more real than the one we inhabit.

This book, the second entry in the Clingfire trilogy, is very much a book in the mold of previous books in the set, even though written by Ross instead of Bradley. Ross shows in this book that she has mastered not only Bradley's styles and methods of telling a story, but has found the 'feel' of this world, where she can make additions to it that fit. This book is set during the Hundred Kingdoms era, and deals specifically with how the Compact forbidding use of laran weapons that act at a distance was first formed. Varzil the Good is one of three main characters here, a man gifted with a very strong laran ability and a healthy dollop of common sense entwined with an idealistic dream. His friend and compatriot is Carolin Hastur, heir to the throne, who, while not as well gifted as Varzil, has the character traits needed to be a competent ruler. In opposition is Eduin, son of Rumail Deslucido, who was instrumental in destruction of two towers in the prior book, The Fall of Neskaya. Eduin has been inculcated from birth with his father's obsession with wiping out the Hastur line. The last major player is Rakhal, Carolin's brother, who is never really developed as a character, but is rather the mover of major events as seen from a distance, as he usurps Carolin's right to the throne and institutes some draconian measures in an attempt to stamp out all resistance to his rule.

The stories of each of the three major characters are well developed. Varzil grows from laran neophyte to Keeper and his burgeoning love interest with a lady, who is one of Eduin's targets for elimination, is both believable and provides an emotional charge to the final tally of events. Carolin grows from boy to a sturdy man, one who knows and values friendships and finds himself bound by duty to those who swear allegiance to him. Eduin may be the most interesting character, a man conflicted between the desires of his father that are so strongly engrained that they may be impossible to eliminate, and his basic good nature, that yearns for the friendship that Varzil and Carolin so freely offer to him.

Some of the underlying methods and processes of matrix technology are shown within this book, but more to the point, the true horror of some of the laran weapons is shown, the driving impetus behind Varzil's and Carolin's idea to ban such weapons and have the towers answer only to themselves, not subject to the commands and whims of the local ruling lord. This thematic point is one with high relevance in today's world with its talk of 'dirty bombs', biological weapons, and chemical pollution of essential drinking supplies. Unfortunately, I don't think the purveyors of such ideas and weapons are reading this book, or if they do, will not take its message to heart.

A fine addition to the Darkover universe, a good adventure, another time spent within the spell of this incredibly imagined world.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

Please - let her rest in peace. This greed by her estate is outrageous. Put the title under the real author's name - Ross.

Hi, Steve Y. Normally, I don't respond to reviews personally, but I want you to know that Marion and I worked together on the concept of this 3-book project before she passed away. Many of the ideas, as well as characters and settings, are hers. You probably noticed that a number of scenes appeared in HAWKMISTRESS!

She left several partial manuscripts, which I will be finishing over the next few years, and they will appear with both our names. After that, we'll see where the saga of Darkover leads us...

I hope you enjoy how I have developed and completed these stories. Thank you for your input!

Best,
Deborah

Also, I'm not tooting my own horn with the stars. They wouldn't let me post a reply without them. Consider it a comment on your comment!

sob(i did not know that marion had passed). i am not sure whether this was done before her death or not but it is beautifully written and a credit. why does it seem all the good authors pass so quickly(v.c andrews was another).

anyway this book chronicles the lifes of the famous keep varzil the good and the hastur king carolin hastur and their many trials from adolescent to points that their separate destiny's take them.

for these 2 men meet at arillian for training in their laran. while carolin is a minor telepath, varzil is one of extraoridary ability and is soon put in keeper training. carolin soon returns home to assume his duties as heir to the throne and all the political strifes that were rampant in this period of darkover history.

the book keeps you interested from beginning to end and you are almost upset that you have to wait for the 3rd book in this story to come out to see the ending. for all darkover fans, this is definitely one you do not want to miss.

First of all i recomend that you read the Complete idiot's guide to investing like a pro before progessing to this book. You could get by without it since some material is very similar. The only part of this book that is diffucult to understand is the section on options and futures, but this is the best attempt to explain that very difficult investment play. I am writing this on 7/23/2002 when the market is doing horrible, but since reading the book, even though like most investors i am losing some money i am beating the market averages.

This book is definitely lighthearted and complete. This is the ideal get-started guide for Wall Street investing. Beginning investors can learn the ins and outs of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, futures, and more--and learn how to get the highest returns on their money! Practical, easy-to-understand explanations and advice on complex Wall Street topics. Wall Street experts reveal in-depth information on investing without a broker.

"The complete Idiot's Guide to Making Money on Wall Street" has friendly steps to determining the right investment strategy for each person's financial needs. It's a Quick and easy ways to invest in stocks, bonds, great down-to-earth strategies for investing in your futures, and mutual funds. Highly rec-commend for beginners.

