Evening Class

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Maeve Binchy can always be counted on to spin an involving tale about ordinary people that brings out the extraordinary in everyone. In Evening Class, Binchy zooms in on the working-class of Dublin. Schoolteacher Aidan Dunne organizes an evening class in Italian with the help of Nora O'Donoghue, an Irishwoman returning home after 26 years in Sicily. When the somewhat squashed-by-life denizens of the surrounding neighborhood take the unexpected step of enrolling in the class, they find their lives transformed.

Binchy tells her story from the viewpoints of eight different characters and rewards both them and her readers with happy endings after the requisite rocky road. Reading a novel by Maeve Binchy is like catching up with old friends--you know everything will turn out fine in the end, but you're still interested in how things get that way.

Book Description

It was the quiet ones you had to watch. That's where the real passion was lurking.

They came together at Mountainview College, a down-at-the-heels secondary school on the seamy side of Dublin, to take a course in Italian. It was Latin teacher Aidan Dunne's last chance to revive a failing marriage and a dead-end career. But Aidan's dream was headed for disaster until the mysterious Signora appeared, transforming a shared passion for Italy into a life-altering adventure for them all...bank clerk Bill and his dizzy fiance Lizzie: a couple headed for trouble...Kathy, a hardworking innocent propelled into adulthood in a shocking moment of truth...Connie, the gorgeous rich lady with a scandal ready to explode...glowering Lou, who joined the class as a cover for crime. And Signora, whose passionate past remained a secret as she changed all their lives forever....

From the New York Times bestselling author of This Year It Will Be Different, The Glass Lake, and Circle of Friends, comes a novel filled with Maeve Binchy's signature warmth, wit, and sheer storytelling genius--a spellbinding tale of men and women whose quiet lives hide the most unexpected things....

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A story that only Maeve Binchy could tell: In Dublin, a disparate group assembles for an introductory Italian course held in a drab classroom every Tuesday and Thursday. For this evening class, and their teacher, dreams of Italy guide them to new friendships, to new understandings of themselves, and ultimately, on a magical viaggio to Italia itself.

Customer Reviews:

Great story!.......2007-07-24

I have read many of Maeve Binchy's novels and am always inspired at her amazing ability to weave a story that involves many different characters, their lives, and their personalities in such a real and thought-provoking way. She is an amazing storyteller!

One of Her Best.......2006-07-29

An engaging and entertaining novel, in which Binchy takes a rather ordinary experience and shows a deep understanding of the people involved. In this case, it is a group of working class Dubliners who come together for an adult education class in Italian at a run-down inner city school. The point, which she conveys brilliantly, is how this humble experience means so much to these people. Some have used up their savings to take this class. An unwed mother and her daughter, who work in a butcher shop; a bank employee who once dreamed of seeing the world, but who is now stuck taking care of his mentally handicapped sister; the son of a corner shopkeeper trying to protect his family's store from local thugs, etc. Basically, they all understand that this meager class is their only vacation from the rough neighborhood in which they will live out their lives. For balance, Binchy throws in a couple of rich characters too.
By telling each character's narrative seperately, but showing plenty of cross-glimpses such that we see them becoming friends, we get a sense of their struggles and what this experience means for them in terms of their dignity and their dreams. As always, Binchy is neither sappy or sensationalist; she tells the stories straight, without any melodrama. Marriages dissolve without fanfare, nice guys miss out on promotions and watch their career hopes fizzle with no more drama than it would get in real life. No major events need happen. This is a story of ordinary lives and you sense that the author truly understands them

A well woven tale.......2006-02-10

Binchy does a marvelous job of entertwining of seemingly vast different people. Her characters come alive. I symaothized and found myself pulling for them all. A bit slow a spots and certainly no action adventure, but if you like well told stories full of realistic characters a good read. Liek sittign down with an old friend and catching up.

Evening Class.......2004-06-18

The new Signora moves into town... It is a mystery to the town folks where she is from and a mystery as to why she is able to speak Italian so well. Because she is single and lonely, she begins to start teaching Italian classes at the local college. The classes make her relive her life when she was younger and lived in Italy. They bring back fond memories of being in love. The classes change her life; they give new meaning and purpose to her present life. Soon after, through many twists of fate she comes together with Aidan Dunne, a teacher, who is surviving in a life-less marriage...

One of my favorite books of all time... The plot is simply amazing. Maeve Binchy is a master story-teller!

Left Me Feeling Incomplete-Could Have Been Better.......2004-06-05

Evening Class was interesting enough to keep on reading through it to see what happens. Each chapter begins with another character telling their life story.

Aidan Dunne is the first character in the story. He is unhappy in his life with his now two grown daughters, and distanced from his wife. When the evening class came along, it brightened his spirits; especially with the instructor Signora.

