Book Description
Sometimes being left in the lurch is the best thing that can happen to you.Alison Hopkins's live-in boyfriend, Tom, goes out in the middle of a dinner party to buy a jar of mustard, then calls her from a pay phone to tell her he won't be coming home. He's left her for his beautiful ex-girlfriend Kate Pearce, the kind of woman about whom men say rhapsodically, 'She's like a drug.'Alison had always feared that Tom's looks would land her in trouble-having a handsome boyfriend is like having a white couch, an invitation to disaster. But if Tom isn't her Big Love, who is? Alison embraces her freedom, buys 'hiking boots and lacy underwear,' and sets out on a stroll down the midway of love. From an eye-opening fling with her new boss to an unexpected proposal from an old friend, Alison samples love's many varieties-all the while talking obsessively with her girlfriends, comparing stories, and working through a lifetime of conflicting beliefs about trust, faith, and commitment.In spite of (or perhaps because of) her neuroses, Alison finds a surprising kind of triumph-and an irrational faith that the Big Love may be nearer than it appears.
Customer Reviews:
Hey dummy.......2007-08-29
Alison is in love with a boyfriend that doesn't deserve her love. She realises this in the end but the whole whinny middle part and wondering if she'll ever marry and have kids bothered me. I thought gosh why is she crying over him again. He isn't worth it. I am glad Alison realised this in the end. Also the religion part bothered me. She kept talking about it.. too much!
Very Nora Ephron-ish.......2007-08-12
A newspaper columnist's boyfriend leaves her for his ex-girlfriend and then comes back to her after two weeks. In the meantime, she gets fired from a low-brow periodical and has a fling with her boss. Her life is in disarray and she sets about understanding what it is she really wants.
It is easy reading- the principal character is talking to the reader directly in first person. It seemed like I was her girlfriend and she was explaining all her feelings to me using analogies and in minute detail. However, some patches are unnecessary or redundant. I found that skipping over entire paragraphs made no difference sometimes.
There are some incidents in the story that are interesting or entertaining. Some women will be able to identify with some of the characters. The men in the story are insipid and dimensionless; they could have had more to say and more depth, with the possible exception of "Matt." Some snippets are insightful- like the last part about being open to new experiences when single as opposed to closed when in a relationship.
The protagonist is a columnist for a newspaper, has a lawyer boyfriend, has friends who throw themed dinner parties, and lunches with girlfriends several times a week. Although this book was written in 2005 and set in Philadelphia, it might as well have been New York/1980, `a la Ephron. Maybe its time to update the characters?
Overall, it is patchily entertaining and shines some new light on old relationships.
BORING!.......2007-07-08
I can't even tell you how many times I wanted to tell this main character to shut up. There were too many times where she just talked (for pages!) about nothing. There were about 6 scenes throughout the book that had any kind of relevance. I skimmed over her mindless chatter and ended up finishing the book in half an hour.
All Around BAD.......2007-06-26
This author lacked the fundamental skills of story-telling and character development. Out of the several characters that was introduced there wasn't one character that was likable, especially the main character. The point of the tangents she goes into is to give you insight on her personality and emotions, but it failed to make the character likable. In order for a reader/audience to sympathize with the main character, she has to be likable or at least if she doesn't start out likable, she has to have redeemable qualities. It would be more enjoyable to follow Alison as she develops her character arc, but in this book the character arc is force-fed to you. The author had to tell you that she learned something and that her perspective has changed, but doesn't give you the satisfaction of embarking on the journey along with Alison. In this case, breaking the show-not-tell rule just doesn't work. I was completely disappointed and this book was definitely not a pleasurable read.
Not well written, boring, couldn't wait til it was over.......2007-06-25
I'm so disappointed. I read this book because it was recommened by an author I really like, Emily Giffin. This book was horrible. I kept reading on because I thought if Emily Giffin liked it, surely it was going to get better. The author went on and on about nonsense. Mid way through the book I began skipping paragrahs, and found I missed none of the story line. I should have known from the first few chapters, it was not going to be worth my time. I couldn't identify with, love, or hate any of the characters. There was no WOW in the book, no climax. It was the author's first book, perhaps she'll do better with time. However, I don't plan on looking for a novel by her in the future.
