Average customer rating:
- "I sat down on my Brooks Brothers shirt and pronounced my own name out loud."
- Relevant and moving
- All the heart that Portnoy lacks...
- Great debut, beginning of a great career
- Goodbye, Columbus
|
Goodbye, Columbus : And Five Short Stories (Vintage International)
Philip Roth
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Anthologies
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Roth, Philip
| ( R )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Portnoy's Complaint
-
American Pastoral
-
The Human Stain: A Novel
-
The Magic Barrel: Stories
-
The Plot Against America
ASIN: 0679748261
Release Date: 1994-01-13 |
Book Description
Roth's award-winning first book instantly established its author's reputation as a writer of explosive wit, merciless insight, and a fierce compassion for even the most self-deluding of his characters.
Goodbye, Columbus is the story of Neil Klugman and pretty, spirited Brenda Patimkin, he of poor Newark, she of suburban Short Hills, who meet one summer break and dive into an affair that is as much about social class and suspicion as it is about love. The novella is accompanied by five short stories that range in tone from the iconoclastic to the astonishingly tender and that illuminate the subterranean conflicts between parents and children and friends and neighbors in the American Jewish diaspora.
Customer Reviews:
"I sat down on my Brooks Brothers shirt and pronounced my own name out loud.".......2006-10-25
First Love is a really wonderful novella that was the first work of Philip Roth. It was published in 1959 and won the National Book Award.
What makes it so wonderful? The quality of the prose is exceptional. It is precise and often poetic without ever using that overly precious tone from which many short story authors suffer. Roth takes careful aim at upwardly mobile Jewish life-- most of the stories in the volume look at least subtly at the internal (identity) clash that arises as Jewish families start integrating into the mainstream middle class. What's nice is that he is unflinching and often critical without ever feeling as though he were being mean. Goodbye Columbus is beautiful and thought provoking, wry but not bitter.
The novella is published together with five short stories, "The Conversion of the Jews", "Defender of the Faith", "Epstein", "You Can't Tell a Man by the Song He Sings", and "Eli, the Fanatic". "The Conversion of the Jews" is generally considered the best of the lot, but personally I was more drawn to "Defender of the Faith". All five stories are worth reading, even if they are not as strong as the title novella.
Highly recommended.
Relevant and moving.......2006-07-12
Are you neurotic or psychotic? Do you worry and obsess over little things or see sombrero-wearing orca whales tangoing with sea anemones in their teeth? Then you should either read Goodbye, Columbus or seek professional help. Following Neil Klugman through a summer of indecision, sex, and straddling of social strata, the book is as relevant today as when it was published in 1959. Also, don't shirk reading the five short stories that follow it. They're great. And I know your mother and I didn't raise you to be a Lazy Jane.
To read more reviews check out Void Magazine's website.
All the heart that Portnoy lacks..........2005-08-15
I find Philip Roth's debut novella, Goodbye, Columbus, to be much more enjoyable than his more famous work, Portnoy's Complaint. For one thing, Columbus is much shorter - it gets to the point. It is not endlessly repetitive, the way Portnoy is - nor is Roth as full of himself in this more modest work.
Goodbye, Columbus has all the heart that Portnoy's Complaint lacks. It is the proverbial "coming of age" story of Neil Klugman. Neil is the Philip Roth stand-in - like Roth, he is a poor Jewish boy from Newark. He has his first great love affair with Brenda Patimkin - a rich girl from Short Hills. Brenda is all he could ever want in a woman, so everything should be perfect...right? The reader may guess at the stops along the way, but predictability isn't really the issue - it's the journey that matters.
I found the short stories in this collection less appealing. They are all on the same theme: the aversion Roth feels towards Jewish-American culture, while being a Jewish-American. This is one of the central themes in his novels as well, but his short stories are not able to support this theme as well as the other diversions that make his novels enjoyable. As such, the short stories are one-trick-ponies, and I found them tiring. Perhaps this is the reason that Roth is known as a novelist and not a short-story writer. However, the book is worth purchasing for the novella alone.
Great debut, beginning of a great career.......2005-04-17
This is Philip Roth's first acclaimed work, a novella about a Jewish twenty-something and the yearnings of young love, and five other short stories. Roth always touches on something completely exceptional by its normality, and tells a story in a gripping, intelligent and thoroughly honest manner. The title story is about a young man who out of youtful desire starts a passionate affair with a Jewish girl, knowing nothing about her or her family. He ingratiates himself into her life and family, while still remaining somewhat elusive and anonymous. He has no real family ties, with parents living thousands of miles away and an aunt in Newark whom he is trying to break away from. It is a fascinating story, providing yet another glimpse into Jewish identity and alienation, of which Roth is one of fiction's greatest exponents.
