Average customer rating:
- The First King of Shannara
- Great book... great prequel
- bibliokleptomaniac says:
- Fun read, if not an epic one
- Standard fare, though enjoyable
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First King of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Wishsong of Shannara
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Jarka Ruus (High Druid of Shannara, Book 1)
ASIN: 0345396537
Release Date: 1997-01-29 |
Amazon.com
Dark forces are on the move from the Northlands, and Bremen, an outcast Druid, learns of the huge Troll armies on the march and the Skull Bearers who act as their spies. To save the Druids, Bremen must convince the people of the Four Lands that their only hope lies in uniting -- and in using the magic they fear above all else.
Book Description
Horrified by the misuse of magic they had witnessed during the First War of the Races, the Druids at Paranor devoted themselves to the study of the old sciences, from the period before the collapse of civilization a thousand years before. Only the Bremen and a few trusted associates still studied the arcane arts. And for his persistence, Bremen found himself outcast, avoided by all but the few free-thinkers among the Druids.
But his removal from Paranor was not altogether a terrible thing, for Bremen learned that dark forces were on the move from the Northlands. That seemingly invincible armies of trolls were fast conquering all that lay to their south. That the scouts for the army--and its principal assassins--were Skull Bearers, disfigured and transformed Druids who had fallen prey to the seductions of the magic arts. And that at the heart of the evil tide was an archmage and former Druid named Brona!
Using the special skills he had acquired through his own study of Magic, Bremen was able to penetrate the huge camp of the Troll army and learn many of its secrets. And he immediately understood that if the peoples of the Four Lands were to escape eternal subjugation they would need to unite. But, even united, they would need a weapon, something so powerful that the evil magic of Brona, the Warlock Lord, would fail before its might...
Download Description
First King of Shannara is the prequel volume of the classicseries that has become one of the most popular fantasy tales of alltime.
Outcast by the Druids for his devotion to the forbidden art of Magic,Bremen discovers that dark forces are on the move, led by the WarlockLord, Brona. If the peoples of the Four Lands are to escape eternalsubjugation, they must unite. But they need a weapon, something sopowerful that the evil Magic of Brona will fail before its might.
Continuing the enthralling epic, First King of Shannara takes usback to the beginning, in a spectacular prelude to the spellbindingtale of adventure, magic, and myth...
Customer Reviews:
The First King of Shannara.......2007-09-11
Jerle Shannara, the Kingship of the Elves thrust upon him after the tragic destruction of the heart of the Royal family, finds his land and people in the deadliest peril. The Wizard Bremen also stands against that peril, which threatens the lands of the Dwarves and of Men as well.
Bremen, along with a small group of comrades, must somehow find the black elfstone and hide it from the deadly enemy that threatens them all, yet at the same time they struggle to rally the people of the freelands to stand against the armies of Trolls, Gnomes, and other dire creatures, led by the Skullbearers. Their greatest hope against the leader of these deadly creatures is a mystical sword that Bremen aids in forging, combining the strength of magic and of science in its blade. Yet what is this mystical power that is held by the sword?
The First King of Shannara being the prequel to Terry Brooks' Shanarra series, has many foreshadows of the other books in the series in its pages. It is well written, if not as superb as some of the greatest, such as Tolkien, from whom Brooks seems to have found some of his greatest inspirations. An enjoyable read for any fantasy fan, and should be on the list of any fan of the Shanarra series.
RD Williams, author of 'The Lost Gate'
Great book... great prequel.......2007-07-16
Another great addition to the Shannara series. This one takes place before all the others. This is where we learn about Bremen, Jerle Shannara and how the great Sword of Shannara got forged.
The only thing that was missing from some of Brooks earlier books is his character development. That has definitely improved with his later works.
This book overall is just wonderful, you got a great plot developed perfectly with Bremen and a few of the other Druids (that escape) trying to slow down/stop/destroy the encumbasing figure of the Warlock Lord, you have a great story of love/developing love between Jerle Shannara and Piera and Kison and Mareth and great action sequences as well, no one can describe a battle scene better then he can.
