Customer Reviews:
bought this at a vintage bookstore on recommendation of store owner.......2006-02-05
Very wonderful writing and not that I know anything about the reality but it does seem realistic.
A Master of Characterization.......2005-02-06
"Ashenden" by Somerset Maugham is one of the grandfathers of the spy fiction genre. In reality, it's not really a novel, but eight short stories featuring Ashenden, a novelist-secret agent during WWI. Each story is unique, some focusing on the violence and duplicity of the secret world (e.g., "The Hairless Mexican," "Guilia Lazzari," and "The Traitor"). Others are less about espionage than quiet character studies (for example, the final story, "The Sanatorium," has nothing whatever to do with spying, but is set in a tuberculosis sanatorium and--though a it's a bit sentimental--is a brilliant character study of the patients and, in particular, of those who find love in the midst of adversity). I found it deeply touching.
I must admit this the first I've read of Maugham and was impressed with his ability in a single paragraph to get to the very essence of a character (perhaps the best example being his vivid characterization of the funny, but tragic Mr. Harrington in "Mr. Harrington's Washing"). Each of Maugham's characters are distinct and finely drawn.
Maugham at one time analyzed himself as in the first rank of the second rate writers. He may not be Dostoevsky or Cervantes, but he was a fine writer who deserves to be read-I think it's more accurate to say he's in the second row of the first rate writers.
I only found out about "Ashenden" from one of the terrific essays of Michael Dirda (the reviewer for the Washington Post) in which he constantly brings to light lost classics.
"Ashenden" is readable, convincing, and (despite its WWI setting) relevant to the events of today. The secret and desperate world of war and espionage will be with us forever it seems; Maugham's themes are timeless and his writing is a model of clarity.
This is a lost classic that should be read.
ATMOSPHERIC.......2003-07-28
Ashenden was particularly admired by Raymond Chandler, and that is what first interested me in it. It is the story, based on Maugham's own experience, of a British spy in the first world war. The 'story' is more a series of separate episodes, and I can easily imagine why it appealed to Chandler -- as well as the laconic detachment of the writing, there is almost a feel of Hammett here and there, notably the episode of the Hairless Mexican. Much of the action centres round Geneva, a city I personally like, and there is a peculiar fascination in the voyage of the lake-steamer going in and out of the war-zone as it alternates between Switzerland and France. This kind of spy did not have much in common with the heroes of Len Deighton or John Le Carre -- the job reminds me more of how J K Galbraith described the life of an ambassador, ninety percent boredom and ten percent panic, like being an airline pilot. It has its grim side too as you would expect. One of the most memorable pieces is the story of the traitor Grantley Caypor. Some years ago Ashenden was serialised on the BBC, with Caypor superbly played by Alan Bennett. What that production did not even try to reproduce was what happened at the moment of Caypor's execution, unforgettable in Maugham's cold prose.
The Father of Modern Spies.......2000-06-13
Worth a read for historical reasons as it is one of (if not the) first modern spy novels. That said, it is very far away from the intricately woven page-turners featuring brainy CIA types bedding winsome females that we tend to think of as being sp novels today. Maugham served in the British intelligence corps in WWI and drew heavily upon his own experiences in writing this book, indeed the epynonymous hero is a well-known writer by profession. Each chapter is almost its own vignette, illustrating some experience or aspect of the intelligent agent's life. The theme is that the agent's life is marked by dullness and inability to know the "big picture." Ashenden is based in Switzerland and undertakes his assignments (none of which involve gunplay or physical prowess) dutifully, yet the reader feels, with a certain ambivalence. There is one especially haunting scene where, for once, Ashenden witnesses firsthand, the repercussions of his actions.
The Precursor to Greene, Ian Flemming, Eric Ambler,LeCarre`.......1999-04-19
Considered by many afficionados of the Spy Novel genre` as the first of it's kind. Written in 1928, the book is a series of stories loosly connected to reveal the sometimes tedious, sometimes adventureous events in the work of a spy in MI5 during the latter stages of World War I. Maugham is given credit by Graham Greene and Eric Ambler as being their inspiration and Ian Flemming borrowed much from the book, including M who was "R" in Maugham's book. Maugham was given the impossible task to squelch the Bolshivic revolution with 56,000 pounds given to him by the government of Lloyd George and he fictionalizes this in the story "Mr. Harrington's Washington." The story "The Hairless Mexican" inspired Hitchcock to write and direct the movie "The Secret Agent" with John Guilgud and Peter Lorrie. This book to my thinking is one of the hidden classics in literature, written by a writer highly underrated because of his popularity and some of his later works that he did purely for money. A must for lovers of the Edwardian period and those who ever wondered where the Burbury Trench Coat came from.
Product Description
Based on W. Somerset Maugham's experiences as a Britist secret agent in WWI, these spellbinding interwoven tales are so grippig and realistic that they became required reading for recruits entering British intelligence.