The remaining stories are also outstanding; remarkably different from the title story, but each providing something of the present day (well, 1950's when the book was written) struggles with identity experienced by the post-WWII American Jew, ranging from a 13 year old boy undergoing training for his bar mitzvah and questioning issues of faith and tempting fate; to a Jewish military sargeant conflicted about how to fairly treat Jewish members of his military battalion.
One can almost taste the honesty, it is so thick. That is what I love about Roth. He has no agenda other than the accurate descriptions of humanity, which in his experiences happen to be mostly Jewish, in all its failings, idiosyncrasies and conflict.
I eagerly await the next installment in my Roth-provided education.
Goodbye, Columbus.......2004-10-31
Goodbye, Columbus is a coming of age story, a summer romance between a poor boy and a wealthy girl. Many themes that were to show up in much more detail in his later works are presented in embryonic form in this novella, his first major work. Being Jewish in America, sex, class boundaries, the American Way: All Roth subjects, all handled with intelligence and compassion.
Neil is the typical poor Jewish boy enamoured with Brenda, the classy, self-assured, rich girl. He shows a rare spark of confidence when he calls her for a date after first meeting her at a swimming pool, when she accepts and they meet, he finds that he really doesn't know what to do from there. But, they bumble through the beginnings of a relationship, mutually attracted physically, diametrically opposed socially. Neil has a few 'poor' ideas and thoughts that Brenda cannot relate to, while she accepts such luxuries as a maid or 'getting her nose fixed' with such ease and complacency that we - and Neil - are amazed. Over the summer, their relationship develops further, with the typical ups and downs of love colouring the journey.
Neil is the 'I' character of the story, and it is through his point of view that we watch the story unfold. However, even though the story is in first person, there is never much of his personality revealed through contemplative thought or reflection. Instead, we learn who he is from the way he interacts with Brenda and others, and from the way he studies the events in which he is involved. By the end of the novella, we (mostly) understand his motives and ideas, and though, admittedly, it is a little difficult to imagine Neil existing outside the scope of the novel, that actually plays into the theme of the story. Neil is searching for meaning, for a reason to keep on existing, and he considers that in Brenda, he has found it. Whether this is true or not becomes a large focus in the novel, particularly when, later on, she repeatedly reveals to him that she is in fact her own person, with her own ideas, and that sometimes they won't mesh with his.
Brenda, on the other hand, remains a complete mystery to both the reader and Neil. Because we are never allowed to see her thoughts, and because her and Neil have such a different social background, she is someone who we try to understand, but inevitably fail. At times, Neil will say or do something and she will become upset, or tender, or both, and Neil will be so confused that he simply accepts. This can be frustrating for the reader, because Brenda is an appealing character, and it would be nice for him to have the gumption to search deeper within her for meaning and thought, but unfortunately he rarely does. Interestingly, this doesn't come off so much as a failing on Roth's part as an author, but Neil's as a character.
As stated above, the typical themes and ideas that Roth was to develop more fully in his later works are present here. There is the same easy insight into the mundane reality of life, and the same simple joy in, say, eating a piece of fruit or swimming in a pool. Goodbye, Columbus is a story that focuses on one single idea, that being the summer romance between two people that could not have a relationship in any other situation, and it explores it in a remarkably fulfilling way. Admittedly, the very Jewish quality of the writing and ideas may not be as identifiable for a non-Jewish person, but speaking as a man of no faith, I didn't find it to be all that much of a problem. Also, the casual racism towards African-Americans may be off-putting, but again, it didn't upset the flow of the novel.
To conclude, what Roth has done here is to introduce himself as an author, and for a twenty-six year old, it is an impressive introduction. Having read other works of his, I would recommend it as a good starting point. If you like Goodbye, Columbus - and I am quite certain everyone would - then you will love his later works. If not, not. And at only 140 pages, it is worth everyone's time to check out.
Book Description
For the last half century, the novels of Philip Roth have re-energized American fiction and redefined its possibilities. Roth's comic genius, his imaginative daring, his courage in exploring uncomfortable truths, and his assaults on political, cultural, and sexual orthodoxies have made him one of the essential writers of our time. By special arrangement with the author, The Library of America now inaugurates the definitive edition of Roth's collected works. This first volume presents Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories, the book that established Roth's reputation on publication in 1959 and for which he won the National Book Award, and his first novel, Letting Go (1962).