It is a wonderfully written book that is very difficult to put down. I can't wait to read more of his stuff!!
bibliokleptomaniac says:.......2007-02-01
this is a wonderful, fulfilling prequel to the famous Sword of Shannara by terry brooks. it reveals the mysteries of the past, and, if you have not yet read the Sword of Shannara, then i say that you should definitely read the First King, because it'll make a lot more sense to you. Terry brooks is a fantastic writer, Tolkien incarnate! you'll love it, i swear.
Fun read, if not an epic one.......2006-10-03
This was my first read in Terry Brook's popular Shannara series. When I was younger I attempted to read the Sword of Shannara but I didn't have the attention span for the author's drawn out descriptions. I was able to appreciate his writing more this time around. I decided to read this book more for leisure than anything else. It's a fun read as long as you don't expect anything too epic.
The First King of Shannara follows the story of the Druid Bremen and his companions as they try to prepare the Four Lands for the coming armies of the Warlock Lord. Some respond to the warnings while others don't, but regardless of their actions the coming evil does arrive. The story focuses on several different races and people and how they are affected by the events that shape their lives. There are several different quests and battles that take place but the main event of the book is the forging of the Sword of Shannara, the one weapon that can take down the Warlock Lord.
While the book doesn't introduce anything new to the fantasy genre, I couldn't help but enjoy myself. It's a fun read, no doubt about it. I must say it doesn't rival the works of Tolkien, Jordan, Rowling, or even the fast-paced R.A. Salvador. However Brooks does stand head and shoulders above the majority of the trashy fantasy that litters today's market. The writing was above average and most importantly, fun. He provides just enough twists and turns to keep you interested.
One thing I really like about Brooks is the amount of characters he's willing to kill. Not to sound morbid, but it really helps the story feel more real. I mean there really isn't too many authors who are willing to kill off characters they've invested a lot of time in. The battle scenes become that much more intense when you know the author isn't afraid of killing your favorite character.
One mark I have to strike against this book is that there is no map. With all the references the author makes to locations and such, this proved to be a great annoyance. Enough that I reached the point were I was compelled to print a map of the Four Lands off the Internet. I'm also not a fan of the new jacket art as much as the original, however that's a minor complaint.
Standard fare, though enjoyable.......2006-09-08
This was my first book of the Shannara series. I had read Brooks' Landover series when I was younger and enjoyed them. Travelling through the airport, I picked up this book as a guilty pleasure on a long flight. I do not recommend it.
First, I don't think you should start the series with this book; that was my mistake. I didn't realize it was actually a prequel, not the first of the series.
There was little fresh or innovative here. It was basically the standard fantasy story with elves, dwarves, a time of great magic at some point in the distant past, and an overwhelming purely evil villain threatening to conquer the free peoples of Middle Earth...I mean The Four Lands.
Brooks can write well, but I feel that he really didn't put his heart into this novel. The plot and characters are mostly formulaic and hackneyed. One of the major characters is named "Kinson Ravenlock." I think that says it all. If you love the series and want to know some background information, this novel could be enjoyable, I suppose. Just don't expect very much.
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First King of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: ORBIT (LITT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Shannara
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ASIN: B000GS6Z0U |
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First King of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: DEL REY BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Shannara
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ASIN: B000UYARKO |
Average customer rating:
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First King of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Shannara
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ASIN: B000NZW0M8 |
Average customer rating:
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First King of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Shannara
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ASIN: B000OVSMUA |
Product Description
Four Novels By Terry Brooks. Shannara Trilogy + 1 Bonus Novel: The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, The Wishsong of Shannara + First King of Shannara
Average customer rating:
- More psychological study than mystery
- Uneven but worthwhile
- Teamwork featured in the third book in the "Monk" series
- Considerably below her usual standard
- A victorian mystery featuring Inspector Monk? HUH Where?
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Defend and Betray (William Monk Novels)
Anne Perry
Manufacturer: Ivy Books
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ASIN: 080411188X
Release Date: 1993-09-01 |
Book Description
"A richly textured and timeless novel of suspense. Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters."
