Customer Reviews:
Best of the lot.......2007-09-13
All of the Flashman novels have a great many things to recommend them in terms of witty asides, sardonic observation, historical accuracy,and (what would now be considered PG-13 rated) erotic escapades, but this is the most engrossing and plot driven novel of an already exceptional bunch. Flashy gets into and out of a lot of bad situations throughout his campaigns and career, but this is the first novel where I felt a personal identification with our spineless "hero" and the lengths he would go through just to come out alive on the other side of the tunnel.
Topped Only by the Original.......2007-06-29
'Flashman in the Great Game' takes our man Flash to India just as the Great Mutiny (aka Sepoy Rebellion) was about to get under way in 1857. Flashman soon goes to ground to hide from the arch-fiend Ignatieff. The readers gets something of an insider's view of the rebellion, albeit through Harry Flashman's eyes. Harry finds himself in an unsual number of tight spots and even falls in love, well, as much as Harry can do.
Fraser is really in top form here. I've read about half the Flashman books and this one is topped only by the original.
Highest recommendation.
One of the best Flashman novels.......2006-10-10
Flashman novels so uniformly entertain that it's hard to single one out as the best. But the unremitting action and focused detail of "Flashman in the Great Game", set in India during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, might qualify it. American readers may know as little about this as they do about the Crimean War, the subject of Flashman's immediately prior adventure. But there is no better way to fill in our gaps of understanding about the British Age of Empire, than to accompany Flashman on his escapades.
Unwilling as always, Flashman is sent to India by Lord Palmerston as a secret emissary to the troublesome Queen Lakshmibai of Jhansi. Flashman is mesmerized by the beautiful and powerful queen, one of the most memorable of Flashman babes, but an assassination attempt sends him into hiding. Disguising himself as a tribesman he enlists in the colonial army, where troops are tense with rumors that they will be given taboo rifle cartridges. They revolt with horrifying violence against British cut off in remote areas with small garrisons. Flashman repeatedly escapes from a frying pan only to find himself in a hotter part of the fire. He witnesses events as synonymous with "atrocity" to the British public of the 19th century as September 11 or Beslan are to us today. Flashman escapes one incident more harrowing than the next. He never loses hope that soon he'll be able to lay low and shirk the rest of his mission, but his hopes are repeatedly dashed until he suddenly finds himself back before the intoxicating Lakshmibai, wondering, with his life on the line, if in fact she actually loves him.
Scrupulously showing colonialism's warts, Fraser depicts brutal British reprisals and suggests with postmodern egalitarianism that each side's violence somehow offsets the other. But in my old-fashioned, post-9/11 opinion the savagery provoking those reprisals was far greater, with barbaric atrocities committed against women, children, surrendering soldiers and the like. Executing a rebel is not the same as hacking a child up with a sabre.
Throughout the Flashman series our antihero's cowardly and bigoted selfishness provide black humor in all manner of grim situations, yet the gravity of the Mutiny necessarily mutes that side of Fraser's writing. The unrelenting violence of this episode limit even Flashman's capacity to be a jerk; he is forced, more often than usual and despite his best intentions, to be noble. As Fraser recreates the Raj in all its glory and inequity, we sense the surreal quality of a few English soldiers controlling a subcontinent with hundreds of millions of residents, and what happens when the resulting powder keg explodes.
Flash as sepoy, Pathan and finally, Knight of the Bath, VC.......2005-06-15
George Macdonald Fraser never ceases to amaze me with the wit, clarity and attention to historical detail of his Flashman series. In _Flashman and the Great Game_, he has truly outdone himself.
Begining as an agent for the Queen, Flashman is sent to India, where he soon finds himself embroiled in the 1857 Mutiny. The historical background and detailed information included is as delightful as it is impressive. That our Harry Flashman shows a more human side (being genuinely moved by the atrocities he "witnesses" by both sides) serves to add depth to the character. As a previous review mentioned, in this book Flashman is much more influenced by events than an actor upon them. In telling of the Mutiny, it works extremely well.