The title novella, Goodbye, Columbus, the story of a summer romance between a poor young man from Newark and a rich Radcliffe co-ed, is both a tightly wrought tale of youthful desire and a satiric gem that takes aim at the comfortable affluence of the postwar boom. Here and in the stories that accompany it, including "The Conversion of the Jews" and "Defender of the Faith," Roth depicts Jewish lives in 1950s America with an unflinching sharpness of observation.
In Letting Go, a sprawling novel set largely against the backdrop of Chicago in the 1950s, Roth portrays the moral dilemmas of young people cast precipitously into adulthood, and in the process describes a skein of social and family responsibilities as they are brought into focus by issues of marriage, abortion, adoption, friendship, and career. The novel's expansiveness provides a wide scope for Roth's gift for vivid characterization, and in his protagonist Gabe Wallach he creates a nuanced portrait of a responsive young academic whose sense of morality draws him into the ordeals of others with unforeseen consequences.
Customer Reviews:
Where greatness began.......2005-12-01
Philip Roth is a giant of American literature, and this select volume by the Library Of America is a perfect addition to everyone who cares about great literature and likes to see where the greatness began and how it grows in the world of literature. Philip Roth's stature is right up there with Twain, Whitman, Hawthorne, Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, and Faulkner. He writes with clarity, and honesty about life, love, death, and has a sense of humor that is sometimes so subtle it is missed. To complain about the size of the print on the binding is as irrelevant as it is mean spirited. Great writers provide substance, how the publisher presents it is of little real consequence. This, and the second volume are a must for all bibliophiles.
SOURING ON THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA.......2005-10-29
The one star is not for Philip Roth, who of course is a major American novelist. The one star is for the book designer. Is Philip Roth such an incomparably great writer that, unlike James and Faulkner and Melville, his name needs to be emblazoned in giant white letters on the spine of the book? For the first time in the LOA series, the author's name does not appear in horizontal white calligraphic script; instead, it appears in giant white letters running vertically the length of the spine. So when you look at your bookshelves loaded with LOA volumes, "ROTH" leaps out at you.
I grow increasingly disenchanted with the LOA. It started promisingly enough, with the Northwestern-Newberry texts of Melville, the Univ. of California/Mark Twain Project texts for Twain, the Polk/Blotner texts for Faulkner, etc. Major writers complete in the most authoritative texts available -- a simple recipe for success.
Now, to fill its overly ambitious, overly prolific publishing schedule, LOA publishes journalism and second- and third-rate authors such as Dashell Hammett, Dawn Powell, and Paul Bowles. Why? Partially, at least, because the copyright on these authors' works is owned by Random House/Vintage, which seems to have a death grip on what LOA publishes. Commercial interest has, inevitably, overridden and diluted the initial vision of a canon of truly great American literature.
Not to mention that the series started with 1400- or 1500-page volumes being the norm. New volumes routinely have half that number of pages. The bean counters are doing math somewhere...
My two cents: publish fewer volumes and concentrate on the indisputably major authors. (Where is Melville's poetry?!) And publish no works by writers whose work has not passed out of copyright and into the public domain. Let time do its work of sifting out the writers who truly matter. Instant canonization is a farce. Unlike France with its comparable Pleiade series, America is a young country -- so of course the series will have fewer volumes. So what? LOA is sacrificing quality for quantity and going for the almighty dollar.
The stories tell us a star is born The novel a disappointment.......2005-09-05
The stories announce Roth to the world. The long title story 'Goodbye Columbus' seems to announce that a successor to F. Scott Fitzgerald has at last appeared in the world of American writing. The freshness, the youth , the energy, the romanticism tempered by irony. 'Goodbye Columbus' is not Gatsby but it signals the coming of a great new star.
In the other stories too Roth appears with a mastery beyond his age, a techical skill and brilliance, a power of irony, a delightful humor.
He also comes with an offensive irrevence and critical view of Jewish American middle - class hypocrisy. But I believe that as Roth himself would later intimate even the fiercest of that criticism ( as it would come late in the true genius work, 'Portnoy') bore in it a tremendous amount of real feeling, identification, love.
Roth too is a superemely American writer concerned with the broader American destiny and meaning. His politics are not to my taste but one feels in his writing a real sense of the touch and taste of American life, an exuberant appreciation.
These are the first writings of what will become a major American writer.
It is interesting that the novel is in my judgment a flat disappointment. And Roth's career does have many flops mixed in with the gems. Perhaps that is the price of experiment or speaking in many voices.