Signora is quite an eccentric. The instructor of the evening class, she makes italian fun and exciting to learn for the students.

Book Description

The college winter break is over, and Caleb Prentiss faces yet another semester of higher education. Struggling with alcoholism and frustrated by his irrelevant classes, Cal seeks solace in the arms of his scholastic-conscious girlfriend and in somnambulistic conversation with a mystifying college radio DJ.

But Cal's ennui is shattered when he discovers evidence of a murder which occurred in his room over the Christmas recess. Obsessed with unearthing the particulars of this gruesome and haunting event, Cal wanders down the grotesque hallowed halls of a university gone mad.

Run-ins with the two hard-nosed campus security guards, relationship hurdles with both friends and lovers, and enigmatic signals from the Dean's icily eminent wife force Caleb to question his place in the bizarre night classes of higher education.

Even as he gets ever closer to the truth, Caleb is plagued by the supernatural occurrence known as stigmata: his hands bleed in imitation of the wounds of Christ whenever someone close to him dies.

And Cal's hands are bleeding a lot these days.

Customer Reviews:

In a Class of His Own!.......2007-07-01

Tim Piccirilli is in a class of his own--an elite class at that.

He combines, whole heartedly, a sensibility like no other that accesses the deepest core of your mind and soul. Whether he makes you laugh or cry or afraid--or all of the above, he is simply lingering on the top of the food chain with this wild run of excitement.

--Joseph McGee, author of In the Wake of the Night, Phil's Place and Darkness Won't Rest: Phils Place II

Piccirilli has talent, but this is a silly book........2006-10-27

It is obvious that Tom Piccirilli can write - there are a few fine moments in this book. Unfortunately the story is so overblown and the menace so vacuous that I feel cheated by having taken the time to read it. I have worked in a college library going on seventeen years now, and God knows I've seen more than a few people, both students and faculty, with some serious issues - but this is just silly. Really. I've been thinking about this for a couple of days, and silly is the word.

C+ for coherency...........2006-10-09

The Night Class wasn't what I was hoping for. It won the Bram Stoker award, and I was in Ireland at the time, and trying to read anything even remotely connected to Stoker...However, I have to say I was pretty disappointed by this book. I had a very hard time getting into the story, and even as I ploughed along, I continually would get lost or distracted by the authors style and the plot. The story involves a student who finds out that a student was killed in his room, and there is something sinister occurring with the schools faculty because no one will admit she is dead. There isn't a great deal of the book that stands out in my mind as a plot line to discuss here, so I wont bother. I haven't read anything else by this author, and I suspect I never will unless there are very positive reviews. Maybe its just me, but I couldn't pass this particular night class.

Relic113

...not that much!.......2006-04-08

the book seemed cool at first but it was weird and the story is sometimes confusing and not understandable. i didn't like this book!

A Sometimes Hard Lesson To Follow.......2005-05-24

Tom Piccirilli's THE NIGHT CLASS focusses on the unearthing of corruption and malevolence at a small college over a 24 hour period. Coming back to school after holiday break Cal discovers there has been a murder in his dorm room. Investigating the shushed crime he unearths a conspiracy involving both the faculty and fellow students. The flood of ghastly scenes which follow test Cal's sanity as he battles demons both past and present. What is real? What is in his mind? The novel is filled with creepy passages, surreal visions, a dark sexuality, and various religious symbolism (i.e. stigmata). The problem I had with the book wasn't the characters or content. It was simply the style. The artistic slant given the narrative flow was muddled and made it extremely hard to follow at points. The distance needed to decipher the plot made immersion in THE NIGHT CLASS tough -- which for horror is necessary for me. Try as I might I just couldn't lose myself in Piccirilli's dark vision...and I was so ready to be taken to that gruesome place.

5 Titles By Binchy - Evening Class - Tara Road - Echoes - Circle of Friends - This Year It Will Be Different

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5 Titles By Binchy - Evening Class - Tara Road - Echoes - Circle of Friends - This Year It Will Be Different
Maeve Binchy
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Product Description

5 massmarket paperback Titles By Binchy - Evening Class - Tara Road - Echoes - Circle of Friends - This Year It Will Be Different

7 Titles By Binchy - The Glass Lake - Silver Wedding - Tara Road - Evening Class - Copper Beech - The Return Journey

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7 Titles By Binchy - The Glass Lake - Silver Wedding - Tara Road - Evening Class - Copper Beech - The Return Journey
Maeve Binchy
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Product Description

Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.