And finally, one also gets a feel for Fraser (through Flashman) as he writes, "you don't deserve it, you know ... not if its courage they're after .. but if they hand out medals for luck, and survival through funk, and suffering ignobly borne ... well, grab 'em with both hands" Written as by a true warrior, even if spoken through a scoundrel, poltroon, braggart and liar.
A real book with some meat in it that is well worth the time.......2005-03-10
GMF has hit his stride with this book! Of all of the Flashman Series that he has "Edited", This is far and away his best work.
I highly commend it as it has it all, What with Flashy hiding, running , lying , fornicating his way thru one of Britains most horrible and bloody Colonial Wars The Sepoy Mutiny.
Flashmans observations and insight were steel on target. I highly commend this book as I have worn out several copies of it in the past 10+ years. Its a pity that some one does not get off their duffs and make a decent movie of this series. The one effort with Roddy Macdowell came close but not quite.
I just hope that we can read of Flashy's adventures in the War between the states that has been hinted at in the other books. I would buy in a second!
Book Description
Set in a military hospital during the blitz, this novel is one of Brand's most intricately plotted detection puzzles, executed with her characteristic cleverness and gusto. When a patient dies under the anesthetic and later the presiding nurse is murdered, Inspector Cockrill finds himself with six suspects--three doctors and three nurses--and not a discernible motive among them.
Customer Reviews:
This Author should not be out of print.......2007-02-26
For anyone who likes a good old-fashioned mystery; this book even has illustrations. The focus is on Whodunit and not the detective's dysfunctional life or menangerie. The descriptions of a World War II military hospital are detailed and even shocking to modern notions of good medical practice. We've come a long way. The characterization is thin but believable. Unfortunately, the rest of her mystery novels seem to be out of print.
Move over Christie and Sayers........2006-12-22
I am an absolute nut over Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, and I've read a number of their contemporaries as well such as Marjory Allingham and Ngaio Marsh. I thought I'd mined the entire Golden Age Detective story authors, and then I discovered Christianna Brand! Her Inspector Cockrill is a marvel, and this book definitely deserves to be rated as her masterpiece. It has a complex and intriguing plot, with a delicious sense of humour woven in between the pages. The novel takes place in England during the Blitz, and the setting is a country military hospital. You'd think they'd have enough natural deaths in such a setting, but it appears that a murderer is loose in Heron's Park hospital. Brand works with a small group of suspects (6 only), but even with that it's not easy to figure out. And small chain-smoking, dishevelled Inspector Cockrill is a gem. Need to read more of these!
Classic murder mystery in a "closed" community.......2004-12-05
Another book that can be read over and over, and one that the reader will enjoy even more after seeing the wonderful movie starring Alistair Sim as the detective. Set in a remote hospital in the English countryside during WWII, it's cleverly plotted and fun. A great way to be introduced to Ms. Brand's other entertaining reads.
Fascinating mystery.......2003-06-27
Christianna Brand is one of the lesser-known lights of Golden Age detective fiction, which is a shame, because she has enough talent to be far better-known. This mystery, set at a military hospital during World War II, is one of my favorites. Brand knew her stuff when it came to military hospitals, and the details really serve to ground the plot; she knows exactly how the wards would have been laid out, how much medicine the patients would have been given, who did what, who went where... and, of course, there were the usual vagaries of the war: bombing, cramped shelters, black-out. The mystery itself is interesting. I think the story wouldn't have been half so powerful if she had taken a more minimalist approach, which is yet another reason to love her-- every detail matters.
Alternative Christie.......2003-02-04
A mystery who dunnit set in a World War II military hospital in England. Brand has a very similar style to Agatha Christie, she is a very accomplished writer in the genre in her own right and does not suffer in comparison with such elevated company. I am reluctant to spell out too much of the plot other than to say it revolves around the Doctors, Nurses and Patients. After all the point of mystery novel reading is trying to fathom out the real evidence from the red herrings yourself and I would hate to rob a potential reader of the fun of trying to solve the crime. I didn't figure it out myself until it was laid out before me by the detective at the end of the book. A worthwhile read from an excellent writer of murder mystery.