Average customer rating:
- Goofball comics at their best
- Great stuff
- Amazing art and raw gags
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Liberty Meadows Big Book of Love
Frank Cho
Manufacturer: Insight Studios Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1889317144 |
Customer Reviews:
Goofball comics at their best.......2004-03-26
Before its voluntary departure from the Washington Post, "Liberty Meadows" had gained a loyal following that brought it back from possible cancellation more than once. Now this kooky strip and its bizarre characters are back in this book, "Liberty Meadows: Big Book of Love."
Welcome to Liberty Meadows, an animal preserve overseen by timid vet Frank and beautiful animal shrink Brandy. As Frank tries to muster the courage to ask Brandy out, the two of them also have to deal with the nutty animals there: a crazed Cow, Leslie the hypochondriac bullfrog, Ralph the tiny belligerant bear, Truman the water-fearing duck, and Dean the chauvinist pig in rehab.
This loony crew tries to deal with dates (where Brandy's crazed ex tries to kill Frank), the evil catfish Khan, camping trips with psychedelic mushrooms, falls into mine shafts, severed noses, truck-sized ticks, the insane stalker Cow kidnapping a celebrity and -- worst of all -- Dean's trip through the land of Cold Turkey.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a weirder comic strip than Liberty Meadows. Frank Cho combines the realistic drawing style (Frank and Brandy) with more traditional cartoon styles (the animals, and supporting humans like the handyman). Filled with wry pokes at pop culture and political correctness, it's refreshing and amusing in a sea of stale comics.
What sets this apart from "Liberty Meadows: Eden"? Despite the fact that the comics included are the same, there are also full-color Sunday strips. Not to mention a funny "framing" story: on the 100th anniversary of the Liberty Meadows sanctuary, a reporter is interviewing Ralph and Leslie (much older, but as crazed as ever).
If you weren't lucky enough to read "Liberty Meadows" during its stint in the papers, check out "Liberty Meadows: Big Book of Love." Silly, weird, bizarre, and immensely entertaining, this is definitely worth a read.
Great stuff.......2003-10-25
I loved Liberty Meadows when it was a daily newspaper strip, and while i still enjoy it in its current incarnation as a bimonthly comic book, it is just not the same. Big Book of Love is a great trip down memory lane for me. A combination of funny material and a sympathetic "hero" in a hidden love with a dream girl make for fun reading and can be related to.
Amazing art and raw gags.......2003-03-13
Frank Cho is a great comic artist. His style juxtaposes the detail and realism of the old adventure comic strips with the simpler lines of the best funnies. His strips contain some raw humor inspired by the physical violence in Warner Bros. cartoons, pop culture references, and too many years in a fraternity. Watch out for the great dinosaurs and cameos by Tarzan and Prince Valium.
Even if you have Eden, his first book published by Image, you will also want to pick up this volume for its fantastic Sunday color strips. These strips must have been re-colored and look great.
Average customer rating:
- An exciting read from cover to cover.
- the ancient order of Moridura
- A gripping read
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The Ancient Order of Moridura
Peter, Curran
Manufacturer: Upfront Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1844264068 |
Book Description
A Scottish electronics tycoon receives a demand from the mysterious Ancient Order of Moridura to deliver a young physicist, who claims to have discovered the source of gravitational waves, to a remote monastery in Spain, or face death. Alistair Mackinnon, accompanied by his friend Corr and the enigmatic Dr. Blade, set out for the forbidding monastery of Moridura on the rocky perimeter of a meteor crater in Extremadura. What is the terrible secret of the monks of Moridura, and their alter egos, the hermandad, a secret brotherhood? What truth lies behind the legend of an ancient entity in the depths of the monastery - La Bestia? Why is the American defence industry so interested in Doctor Blade's discovery? What will be impact of the presence of a beautiful young woman in the all-male environment of the monastery? The exploration of the complex motivations and emotions of its diverse and vital characters, including the strange young monk, Mateo, the innkeeper, Manuel Ortega, the American industrialist, Red Lonnen and the aristocratic Ferdinand of Moridanza, and the dynamic between secular and spiritual objectives, violence and negotiation, are combined in a riveting action thriller with a unique dénouement.