An address delivered before the graduating class of the Law School of Columbia College on the evening of Wednesday, May 15, 1867

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An address delivered before the graduating class of the Law School of Columbia College on the evening of Wednesday, May 15, 1867
Benjamin D Silliman
Manufacturer: W.C. Bryant
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Law | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008APKE8

The Books of Judgment. Westminster Abbey Sermons for the Working Classes. No. V I . Preached on Sunday Evening Feb. 6, 1859

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The Books of Judgment. Westminster Abbey Sermons for the Working Classes. No. V I . Preached on Sunday Evening Feb. 6, 1859
T. B. Morrell
Manufacturer: Bell and Daldy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VQWD94

Community of interests: A report on the relationships between schools, youth service, community service, further education colleges, evening classes, and ... for recreation and leisure activities

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Community of interests: A report on the relationships between schools, youth service, community service, further education colleges, evening classes, and ... for recreation and leisure activities
Great Britain
Manufacturer: H.M.S.O
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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THE COPPER BEECH AND EVENING CLASS
BINCHY
Manufacturer: ORION
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SHQ6OY

Elementary electricity and electric wiring,: A manual for the upper grades of junior high schools, for technical high schools, trade schools, and evening classes in applied electricity

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Elementary electricity and electric wiring,: A manual for the upper grades of junior high schools, for technical high schools, trade schools, and evening classes in applied electricity
Beverly Burdette Burling
Manufacturer: Bruce
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Essentials of English: A Class Book for Evening Institutes Commercial, Continuation, Central and Secondary Schools.

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Essentials of English: A Class Book for Evening Institutes Commercial, Continuation, Central and Secondary Schools.
J Ascher
Manufacturer: Campion Publishing 1927. (Commerce and Industry)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L4ZN5C

Book Description

It was the year that changed everything.

When Susannah Nelson turned eighteen, her parents sent her to school abroad. She said goodbye to her boyfriend, Jake -- and never saw him again. She never saw her brother again, either; Doug died in a car accident while she was away.

Now, at fifty, she finds herself regretting the paths not taken. Especially the chance to be with Jake . . . Long married, a mother and a teacher, she should be happy. But she feels there's something missing, although she doesn't know exactly what. Not only that, she's balancing the demands of an aging mother and a temperamental twenty-year-old daughter.

Because her mother, Vivian, a recent widow, is having difficulty coping and living alone, Susannah prepares to make some hard decisions. In returning to her hometown of Colville, Washington, to her parents' house, her girlhood friends and the garden she's always loved, she also returns to the past -- and the choices she made back then.

What she discovers is that things are not always as they once seemed. Some paths are dead ends. But some gardens remain beautiful . . .

Customer Reviews:

Susannah's Garden.......2007-09-10

This is a light and easy read by Debbie Macomber. It was relaxing and a feel good book.

I really wanted to like this book but..........2007-08-27

Susannah's Garden had so much potential. There was so much going on Susannah's dealing with the lingering issues with her father who died recently who was dictorial and distant who sent her away from home to get her away from her boyfriend Jake and wouldn't let her come home when her brother was killed in a car accident. Its also becoming clear that her mother Vivan is no longer able to care for herself and Susannah must deal with the painful decision to put her mother in assisted living and decide what to do with her childhood home and memories. Susannah's clearly having a midlife crisis has began dreaming about Jake and the "what ifs" despite the fact she's married with two almost grown children. Susannah decides to go home to Colville to deal with her mother. Her daughter Chrissie shows up and begins dating a boy Susannah doesn't approve off and Susannah finds herself in her father's position. It all had the set up to being really good as Susannah worked throught all of the issues but the author fails in the execution of dealing with the issues and ending the book. Spoilers follow. The extent that Susannah went to search for Jake without ever really considering the fact she was putting her own marriage at risk or what it might do to her husband or kids made it really difficult to be rooting for Susannah. Not that it really mattered because when Susannah's husband did find out Susannah hired a PI to hunt down her ex-boyfriend they have one small argument on the phone and...that's it. That's it? One argument on the phone? Susannah makes a comment later that they've worked everything out without to the reader how that happened. After all the build up to it and there's no fallout? No real showing Susannah of what her actions had done? I would have liked even just one scene where Susannah worried that she might have just cost herself her marriage. Then there's the learning of what really happened to Jake..and what really happened to her brother Doug. Jake was killed in the car accident instead of her brother Doug who assumed his identy and had been hiding out for decades from the police who wanted him for a federal crime he had return to Colville pretending to be someone else and dating her Susannah's friend. Instead of coming up with a way to either clear Doug of all the charges or some normal resoltion instead the author decides to not do any of these things but just keep Doug leaving under his assumed identy including not telling his mother that he's alive. Sure Vivan met him but has assumed in her altmizer's mind that he's the ghost of her dead husband. That's a solution? All I could think was how cruel what was? Never let the poor woman know her son is alive? What about Jake's father who doesn't even know his son is dead? It just seem all wrong to me. Not to mention the odds of dodging the government for the rest of his life. The same with Susannah's decision to pay off her daughter's boyfriend (like her father had done with Jake) to get him out of her life. Sure the boyfriend's a two timing lowlife who offered the deal to Susannah but...Susannah actually pays him? And this is the solution to get him out of Chrissie's life? How about Chrissie finding out her boyfriend's a lowlife? Maybe even learn something from the experience or realize she deserves a lot more from a boyfriend or the satasfication that comes from kicking the lowlife to the curb? Instead the author creates solutions for the problems that aren't solutions at all. That really's sad because it could have been a really good book.