Faye Kellerman
Although esteemed General Thaddeus Carlyon meets his death in a freak accident at home, his beautiful wife, Alexandra, confesses that she killed him. Investigator William Monk, nurse Hester Latterly, and the brilliant Oliver Rathbone, counsel for the defense, work feverishly to break down the wall of silence raised by the accused and her husband's proud family. With the trial only days away, they inch toward the dark and appalling heart of the mystery. The final act is a courtroom masterpiece, through which we dare not breathe too deeply, lest the precarious balance of a woman's life be lost.
Customer Reviews:
More psychological study than mystery.......2006-08-09
Although not the book for you if you want one that keeps you guessing about the murderer until the end, Defend and Betray remains captivating because of its focus on Victorian society and the increasingly complicated inner workings of the Carlyon and Furnival families. I figured out why the murderer had killed Thaddeus Carlyon a few hundred pages before the detectives did, but I think this is due to a modern perspective rather than their incompetence.
A few parts of this book drove me crazy. At one point, Monk and Hester have learned an important piece of information that should easily, EASILY lead them to a further conclusion, Victorian society or no Victorian society, and yet it takes some time for them to connect A and B. The middle section of the novel in which Alexandra Carlyon refuses to tell them anything more about the murder grows frustrating, but once Monk and Hester have broken past her silence, the book is spellbinding until the end. I stayed up until midnight finishing it. Even as questions are answered, there are always some left until the final page.
Whether you care about the subplot with Monk and his half-hidden memory of another woman accused of killing her husband depends on if you care about Monk in the first place (I do) and if you resent time being taken away from the main case (I did).
It has some flaws, but overall I found this book page-turning and an interesting take on the secrets, lies, and priorities of upper-class Victorians.
Uneven but worthwhile.......2002-05-22
Anne Perry charmed me with the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series first. I imagine Thomas to be very much like Mulder from the X-Files. Anyway, I made the mistake of reading one of the later Monk novels out of desperation for more Anne Perry, and just plain lost interest. Then, I found "Face of a Stranger" and started the series in order, and can picture Timothy Dalton as Monk, Hester Latterly as Emma Thompson, and I care so much about these main characters that even when the pace got mired down in Monk's flashbacks, I had the motivation to keep going. It's worth it in this most unusual approach. I highly appreciate Ms. Perry's respect for her readers; there is a definite level of erudition here without becoming pedantic. As a teacher, I recommend these books as great historical fiction, with plenty of insight on the lower classes and the plight of women. Stick around for the exquisite courtroom scene. Oliver Rathbone is a well-balanced, realistic character, and his father Henry is a dear. Callandra Daviot is as important to the Monk novels as Aunt Vespasia is to the Pitt series. To sum up: start at the beginning of each series to get the most out of them. They don't stand alone nearly as well as some series novels.
Teamwork featured in the third book in the "Monk" series.......2001-07-03
The first two books in this series featured Monk with assistance as needed from freelance nurse, Hester, and the attorney, Rathbourne. The dynamic changes a bit in this book. Hester has the leading role as she is the link to the family of both the victim and the accused. Likewise, since the arrest happens early in the book, much of the book focuses on the formation of a legal defense resulting in a much bigger role for Rathbourne. Monk isn't forgotten but his role is secondary. (Indeed, the handful of times where he explores his forgotten past are almost awkward interruptions in the flow of the book.) I liked this use of the three characters -- probably because I like Hester a great deal. She's feisty and smart.
The overall reading experience is a mixed bag. After an adequate start, the book really bogs down in the middle section. Some good editing would have trimmed about 30 pages. Fortunately, the final hundred pages are dandy -- more than making up for the tedium of the earlier parts of the book. It was also interesting to read a book that was focused on the motive for the crime rather than determining and locating the criminal.
As seems to be the case in all the Perry books I've read so far, the plot is focused on getting behind the facade of respectable upper class Victorian families. Who else would have the money to hire our heroes? I enjoy the upstairs/downstairs insights as well as the historical social commentary.
Bottom-line: I liked this Agatha nominated book. First time readers are strongly encouraged to read this series in order (starting with The Face of a Stranger).