This was my first book, and I highly recommend it , if you are too shy to ask the (what I believe now) hard questions, or dumb sounding ones. This book answered it.

This is not just a how-to book. Or strategy book. But a complete description of what you are dealing with book. This has all the technical descriptions and examples. This book also has, " Did you know this", gray boxes. For example:" Bet you didn't know. More certificates of deposit mature in April and October any other time of year."

This book was fantastic! It was simple reading on a very confusing subject. This book combined very informative straight talk with just the right amount of humor. It held my attention. I can now watch financial review shows on TV and know what they are talking about.

This is NOT an introduction to rock hounding as I had hoped.

The bulk of the book contains interesting information about the three types of rocks (igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary) that was easy for young readers to understand.

The end of the book briefly encourages kids to go out and collect their own rocks, aiming for a variety of colors, and then to go home and try to identify them.

Overall, I don't think this book is going to inspire a kid to rush out and become a rock hound or geologist, as it lacks any sort of "wow" factor, but it is certainly a useful educational book.

If there are any rock hounding groups or gem/mineral shows near you, THAT is a great way to get your kid fascinated by the amazing rocks/crystals/minerals that come out of our earth.

My son and I used this book to suplement our study of rocks. We ejoyed the artwork. The writing was engaging. This book is good for children in primary grades 1-3.

I am a huge fan of the Let's Read and Find Out science series of books, and this one doesn't disappoint. Clearly written information, great photographs, and wonderful illustrations educate the K-2 science student in an enjoyable way.

Let's Go Rock Collecting is an excellent book in the Let's Read and Find Out Science Series. My son started with this book when he was 4 (he's now 5). It has great illustrations that capture a child's attention and actual photos of the various rocks described so that the child (and parent) can identify a few basic rocks.

One thing that is really great about this book is the simple illustrations to educate the reader about the Earth's Crust and Solid Rock Layer. There are simple diagrams of:

1. The components of a Volcano
2. Moh's Scale of hardness
3. The formation of sedimentary rocks
4. Metamorphic rock process

The book also ends with a practical suggestion that kids will love and that's how to begin your own rock collection and start to identify the rocks you have.

NOTE: Depending on your view of the age of the earth, you may like to know that this book utilizes millions of years in its descriptions.

My husband and daughter are both geologist and they thought this book was well written. My bright 3 year old grandson enjoys having it read to him. Usually it would be enjoyed by an older child, but he enjoys it.

This book allows you to take a walking tour of Rome and read the fascinating background of the sights in front of you. This book made me understand Rome's depth.

a day in Rome + this book = unforgettable experience (for me).

This is an excellent book but at 42 smackers, the question is "Is it worth it?"

Well that depends on the user.

I spent 8 days in Rome and carried this book with me to many places. It was especially handy when tours were unavailable or inconvenient. Testa blends interesting tidbits into a thorough, yet concise, summary of each subject. If you're not rushed for time and have a relaxing 15 minutes to sit outside of St. Peters, or the Colosseum, or one of the other 35 places/topics included in this book (or even later in the hotel), then I would recommend it. This is indeed where the book proves its value.

If, however, you are rushed for time or deeply interested in one particular topic, other more general (Eyewitness, Rome's Top 10) or more specific books (for all sites covered there are probably many books to chose from) may better suit you.

Other travel guides are best used for planning purposes. Leave them in the hotel. They're too heavy to carry. Though not billed as a travel guide, this book works really well as just that. This is true *only* if you are the type of person who will take the time to read it. Otherwise, save your money for the gelato.

Finally, and this is my only criticism of the book's content... or the lack thereof, I was a little disappointed at the breadth of coverage. It seems (again considering the price) more subjects could have been treated. For instance Santa Maria del Popolo was not among the subjects included.

But this opinion may be a product of how I used the book. It is apparently intended to be a survey, not a comprehensive guide. My review however, is written with the traveler in mind. (If you're just interested in a general survey of Roman art and architecture, I've only read this one. It seems adequate enough.)

In Rome is Love Spelled Backward, by Dr. Judith Testa, an almost insurmountable mountain of enthralling history is condensed, controlled, and lovingly compiled into a volume that is not only very readable, but maintains the excitement, and vitality, of the most awesome city in the world. Clearly, Dr. Testa knows and loves this Eternal City.
Not until I read Testa's, Rome is Love Spelled Backward, and A Traveler in Rome, by H. V. Morton, did I come to understand and agree with the quote, "The ancient ruins are all around you, . . . . This is the center, and all the rest of the world is the periphery." Judith Testa's book is the only book I carry with me while wandering around Rome, year after year. A pre-Roman holiday must read!