Just Okay.......2007-07-20

This book is okay but nothing great. The characters lack depth. I figured out the main plot twist about halfway through. Susannah and her husband are annoying parents whose relationship with their daughter, Chrissie, makes no sense. Chrissie's parents are professionals, but their biggest dream for Chrissie seems to be that she become either a housewife or a housekeeper; I don't blame the kid for wanting to get away from them. There are some things about the ending that don't make sense, either, but I don't want to give anything away so I'll just leave those out.

Very realistic.......2007-07-17

I really enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of Debbie's for a very long time. For once, this story was based upon a 50 year old woman taking care of her elderly mother. I am currenly in the same situation and it was nice to read about realistic life issues. I read anything she publishes.

Relaxing reading.......2007-07-16

I enjoyed this book immensely. As a new Debbie Macomber fan, this was a wonderful introduction for me. I found it a very realistic book, as the condition of Susannah's aging Mom is similar to my own. I identified with lots of the story and loved the sweet way the book ends. I heartily recommend it.

Simple Pleasures of the Garden: Stories, Recipes & Crafts from the Abundant Earth

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Simple Pleasures of the Garden: Stories, Recipes & Crafts from the Abundant Earth
Susannah Seton
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Happiness | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1573245011

Amazon.com

Simple Pleasures of the Garden is a follow-up to the very popular Simple Pleasures; Susannah Seton was inspired to write it because so many of the suggestions, stories, and recipes from the earlier book were about gardens and gardening. Organized by season, each section contains subheadings under which information is organized: "In the Garden," "With Family and Friends," "Into the Kitchen," "Beautifying Your Home," and "Nourishing Body and Soul." Seton's approach is thorough. She offers tips and stories on herb gardening, information on growing flowers for aroma or to attract butterflies, techniques for toxic-free gardening and composting, and instructions for making simple baskets and wreaths, floral-scented oils and lotions, and potpourri. Her advice doesn't neglect the palate, either: you'll find delightful, simple recipes for cooked vegetables, salads, blackberry jam, rhubarb-strawberry crisp, and many more. It is a delight to browse through Simple Pleasures of the Garden and fantasize, but the danger is that you will want to jump into your own gardening projects. Not to worry, though, beginning gardeners and those with almost no space will find plenty of guidance, including many indoor gardening projects. Just browsing through this book will probably lower your blood pressure.

Book Description

The beauty of nature, the delight of physical work, the soulfulness of planning a garden: Stories of these are combined here with inspirational quotes, tips for pesticide-free gardening, and suggestions for sharing the joys and charms of a garden with others. Projects include handcrafted lotions and oils; baskets and wreaths; simple, inexpensive home decorations; and easy recipes using the garden's bounty.

Every Garden Is a Story: Stories, Crafts, and Comforts

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Every Garden Is a Story: Stories, Crafts, and Comforts
Susannah Seton
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Essays | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1573243183

Book Description

Inspiring stories paired with beautiful photos and solid tips - the perfect gift.

Susannah Seton reminds us in Every Garden Is a Story that reader and gardener alike have much to learn from their gardens. The poignant and touching stories-- from her father's quest for a seven-headed sweet pea to cancer survival and magical portraits of moon gardens--take readers on a journey through garden beds, along the way reinforcing how to care for themselves and their loved ones by caring for the Earth.

Some of the most touching stories remind us that we don't have to have a big yard or a lot of money to have a garden. --from the foreword by Carolyn Rapp

Every Garden Is a Story is a thoughtful and inspiring gift for any gardener. Did you know you can grow your own luffa sponges?

* Contains dozens of recipes, tips, crafts and an extensive resource section of garden centers, online seed catalogs, and recommended reading.
* Appeals to burgeoning eco-conscious readers with a desire to get back to basics.

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Make a Garden: A Children's Guide to Making Things Grow (08644)
Susannah Bradley
Manufacturer: Bookthrift Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 9997630750

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Simple Pleasures Of The Garden - Stories, Recipes & Crafts Form The Abundant Earth
Susannah Seton
Manufacturer: Conari Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VK4GMM

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SUSANNAH'S GARDEN
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000UU8U84

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The garden of Persephone (A Harlequin romance)
Susannah Broome
Manufacturer: Harlequin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
ASIN: B0007K7M6I

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SUSANNAH'S GARDEN
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: Blank
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000UQ9LEA

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Susannah's Garden: Can you ever go home again?
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q5SQGO

Book Description

A terrifying secret, an evil coterie of ruthless masterminds, a murderous battle of cunning and deadly skill--it's time to send in the Marines!