But the opening stories, the 'Goodbye Columbus' collection is a winner.
Customer Reviews:
From Philip Roth Book Review.......2007-04-20
"GOODBYE, COLUMBUS is the first book published by the american writer Philip Roth in the late fifties. Neil Klugman is a young intellectual working in a Public Library near New-York City. He falls in love with Brenda Patimkin who belongs to a rather wealthy family of the Jewish Bourgeoisie. Excellent descriptions of the different social classes composing the american jewish society of 1955, smart dialogs and an humoristic style. Highly recommended."
Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
Average customer rating:
- Awesome
- *NOT THE BOOK FOR ME*
- Limitations of Literature
- Hamre and Sinclair wrote sizzling novellas!
- Passon, sensuality and sizzle!
|
Secrets: The Best in Women's Erotic Romance, Vol. 10
Dominique Sinclair ,
Bonnie Hamre ,
Jeanie Cesarini , and
Kathryn Anne Dubois
Manufacturer: Red Sage Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Adult Fiction | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Secrets: The Best in Women's Erotic Romance, Vol. 11
-
Secrets, Vol. 9
-
Secrets, Vol. 7
-
Secrets, Vol. 13: The Best in Women's Erotic Romance
-
Secrets, Vol. 5
ASIN: 097545160X |
Book Description
Private Eyes Dominique Sinclair
When a mystery man captivates private investigator Nicolla Black during a stakeout, she discovers that her no-seduction rule is bending under the pressure of long denied passion. She agrees to an erotic seduction, but he demands her total surrender.
The Ruination of Lady Jane Bonnie Hamre
To avoid her upcoming marriage to a man more than twice her age, Lady Jane Ponsonby-Maitland flees straight into the arms of Havyn Attercliffe. When she begs him to ruin her rather than turn her over to her odious fiancé, he can't refuse. But when their lust is sated, will the Lady now be willing to wed?
Code Name:Kiss Jeanie Cesarini
Agent Lily Justiss is on an official mission to defend her country against terrorists—-a mission that requires giving up her virginity as a sex slave. But as her master takes possession of her body, only desire for Seth Blackthorn, her commanding officer, fuels her mind. Now all Seth can think about is Lily's safety . . . and making her his own.
The Sacrifice Kathryn Anne Dubois Lady Anastasia Bedovier is three days from taking her vows as a Nun. Before she denies her sensuality forever, she wants to experience pleasure. Count Maxwell, the infamous Lord of Pleasure, who is known for his mastery of dark, sexual secrets, is the perfect man to initiate her into erotic delight. But can they forget the intense passion that still inflames them?
Customer Reviews:
Awesome.......2007-07-08
What I like, is in this series you dont have to read the books in order.
My book store had trouble keeping it in stock, so now I order them via amazon.com.
Again this book did not let me down. Each story is very seductive in its own way. The authors were great.
Hard to put down.
Very erotic.
*NOT THE BOOK FOR ME*.......2006-07-22
I guess this is a series I should stay away from. I was bored, bored, bored.
Limitations of Literature.......2005-04-18
We read Secrets for the same reason men read Penthouse. Both fulfill a purpose; however, we have to accept that neither is great art. We like sex and plenty of kinks, and we got it... sort of.
Private Eyes by Dominique Sinclair
This is workplace sexual harrassment the way we love it. A bit bored, we fantasy about a colleague or client, and in this case, the gloves (and clothes) come off. Pretty tasty, and you can read multiple meanings into that opinion.
The Ruination of Lady Jane Bonnie Hamre
I have a real problem in that the title itself grates on my nerves. This is supposed to be a Victoriana or Regency novel, but the non-word 'Ruination' is a recent gross modernism that has managed to slip its way into a couple of American dictionaries. Indeed, my English classes taught that 'ruination' is an ignorant corruption of 'ruin' with precisely the same meaning. That rant said, the story isn't too bad on other Americanisms and anachronisms and the sex is 5 stars. Hamre's strong suit isn't plot (and obviously not vocabulary), it's good characterizaton and an odd type of morality that is her key combination. If only I didn't have to put up with the bloody title.
Code Name: Kiss by Jeanie Cesarini
Kiss proves we care about plot after all. This is a peculiar story by an obviously talented writer. I don't condemn the setting in this age of terrorism, for it's quite possible that the story might well have been in production and even the publishing pipeline before 9/11. I think what most of us find troubling is the main character's ditzy view of what good spying is. Better she just be a sex slave (hot!) and forget spying (brrr) and we'll all feel safer that way. Sex scenes get 6 stars but plot gets... 1-1/2.