Customer Reviews:
An exciting read from cover to cover........2007-06-10
The Ancient Order of Moridura is a thrilling, action-packed novel about secrets borne of both modern technology and ancient spirituality. When a Scottish electronics tycoon receives an insistent request from the enigmatic Ancient Order of Moridura to deliver a young physicist to a remote monastery in Spain on pain of death, he undergoes a quest that will put him at odds with the American defense industry - which keenly desires the physicist's discovery - and the monastery's bizarre secrets, including an ancient entity called "La Bestia" stowed within its depths. An exciting read from cover to cover.
the ancient order of Moridura.......2007-03-15
"Peter Curran's novel is a very savvy take on the cloak and dagger monastry
mystery , full of subtle twists and turns. There is a strong fantasy flavour
to this work. I'm a bit of a sci-fi lover so I enjoyed the combination of
technical science and the supernatural - or maybe that should be the
preternatural. The characters spark off one another in both camaraderie and
conflict. Full of surprises - there are some incredibly revelatory moments."
A gripping read.......2007-02-28
The Ancient Order of Moridura is a gripping read that once started is hard to put down. It is a gothic tale set in an isolated Spanish monastery that guards an ancient and deadly secret. The labyrinthine architecture is matched by an intricate plot, that maintains a sense of suspense throughout the novel. The Ancient Order of Moridura brings together a truly extraordinary mix of characters that stay with the reader long after the book reaches its fantastical climax. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book a compelling read from beginning to end.
Average customer rating:
- Historic Arkansas Novel
- Available Copies
- Extremely Touching and Wonderfully Written
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Big Doc's Girl: A Novel
Mary Medearis
Manufacturer: August House Pub Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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ASIN: 0874831059 |
Customer Reviews:
Historic Arkansas Novel.......2005-03-10
This novel is told from the point of view of Mary Clayborne, the teenage daughter of a small-town Arkansas doctor during the Depression. When tragedy strikes the family, Mary must choose between her dream of attending the music conservatory, marrying her father's young resident, or staying and becoming head of the household for her younger siblings. A deft portrayal of life in rural Arkansas, a fine translation of the back-country mores, and a convincing dose of teenage angst and ennui.
Available Copies.......1999-12-12
Big Doc's Girl is a classic of its genre. Mary Medearis is an Arkansas native currently living in New York. You can purchase paperback copies of her book at WordsWorth Bookstore in Little Rock, AR., 1-800-880-0122.
Extremely Touching and Wonderfully Written.......1999-06-05
I accidentally happened upon this book and will be forever grateful that I did. Although the novel is unique in having strictly one point of view throughout, the heroine is engaging enough to hold the readers interest. I loved how the author painted the picture of what was going on. The writing style is reminiscent of the old "classics" with a lot of attention to detail. The setting, the story, the characters, and the writing are all excellent. I loved the book, have recommended it to many, and am looking to purchase. A rare treat that I will read time and again. Absolutely beautiful.
Average customer rating:
- Laurie Colwin's best ... I've read it half a dozen times
- No storm here!
- A meditation rather than a novel
- Is that all there is?
- I discovered Laurie Colwin too late
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A Big Storm Knocked It over: A Novel
Laurie Colwin
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Goodbye Without Leaving
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Shine On, Bright and Dangerous Object
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Happy All the Time
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Passion and Affect
ASIN: 0060170190 |
Book Description
With an endearing mix of humor, intelligence, and charm, this bestselling final novel by the late Laurie Colwin is a rich celebration of romance, friendship, motherhood, and the pleasures and pitfalls of life.