Customer Reviews:
A DATED, PROTRACTED, SOMETIMES RAGGED READ........2007-05-13
I've always enjoyed W. Somerset Maugham's writings, especially his smooth and elegant style. Picked up a copy of this book reprint from Reader's Digest the other day at our local Goodwill store.
Have been reading and enjoying it; however, I fail to see the importance of this book as do many other readers and critics. Firstly since this book concerns itself with a period during WWI into the 1920s, being first published in 1927, the material is very dated, not the writing style itself for it reads very well; but the subject matter is somewhat quaint. Further, the 'stories' are sometimes difficult to link in transition with seemingly a few having nothing of their own to add to the overall story. And, finally, though I served in the military in some small degree in security and intelligence, can find nothing in this book that would warrant requiring new agents to read this book. In addition, since it is freely acknowledged that 'Ashenden' is a novice in spying, being a full time writer, what could a neophyte possibly teach other neophytes entering the field of intelligence. Ashenden frequently admits he knows little to nothing of the work he is called upon to do.
It is a very interesting read from a bygone era, however, I feel many readers and critics are lavishing far too much praise on this book. And I suspect that since the author never wrote another mystery/spy book he too had some reservations of it.
Semper Fi.
Customer Reviews:
A literary James Bond........1996-10-09
An amazing fictional account of Maugham's real life adventures as a spy for Great Britain during WW I. Written in Maughm's usual concise and elogant prose, these stories make the reader root for Ashenden who is nothing short of a literary James Bond. This account, written as a collection of short independent stories, shows that, when in the hands of an author with a command of the English language, suspense and intrigue can be create in a book in other ways besides stringing together one action scene after another. Simply Maugham at his best
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Ashenden or The British Agent
Manufacturer: Shakespeare House, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BNLVUO |
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- Good, but not Extraordinary
- His Wicked Promise
- Masturbating hero grossed me out...
- Not my favorite Samantha James
- A Fickle Heroine; A Fabulous Hero
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His Wicked Promise
Samantha James
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0380805871 |
Book Description
He would take her as his bride...but could she give her heart in return?
When Egan MacBain takes beautiful Glenda MacKay as his bride, it appears that he's done so for the noblest of reasons. In truth, he has vowed at last to claim the woman he's always loved--yet once lost--to another man. But the rugged Highlander is determined to keep his passion hidden while he woos her with his gentle caress and wicked kisses. For he will not have an unwilling wife and will only show his tenderness once she is tamed.
Although Glenda has agreed to the marriage, she's only done so to gain the protection of Egan's name. Yet this young widow of the once-powerful clan MacKay never expected that vows of love would leave her lips again, nor did she believe she'd ever hold any man so dear. But suddenly she finds herself succumbing to the strong, silent warrior who fills her with trepidations and a fevered, forbidden yearning to fulfill his wicked promise of the love--and the child--she aches for in the depths of the soul.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but not Extraordinary.......2007-05-26
Egan MacBain, Cameron's best friend from His Wicked Ways and Glenda, Cameron's brother Niall's widow get their own story in His Wicked Promise. When Glenda finds out her father and uncle have died leaving her home in the Lowlands unguided she vows to return as its Mistress. Glenda loves her inlaws but the pain of losing her husband and babe within days of each other still haunt her even though its been three years. Seeing her niece and nephew every day makes her ache even more. Cameron asks his best friend Egan to see Glenda safely home. Egan has always loved Glenda from afar, even when she was brought home as Niall's bride. His shame for his feelings keep him from seeking her out but on their trip to the Lowlands he comes to find out that Glenda also desires him even though she still loves and mourns for her late husband. When learning her ancesteral keep is in debt and disrepair, her overlord suggests she marry or he will find a husband for her. Englishman Simon, Glenda's next door neighbor tries to get her to marry him but Egan steps in and marries her to give her a way out. The village people believe Simon is the one who leads the masked men marauding her people and destroying crops because he is plotting to get her land through marriage. Glenda cannot let go of her feelings that she is being disloyal to Niall to be a proper wife to Egan and they bicker constantly. Soon their passion overtakes them and they consummate their marriage but Glenda's fear of losing another husband and baby keeps her from allowing love in.
I may have let too much of the plot out in my review but it seems like such a repeated theme I feel like I could tell it word for word. So many medievil romances have a helpless woman marry against their wishes to protect her assets and there always seem to be another wicked man who tries to destroy them to get everything. I found the prequel original and fresh but this story just seems so ordinary. Not bad, just not unique.
His Wicked Promise.......2006-05-04
Samantha James is a wonderful romance writer. This is just another of her timeless historical romances.
Masturbating hero grossed me out..........2006-03-10
I came into this book after being thoroughly disgusted by another of this author's books, 'The Truest Heart'. I didn't want to waste my time, so instead I skimmed to see if the author would do anything offensive.
And she did. After having his sexual advances repeatedly rebuffed by the heroine, he gets so frustrated that he masturbates in front of her. EWWWWWW!
I will never read another of this authors' books. She seems to find sick things (like sexual assault and men playing with themselves) romantic, and I don't!