The Sacrifice by Kathryn Anne duBois
I am sure I've read duBois stories before and liked her writing. Certainly, I liked the irreverent (literally) premise of this story, but this Secrets collection gives the impression that the authors are under such pressure to produce that such things as plot, characterization, and accuracy of setting fall by the wayside. Perhaps the writers are busy with other projects, because I catch glimpses of brilliance from the author, but nothing I can satisfactorily get my hands around. I find that I want to encourage the author to make a second attempt at the story, perhaps turning it into a full-length book.
I recall that when I read The Pearl that after a while the stories began to be repetitive, and by the time I trudged into Rice/Rampling's 3rd Beauty book, I was so bored, I couldn't finish it. It must be difficult coming up with new and entertaining erotica with a small stable of authors, and we may be seeing the limits here. Still, as I mentioned in the opening, we buy Secrets as erotic entertainment, not great literature. For the entertainment value, I give it a solid 4 stars.
Hamre and Sinclair wrote sizzling novellas!.......2005-03-10
I loved A Lady's Quest, the sizzling historical romantica in Secrets, Volume One, and had looked forward to reading another story by Bonnie Hamre. I picked up Secrets, Volume Ten, when someone told me that Hamre had written another sultry Regency novella. The Ruination of Lady Jane, though not as good as A Lady's Quest, is a delectable reading experience. Lady Jane Ponsonby-Maitland runs away from her ward because she does not want to marry the man he has chosen for her. So her ward sends his gorgeous, adventurous brother to track down and bring back Lady Jane. However, Havyn Attercliffe had not anticipated seeing the once unattractive girl turned into a beautiful, curvaceous woman. When she begs him to ruin her for her fiancé, Havyn cannot refuse. But he gets more than he had bargained for. I loved the precise way the author grasps that particular time setting. I have read many historical novels with blatant anachronism, and this one is more accurate in all accounts. I also love the tantric sex scenes and the different positions the couple experimented with. The heroine did not go from an innocent virgin to a borderline nympho like in many books. The transition is far more subtle and goes well with Jane's insubordinate nature. The Ruination of Lady Jane is my favorite out of the two novellas I read in this anthology. The other novella I read was...
Private Eyes by Dominique Sinclair. Nicolla Black is a PI who specializes in catching cheating husbands. She hadn't anticipated running into a dark, mysterious and gorgeous stranger during one of her stakeouts. The chemistry between them is immediate. As she continues to run into him, she realized she could not resist his dark charms. And then a game of seduction and surrender ensues -- with an interesting mystery plot that captures you until the final page. Based on this novella, Dominique Sinclair is a great author and I will read her other stuff. The sexual tension between the protagonists is so palpable you can almost cut it with a knife. I love when there is intense sexual tension between the two main characters! Sinclair supplies the tension and a whole lot more. I have not read the stories by Jeanie Cesarini and Kathryn Anne Dubois. I shall edit this review when and if I read their stories in the near future. But I do recommend this anthology based on the two novellas I read. I don't know about the other two authors, but the stories by Hamre and Sinclair are worth giving this volume a whirl.
Passon, sensuality and sizzle!.......2004-09-22
I loved one of the stories in this collection, liked one, disliked one and was left cold by the fourth, but all four authors display a mastery of the genre. Their stories are well-written, fully fleshed, and fit their individual genres.
The Ruination of Lady Jane by Hamre is my favorite. I loved the relationship between the characters, both past and present, the wordplay, the love play, but mostly I loved the delightful combination of the traditional Regency comedy of manners with sizzling yet tender erotic scenes and a wonderfully romantic, satisfying conclusion. True romantica, a definite keeper. 5 stars and more if there were any!
Next, I liked Sinclair's Private Eyes for the undercurrents between the characters, the mystery and the passionate scenes. 4 stars here.
I had ambivalent reactions to The Sacrifice by Dubois. First I was intrigued, then appalled, and finally somewhat satisfied by the ending. 3 stars.
Unfortunately, the choice of subject matter and characterizations in Cesarini's Code Name: Kiss struck me as very difficult to portray with a positive note. I'm sure that the author intended to do so, but world events precluded that. Nonetheless, Cesarini has a gift for words and sensual writing that should have made this an excellent offering. 2 stars for this one.
Yet 5 stars overall to the 10th volume from Red Sage. Looking forward to more!
Average customer rating:
- A bit boring
- Wonderful Conclusion
- Not Free SF Reader
- The secret you've been waiting four books to know: It turns out it's all magic!