Considerably below her usual standard.......2001-06-04
The plot outline is this: A well-respected army general is murdered during a dinner party at the home of a friend. Soon his wife confesses to the crime, giving jealousy as her motive. Edith, the younger sister of the deceased general, is skeptical of the confession, and approaches her friend Hester for some help. Hester, in turn, enlists the famed attorney Oliver Rathbone and former Inspector William Monk to work on the case.
The first 250 pages are so boring and so empty that one wonders why Perry wrote the book at all. All three of the above-mentioned investigators go out to gather information and interview the witnesses and acquaintances of the principal parties. They find absolutely nothing. It soon becomes clear that the wife is lying about her motive, but everyone is mystified as to what the real motive is. So for 250 pages we get almost nothing except conversations among the three people, exchanging no information because there is no information to exchange, and becoming increasingly pessimistic about their chances to save the wife from being hanged.
A modern reader, on the other hand, has no trouble figuring out the wife's motive long before the people in the book do. So that element of suspense is missing. The only open question in the reader's mind is exactly how are the characters in the book going to find out the motive.
Not only are the first 250 pages excruciatingly boring, but also the book is poorly edited. There are several threads in the story which are confusing, and several times people do things, or omit doing things, for which the motivation is either nonexistent or poorly explained.
One of the subplots is Monk's emotional longing to reconstruct a case which this one reminds him of, but which he can't remember because of a head injury which impaired his memory. That previous case might have been in one of the prior Monk novels that I haven't read, but the entire subplot is just an annoyance and seems out of place in this novel.
So what's good about this novel? The last 100 pages. Once we get to the courtroom, Perry's writing suddenly becomes far more powerful and surehanded. The drama builds, and even though the reader knows all the facts by now, it is highly uncertain how the whole thing will play out during the trial. Rathbone (and therefore Perry) does a masterful job of sequencing the witnesses, the questions, and the testimony. The final ending is moving and satisfying.
Is the truly fine ending worth wading through the 250 pages of dross that precede it? Probably not. This is my fourth Anne Perry novel, and I know she can do much better than this. Read the others.
A victorian mystery featuring Inspector Monk? HUH Where?.......2001-05-16
I try to avoid giving 1 star because there is usually some redeeming quality to a book/film. But not Anne Perry's work. Here is a woman who gives formula writers a good name.
She is completly unable to get to the point, chosing instead to just wander aimlessly on for page after page after page. At times there seems no end to it.
But I think this writer a fool and utterly over rated in every sense of the word. These books are meant to be about a certain William Monk. A Sherlock Holmes copy but with a twist. Quite interesting and one reason why I picked the first 3 books up. But he is only the star in the first book. AND HE DOESN'T SOLVE THE CRIME IN THE SECOND! Somebody else does. The third follows the same trend as the second. The true star is a nurse. A nurse who HAS no point to be in any story other than the first one. Of which she was an important player. But after that she has no place whatsoever to be in any of the other books. She is a nurse nothing more, yet everyone she knows dies. Death follows her and she interigates the grieving families like a police office. A ridiculas concept. William Monk who is an interesting character and who until fired from his position as an Inspector had every reason to be involved in the deaths without prior connection to the families. A concept that seems to be lost on perry. It's almost like she got bored with Monk after the first book and decided the nurse is a much more interesting character. On top of that, every book is the same. All the characters in them are clones of previous ones. And they are all sterotypes. There is no difference in their mannerisms, beliefs or reactions. They are just robots following a routine. They go on and on about the same things well after any reader has recieved the idea. She is so hooked on the setting that she loses in every department. Characters, story, plot, forward motion and the ambiance that Victorian London has all suffer because of it. These books would not have been anywhere near as popular if they had been written in a modern setting. .... If you wish to read Anne Perry then I suggest the first William monk book which I did enjoy, but then move on to other things.
Average customer rating:
- Another Thriller of The Mid 1800's
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Defend & Betray
Anne Perry
Manufacturer: BALLANTINE BOOKS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SF4PZ8 |
Customer Reviews:
Another Thriller of The Mid 1800's.......2007-09-30
The main thing I like about Anne Perry's books is that besides being interesting mysteries, you get a great view of what life was like
in the mid 1800's. She makes you feel as if you were there. Most of
history is only a shadow to us, but you get a feel of what it was
like to live then. I do not think I would have liked to live then.