Not my favorite Samantha James.......2005-10-15
Not my favorite Samantha James but in saying that I still enjoyed it for the most part. I loved His Wicked Ways. I so looking forward to reading about Glenda's love story.
What I liked about His Wicked Promise is
The plot was interesting and it kept you interested in what was going to happen next. It was written with an amazing level of intensity and feeling that my heart was pumping furiously with both the palatable passion and the keen sense of danger infused in the story. There are interesting plot twists and we get to know several secondary characters well. The secondary characters are not boring. The chemistry between Glenda and Egan was very sensual. The action/suspense was fast-paced and thrilling. The setting was beautiful and exotic. The sex was HOT and perfect for the story.
The parts that bother me about His Wicked Promise are
1 Egan was a jerk and forced himself on Glenda in times of anger. He did this more than once. I hate in books when the 'hero' does that.
2 Egan didn't try to be understanding to Glenda about her feelings of her dead husband and lose of her child. Glenda felt dirty and ashamed of having feelings for Egan. Egan could have romanced her and made her feel comfortable but instead he got angry.
3 There were scenes in this book that simply did not flow or make much scents.
4 Glenda wasn't as strong as she should have been to make this book work.
A Fickle Heroine; A Fabulous Hero.......2005-07-06
His Wicked Promise is a well-written romance with very well-developed characters. It's a tale about Glenda, who has lost both the husband she loved and their son three years prior (on the same day). We meet her as she is deciding to leave her husband's home and return to her family's estate because no one is left to care for it. Unbeknownst to her, the trusted warrior, Egan has harbored an unrequited and secret love for Glenda for years. So, when Glenda returns home, Egan is chosen to see her safely to her destination. During their journey the tension and attraction between Glenda and Egan grows until both are aware there is more between them than friendship.
Upon arriving at Glenda' home, Blackstone Tower, the reader painfully witnesses Glenda's transformation. Glenda refuses to let go of her past and harbors guilt about feeling any hope or happiness for her future. Therefore, when she is forced to marry to keep her lands, the reader has to endure her endless rejection and illtreatment of the one man that has loved her selflessly for years. At this point, Glenda becomes unlikeable as she rudely, and heartlessly handles Egan, repeatedly comparing him to her dead husband. Glenda's confusion and self-imposed guilt causes her to waver back and forth between wanting to love Egan and resenting him. This continues throughout at least two-thirds of the book and becomes extremely frustrating to the reader. However, throughout it all, we see Glenda transform. In the end, I'm not sure if it was worth what she put her husband through.
It is truly Egan that makes this read enjoyable. He is the bright light of this book and is the reason I rated it four stars. Regardless of Glenda's treatment of him, he continues to lead and protect the people (trying to capture the enemy that is ravaging their lands) of Blackstone Tower, while hoping his wife will one day love him. It's this balance of Egan's strength and compassion that will endure him to readers. Although, he is patient with Glenda, he has no qualms rebuking her for her treatment of him.
Average customer rating:
- Kat Martin really is one of the best!
- Dragged
- Fabulous!
- It Did Have Some Wickedly Good Love Scenes...
- Unusual
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Wicked Promise
Kat Martin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0312998902 |
Book Description
A Lady's Desperate ChoiceWhen the loathsome Lord Bascomb tries to force her into marriage, Elizabeth Woolcot, against her will, must applea to her influential guardian. Nicholas Warring, known as the Wicked Early, is a darkly handsom charasmatic figure--with the power to save her but a past that could put her reputation dangerously at risk. A ruthless womanizer, he has also been convicted of murder--and barely escaped hanging.A rogue's tainted honorElizabth can't help her attraction to the man who haunts her dreams--nor he his hunger for her. But she knows it can never be. For Nicholas is a married man. Then a heinous crime shatters their lives--and Nick is the natural suspect. Elizabeth wants to believe in his innocence more than life and love itself--but can she trust a man who has killed before?
Customer Reviews:
Kat Martin really is one of the best!.......2007-02-18
Recently I have been reading some of Kat's older books and I am more than just a little impressed. She has written some very intense historical romances. This, Wicked Promise might be one of her best. I love heroes, like Nicholas that are thought to be so wicked and really are just the most loving of men. Nicholas was unjustly accused and sentenced to a murder that he really did not commit. After 9 long years of excile he returns and since everyone expects him to be evil he appears that way. But all of a sudden he is given Elizabeth Woolcott and his ward, and immediately their is an attraction. The chemistry between this couple is amazing - from the first. I do not know why some couples just leap off the page with chemistry but this couple did. To complicate the story even more, than just Nicholas's history of a murder conviction he is also married, but estranged from his wife. He has to take in Elizabeth because the brother of the man he was accused of killing is determined to make Elizabeth his wife. This is an intense, complicated plot but it moves along at a great pace, and I would say it is difficult to put the book down until you finish the wonderful story. Many times you wonder how it can possibly work out. And the steadfast love that Elizabeth has for Nicholas is just so refreshing. Unlike other females that might give up, or allow themselves to be lead away from their man, she continues to love him with every fiber of her being. Wow, great love story!! And Nicholas proves to all that he was always the good and decent man that Elizabeth believed him to be!