- Much more than science fiction
|
Rise of Endymion
Dan Simmons
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Space Opera
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Simmons, Dan
| ( S )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Simmons, Dan
| ( S )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
( S )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Endymion
-
The Fall of Hyperion
-
Hyperion
-
Ilium
-
Olympos
ASIN: 0553572989 |
Amazon.com
This conclusion of the Hyperion saga (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, and Endymion) finds Raul Endymion, Aenea, and M. Bettik still on the run from agents of both the Pax and the TechnoCore. But Aenea is reaching maturity, clearly growing into the messiah who will one day bring down the church and stop "the resurrection." One answer lies in Aenea's blood, which she shares with her followers through a ritual of communion; the blood allows anyone to travel through the Void Which Binds, but it cannot coexist with the cruciform that brings immortality. And although Aenea's gift makes her both a power and a danger, she is also a young woman, vulnerable to the forces allied against her.
Book Description
The magnificent conclusion to one of the greatest science fiction sagas of our time
The time of reckoning has arrived. As a final genocidal Crusade threatens to enslave humanity forever, a new messiah has come of age. She is Aenea and she has undergone a strange apprenticeship to those known as the Others. Now her protector, Raul Endymion, one-time shepherd and convicted murderer, must help her deliver her startling message to her growing army of disciples.
But first they must embark on a final spectacular mission to discover the underlying meaning of the universe itself. They have been followed on their journey by the mysterious Shrike--monster, angel, killing machine--who is about to reveal the long-held secret of its origin and purpose. And on the planet of Hyperion, where the story first began, the final revelation will be delivered--an apocalyptic message that unlocks the secrets of existence and the fate of humankind in the galaxy.
Customer Reviews:
A bit boring.......2007-09-10
I will try to be laconic, a quality the author apparently lacks. Overall I like the story and the characters, however the story at times gets a little boring. There are pastoral descriptions that run over several pages that I had to skip, otherwise I would have fallen asleep. The science part is rather enjoyable and innovative, the part about the genetic algorithms and their hyper-parasitic nature is rather clever without getting into too many computer science details as to the nature of the algorithm, my only comment at this point is the author's obsession with lengthy forays into minutia of events which ultimately have no relevance to the plot.
Wonderful Conclusion.......2007-09-08
The Rise of Endymion is a wonderful and fitting conclusion to one of the most interesting, broad ranging series in Science Fiction...or just fiction, for that matter...since Asimov's Foundation series. It's inevitable that Simmons won't satisfy everyone; with so many currents running through the previous books many readers are bound to find something to quibble about, whether it's a perceived anti-Christian/Catholic storyline, or the 'quantum love' idea, or planets that routinely have only one ecosystem, or perhaps a feeling that the Shrike wasn't explained well enough given his importance, or any of a number of issues; and they might well be right--but all that would pale into insignificance when regarding the scope of Simmons' accomplishment. What a series this was, with ideas flying fast and furious; and to me, The Rise of Endymion was a most satisfying conclusion. Other reviewers have written about 'tying up loose ends', but that trivial phrase does no justice to the mastery of Simmons' plotting. Yes, what is revealed here conflicts with what we were told in previous books; that the source of the earlier 'information' provided disinformation should come as no shock. Indeed, for me the revelations in this book were almost entirely uniformly satisfying, especially the reason that so much of previous books were spent traipsing around the galaxy in what seemed to me at the time a really unnecessary and awkward plot device designed primarily to show off Simmons' talents at world-building. I was ahead of Simmons on a few crucial plot points, wondering why a particular character couldn't figure out a particular series of events, and I suspect that most thoughtful readers will be, also; but I was behind him on many more and those revelations were so well done that I was in awe of how Simmons so clearly laid the trail as far back as the first book. These were not storylines Simmons hadn't had the time or interest to clear up that "loose ends' implies; they were carefully laid traps, red herrings, tangled stories twisted between present, past, and future for our entertainment. I'd love to see Simmons' notes for the series, those would make fascinating viewing.
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Aenea, along with her protector Raoul Endymion, must try and avoid the fate of almost all messiahs to stop the Catholic Church's genocidal military operation to wipe out all resitance to its plans, and really, the plans of the TechnoCore.
With the help of the Others, a rebel faction of the Core, and a visit to Old Earth, Aenea has to come to understand the nature of the universe, to enable humanity with the power to escape AI domination, and have the ability to face the Church's Pax fleet.