Living conditions were pretty bad and the state of medicine was
awful. Hester Latterly was a nurse in the Crimean war alongside
Florence Nightingale and saw all the horrors. Saw how nurses were
treated little better than servants. After the war, Hester remains
committed to helping anyone she can particularly war victims. Along the way she, Inspector Monk and Sir Oliver Rathborne, attorney work to
solve seemingly unsolvable cases. In this case, an esteemed General
has met his death at a dinner party, not the war. His wife confesses
to the crime but certain people insist she isnt guilty. Is she
protecting someone? Hester, Monk and Rathborne vow to clear her
whether she wants it or not.
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Defend and Betray
Manufacturer: Recorded Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: 0788704036 |
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Absorbing tale of murder and deception in Victorian England solved by Hester Latterly & William Monk.
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Defend and Betray
Manufacturer: Fawcett Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0449905551 |
Product Description
"In this richly-textured novel of suspense, master storyteller Anne Perry spins an absorbing tale of murder and deception in Victorian England. In 1857, ten people arrive at an elegant London dinner party. By the end of the party, only nine are alive. Sometime between desert and drinks, General Thaddeus Carlyon, one of England's most distinguished military heroes, is brutally murdered outside the dining room. The general's wife immediately confesses to the crime. But Hester Latterly, a brave young nurse who served with Florence Nightingale, senses something wrong with her confession. Is she concealing the true identity of the murderer? Or is her confession part of a darker, more appalling crime? With the trial just days away, Hester summons Inspector William Monk to help her uncover the truth. Their investigation culminates in an explosive courtroom confrontation that exposes a shocking web of deception, scandal, and evil. Filled with enthralling psychological suspense and colorful period atmosphere, Defend and Betray is a masterpiece of historical mystery. "Perry's narrative is as stately and elegant as a royal barge on the Thames...with a final courtroom confrontation that's humdinger."---Washington Post [from case]
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5 Mass Market Paperback Titles in William Monk Series - A Dangerous Mourning - Defend and Betray - A Sudden Fearful Death - Cain His Brother - Slaves of Obsession
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Defend and Betray
Anne Perry
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000ONA8HS |
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The One-Armed Queen (Great Alta Saga)
Jane Yolen
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ASIN: 0765343592
Release Date: 2004-05-04 |
Amazon.com
Jane Yolen is one of America's most acclaimed authors. As an editor and poet, and an author of nonfiction and of children's, young-adult, and adult novels and stories, she has published more than 150 books and has won the Caldecott Medal, the World Fantasy Award, the Rhysling Award, the Kerlan Award, and the Academy of American Poets Prize. She is widely considered the 20th-century Hans Christian Andersen. Yolen has also created one of the greatest and most important high fantasy series, the Chronicles of Great Alta, which in its breadth and depth achieves not only the status of literature, but like Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea and J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, the stature and endurance of myth.
In the late 1980s, Yolen produced the first and second volumes of the Chronicles of Great Alta, Sister Light, Sister Dark and White Jenna (also available in the single-volume The Books of Great Alta). Now she has written a self-contained sequel, The One-Armed Queen, which can be enjoyed by both fans and newcomers, by both its intended adult audience and by young-adult readers.
The One-Armed Queen returns to the world of the Dales many years after the warrior queen Jenna has defeated the Dales's great enemy, the kingdom of Garun. Queen Jenna's consort, King Carum, may be dying. Jenna's heir, her adopted daughter Scillia, is in constant conflict with her mother and her role. Jenna's first-born son, the ambitious prince Jemson, believes himself the rightful ruler. And the Garunians will exploit every weakness when they return, bent on conquest of the Dales and destruction of the hated Queen and Goddess. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
In a land of magic, the great warrior Queen known as White Jenna has found a frail, one-armed child on the battlefield. She adopts the child and names her Scillia. As is custom with the Hames of the Dales, Scillia will be next in line for the throne. A great honor. But Jem-Jenna's natural-born son-covets the throne for himself. Will he risk open rebellion to claim what he believes is rightfully his?Can Scillia stop him?