Average customer rating:
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Green for Danger
Edward D. Hoch
Manufacturer: Do-Not Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1904316298 |
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Avoid Joining Shackleton's Polar Expedition! (Danger Zone)
Jen Green
Manufacturer: Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Europe | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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GIS | Graphics & Multimedia | Programming | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1904194036 |
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Animals in Danger (Rainbows Green)
Mike Jackson
Manufacturer: Evans Brothers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Fiction | Nonfiction
Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Fiction | Nonfiction
ASIN: 0237514109 |
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Animals in Danger: African Rhino (Animals in Danger)
William R. Sanford , and
Carl R. Green
Manufacturer: Heinemann Educational Books - Library Division
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Fiction | Nonfiction
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ASIN: 0431001227 |
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Animals in Danger: Bottlenose Dolphin (Animals in Danger)
William R. Sanford , and
Carl R. Green
Manufacturer: Heinemann Educational Books - Library Division
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Environment | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Fiction | Nonfiction
Nonfiction | General | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Marine Life | Oceans & Seas | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0431001219 |
Product Description
If you think you are doing our planet a favor by buying and using fluorescent bulbs, you have been misled by government propaganda once again. Karen Peebles exposes the terrible truth about mercury filled bulbs that our leaders are trying to pass off as green.
Average customer rating:
- Better-than-average psychodrama
- Well Written Failure
- What a disappointment!
- Well, I liked it
- Painful to Read
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Liar'S Oath
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Legacy of Gird (Trade Paperback)
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Oath of Gold (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 3)
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Divided Allegiance (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 2)
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The Deed of Paksenarrion: A Novel
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Sheepfarmer's Daughter (The Deed of Paksenarrion, Book 1)
ASIN: 0671721178 |
Customer Reviews:
Better-than-average psychodrama.......2007-07-17
This is the second half of the prequel to the "Deed of Paksennarion" trilogy, which also comes around at the end and bites it's own tail. Where Surrender None was about Gird and the peasant revolution he led against the mage-lords, this one begins with Gird's death (just before it, actually) and focuses on Luap, previously "the luap," Gird's assistant and sort of aide-de-camp. Luap is half-mage himself, the bastard of one of the kings before the one Gird killed, and he's infected with a lingering sense of entitlement that will eat away at him all the rest of his long, long life. He's not evil, just weak -- just human, as Gird was, but in a much less heroic way. Moon gradually builds multiple character portraits with her rather slow-moving narrative, including those of the first two proto-paladins, an aging mage-priest, and a large supporting cast. None of this will make a bit of sense unless you've read the previous volume -- and preferably the whole trilogy -- so don't even think of starting here.
Well Written Failure.......2006-05-29
I liked so much about this book! I wanted it to be a 5 star review. I can't do it.
It's well written and interesting. The characters matter and their lives matter. It should be five stars but it is not because the story does not support the rest of the excellence.
The story actually begins with a short prolog involving Paksennarion and Duke Phelan, a thousand years or more after the "time" of the story. They are discussing the mysterious fortress found in the DEED OF PAKSENNARION trilogy. From there, the story goes back to the time of Gird. In that sense, it begins before the previous story ends because Gird is still alive. He is not the central character, however. The main guy is Luap, Gird's sometimes trustworthy assistant.
The problem is the distrust between the peasants and the mage born. Luap has found a magic portal to a mysterious palace far in the west and wants to move the mageborn out there to allow them to safely train their powers. In his heart, though, he looks forward to the opportunity to set up an independent fiefdom. The palace he found was actually built by dwarves and elves. They do not use it but are reluctant to let humans in there. They warn of a grave danger but refuse to specify the nature of that danger. Luap moves out there with his people anyway and for a while they are happy but there is a great danger. It is the dark elves who delight in evil. Luap's presence has freed them and they are biding their time to make a bloody mess.