Customer Reviews:
Laurie Colwin's best ... I've read it half a dozen times.......2006-06-24
I am a huge fan of Laurie Colwin's writing, so I am baffled by the reviewers who didn't enjoy this book as much as I did. To me, her writing is sophisticated yet very comfortable. I can identify most with the main character in this particular book of hers as I also married a bit later in life and am trying to have a child despite being a little long in the tooth. The longings Jane Louise has for the domestic bliss that other people in her life seem to have so easily are all too familiar. This book will not hit you over the head with a message, and it does meander ... which is just like life for most of us. And I for one sometimes enjoy a book that doesn't leave me with a headache. Reading is so much like eating - balancing what's good for you with satisfying cravings for those things that aren't - and for me, Laurie Colwin's books are like hot tea with milk and sugar on a cold afternoon. Grown up, but sweet and comforting - they always hit the spot. And I still find myself in disbelief that there will be no more books by this great writer.
No storm here! .......2005-08-01
Where is the big storm? Where is the story? I'm still waiting.
I'm a 30 somthing married mom and I just did not get this book.
Not even a good summer read.
A meditation rather than a novel.......2005-02-18
This novel is a spare, well-written character study of a young, sensitive, cosmically insecure, recently married Manhattanite. Reading this book is a little like listening to the conversations of an articulate and intelligent female friend who shares her interior thoughts and subtle ambivalences about work, family, home, love, and marriage. I found this book enjoyable but it had no compelling story, nor did it leave a lasting imprint in my memory. I sometimes share the books I read with my friends, both male and female. I think that most of my male friends would be quite bored with this book.
Is that all there is?.......2004-09-18
I'm completely baffled by the five-star reviews for this book. The main characters are likable enough, certainly, but nothing. ever. happens. There is no narrative tension and no real plot, no conflict, no obstacles for the characters to overcome, nothing of substance--just a vaguely pleasant meandering toward an indefinite conclusion. Even the much-anticipated baby seems to disappear into the background once she arrives, like a sitcom baby whose birth is a great episode for sweeps week but who is conveniently asleep off-camera for every episode thereafter.
Perhaps my opinion was tainted by reading this book too soon after Alison McGhee's "Shadow Baby" -- a book with both style AND substance. Colwin suffered in the comparison. However lovely her sentences and paragraphs may be, in this case they don't add up to anything greater than the sum of their parts.
I discovered Laurie Colwin too late.......2003-11-02
Years ago, I used to look forward to issues of Gourmet to see if another of Laurie Colwin's whimsical, insightful, and so well-written essays would be included. Then, with no warning, came the announcement that "this will be her last submission to Gourmet," as she had died unexpectedly and at far too young an age.
That's the first I learned that she'd written several novels, so I began reading all of them. A Big Storm Knocked It Over was her fifth and was published posthumously.
Happy All the Time is my favorite of her books, but this one is pretty damn good. Like all of Colwin's books, it's quiet and introspective. Jean Louise is a NY book designer whose boss, Sven, comes on to her all the time - and JL can't deny the attraction. But she's totally happily married to a calm and pretty ordinary chemist. Then she gives birth to a daughter, and her joy is complete - almost. She still has those unspecified hankerings, the feeling she's maybe missing something. It's Colwin's wisdom about relationships, her sharp eye of always watching, watching that make her books so special. Unlike this Big Storm, Colwin's books don't knock you over - but you find yourself thinking about them for a long time afterwards.
She is greatly missed.
Customer Reviews:
wonderful and rare slice of israeli life.......2007-07-05
The Saturday Morning Murder was recommended to me by a psychoanalyst friend and I cannot thank him enough for turning me on to a whole series of novels by a writer who deserves to be far better known. I do not generally read detective stories. But I found that Batya Gur is an impeccable writer whose eye and ear are attuned to the nuances of general human behavior and the sociology of Israeli life in Jerusalem in particular. I could not put this book down and I plan to read through everything this author has written
Witty, perceptive, and full of atmosphere.......2007-06-18
This is Batya Gur's best book in my opinion. The atmosphere and locale are wonderfully well-drawn, as are the characters. This book truly communicates a time and place. The tensions and dilemmas of life in Israel at that time, the histories that each of the characters bring with them to the story are rich and convincing.