After the Confederation makes a shocking discovery on an alien world, a nefarious band of opportunists from the highest echelons of power plot to steal the vast riches for themselves. Along with the ability to crush any resistance, these moguls possess spacecraft, unlimited resources, and a deadly arsenal of cutting-edge weapons.

The only one without a price tag is the Confederation president. Now she is sending Gunnery Sergeant Bass, the men of third platoon, and a single special agent to expose the shadowy figures behind the corruption. And so, on an obscure planet, home to unimaginable treasure and an unsettling species, the toughest fighters in Human Space confront their fiercest battle. For there will be no losers in this war, only the triumphant, the dead, and the vanished . . .

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A terrifying secret, an evil coterie of ruthless masterminds, a murderous battle of cunning and deadly skill -- it's time to send in the Marines!

After the Confederation makes a shocking discovery on an alien world, a nefarious band of opportunists from the highest echelons of power plot to steal the vast riches for themselves. Along with the ability to crush any resistance, these moguls possess spacecraft, unlimited resources, and a deadly arsenal of cutting-edge weapons.

The only one without a price tag is the Confederation president. Now she is sending Gunnery Sergeant Bass, the men of third platoon, and a single special agent to expose the shadowy figures behind the corruption. And so, on an obscure planet, home to unimaginable treasure and an unsettling species, the toughest fighters in Human Space confront their fiercest battle. For there will be no losers in this war, only the triumphant, the dead, and the vanished...

Customer Reviews:

More Aliens.......2005-09-03

After reading the first four books of the series and encountering a universe where humanity is the only sentience, until the last volume, it was surprising to find more aliens in the very next installment from a completely new planet. It was surprising but nicely handled.

This time the jarheads are sent to an ultra secret planet to fight smugglers. The existence of this planet is known to only a few at the highest levels of government because the natives there are intelligent but very far behind humanity in terms of development. Think in terms of nomadic hoards. There is a sort of "Prime Directive" at work in which the decision has been made to let the culture develop naturally. There are a few problems with this. The natives produce some extremely valuable gemstones which makes smuggling worthwhile and the head scientist is doing nasty experiments on the natives. When the marines are sent in to stop things, they have their hands full.

Instead of being action packed, this book spends more time on story development. That didn't bother me but those who don't want the shooting to cease may be a bit disappointed.

I would have given this book a fifth start where it not for one thing. It seems in many places to be temporally disjointed. There is a perception that some of the narrative is out of order. Sometimes it was a minor matter of the difficulty of telling two simultaneous stories. Other times it was more distracting in that I thought I was reading of subsequent events when actually I was reading of prior ones.

Not effective adventure.......2001-02-23

I love good military sci-fi as much as the next starship trooper, but this isn't it. Part of my problem may stem from the fact that I started with this book in the series and there are many parts that I found difficult since I had no prior knowledge of what had happened in the first 4 books. But my real problem came from the style of the writing and characterizations. I thought that the people were more like cut-outs borrowed from "Tour of Duty" than real characters. None of them really resonated. The alien species were particularly humerous in how far I had to suspend my disbelief to accept them. The constant changes in the time-frame of the narration made it very hard to know what was supposed to be happening before what. Add to that the constant political lectures and the book quickly lost my attention. I found the diatribe about the evils of the Japanese and their empires particulrly disturbing in a book written after the 1950's. While the marines were interesting in potential, and the story about the evils of interfereing with indiginous cultures well taken, I fear that I will not be reading another book in this series.

Great adventure, daring effort!.......2000-10-30

My hat's off to co-authors Dan Cragg and David Sherman for not taking the easy path. This series has been building an ever-greater following, and the thing most authors would have done would have been to stay in the groove and keep re-writing the same book over and over again. With volume V, Cragg and Sherman have certainly kept the basic themes and characters, but they've also taken chances by pushing the envelope and reaching (successfully, in my book) for ever-greater creativity. I found the picture of the alien world the most intriguing I've read in many years--it took me back to my youth and the great age of sci-fi, with writers like Heinlein, Asimov and Company. Other reviewers have gone over the basics of the plot, so I'll keep this short and not re-hash it. But this book revitalized my interest in the series--because there's more to life and conflict than just raw combat, even in a troubled, war-torn future--and because it is, in this reader's view, a marvelous work of the imagination. I hope the series continues for many more volumes, and I suspect the audience will continue to grow. In the meantime, I just passed this volume to my brother, who also remembers the golden age of fictional speculation. Very well done!