All of this reads well. The suspense is gradually built up along with good characterizations. Where the book falls down is in the climax. The dark elves are on the march and everything is resolved in a few pages with the intervention of Paks and Duke Phelan from the future. Luap gets his comeuppance and they all go about their business.
Its too pat.
Still, the book was worth reading. I just wish it had been worth ending
What a disappointment!.......2004-03-27
I discovered Elizabeth Moon when she wrote Sassinak. I loved the Deed of Paksenarrion and have have mixed (but mostly positive) reactions to the rest of her books. This, though...this was a bitter disappointment.
I love psychological studies. I usually like books with unlikable main characters. But there must be a point to the book. It must GO somewhere or DO something. This book promises and teases, but in the end, there is nothing.
This is a book that needed a fight. This book was desperate for a climax, a turning point, some action. Whether political or physical, this book just flat needed a real conflict, not the mess of never-resolved semi-conflicts with a weak deus ex machina device at the end.
This book needed a story, but it had none. It was too toothless for a tragedy, too wandering for a saga, too diffuse for a character study.
What a disappointment. I can't believe I bought this new. Never again! Elizabeth Moon is going firmly into my "used only" category until I find something of hers to be a lot more enthusiastic about.
Well, I liked it.......2003-10-31
This book is a sort of a history or background of the world as Paksennarion knew it. It may be perhaps a bit dry a times as most histories are. But its a good story.
Painful to Read.......2002-04-04
This novel was so bad that I threw it away after reading it and was furious that I wasted so much time. It dragged throughout the book entire. The story line just was not interesting,
Average customer rating:
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Liar's Oath
Elizabeth Moon
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9LF0C |
Average customer rating:
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Liars Oath
Manufacturer: baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HJE2CQ |
Book Description
The continuing bestseller for maintaininig a healthy and relaxed body.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Book.......2007-09-06
This is an excellent beginner's introduction to yoga. I hadn't practiced yoga for over 20 years and was very out of shape, but I was able to pick it up again fairly rapidly and make quick progress. I highly recommend this book regardless of your current fitness level.
Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan.......2007-09-02
This is my favorite book for Hatha Yoga. It's easily explained and the pictures are wonderful. I got this one to give to a friend for her birthday. She fell in love with it, too.
YOga.......2007-08-26
This is my third or fourth of this book as over the last 20 years I've worn them out. Great for poise and balance and overall health. The exercises help to get rid of the stiffness that comes with to much sitting and not enough moving. Great for 19 to 90.
An introduction.......2007-07-25
I started doing yoga a little over 35 years ago. This was one of my first books, and over the years I have probably given out over 20 copies of it to friends who were interested in learning more about what yoga is. It's not the best book (is there one?), and much of my later teaching contradicts some of the asanas as described in this book. Still, though, it taught me the basics - not only of the poses, but also of the philosophy behind yoga.
If you've already taken classes and are well on your way to becoming a yogi(ni), this isn't the book for you. However, if you can't afford lessons or are in a rural area without access to good teachers, get this book. It will be a welcome traveler with you throughout your life.
Highly Recomended. .......2007-05-08
Easy to follow book with all the most popular Yoga techniques and positions.
Product Description
Yoga
Product Description
A Dramaticaly different four-week exercise plan that unlocks the secrets of a lifetime of health, beauty and profound peace of mind.
Books:
- Glamorama (Vintage Contemporaries)
- Handling Sin
- In Danger's Path: Corps 08 (Corps)
- Indecision: A Novel
- Kokoro
- Last Car to Elysian Fields: A Dave Robicheaux Novel
- Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black
- Loamhedge (Redwall, Book 16)
- Me & Emma
- Missing Mom: A Novel (P.S.)
Books Index
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Flashman at the Charge (Flashman)
Flash for Freedom! (Flashman)
Flashman's Lady (Flashman)
Flashman and the Redskins (Flashman)
Flashman and the Dragon (Flashman)