A good detective read.......2005-10-24
Just sent this novel to some shrink friends. As usual, the author offers crisp narrative (well rendered by a supple translation), a panorama of vivdly drawn characters, a strong sense of time and place (O Jerusalem!), and a plot of decent complication. As well, there are the author's usual faults: a somewhat pretentious detailing of the rituals and nomenclature of a heuristic community; and, as with all women authors (yes!!) of detective stories, she adores her hero, who is much too good to be true (see, for example, Cmndr Dalgliesh or Lord Peter or Marshal Guarnaccia or Commisario Brunetti, etc., etc; is Mr Darcy the prototype Ms hero?). The author offers a novel's eye-view of upper-middle-class, cosmopolitan Jerusalem in the late 1980s. Sharply written, this novel aims, patently, to instruct as well as to entertain. As usual, with the latter, the author succeeds.
Analyzing a murder.......2001-07-16
When Shlomo Gold finds his mentor well known psycho analyst Eva Neidorf, dead early one Saturday morning in Jerusalem, detective Michael Ohayon begins his search for the murderer. Batya Gur meticulously lays out the clues while providing the reader with information about Freudian psychoanalysis.
Gur's writing is not the fast paced mystery that some prefer, it slowly draws the reader to the conclusion. providing little steps along the way. She does give away the culprit before the end of the book and the mystery that remains is how Michael Ohayon will manage to snare the murderer. Gur's use of the setting and background information regarding Freudian psychology deftly adds to the interest of this book.
Michael Ohayon is an interesting detective. He is a troubled, thoughtful man who could use some psychoanalysis himself. Ohayon is a complex creature who has the feel for solving crimes.
This book is to be recommended especially to those who enjoy psychology and who have at least some background in the Freudian technique. Those readers who prefer fast paced reading should avoid the Saturday Morning Murder.
294 Pages of Mind Numbing Prose.......2001-06-01
I admire anyone who can write a novel. I greatly admire anyone who can get a novel published. In the case of this book, I admire myself for reading this novel, to the end, no less! The beginning would have you believe that something, anything is going to happen, and it does! A woman is murdered. The mystery here does not lie in finding out who murdered her, but in when the author intends to acknowledge that she is writing a murder mystery. In page after page, after page . . . one reads of the training involved in becoming a traditional Freudian psychoanalyst. When the book finally, and agonizingly slowly, wends its way back to fiction, you no longer care who was killed, who killed her, or why. You think of her demise as a blessed release. As my captioned title implies, the entire world in which these people live and work is so incredibly mind numbing that I am surprised that they all haven't either killed each other or committed suicide long before the author conceived the plot. I finished this novel as a test of superhuman will power, akin to losing 100 pounds or kicking a heroin addiction. If, however, I can save one fellow human being from having to read this book, my life will not have been lived in vain.
Average customer rating:
- Great, but Wagner's short stories are better
- Anti-hero
- Dark Fantasy At Its Finest
- Overhyped, overpriced and disappointing
- Classic Dark Fantasy
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Gods in Darkness: The Complete Novels of Kane
Karl Edward Wagner
Manufacturer: Night Shade Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Wagner, Edward Karl
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Wagner, Karl
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The Midnight Sun: The Complete Stories of Kane
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The Bloody Crown of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2)
ASIN: 189238924X |
Book Description
Kane An immortal, cursed to wander the Earth until he is destroyed by the violence that he himself has created. A warrior and statesman: As comfortable in the shadowy halls of courtly intrigue as he is on the bloody battlefields where those intrigue's inevitably play themselves out. Karl Edward Wagner's complex and compelling character of Kane redefines the boundaries of heroic fantasy, and stands besides Michael Moorcock's Elric, and Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and Gray Mouser as one of the most idiosyncratic and compelling characters of the fantasy genre. Gods in Darkness gathers together in one volume the complete novels of Kane.