Dragged.......2006-07-08
This really started to drag for me around the 5th time Lord Bascomb's men tried to abduct Elizabeth. I almost wanted them to succeed. The fact that Nicholas was married made the story a little bit more interesting. I actually really liked both hero and heroine but the story felt forced around the half way mark. I think writers feel that they have to write a book that is 350 pages or more for it to be interesting when just the opposite is true. I did like the characters of Maggie and Rand but felt that Maggie's love interest wasn't developed enough. If the author needed to fill some pages maybe they could have been used up on Maggie and Andrew.
Fabulous! .......2006-04-28
I love Kat Martin and this book was no disappointment. Wonderful heroine, amazing hero, and sizzle...what more could you ask for?!
Five stars!
It Did Have Some Wickedly Good Love Scenes..........2006-02-20
I have read two other novels by Kat Martin in the past year - "Innocence Undone" (fair) and "The Devil's Necklace" (so-so at best). I found them only to be average and thought about giving up on this author but, I had already bought other books at the same time so...I read them too. "Wicked Promise" ended up being a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed this book from beginning, middle and end. It had a moving plot line, interesting and appealing characters and was full of emotion - things I felt were missing sometimes in the earlier books I read by this author.
I really liked the main characters in this story - Elizabeth and Nick. They had appealing traits that made them believable and likeable. I especially liked that Elizabeth allowed her emotions to come out and she gave to those she cared for with her whole heart and soul. She did not hold back and that allowed her to blossom as a woman. I thought she took a huge chance being with Nicholas as his lover when she knew he was married and his estranged wife had no intention of divorcing him. What she did was against all the rules and what she had learned growing up but, without Nick she didn't feel complete. So...it would have to be married man and mistress for them to be together. I would have preferred Elizabeth not take this position if she could help it but, clearly her love and devotion to Nick made her accept the best she could get at the time. It was a mistress or nothing. She did stand up for herself and she never regretted giving herself out of joy and love. She was a soft yet strong spirited woman beyond her time. She fought for what she believed in and who she believed it and that made her an appealing heroine.
Nick had his naughty ways and clouded past but, even with so many mistakes in his past, he was clearly a kind and loving man. The few friends and employees who stayed with him over the years saw the kind of man he was and they gave him their complete devotion and trust regardless of what society thought. I didn't care for Nick's drinking and gaming and womanizing in the beginning but, it was understood he was trying to blot out a very difficult and ugly past - the murder, the imprisonment, the loss of friends and the loss of his less than loyal first wife. Plus...you could tell his heart was never in being truly bad and as Elizabeth came into his life and showed him other ways...he developed into the man he was always meant to be. He was even willing to endure society looking down on him further if he got a divorce and giving up a family treasure - the Ravenworth rubies to gain his freedom so, he could be with the woman he adored above all else. He was a magnificent man in the making. It was a pleasure to watch his development.
There was a lot going on in this story - Elizabeth coming to stay with him and be his ward, Elizabeth and Nick's growing fascination and attraction for one another, Nick's need to marry her off to please his family and friends and do what was right, Nick trying to clear his bad past and get a divorce from his first wife and then...dealing with the murder of his first wife. Busy, busy, busy but, still all interesting. There was also lots of side characters. But...everyone seemed to have a role to play and it was not so deep and complex that you couldn't follow the changing scenes and roles everyone played. Obviously, friends like Rand were important, sister Maggie and her future beau Andrew, friend and solicitor Sydney, and f course the evil villain Bascomb who was out to bed and harm Elizabeth. There's plenty going on in this story to appeal to all readers.
The love scenes were tastefully written and powerful. You could feel the blossoming attraction between Nick and Elizabeth from the first. I liked that the author gave time for their interest to grow and the attraction to become intense and powerful. That always make the eventual getting together that much more appealing and satisfying. Their passion and joy in being together was apparent from the first coupling until the end of the book. I especially liked that the friendship they had grew along with their desire and eventual love for one another. They didn't stay the same people in the beginning, middle and end. Instead, their emotions and feelings grew leaps and bounds as the story progressed and the ending was highly fulfilling. Elizabeth loved with her whole heart and soul from the start. Nick learned the power of love the hard way - first as attraction, then as deep desire and then...he finally caved in to the greatest gift of all - true love. A partner for all time.
Of course, like all love stories, it would be easy to get carried away with nit-picking parts of the book that either weren't developed well (such as Nick's marriage to his first wife, Nick's leaving after murder, being in prison, getting set free and coming back to society again and how the world dealt with this) or parts that were a bit far fetched (such as Elizabeth being ok with adultery because Nick's wife left him when she should have stayed by his side - Elizabeth justifies their love and sex by saying it's ok because God would support him loving a woman who was good for him) or action scenes that were simply silly (Elizabeth, her aunt and Nick's valet helping to spring him out of prison in that crazy outfit that any reasonable guard would have figured out in a blink of an eye but, not this guard!). Suffice to say, these are really little things in an already busy book. Something has gotta give so, books don't go into the 400-500 page mark. I guess either an author needs to scale back the tale or leave some things for the reader to figure out.