Book Description
From the New York Times bestselling author of Under and Alone comes an intimate and riveting account of federal law-enforcement agent William Queen’s relentless hunt for one of America’s most cold-blooded criminals.
As an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, William Queen must tackle a number of challenging cases, including going undercover to investigate a group of violent skinheads and infiltrating and busting a ring trafficking in high-powered explosives, drugs, and firearms. In the winter of 1985, he faces his toughest mission to date: he must apprehend Mark Stephens, a notorious narcotics trafficker who has been terrorizing the communities around Los Angeles with frequent rampages involving machine guns and hand grenades. A recluse living in the treacherous backwoods outside the city, Stephens is a cunning survivalist. Nobody has been able to catch him, but Queen is determined to take him down. Queen’s unique expertise is not taught in any police academy or ATF training seminar–he honed his outdoorsman abilities as a kid. Stephens may have finally met his match in the unwavering Queen, who is adept at hunting and trapping and living for weeks in the wild. Queen will use these skills–along with surveillance, confidential informants, and intelligence gathering–as he doggedly tracks his dangerous quarry, a chase that culminates in a gripping showdown high in the San Bernardino Mountains.
A fascinating look into the daily life of an ATF agent and a taut portrayal of a monthlong manhunt, Armed and Dangerous depicts a classic race against time–lawman versus outlaw–in a harrowing true story of life-or-death suspense.
Customer Reviews:
Not as good as his 1st book.......2007-08-13
I really liked his first book and thought this might be about the same. I was wrong, not even close! The read was quick and the ending was pretty lame. Sometimes the true story is not the best story! I should of waited and got the book from a friend or the library. Sorry!
Like Being Along for the Ride!.......2007-08-08
William Queen has done it again! Reading this story is like being at his side as he pursues one of the most unpredictable and dangerous felons in modern times. I read the book in two days and found myself not wanting to let the story and the people go! I just hope that Queen has more stories to tell of his twenty plus years in law enforcement!
Another good book.......2007-08-05
This is a good book. It has an interesting insight into how government agencies really work. Having worked for a government agency in the past, I understand how paperwork and supervisory influence slow investigations and hinder law enforcement in many ways.
I would have given this a five star rating, but Mr Queen's book Under and Alone is clearly a five star book and this one is not quite as good. Still a great read...
M
Armed and Dangerous: The Hunt for One of America's Most Wanted Criminals.......2007-07-30
Book drags a bit in the begining, but then picks up speed as it goes along. If you enjoy this type of book, you will like this book
If you like the edge of your seat then this book is for you!.......2007-07-29
Queen has done it again! I don't think I've ever read a book so fast, I just couldn't put it down. If you liked Under and Alone then you will love this book. This is just a really good story, the authors did a very good job of getting you acquainted with the characters and using so much detail that you feel like you're right there beside Queen along for the hunt. I feel like I could probably join the ATF right now. They would ask for my credentials of course and I would be like, "ah, hello, I read both of Bill Queen's books, where do I sign up."
Average customer rating:
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The One-Armed Queen
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HIFQFO |
Average customer rating:
- The Miracle molecule for health
- Very Helpful for me
- Useful read to learn more about L-Arginine and Nitric Oxide
- Fascinating, excellent, but totally ignorant of Vitamin C
- Opinion about Joel M. Kauffmans review !
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The Arginine Solution: The First Guide to America's New Cardio-Enhancing Supplement
Robert Fried ,
Woodson C. Merrell , and
James Thornton
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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Heart Disease
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Medicine
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ASIN: 0446523909 |
Book Description
In the field of medicine and health it is one of the revolutions of our time: the discovery that the amino-acid L-arginine may be a "magic bullet" for the cardiovascular system. Now, as the evidence mounts, including research that recently won the Nobel Prize in Medicine, more and more scientists and doctors see the extraordinary health benefits of increasing arginine intake. A virtual arterial cleanse, arginine helps eliminate blockage and maintain blood flow. In this persuasive, groundbreaking book, Robert Fried, Ph.D., and Woodson C. Merrel, M.D., two renowned New York health experts, make the case for making arginine part of your life, while also pointing out the situations in which elevated intake may be contraindicated.THE ARGININE SOLUTION offers the research and clinical evidence that proves arginine's effectiveness in raising the body's production of nitric oxide, a principal blood pressure regulator. Arginine, an amino acid available in inexpensive supplement form, can have a powerful impact on your cardiovascular health. In addition, as it helps increase blood flow throughout the body, arginine can also boost.... * male potency * the immune system * mental acuity * and weight loss while it reduces the harmful effects of..... * aging * diabetes * asthma * and many other conditionsDrawing on the latest research, case histories, and their own experience, Drs. Robert Fried and Woodson C. Merrell have written a book that can improve the quality of life for many and even save lives - with a reliable, natural substance that plays an essential role in human health and longevity.