Customer Reviews:
Great, but Wagner's short stories are better.......2006-03-15
As a long-time Wagner/Kane fan, these stories are excellent. I must say that I enjoyed his short stories much more. if you are afraid of spending the $$ on the complete novels, get the short stories compendium. You will not be disappointed!
Anti-hero.......2006-03-11
The three Kane books in my opinion are some of the best old style sc-fi/fantasy/horror written. It is not a Robert Jordon that sends you to sleep, it is that old fashion - torch under a blanket/can't put it down fantasy. I have read the three as separate novels and each one is awesome. Rather than some of the previous reviewers, I don't think that Bloodstone is a weaker novel - it is better seen as a faster, rollicking read not as layered or dark as the other novels.
I love the "Who won this war, that killed so many" attitude that Kane invaringly answers "I did" - "but why", "because I lived and they died.". It is so refreshing to see what is called an anti-hero, but is probably more acurately called a realist in todays terms. Not quite an opportunist, as Kane will often sacrifice self needs for cold or hot revenge or dark justice. To me this is how more of our heros should be written - all of the care but for darker reasons :-)
If you have not read these novels please do yourself a favour and do so. For Conan, Deathstalker, Corwin of Amber fans I belive you will be the richer. For Robert Jordon, Stephan Donaldson and those who want to read 1000 pages before the hero gets the fortitude to leave his town and love it - steer clear.
Dark Fantasy At Its Finest.......2005-11-04
It doesn't get much better than this...
Wagner's horror writing was in some ways superior, but his 'Kane' fantasy series was simply an outstanding contribution to the genre. Gritty, grim, & bloody with Lovecraft-like overtones, it will appeal to modern readers of George R.R. Martin and the like. If you like this, you will LOVE his 'Kane' short stories collected in 'The Midnight Sun'.
Overhyped, overpriced and disappointing.......2005-06-03
If you're considering buying the expensive and out-of-print hardcover, Gods In Darkness, which collects the three Kane novels, my recommendation is don't waste your money. Buy the enjoyable Dark Crusade and, if you're feeling a bit masochistic, the problematic but still serviceable Darkness Weaves. You can get them separately as the original paperbacks (I've reviewed them both on Amazon). While I have not read Bloodstone (the only other Kane novel), the reviews seem to be very much against it. If you buy the used paperbacks, you'll save money and these novels have been way overhyped... I agree that the fantasy genre needs more books about villains and anti-heros as the main character, but Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels just don't do it for me (although Dark Crusade comes very, very close -- my only complaint about it being Kane's character does not become interesting until 2/3 of the way through). If you want to read a truly flawless, gritty fantasy novel by Wagner, try The Road Of Kings. That's easily the finest Conan pastiche ever written and puts even the best of the Kane novels to shame!
Classic Dark Fantasy.......2004-10-17
What I'm Reading: GODS IN DARKNESS - Karl Edward Wagner
When Karl Edward Wagner began writing his Kane stories in 1970 he inherited the legacy of the barbarian hero from Robert E. Howard. Howard had almost single-handedly created sword-and-sorcery with his works, but Wagner - in creating his character of Kane - not only went back to the roots which had been planted by Conan and Kull (as so many other pale imitators had done), but also infused those roots with the rich traditions of fantasy and horror which had blossomed in the forty years since Howard had died.
Kane is one part Elric, one part Conan, but a creation all his own. His tales inherit the purity of Howard's barbarism, but also reach back into Howard's own influences to crank up the elements of Lovecraftian horror. You can feel the influences of Moorcock, Leiber, Moore, and Tolkien bubbling beneath the surface.
To this rich tradition, Wagner brought his own natural talent for the fantastical and the horrific, telling his stories with a brutal, beautiful prose.
GODS IN DARKNESS, from Night Shade Books, is a collection of all three of Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels: BLOODSTONE, DARK CRUSADE, and DARKNESS WEAVES. It has a sister volume, THE MIDNIGHT SUN, which collects all of the Kane short stories.