Good - but not much action.......2000-10-04

Fans of rough and tumble action should look elsewhere. The back of the book says "the toughest fighters in Human Space confront their fiercest battle." which is stretching things quite a bit. Basically out of 346 pages there is a 6 page fight with the aliens (who use clubs and 22-caliber rifles!) and a 13 page assault on a spaceship. The whole spaceship sequence was really a dissapointment as the setup was great: a desperate band of pirates, a heavily modified ship with unknown defenses, but with the exception of the bridge the whole ship was taken in 4 pages - and this is most of the big climax to the book!

Obviously the focus of this book in the series is not on combat. It is much more about the characters and the aliens, who are well fleshed out and believable. I tend to prefer action stories which may be why I am harsh on this one, but I also like happy endings with the good guys winning..which makes this one tough for me...I'm trying not to give away too much here, and although it may be more realistic, the whole ending wasn't satisfying to me. The issue with the scientists never was resolved, the issue with Captain Coronado wasn't resolved to my satisfaction and the issue with Corporal Doyle - a very interesting character sure didn't sit well with me...but then I prefer Disney'ish happy endings..so take what I say with a grain of salt.

With all that you may think I didn't like it at all.. not the case, it was a good read, just slower than others, and a lot more info about the universe around the marines, the government, the lives of the pirates and especially the aliens. It wasalso cool that it was specifically a believable sequel to Book 4, with everyone still wandering around wondering about the aliens in that book.

But my interest is primarily action and fighting with cool futuristic weapons. I want my heroes down on the ground slugging it out with the bad guys. Here the Marines don't arrive at the planet until page 148 and really, the whole problem could have been resolved with a couple of knock-out gas bombs - which I would imagine the 25th century Marines have. I'm hoping the next book in the series will have more action....

Protecting the Natives.......2000-09-18

Technokill Review

I've said it before, I'll say it again - if Tom Clancy wrote far-future SF, it would look like this. Some SF tales are "Gadget" stories - the main character is a computer, a time machine, or a space ship - the humans (or other sentient creatures) are mere window dressing. This is where a lot of SF writers start out, and these stories are sometimes, but not always, bad. At the other end are "people" stories - the story is about people and situations, and the SF elements are thrown in as a seeming afterthought. These can often be good - Ray Bradbury's Martian Chronicles are "not really SF", but they're good stories. The same can be said for Spider Robinson's "Callahan's Bar" series. I'll add another distinction - I consider the culture a form of technology, something a lot of writers don't consider. For example, James Blush's "Cities in Flight" follows the people of New York City a thousand years in the future. It's a good story, but I have trouble believing that a thousand years from now, after 800 years of Soviet Occupation, New York City would look and sound so much like the NYC of 1960 - especially since NYC has changed so much in my lifetime... The FIST series falls just a little right of center on this spectrum - there's a bit of science here, and neat, well thought out gadgets, but the real story is in the characters. I can believe in the Confederation culture - given the authors' assumption about the developments of the next few centuries, it makes sense. The main characters are much like the military folks I know - I can tie most of the characters to a real-life person. Mssrs Cragg and Sherman concentrate on the Marines, but they also follow the grand sweep of the action- from the highest level of the Confederation government, the smoky back rooms of power politics, the Conference rooms of the military leaders, right down to the conversations in the berthing spaces of the transport ships. That's not unusual - what's remarkable, is that they do it so well. For example, if you watch Star Trek (tm), you'd think that Starfleet (tm) lobotomizes all Admirals - I can't think of a single intelligent Flag officer in that universe, Kirk included, in many years. Back when I was an enlisted troop, I might have agreed with that, but over the last few years, I've personally met many Generals, Admirals, etc. I've concluded that, when you can see the big picture, things that looks stupid to the Line Animal and his micro view, make sense to the General and his/her macro view. This story pits the Marines against a bunch of smugglers trying to take unfair advantage of a group of intelligent avian creatures. The Confederation leadership wants the avians to develop technology on their own, without outside interference. The smugglers want to obtain some high-value gemstones that are only found on this world, and who cares what happens to the natives and their culture? Further, the Marines must stop the smugglers - but they must keep the existence of these creatures secret from the rest of the Confederation, lest well-meaning meddlers attempt to "enlighten" the natives...There is a final subplot as the Marines find they even need to protect the avians from the research scientists. The Marine Commander risks his career to end a research project reminiscent of Dr Mengele at his worst. If you are any kind of a student of sociology or history, there is a very fine, practical review of what happens when a technologically superior culture hits a low-tech culture. I took a personal interest in this, as my paternal ancestors got chased out of Scotland, came to America, walked the Northeast Trails with Thayendega (The white men called him Joseph Brant). My maternal ancestors were Samurai. My ancestors knew about lost causes and surviving the onslaught of the white man and his culture. Gunny Thatcher's historical briefing is somewhat abbreviated, but, in my opinion, is dead on. It's not Politically Correct, but it pulls no punches, and calls it straight on. That particular essay is darn near worth the price of the book right there. I wouldn't want you to get the feeling that this is an intellectuals-only book. There's plenty of blood and thunder here, and a really neat couple of light-cavalry battles. There's some of their trademark low humor here, too. My personal favorite was a take on the US military expression "I will be dipped in (fecal material)". (snicker) I'd hate to be a villain in this series - they all seem to meet particularly gruesome fates. There's rough mercy here, also. Once, I made a disparaging comment about a person, and my Gunny brought me up short with the reply, "He's not evil - he's just a messed-up guy trying to make the best of a messed-up situation. That doesn't stop me from killing him if I need to - but if I get away without killing him, that's fine, too. I can't hate him, that's for sure." I get the feeling that the authors have noticed that too, and one of the subplots address this. But this story has something for everybody - blood and thunder, intelligent cultural design, well-thought out characters and situations - it definitely falls in the top 10% of the SF on the book rack today.