I think fans of Kat Martin will enjoy this book even more than her usual writings. Those who have tried her like me and found other books only so-so should visit this one for sure. It was very appealing and likable and will go on one of my favorites list. This author really drew me into the powerful feelings of these characters and the relationship and developments felt real and never contrived. Very appealing. Pick this one up and enjoy it. I certainly did.
Unusual.......2005-05-29
The fact that the hero is married (though estranged) makes this romance a little different; it's an impossible love, and Nicholas realizes that att he same time that he can't stay away from Elizabeth. His self sacrifices near the end are wonderfully emotional and compelling. She's a little naive, but very likeable. She certainly has a warm, gentle heart. The murder mystery is very well done. It's not the best Kat Martin that I've read, but it's one of the more enjoyable books I've read lately. The adultery is tough to swallow, but if you can do that, the rest is a pleasure. I definitely need to go back and read Rand's story.
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His Wicked Promise
Manufacturer: Avon Books/HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739412442 |
Average customer rating:
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Wicked Promise
Kat Martin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTMFTQ |
Average customer rating:
- At least the Jedi Academy Trilogy had a good story
- not really worth the effort
- Better than Expected
- My First Star Wars Novel
- Well worth the price of admission
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Darksaber (Star Wars)
Kevin Anderson
Manufacturer: Spectra
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ASIN: 0553576119
Release Date: 1996-10-01 |
Amazon.com
You know what they say: build a better a Death Star and the Hutts will beat a path to your door. Poor Bevel Lemelisk, the inventor of the Empire's signature moon-size battle station, has done just that, and now he's in the service of Durga the Hutt (only a marginal improvement over working for Emperor Palpatine, who was in the habit of gruesomely executing Lemelisk, only to recombobulate him into a newly cloned body).
It's eight years after the battle of Endor, and the Hutts are hoping to make a galactic power play using Lemelisk's latest project, a sort of cylindrical Death Star superlaser-on-steroids, dubbed Darksaber. But the newly empowered Rebels and the recovering Empire aren't sitting idle. As the book opens, Han and Luke are sneaking their way across Tatooine's Dune Sea, dressed in Tusken drag. Luke's looking to commune with Obi-Wan to learn how to save his Jedi squeeze, Callista, recently rescued from the innards of the ship computer on Palpatine's super-duper Star Destroyer. Meanwhile, the ranks of the Imperial Fleet swell under the charismatic Admiral Daala. Will Luke help Callista touch the Force again? Where will Daala's fleet strike a blow against the New Republic? Will Lemelisk's new invention hold together long enough to save his own hide? The skilled Kevin J. Anderson sure makes it fun to find out. --Paul Hughes
Book Description
Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, cloaked by the Force and riding with the hostile Sand People, have returned to the dunes of the desert planet Tatooine in hopes of finding what Luke so desperately seeks: contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke is hoping the old Jedi Knight's spirit will tell him how to help his love, Callista, regain her lost ability to use the Force. Tormented and haunted, Luke cannot rest until Callista is a Jedi in the fullest sense, for only then will the link between their minds and souls be restored. Yet brewing on Tatooine is news that will shake Luke and Han and threaten everything they value.
The disturbing piece of information is that the evil Hutts, criminal warlords of the galaxy, are building a secret superweapon: a reconstruction of the original Death Star, to be named Darksaber. This planet-crushing power will be in the ruthless hands of Durga the Hutt -- a creature without conscience or mercy.
But there is worse news yet: the Empire lives. The beautiful Admiral Daala, still very much alive and more driven than ever to destroy the Jedi, has joined forces with the defeated Pellaeon, former second in command to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Together they are marshaling Imperial forces to wipe out the New Republic.
Now, as Luke, Han, Leia, Chewbacca, Artoo and Threepio regroup to face these threats, they are joined by new Jedi Knights and Callista. Together they must
fight on two fronts, outshooting and outsmarting the most formidable enemies in the galaxy. In Darksaber the Jedi are heading for the ultimate test of their power--a test in which all the temptations of the dark side beckon. And Luke Skywalker must draw upon his innermost resources to fight for a world in which he can not only live, but dare to love.
Customer Reviews:
At least the Jedi Academy Trilogy had a good story.......2006-08-02
Anderson is just a terrible writer. But if the story is good enough you can grit your teeth and find some enjoyment. The Darksaber story is not one of those. Don't read this bood.
not really worth the effort.......2006-06-16
Uh oh. The remnants of the Empire are gathering together to form a threat to the New Republic. Uh oh. There is a giant superweapon being constructed using the original plans and scientists who worked on the Death Star. Sigh. Out of all the possible stories that able to be told in the Star Wars Universe (see the Medstar Duology and the Republic Commando novels for examples), this is the story that Darksaber tells. For Star Wars, one must say "how prosaic". It's all been done before. Two movies and danced around in the novels. This is the best that Kevin Anderson and Lucasfilm could come up with for the novel?