BLOODSTONE
Unfortunately, the first novel in this collection is almost certainly the weakest. Perhaps the most persistent and grating problem here is Wagner's infatuation with the thesaurus, coupled with an inordinate amount of obvious pleasure taken in finding the most obscure terms possible. The intention appears to an evocation of Lovecraftian prose, but the effect which Lovecraft so expertly crafts is rendered impotent through the sheer tenacity with which Wagner pursues it.
The plot, while strong in many regards, is conveyed in an episodic fashion - with many events relegated off-stage with description or narration. The effect, in later works, is to keep the action focused on the primary cast of characters - seeing their place and their reactions within a large world. In BLOODSTONE, however, the effect is disjointed and further weakened by the fact that most of the characters (with the exception of Kane himself) have strong taints of the cliché about them.
Coming to BLOODSTONE I had heard that Wagner was something of a hidden gem in the sword-and-sorcery genre: A writer whose talents compared favorably to Howard, Leiber, and Moorcock - but whose career had been cut tragically short by an early death. Reading BLOODSTONE, I was disappointed to discover an author of only mediocre skill.
DARK CRUSADE
Fortunately, the second novel in the collection is DARK CRUSADE, which should be on the reading list for any fan of sword-and-sorcery.
I don't know if BLOODSTONE was just an early work which took its time getting into print, if Wagner was simply rushed or off his rhythm while writing it, or if Wagner had a major breakthrough between '75 and '76: Whatever the case may be, everything which was only nascent mediocrity in BLOODSTONE comes together in DARK CRUSADE to craft a top notch novel.
One of the interesting things to note about Kane is that, unlike his fellow heroes-in-arms, Kane frequently finds himself on the wrong side of a conflict. Conan finds a crown when he joins a just rebellion against a tyrannical king. Kane seeks empire, and frequently allies himself with any power which becomes convenient or available. He believes that he can overcome whatever flaws or corruption exist within the power base he takes advantage of, but finds - time and time again - that the flaws and corruption are inherent to the power. As a result, Kane often finds himself in a role which would be villainous if it were not for his own nature as an anti-hero: Often he destroys his own dreams in an attempt to purify them of a tarnish which cannot be removed.
It is this dark depth of contradiction and tragic flaw - a wisdom and strength coupled with folly and weakness - which makes the character of Kane so infinitely fascinating. Like all of the great sword-and-sorcery tales, it is not the plot of pulp adventure which makes the stories of Kane a compelling read: It is the careful drawing of their larger-than-life protagonist.
DARKNESS WEAVES
The third novel in GODS IN DARKNESS is on the same playing field as the second. If anything, DARKNESS WEAVES represents an improvement over the craft and skill which went into the telling of DARK CRUSADE. Notably, a more complex cast of characters is invested with more detail, drawn in more depth, and (as a result) given greater significance.
Ultimately, none of these novels impressed me with the quality of Howard's THE HOUR OF THE DRAGON or Leiber's "Lean Times in Lankhmar". But DARK CRUSADE and DARKNESS WEAVES are both classics - and if I want to see more of the war in DARK CRUSADE and more of the twin romances in DARKNESS WEAVES, that's only a testament to the strength of what's already on the page.
Product Description
Omnibus of the three Kane novels, in hardcover for the first time. Dustjacket by Ken Kelly. First state dj with Wagner's name misspelled on the rear flap included as well as the corrected version. Limited to 150 unnumbered copies signed by Ken Kelly.
Book Description
Successfully treat most cardiac conditions.