The secret you've been waiting four books to know: It turns out it's all magic!.......2007-08-19
If you are a long time reader of science fiction, you are probably used to a certain amount of disappointment in the later parts of any series. Whether it's the Ewoks in "Return of the Jedi" or the ever less relevant backstory provided by the successive Pern books of Anne McCaffery, every fan has their favorite example of a good concept taken to destruction by a writer with no respect for their own previous work. My own pet peeve up to this point had been the "Ender" series by Orson Scott Card, where a compelling character had been destroyed by the author's attempt to combine science and mysticism into a new "rational" religion. Unfortunately, in this last book of the "Hyperion" series Dan Simmons makes exactly the same mistake, and even uses almost exactly the same concept to do it.
What I mean by this is that it turns out that the mysterious power that has been at the edges of every piece of drama for the last two books is a mystical conglomeration of the souls of all the other species in the universe, a conglomeration which is both intrinsically good and, of course, scientifically based. As these sorts of plots are wont to do, this science is also used to "explain" the great philosophies and religions of our past, including Jesus and Buddha.
What is especially annoying about this is that it completely abandons the conflict that drove the first two books and seemed, until nearly the end, to be driving the conflict in the second two as well: There is no mention of a future war between machine and man, between machine ultimate intelligences and super evolved humans. There is in fact so little connection to the events of the first two books that the last two books should, in my opinion, have been written as completely separate entities.
But even more basic, the premise itself rankles. Asserting that wonderful things are possible is what books of the future excel at. Asserting that these wonderful things are possible because we have figured out the science of godhood is just lazy. Because no matter what scientific wrapper you put around it, a god can do anything, and an omnipotent actor is inherently boring. An omnipotent actor IS a deus ex machina who comes not only at the end of the plot, but casts her shadow over the entire previous story with the question "well if you're so powerful, why didn't you just DO something"?
As disappointing as this was, I was still compelled to give the book an extra star for the beautiful language and imagery. Dan Simmons is one of those authors who has built up a lot of credit with me, and I'll still pick up a few more of his books before giving up hope.
Much more than science fiction.......2007-07-25
This book may disappoint the science fiction fans who read the first three books. It slows down, moving away from the intertwined story arcs and space ships of the Hyperion series.
Instead, Dan Simmons offers a vision of hope for our mucked up, violent and tribal world. While pulling together the story lines he left behind, he offers up a vision of love, interconnectedness and acceptance that just might work to help our besotted race survive and advance.
This is fiction at its best: engaging, imaginative, and most of all - inspiring.
Book Description
With the current turmoil in the Middle East, there is a growing interest about Islam—the world’s second largest religion and one of the fastest growing—and its holy book, the Koran (or Qur’an). Now, with this easy-to-follow, plain-English guide, you can explore the history, structure, and basic tenets of Islam’s sacred scripture.
The Koran For Dummies is for non-Muslims interested in the Koran as well as Muslims looking to deepen their understanding. Islamic scholar Sohaib Sultan provides a clear road map, revealing:
- The meaning of Koran and its basic message
- The Koran’s place in history and in Islamic spiritual life
- Explanations of its language, structure, and narrative style
- How to live by the Koran’s teachings
- The Koran’s role in key global issues, such as Jihad vs. terrorism
- Different interpretations of the Koran
No other book provides such a straightforward look at what the Koran says, how it says it, and how believers live according to its guidance. From how the Koran was received by Mohammed and how it was compiled to how it’s interpreted by Islam’s two main branches, you’ll see how to put the Islamic faith in perspective.
Plus, you’ll discover:
- What the Koran really says about women and civil law
- How Islam relates to Judaism and Christianity
- The Koran’s view of God, prophets, mankind, and the self
- How its teachings are lived and recited every day by devout Muslims
- Common misconceptions of the Koran
- How to raise a family the Koranic way
Complete with lists of important passages, Koranic terminology, famous quotes, and further reading resources, The Koran For Dummies makes it easy and enjoyable for you to grasp the teachings and significance of Islam's holy book.
Customer Reviews:
The Koran for Dummies.......2007-07-03
I did not find this book to be at all useful or helpful. I found it impossible to cross reference from the book to the Koran. None of my questions were ever answered.
Koran for real dummies who can't think.......2006-09-30
For the first time since buying a book on-line I was tempted to wrap it up and send it back, this book was that terrible. It went out of its way to avoid any negativity or criticism about the Koran or about Moslems, whether mainstream or fanatical. This is a very sanitized version of this holy book, and unobjective to the extreme. I was searching for true meanings of the Koran elements but reading this version was a complete waste of time.