Oh, well. Here's the deal: The Hutts are gathering components to build said superweapon, the title weapon. Remnants of the Empire, Admiral Daala and Pallaeon (second in command to Grand Admiral Thrawn) are pulling together various warlords to strike at the heart of the New Republic and hurt the New Republic bad. Luke Skywalker is seeking to find a way to restore the Jedi Powers of his love Callista. Leia, Han, and Chewbacca are investigating the Hutts to find out what the Hutts are planning. This all comes together with a major threat to the New Republic.
If it wasn't for the fact that this book is much of the same old same old for Star Wars fiction Darksaber wouldn't be that bad. Kevin Anderson has crafted a fast paced classic feeling Star Wars novel. The word "classic" is used here in the sense that the style is reminiscent of the original Star Wars trilogy. So, the action is fun and there are quips and back talk and little guys vs the Big Bad, but the novel just felt like a retread. It is a tired story. Anderson's writing isn't strong enough to overcome a story that does not add anything significant to the Star Wars Universe. It's middle of the road Star Wars. Nothing special to see here. Not truly worth the effort.
-Joe Sherry
Better than Expected.......2006-06-07
As soon as I saw this book I thought "Not another Freakin Death Star." But since it was from Anderson I thought I'd give it a try. I was not disapointed! This was one of the better Star Wars Books that I've read in a while. The New Jedi Knights are really coming into there true powers in this book while Calista still searches for hers. I was pretty good overall.
My First Star Wars Novel.......2006-06-05
I picked Darksaber up on a whim, being bored with the cookie cutter Sci-Fi/Fantasy at my local book store. Darksaber did not disappoint. Kevin Anderson is a master at constructing a good story, and at keeping you turning the pages. I found Darksaber hard to put down. I am an avid reader, and it is rare where a writer captures my attention to the point where I will seek out his other books and read them. Having churned through numerous authors and styles of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, I have been disappointed often. even if you are not a fan of Star Wars, this book and story is good. Check it out.
Well worth the price of admission.......2006-04-09
Years have passed since Luke Skywalker turned Darth Vader back from the Force's dark side. The Rebel Alliance has recaptured Coruscant, where Leia Organa Solo (now married to Han, and mother of three small children) leads a sometimes weary life as chief of state. Luke spends most of his time on Yavin 4, training a new generation of Jedi knights in the ways of the Force. Yet as DARKSABER opens, Master Skywalker leaves his "Jedi Academy" for a return to Tatooine, the desert planet of his boyhood. He wants to contact his dead mentor, Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi, one more time; and he's desperate enough to attempt this despite Ben's warning that it cannot happen again. His motivation? Callista, the woman he loves. This former Jedi knight from the old era now inhabits a new body, but somehow transferring into it from the computer core of the dreadnaught Eye of Palpatine robbed her of her powers. Luke hopes that Obi-Wan may know how those powers can be restored, because until that happens he and Callista cannot share their lives fully.
What follows is a galaxy-spanning romp, with the narrative's viewpoint switching from character to character in frequent (but never disconcerting) transitions. Sometimes we're looking through the eyes of Bevel Lemelisk, designer of both the Death Star and a new, under-construction superweapon called Darksaber. Sometimes we're inside the head of Admiral Daala, Empire loyalist commander. Sometimes we're with Luke, sometimes with Leia, sometimes with cloned Jedi knight Dorsk 81. While there were a few awkward moments for me, since I only dip into the Star Wars novels occasionally and this book is a sequel to its author's earlier Jedi Academy Trilogy, I nevertheless enjoyed the adventure. The characters that were new to me, introduced in earlier Star Wars novels but not present in the films, fit into the established universe quite seamlessly; and the characters I already knew stayed true to their personalities. My one real criticism is finding some passages a bit "over the top" in the sadism department. That's a matter of taste, but - in my mind, at least - it does mean this isn't a suitable book for younger Star Wars readers. The author does have some interesting things to say, with all the subtlety I expect from really well written science fiction, about the nature of mortality and the doubtful benefits of transcending its limits. Overall? Well worth the price of admission.
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Darksaber: Star Wars
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HKHOWK |
Product Description
great reading for the star wars fans
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- Like a throwback to the ancient Zen and Taoist masters
- The best from this great man !
- J. Krishnamurti's 2nd book
- Lucidity at last...
- Mass-Market Krishnamurti
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First and Last Freedom, The
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Manufacturer: HarperOne
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Freedom from the Known
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Think on These Things
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Awakening of Intelligence, The
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Total Freedom: The Essential Krishnamurti
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On Love and Loneliness
ASIN: 0060648317 |
Book Description
Krishnamurti is a leading spiritual teacher of our century. In The First and Last Freedom he cuts away symbols and false associations in the search for pure truth and perfect freedom. Through discussions on suffering, fear, gossip, sex and other topics, Krishnamurti's quest becomes the readers, an undertaking of tremendous significance.