Customer Reviews:
The importance of CoQ10 for heart health written by an expert.......2006-07-20
Coenzyme Q10 (often abbreviated as CoQ10) is essential for human life. CoQ10 catalyzes the formation and utilization of energy in every human cell, including cells of the heart and heart muscle. Fortunately, our bodies manufacture CoQ10. Unfortunately, some people do not manufacture enough CoQ10 to keep them healthy, especially as they grow older. Research has shown that deficiency of CoQ10 is the major cause of cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and other heart diseases and these diseases can often be cured by CoQ10 supplementation. In fact, many heart transplant candidates have no longer needed a heart transplant after supplementation with CoQ10. Dr. Stephen Sinatra -- a board-certified cardiologist -- is a world-renowned expert on CoQ10 and its health benefits. I beg your to buy and read this book and heed Dr. Sinatra's information and advice. For more details on CoQ10 you may wish to also read Dr. Sinatra's book The Coenzyme Q10 Phenomenon.
superb guide\ scientific work\ expirienced therapist!.......2000-06-13
this health guide is the best collective work that has been gathered by the eminent cardiologist who knows all the heart diseases conditions.furthermore he is treating with both alternative and conventional ways so he can tell the diffrents,wich he did. after the history of the coenzyme q10 he explaines how the role of the free radical molecules are forming in our body,and the role of diseases they produced,in this case heart problems. how the mechanism of heart diseases are formed (in short understandable way)and how coq10 is working in order to prevent\treat\and most of all the fast improving of this miracle new heart nutrient.how it work inside the cells of the body is explained so you will understand why it worked in every heart disease. how this nutrient works in gum diseases and in hypertension wich also related to heart attacks are also covered in this book. he also gives dosages of recommandations to every discussed ilnness on the guide,and a few amazing case histories are beyond description,but i know they are a true case histories because i am a orthomolecular-nutritionist and i treat heart diseases, and i know the author is correct. very recommanded!
Book Description
This series of compact volumes answers the FAQs (frequently asked questions) about the major nutritional supplements making headlines today. Why this powerful nutrient is being hailed as a breakthrough in treating congestive heart failure is just one of the topics covered in this book.
Customer Reviews:
Easy to read.......1999-06-14
A joy to read and easy to understand
Book Description
Coenzyme Q10 has literally thousands of scientific studies and clinical trials demonstrating that it can:
- Protect and strengthen the cardiovascular system
- Revitalize the immune system
- Retard aging and possible extend life
- Energize the body and increase stamina
- Normalize blood pressure
- Reduce weight naturally
- Benefit a variety of mitochondrial-related conditions including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's Diseases
- Control and possibly reverse gum-related problems
- Reduce photoaging (wrinkles) when applied directly to the skin.
CoQ10 is found in every living cell. It is responsible for producing cellular energy and is essential for life to exist. With age, insufficient levels of CoQ10 become more common, putting us at serious risk of illness and disease all throughout the body. Read how supplementing this amazing nutrient can help you!
Health Learning Handbooks are designed to provide useful information about ways to improve one's health and well-being. Education about what the body needs to obtain and maintain good health is what we would like to provide.
Product Description
Reviews the practical uses of this antioxidant nutrient and the proper dosages, along with its safety andhow it interacts with medicines. 26 p.
Staples softcover.
Book Description
Medical studies have shown coenzyme Q10 to be a good addition to any health program. This easy-to-read guide reviews the practical uses of this antioxidant nutrient and the proper dosages, along with its safety and how it interacts with medicines and other natural compounds.
CoQ10 is not just good for the heart. If any of the following factors apply to you or someone you know, you may be interested in learning more about this unique antioxidant nutrient: Congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease or previous heart attacks, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, plans to have a heart operation, mitral valve prolapse, breast cancer, currently on chemotherapy, periodontitis or gingivites, fatigue, on a vegetarian diet, or have a high oil intake.
Certain antioxidants do more than just protect our cells from damage. They actually play a role in improving the function of certain organs and in treating particular diseases. Most doctors in the United States are not yet aware of the potential of these nutrients, including CoQ10. However, many doctors in Europe already prescribe CoQ10 to patients with congestive heart failure.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Family Practice News, published by International Medical News Group on June 1, 2002. The length of the article is 942 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Coenzyme Q10 for heart failure. (Alternative Medicine).(Brief Article)
Author: Nancy Walsh
Publication:
Family Practice News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2002
Publisher: International Medical News Group
Volume: 32
Issue: 11
Page: 13(1)
Article Type: Brief Article
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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