Average customer rating:
3 PBs by David Sherman: Demontech Rally Point, Starfist Technokill & Lazarus Rising
David Sherman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VPXTMU

Product Description

Paperbacks

First to Fight; School of Fire; Steel Gauntlet; Blood Contact; Technokill; Hangfire (Starfist, 1-6)

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First to Fight; School of Fire; Steel Gauntlet; Blood Contact; Technokill; Hangfire (Starfist, 1-6)
David Sherman , and Dan Cragg
Manufacturer: Del Ray
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000R822BU

Product Description

Military Science Fiction: Marines in action in the 25th Century -- with a difference: It's from the point of view of the enlisted men doing the fighting!

Starfist Series I-V First to Fight / School of Fire / Steel Gauntlet / Blood Contact / Technokill

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Starfist Series I-V First to Fight / School of Fire / Steel Gauntlet / Blood Contact / Technokill

Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FQG1IO

Starfist Series: First to Fight, School of Fire, Steel Gauntlet, Blood Contact, Technokill, Hangfire, Kingdom's Sword, Kingdom's Fury, Lazarus Rising, A World of Hurt, Flashfire (Set of 11 Sci-Fi Novels)

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Starfist Series: First to Fight, School of Fire, Steel Gauntlet, Blood Contact, Technokill, Hangfire, Kingdom's Sword, Kingdom's Fury, Lazarus Rising, A World of Hurt, Flashfire (Set of 11 Sci-Fi Novels)
David Sherman , and Dan Cragg
Manufacturer: Del-Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000UZHKBM

Starfist: Books 1 to 7 (Starfist, Book 1 -First to Flight; Book 2 - School of Fire; Book 3 - Steel Gauntlet; Book 4- Blood Contact; Book 5- Technokill; Book 6- Hangfire; Book 7- Kingdom's Fury)

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Starfist: Books 1 to 7 (Starfist, Book 1 -First to Flight; Book 2 - School of Fire; Book 3 - Steel Gauntlet; Book 4- Blood Contact; Book 5- Technokill; Book 6- Hangfire; Book 7- Kingdom's Fury)
David Sherman and Dan Cragg
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000WB1BEQ

Product Description

It's the 25th century, but the Marines are still looking for a few good men ....

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TECHNOKILL - STARFIST V
DAVID SHERMAN
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVOHXG

Book Description

2004 COVR AWARD 1ST RUNNER-UP!

The author of the popular Green Witchcraft series presents her personal Book of Shadows, designed for you to use just as she uses it-as a working guide to ritual, spells, and divination. This ready-made, authentic grimoire is based on family tradition and actual magical experience, and is easily adaptable to any tradition of Witchcraft.

Grimoire for the Green Witch offers a treasury of magical information- rituals for Esbats and Sabbats, correspondences, circle-casting techniques, sigils, symbols, recitations, spells, teas, oils, baths, and divinations. Every aspect of Craft practice is addressed, from the purely magical to the personally spiritual. It is a distillation of Green practice, with room for growth and new inspiration.

Customer Reviews:

Grimoire for the Green Witch by: Ann Moura.......2007-10-09

This Book is great for the Beginner, and advanced alike. It's written in simple, easy to comprehend grammar, and trusted by my circle, as well a few others that I know of. Don't think twice about ordering this book, you'll thank yourself, and the Goddess for finding it! Blessed Be!