Customer Reviews:
Like a throwback to the ancient Zen and Taoist masters .......2007-09-14
Spiritual authors and teachers just seem to fill you up with spiritual materialism. Krishnamurti says what you're self does not want to hear. That is why his stuff can be difficult to take in. Unlike others who talk about ultimate reality and what not, he does not speak like all the dharma, and new age enlightenment, awakening books. I can imagine the Zen ancients agreeing with him, the zen masters that existed before Zen became full of tradition and baggage.
The best from this great man !.......2006-09-04
JK was a mystery. His life story was dramatic and his teaching controversial - so many people found his talks transforming and yet many also were disillusioned. I myself, who was too young, foolish and too far away to see the man when he was alive, have been puzzled by the fact that supposedly no one who studies his talks was deeply transformed, sadly admitted by JK himself.
But how could we measure his merit as a teacher by that fact alone? Twenty years after he died, everytime I read his words, the man came alive, sharp, passionate, uncompromising and compassionate.
He came to the earth pure and clean, and he learned the mess of the human psyche in order to teach; he was a deeply religious and poetic man, evident from his few talks after his realisation and before he disbanded the Order, but in order to talk to a wider audience, "his beloved" was reduced to "the nameless" or "that immensity" in his later talks, with only a very slight touch at the end of talk; he didn't study any religious traditons, not even the Bhagavad Gita, and his talks were all his own, which perhaps explains why many people found his talks hard to grasp, because they can't be put into any familiar systems which we have learned before.
How can we judge him or measure him? He reached and touched more people than anyone else in modern times; his talked "from the ground up", from this drab of life everyone lives instead of exclusively to long time spiritual seekers; and his words are the best guards against superstition, which goes hand in hand with spirituality.
I salute to you, Sir !
J. Krishnamurti's 2nd book.......2002-07-13
I am reading these books in sequence so that I will be aware of any shifts in this philosophy as he progresses.
The reading here is easy, but the thinking is more difficult. Krishnamurti doesn't attempt to speak what people might want to hear, but speaks from his heart, from his innermost being. So he doesn't give an easy path to follow nor does he promise such a path. Actually, to provide a path for others to follow would contradict his philosophy.
The answer according to him is in self-knowledge, but that knowledge can not be gained through effort. Nor, says he, can it be passed on to you by a guru. It won't be found in books. (I can't help but be amused by those who emphasize that the Truth isn't revealed in the printed word, and of course they use the printed word to share this message with us.)
The first half of the book is comprised of writings and portions of talks. The second half consists of questions asked after his talks, and in his answers you will find repetition sometimes as he clarifies. He has a way of emphasizing the main points by asking "Is it not?" or words to that effect.
I admit to having difficulties with much of what he says, but this isn't criticism as much as a compliment. The very difficulties I might have benefit me so so that I learn through resolving them. If you don't get this book, do at least read some of his other material. You will be rewarded.
Lucidity at last..........2001-08-17
Krishnamurti should be taught in all the schools as an example of how to think clearly. The effect would be astonishing. This is an excellent introduction to his methods, and you will be well-rewarded if you read this book and take it to heart. If you were to break with tradition and attempt to explain Zen in logical terms, this book could be yours. K's robust sanity is a symbol of hope for an ego-ridden humanity.
Mass-Market Krishnamurti.......2001-07-06
This is another collection of short pieces that doesn't do Krishnamurti's teachings justice. To fully grasp & enjoy his teachings, you must go into each & every subject slowly & carefully, as he himself states in many different works. The pieces here are too short, & Krishnamurti's vocabulary & philosophy aren't fully explained. If you've read several of his other works, & are familiar with his vocabularu & philosophy, then this is a fairly decent book. If you're not, this isn't a good place to start.
Book Description
The first upgrade to meditation since Buddha's timeIn this essential meditation handbook for the 21st century, Osho turns the traditional notion of meditation practice on its head. Meditation: The First and Last Freedom shows that meditation is not a spiritual discipline separate from everyday life in the real world. In essence, it is simply the art of being aware of what is going on inside and around us. As we acquire the knack, meditation can be our companion wherever we are-at work, at play, at rest.Meditation contains practical, step-by-step guides to a wide variety of meditation techniques selected by and/or created by Osho, including the unique OSHO Active Meditations which deal with the special tensions of contemporary life. Recognizing that it's almost impossible for most people these days just to stop and sit silently, these meditations - including the Osho Dynamic Meditation and Osho Kundalini Meditation - begin with one or more stages of vigorous physical activity. This brings our physical and mental energies to a peak, so that the following silence is easy -- leaving us alert, refreshed, and newly energized.Newly revised and resized into a handy portable format, Meditation is the perfect text to begin or continue exploring the joys of meditation.
Download Description
Practical Meditation Handbook
Customer Reviews:
Active Meditation techniques for today's man.......2007-02-08
This is a book for transformation. However, it is not just the reading that brings the transformation. This book describes a number of meditation techniques that have the potential of transformation.