Good but missing a few points.......2006-05-24
This is a very good book but I believe it is missing a few points to understand the Quran clearly. When a person having no background in Arabic reads the translation of Quran he finds the writing to be boring and dull. He also fails to see consistency in text, one time the text says one thing and then it abruptly changes to something else.
Considering the first part of the question why a user finds Quran to be boring and dull, the basic reason is that the style of Quran is spoken (more precisely extempore speech) not written. It actually talks to the reader. If care is not taken while converting this vocal style to written then the whole text loses its charm.
The listener will even better understand the speech given at a particular time if he has some idea of the circumstances under which it was delivered. But if that same speech is broken down into small chunks and then translated into another language it will loose all of its beauty and charm. The same is with Quran. The translation must have to be so good that it should preserve its extempore style, otherwise the reader will find it dull and boring.
As per my knowledge there is only one translation in Urdu by Maulana Moududi that addresses this issue. There seems to be no translation available English that compares with it.
So in essence till such time a better translation ( I don't mean word by word or verse by verse) is available in English, to get to the sprit of Quran one must have a basic understanding of Arabic language. On internet there are several courses available that claim to teach Arabic within a very short span of time.
Now coming to the second part of the question when one reads Quran he fails to find consistency in the text as the topics change rapidly. It is basically due to the fact that Quran is not like any other book. If a user knows these three questions: What is its topic? What is its main subject? And what is its aim and purpose? He can find the consistency in thought and theme.
The topic of this book is us, the humans. It explains the purpose behind our creation and it also explains in detail the gauge of our success and failure.
Its main subject revolves around correcting the misconceptions humans have about this life and hereafter.
Its aim is to call upon everyone to the righteous/lawful way of their Lord which mankind has obliterated/lost.
Whosoever reads Quran keeping in view the abovementioned points will clearly see that its all seemingly different subjects revolve and refer to the main topic in a very consistent and coherent way. You may envisage it as all kinds of pearls, diamonds, rubies and emeralds enhancing the beauty of a necklace.
To be considered very carefully........2006-03-14
This books gives an insight into the Qu'ran and the Islamic religion. It is broken into sections that explain various aspects of life using the spritual and life practice guidance of the Koran. The author repeatly explains that the laws and language of the Koran is misinterpreted yet one cannot help but feel he is rationalizing. Still, I believe we get a good sense of Islamic law and the Koran, and frankly, some of the core concepts make much sense as the true words brought forth by Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. I have bought a translation of the Qu'ran and following the reading of Dummies, will begin to tackle it. I would suggest to readers to find other sources to compare and contrast opinions; The complexities of the Islamic tradition need to be examined through the eyes of more than one source.
My thoughts on the koran.......2006-02-08
I agree with the reviewer below...the koran is a dud of a book. I can't believe people are willing to kill, rape, and destroy over this turgid tome. It has NO STRUCTURE! The suras are all jumbled together with no cronological sequence or order at all. There is no consistancy in thought or theme - one minute the text says one thing then it switches to another subject that has no relation to the previous statement. From what I have read of Islamic history...mohommed (though he claimed to be a prophet) did not or could not even predict his death (unlike the prophets of the Bible and the teachings of the divine Buddha) so the koran was not even in a organized state when he died. So if this book was supposed to be handed down from heaven perfect to mohommed...why did it take so many years after he died to fix the koran in the state we find it today.
Average customer rating:
|
Koran Fur Dummies
Sohaib Sultan
Manufacturer: Wiley-VCH
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
German
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Nonfiction
| German
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Religion & Spirituality
| German
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
All German Books
| German
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 3527702164 |
Books:
- Holy Skirts: A Novel of a Flamboyant Woman Who Risked All for Art (P.S.)
- Horseplay: A Novel
- In Gallant Company (Richard Bolitho Novels, No. 3) (The Bolitho Novels)
- Iron Sunrise (Ace Science Fiction)
- Jackdaws
- Jigsaw: An Unsentimental Education
- Keepsake Crimes (Scrapbooking Mystery Books)
- Kiss the Night Good-bye
- Kristin Lavransdatter I: The Wreath (Penguin Classics)
- L'Enfant Noir
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- I Spy A Penguin
- An Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Children and Infants
- The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony
- The Many Blessings Cookbook: A Celebration of Harvest, Home, and Country Cooking
- The Shunning/The Confession/The Reckoning
- An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits
- Where Did I Come From
- Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Exploiting College Athletes
- The History of Black Business : The Coming of America's Largest African-American-Owned Businesses
- Export Sales & Marketing Manual 2007: 2007