Good intermediate book.......2007-08-31

While I haven't read any of Ann Moura's other books, I picked this one up as a reference for writing my own rituals and such. I didn't think I would find the wealth of information I did. Most of the rituals she has included can be easily adapted to suit one's needs and some of the other reference type material can't be found in any of the books aimed more for beginners. This is truly a book for the intermediate or advanced practicioner. I highly recommend this book to those looking for something a step up from the introductory books.

Great Book.......2007-05-14

Book is just as described and arrived in good time. I would purchase from this seller again!!

A Must-Have for Wiccans, Pagans, Witches, and All Other Magical People!.......2006-09-08

This was one of those spur-of-the-moment purchases at Borders (you know, the book you buy practically unseen because your library is in need of new blood). I really didn't know what to expect from it, since flipping through it was somewhat confusing. I ended up buying the book on a Friday, and finishing it the following Tuesday. It went from being a book I never heard of by an author I'm vaguely familiar with, to a book that is my "go to" book for ideas, formulas, inspiration and everything in between, and Ann Moura has earned a spot as one of my favorite metaphysical authors out there. I, honestly, couldn't put this book down.

This book is a Grimoire in the truest sense of the word. It contains a little bit of everything, from various rituals and spell casting techniques, to pages and pages of charts and spell associations, some of it surprisingly advanced, and a lot of it something I've never seen in any other Wiccan/Witch related book on magic. While you don't have to read the book cover to cover, those who do are rewarded with a plethora of fascinating traditions, rituals, spells, and ideals related to green magic. This is one of those rare books which is perfect for the beginner, but still perfect for the intermediate or advanced practitioner. The beginner will find the first chapter, which contains information on everything from the Creed of the Green Witch, to the Sabbats, Basic Tools, and Altar Arraignment to be an invaluable tool to help them transition into working magic. Those who've been on the path for awhile will positively wear out their chapter related to spell crafting and correspondences. I particularly found the sections on Geomantic Characters, Planetary Squares, Planetary Seals, and Planetary Hours to be of spectacular value.

The Quick Spell Chart in Chapter 8 is positively genius... The quick spell chart has the most common basic goals of spell crafting (Blessing, Cleansing, Fertility, Abundance, Success, Warding Evil, Releasing Negativity, etc), accompanied with categories to help you quickly set up and design a spell so as to encourage the best results. For example, if I wanted to do a spell to increase my psychic awareness, I'd go to the Quick Spell Chart, look up "Psychic Power," and read down the columns to see what the best Moon, color, elements, days of the week, Planetary influences, numbers, Ogham, Runes, Herbs, Incense, and Stones are for the spellwork.

The spells and rituals given in this book are not your standard, run-of-the-mill spells and rituals, so this book won't be yet another book that tells you how to do the same 6 spells. While the author is quite clear that these spells can be done "as is written," she also is quite clear that the best way to use the spells is to change and adapt them to your own needs. And it's hard not to be inspired by what she writes. The rituals she shared that I thought were especially beautiful were the Companion Quest and the Passing the Midhes rituals. I can't really explain them in any way that does them justice, but both rituals utilize the use of black mirrors to contact spiritual companions and/or resolve persona conflicts and/or gain insight into past, present, and future situations. They are unlike any other spell I've ever seen, really, and I think this book is worth it for those two spells alone.

The section that I found surprisingly wonderful were the meditations section. I'm not a big meditator, but I really connected with the suggested meditations that the author shared. I thought they were creative, interesting, easy to apply, and I have found that the results are beyond my wildest dreams... Or should I say meditations?

I think some people may find the layout of this book confusing (especially people who are new to the craft), which means that you're probably better off buying this book along with another of the books by this same author if you're new to the path. Though, it should be said I haven't received any other books by this author yet, but I did get the definite impression she was building upon ideas, principles, and concepts she worked with and introduced in other books, which would have probably prevented some of my confusion. I'd imagine this book along with her other series would be an unbeatable reference. It should be said that this is certainly not a Wicca 101 book (it should be said this isn't even a book about Wicca, it's a book about Witchcraft that can be used Pagans, Witches, and Wiccans), so if you're unclear of any aspect on magic practice, this should not be the first or only book you get.

My only problems with the book was that I was a little disappointed with the oils section, as I was kind of hoping for more in the way of oil recipes, though I bet that if I got any of her other books I'd find what I was looking for. I also could have wished she'd included a section on ritual recipes and foodstuffs. There were a couple of recipes, but you know that a woman who's been in the craft for 30 years, who learned from her family, has got to have some *spectacular* ritual recipes. Again, she could have shared it in other books and I wouldn't know, but I think that this book could have used a ritual food section.

As far as I'm concerned, this book is a "must-have," if you have any of her other books or not, simply for inspirational value. If this book doesn't make you want to run out and do ritual, nothing will!

I love this book.......2006-07-30

I own this book. I use it all the time in my spell craft. It has been very helpful to me in my search for more.

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