In Rome Is Love Spelled Backward [Roma Amor], Judith Testa (Professor of Art History at Northern Illinois University) takes the reader on a fascinating and informative historical survey of the art, architecture, personalities, and wonders of the Eternal City from it founding down to the present day. The five sections around which her commentaries are organized and presented include: Ancient Rome; Early Christian and Medieval Rome; Late Medieval and Renaissance Rome; Baroque Rome; and Modern Rome. A scholarly, highly accessible work, enthusiastically recommended history, Rome Is Love Spelled Backward is enhanced for the reader with extensive notes, a bibliography, list of illustrations, and an exhaustive, nine page index.

In Rome is Love Spelled Backward, by Dr. Judith Testa, an almost insurmountable mountain of enthralling history is condensed, controlled, and lovingly compiled into a volume that is not only very readable, but maintains the excitement, and vitality, of the most awesome city in the world. Clearly, Dr. Testa knows and loves this Eternal City.
Not until I read Testa's, Rome is Love Spelled Backward, and A Traveler in Rome, by H. V. Morton, did I come to understand and agree with the quote, "The ancient ruins are all around you, . . . . This is the center, and all the rest of the world is the periphery." Judith Testa's book is the only book I carry with me while wandering around Rome, year after year. A pre-Roman holiday must read!

Lei el libro y no me gustò, porque me parece totalmente ilogico que, si una persona conoce el bien prefiera el mal. Scott psicologicamente lo catalogo como un fanatico que lo unico que quiere es pertenecer a un determinado grupo religioso y valiendole gorro su esposa, yo le digo: el seleccionar santos, no le llaman voodoo tambien. Dios no es para cuestionarlo e investigarlo,porque sino caemos en datos cientificos que harìan practicamente nula nuestra fè. y le faltò en todas sus patoaventuras, el recalcar que Dios dijò que; maldito aquel que cargue un madero. y recuerdo que el diablo vino a robar matar y a destruir.

Scott, aqui en este libro los ayuda a los catolicos a apreciar lo que tenemos, nos acerca mas a nuestra Iglesia y nos inspira a aprender mas de nuestra fe, de nuestra pura tradicion. Una historia de convercion muy bonita a la Iglesia de Cristo, "la Iglesia Catolica". Recomiendo este libro a todo aquel que tenga hambre por la verdad ya sea catolico o protestante.

Este es uno de esos libros que todo cristiano "tiene" que tener, ya sea católico o protestante.

Llegó a mis manos una copia de él por un amigo que le había impactado. Me impresionó mucho y lo leí de tirón en una noche de domingo. Luego me hice de una copia para mí. Posteriormente le presté mi copia a un buen amigo protestante (nacido de familia protestante de tercera generación) y este libro fue una ayuda para que él decidiera convertirse a la fe católica. En noche de Pascua de 2,005 fue bautizado y en octubre de ese año recibió el sacramento de la confirmación por manos del Obispo. Una de las cosas que más me han impresionado es que aquellos protestantes que se convierten al catolicismo son buenos protestantes, en el sentido de que son personas que se toman muy en serio la fe y van al fondo del asunto y de sus vidas, que no se conforman con las respuestas clichés. Para el caso mi amigo se sorprendió al leer como nunca lo había hecho el capitulo sexto del evangelio de Juan, que no deja ninguna duda respecto a la presencia total de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo en el Sacramento Eucarístico.

Otra genialidad de este libro es que con una fantástica pedagógica muestra las diferencias entre Fe y Gracia, Sola Scriptura y Tradición y el reconocimiento bíblico de la herencia sacramental: Cristo encarnado en el seno de la Virgen que rompe la historia en dos y a partir de ese momento continúa presente misteriosa y físicamente en el pueblo que Él ha escogido para sí.

Pero lo más auténtico de este libro es que ni Scott ni Kimberly Hahn pretenden convencer a nadie de nada, simplemente cuentan los hechos y el camino que cada uno de ellos ha recorrido, de la misma manera y con la misma sencillez con que Juan contó en su Evangelio aquel primer encuentro, aquel encuentro en que Jesús le dijo a él y a su hermano Andrés: "Vengan y lo verán".

Sencillamente nos damos cuenta que nos falta mucho por hacer, mucho por crecer, mucho...! Y nos hace reflexionar que si queremos realmente profundizar espiritualmente debemos prepararnos mas. Es maravilloso, se los recominedo.

Lamentablemente muchos de nosotros no nos damos cuenta de la gran cantidad de riquesas espirituales que tenemos en nuestra iglesia, nunca estamos satisfechos con lo que tenemos y vuscamos otras maneras de saciar esta sed por la verdad y el amor, pero gracias al testimonio Scott Hahn, el regreso a casa es mas acogedora y dan ganas de interiorisar en la fe de nuestro Padres. Este libro lo recomiendo para todos aquellos que desean profundisar en su iglesia y han pensado en dejarla o quiere volver y no saben como.