Customer Reviews:
The Miracle molecule for health.......2007-05-07
The Arginine Solution is a well written, informative book that explains
the many benefits derived from this amino acid and its ability to aid in the production of nitric oxide. The authors present a host of health conditions that may benefit from daily supplementation, recommended dosages, and illustrations that supply a wealth of information in a non-technical manner. This is one of my favorite books and a must read for anyone with Heart Conditions, Hypertension, Diabetes, Impotence, Atherosclerosis or anyone that wants a non-presciption solution to many
health problems. As a Health Counselor I recommend this book to all my
clients and proudly added it to my Natural Health Library.
Very Helpful for me.......2006-08-19
I actually bought this book quite a few years ago before I had even heard of Amazon. I had taken L-Arginine in my 30's for athletic reasons but stopped it when I had a bout of the shingles. I'm now slogging through my late 50's and this year I developed very severe hypertension. I pulled this book out again and discovered that I was similar to several case studies they mentioned. My doctor pursued conventional treatment with a calcium channel blocker which was effective in getting me out of the danger zone but not out of the long term damage zone. I can only tolerate the minimum dose of the blocker because a slow pulse (as slow as President Bush) rules out any more medicine. After two months, I had not made a great deal of progress toward normal blood pressure and the doctor assured me that it was "good enough" for my age. I'm grateful for the progress I made because I believe I was headed toward a stroke. But I wanted to see if I could do better. Over the past month, I've slowly worked up from 1 1/2 Grams of L-Arginine to slightly more or less than 6 Grams per day. After about 3 weeks, I was able to reduce the blood pressure down to an average of 135 over 84 with a pulse of 50. At that point, I felt comfortable resuming my exercise program. The only side effect I noticed was a crop of cold sores (this is explained in the book) at about 4 grams a day. I backed off for several days and then resumed. I had no other side effects. I should also say that I continue to take the Calcium Blocker, it is a very high quality medicine.
I'm not expecting miracles here. I know I'm not 25 years old and although it would be nice if my blood pressure was about 10 points lower by both measures, my family history and age are hard things to overcome. But I'll take the progress I've made so far.
The main feeling I've noticed is that I feel more warmth in my hands and feet and more strength in my hands. Also, I can't tolerate really hot water in the shower anymore.
No, this book doesn't talk about vitamin C and its dietary advice on low fat diets is conventional. Since there are many other books on those subjects, I'm not sure why a book on L-Arginine is down rated because of that.
If you want to find out if L-Arginine could help you, by all means get this book. The last chapter is very good at explaining who should not take L-Arginine.
Useful read to learn more about L-Arginine and Nitric Oxide.......2006-01-25
The Arginine Solution is a well written book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for information on the molecule known as Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide is a gaseous molecule made up of one Nitrogen and one Oxygen and often referred to simply as NO. It should not to be confused with Nitrous Oxide N20 which is better known as Laughing Gas.
The Nitric Oxide story hit the front pages in 1998, when three doctors were awarded the Nobel Prize for their research into this molecule produced by the body, that helps blood flow and relaxes and enlarges blood vessels, and in doing so reduces blood pressure. Check out www.nobelprize.org and look under the Medicine prize winners for 1998 announcing the Awards to Robert Furchgott, Louis Ignarro and Ferid Murad for their discoveries concerning "nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system". The research done by these doctors led to the development of a range of drugs like Viagra which fundamentally increase the levels of Nitric Oxide in the blood stream.