The new thing in this book, compared to other techniques, is the "Active Meditations", which are created by Osho for the modern man. These techniques do NOT assume that you can sit silently, "doing nothing, the spring comes, and the grass grows by itself", as Zen says. Instead they lead you into that space of silence. With Active Meditations, one can let go of a lot of things, suppressions, judgements and inhibitions, going on inside us, automatically creating a silent space within. Dynamic Meditation, one of the Active Meditations, is a strong cathartic, meditative and bio-energtic technique, involving breathing, catharsis, and much more. Many active techniques have spontaneous dance as a step.
Besides active techniques, it also describes a lot of other traditional methods, including Vipassana, some of them taken from traditional Indian sutras.
And these words come from an enlightened master, one who knows and understands what's going on within man and what needs to be done. Of course, a master does not speak or convince like other people.
If you are just looking for an intellectual and philosophical understanding of meditation, which is actually impossible, this book is not for you. But if you are looking for a more healthy way of life, or a transformation, and are ready to spend some time trying the techniques, and not just reading the book, this book is a must have :-)
Osho said that Dynamic Mediation is "... absolutely necessary for the modern man ... If people are innocent there is no need for Dynamic Meditation. But if people are repressed, psychologically are carrying a lot of burden, then they need catharsis. So Dynamic Meditation is just to help them clean the place. And then they can use any method ... It will not be difficult. If they, right now, directly try, they will fail"
Before buying, if you want to know about Active Meditation, see [...]
Most precious book on Earth.......2006-08-09
I will say this is the book of books. This book has defined religion in terms of science. This book is a practical book of religion. No belief is needed. Just courage is needed to explore the science of religion. When i saw the editorial review , i was a bit hesitant to read the book. But thank God, i was able to see the book myself and taste the Gem in my hand.
Great Introductory Work.......2004-10-10
The book, Meditation, is a good introduction both to meditation and to Osho's works in digital, print, audio and video formats.
Having already read and admired The Book of Secrets (112 ancient meditation techniques with commentary by Osho), I can say that The Book of Secrets may be difficult for some without some background reading, and the book Meditation is the right place to begin before reading and studying The Book of Secrets.
The book, Meditation, includes the modern active techniques by Osho as well as other materials to provide a thorough overview for the beginner, re-beginner and long-time meditator. Peace.
Dancing on fire.......2004-06-11
Osho understood western men as nobody else, especially anybody in the West, and he created meditation techniques which are 100 % effective - but they MUST BE guided by someone who has done them before and experienced meditation (not just technique itself) and had reached to his being and knows who he really is, not what he thinks he is. Yes, Osho took parts of his techniques from others (STOP and some other are for exemple of Gurdjieff), but he KNEW why and how! So, if you are just doing his techniques without deep understanding why and how they should be done, there are almost no chances to transform yourselve. I recommend you to find someone who knows how and why this should be done. Masters for this are, but they are rare. I'm lucky to know Bodin of Bindu (see www.dancingonfire.org), who is one of real maters.
Recommended.
the book that began my life.......2004-03-22
a few weeks ago i just happened to be looking for a book to tell me something about meditation. this was the first one i grabbed off the shelf, and the moment i started to read the back cover i could feel this was the one for me. osho presents methods that are imediately inpacting and easy to understand. he speaks in a language of feeling that everyone can understand. i'm still shocked that whenever i read through a few sentences in this book i'll find myself getting tears in my eyes because i know this is what it's all about. finally acknowledgement. finally appreciation. and it turns out we had it all along
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Elusive Security: States First, People Last (New Millennium Books in International Studies)
Laura Neack
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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General
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International Security
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ASIN: 0742528650 |
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THE FIRST AND LAST FREEDOM
J. KRISHNAMURTI
Manufacturer: GOLLANCZ
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Krishnamurti
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ASIN: B000SDCH2S |
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THE FIRST AND LAST FREEDOM
Manufacturer: The Theosophical Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Krishnamurti
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ASIN: B000HV8YUU |
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The First and Last Freedom
J. Krishnamurti
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Krishnamurti
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ASIN: B000OZ6QAO |
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The First And Last Freedom -
J. Krishnamurti -
Manufacturer: Theosophical House Publishing -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Krishnamurti
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ASIN: B000PS1R9A |
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First and Last Freedom, The
J. krishnamurti
Manufacturer: Victor Gollancz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Krishnamurti
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ASIN: B000GQ60XO |
Product Description
Conveys this great teachers ideas and thoughts on many topics with a question and answer section included.
Preface by Aldous Huxley.
Books:
- Behold the Many: A Novel
- Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany, and the Winning of the Great War at Sea
- Charlie Russell Journal
- Chasing Rumi: A Fable About Finding the Heart's True Desire
- Cloudsplitter: A Novel
- Colorist: A Practical Handbook for Personal and Professional Use
- Der Kleine Prinz (German)
- Dust Tracks on a Road: An Autobiography (P.S.)
- Evening Class
- Fair and Tender Ladies (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
Books Index
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