Dr Louis Ignarro who shared the Nobel Prize also wrote a book called 'NO More Heart Disease' which explains how Nitric Oxide can prevent Heart Disease and Strokes, and helps with male erectile dysfunction. His was the first book that I read on Nitric Oxide, but I found it a bit hyper on the subject, although still a very interesting read. The Arginine Solution, the book that we are reviewing here, provides more depth on this subject.
I did note that some researchers at John Hopkins Medicine working with mice found that the enzymes that make Nitric Oxide could protect the heart from damage caused by heart attack or high blood pressure. However they also found that the enzymes could cause overgrowth and enlargement of heart muscle tissue which could promote heart failure. I'm not sure how comparable mice are to humans, but there are a lot of people taking the amino acid L-Arginine and there haven't been any concerns reported to date.
In summary, I am very pleased I got this book.
Fascinating, excellent, but totally ignorant of Vitamin C.......2004-06-28
This book is fascinating, loaded with important information. But they stay single-mindedly focused on arginine and nitric oxide, no doubt wary of diluting their message with other important facts. Here's one: Chronic vascular disease is the long-term result of damaged collagen from too little Vitamin C, leading to artery lesions patched up by Lipoprotein(a) with LDL cholesterol heaped on top. Did you know that acute scurvy leads to the same result, only much quicker? The root cause of heart disease was strongly proven by a landmark guinea pig study in 1992 by Matthias Rath at the Linus Pauling Institute, replicated in a genetically-mutated mouse study in 2000 at U North Carolina. And to reverse it, you take adequate Vitamin C, lysine, and proline. Sure, it appears that extra arginine is helpful for the 100% of us who have accumulated vascular disease from a life of ignorance and malnutrition, but what if we were to totally clear our arteries? How much extra arginine would we need then? No answer -- and the question is not even asked because they don't even mention Rath & Pauling, appalling in a 21st century book on heart disease.
If you're serious about reversing heart (artery) disease, read Matthias Rath's excellent Why Aminals Don't Get Heart Attacks, but People Do. Short answer: they manufacture Vitamin C in their liver, and we don't. (Except for other high-order primates, and notably guinea pigs, which don't either.) We have to take 5-10 grams per day to make up for our limitation, and a whole lot more when we're sick or poisoned.
Opinion about Joel M. Kauffmans review !.......2004-06-20
A Mr. Joel M. kauffman who wrote that other books prove that eating saturated fat and cholesterol do not cause atherosclerosis is not only misleading but could very well be deadly to anyone believing this. Unfortunately a lot of the information proving just the opposite, was obtained during autopsies. His saying that books by doctors speaking about the "diet-heart" fraud, in other words that diet plays no part in atherosclerosis, and a cholesterol below 400 mg/dl is satisfactory has been proven wrong by many, many deaths. These "doctors" who would say this probably comprise only 1 or 2% of doctors. All others would tell you the opposite. Most valuable information comes from research scientist, not practicing doctors, although many may also be in a practice too. Doctors are to busy treating "symptoms", rather than knowing cures. After their initial training and after going into practice, they are so busy that they can't possibly stay up with the latest treatments. If you go to a doctor you know I am telling the truth. They schedule an appointment for you, and at the same time schedule many others for the same time. If you don't get your questions asked in a minute or less, the doctor is busy writing prescriptions, and getting ready to leave for the next patient who is already waiting in another exam room. The only way many of them know anything about new medications, are by the salesmen/women who interrupt YOUR oppointment time, often, trying to sell their products by getting a doctor to prescribe them.
I do agree with Mr. Kauffman that if you ask a doctor about an alternative treatment, such as L-Arginine, he/she will not even know what you are talking about, even though one doctor won a Nobel Prize in 1998 for his study on L-Arginine and it's ability to produce nitric oxide, and improve you circulatory system, including Blood Pressure, and an over-all improvement in heart function.
My reason for a 4 instead of a 5 is because some of it, as Mr. Kauffman said, was hard to see and read.
Pleas READ ALL you can find on this subject before making up your mind on this or any form of alternative treatments or combinations of both.
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- In the Shadow of the Law: A Novel
- Isle of Palms
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