The First Verse: A Novel

Book Description

This memorable debut novel explores Dublin’s every corner, including a first-of-its-kind portrayal of its thriving gay nightlife, through the eyes of a young man seduced by a secret society’s ancient reading rituals, based on the sortes virgilianae. In brilliant prose, author Barry McCrea gives readers a psychologically gripping tale set within the intertwining worlds of literature and the living.

When freshman Niall Lenihan moves to Trinity College, he dives into unfamiliar social scenes, quickly becoming fascinated by a reclusive pair of students—literary “mystics” who let signs and symbols from books determine their actions. Reluctantly, they admit him to their private sessions, and what begins as an intriguing game for Niall becomes increasingly esoteric, dramatic, and addictive. As Niall discovers the true nature of the pursuits in which he has become entangled, The First Verse traces a young man’s search for identity, companionship, and a cult’s shadowy origins in the pages of literature and the people of a city. Fans of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History or Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley will be mesmerized by the strange, page-turning world of this astonishing first novel from a dazzling new literary voice.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, baffling, boring, brilliant.......2007-07-26

What a remarkable book! There are passages inside this novel that outshine almost any writer working today; characters who come alive in the space of a few sentences; ideas that no other writer would touch. At times, this seems like the perfect combination of James Joyce with Harry Potter--literary magic for an adult. But then there are other momnents when the book falters, stutters, and practically disintegrates. Long, pretentious passages; plotting that goes awry; characters who fail to make sense. What a strange book--perhaps it wasn't edited, perhaps no one helped the writer make sense of what could have been a genuine masterpiece. Still, if you've got the urge to disappear into a strange mind in a strange land, you could do far worse than The First Verse.

Infatuation with random texts.......2007-01-02

Niall Leniham is a bright young student from a better suburb south of Dublin who struggles with his gay inclinations. He is infatuated with Ian, a popular school boy, whom he goes out of his way to befriend, but it seems he is never fully accepted into Ian's circle. When he wins a prestigious scholarship to Trinity College Dublin he soon falls in with a new group of friends, and also discovers the lively gay scene. His first encounter though is with the enigmatic Pablo Virgomare, who becomes an infatuation for Niall, and something of a White Rabbit character mysteriously appearing at different times throughout the book.
After a while Niall becomes drawn into the activities of an older student Sarah and bank employee John, who use random text extracts from books to make decisions and determine their lives. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Niall forces himself upon the pair following a brief encounter with their practices, for neither Sarah nor John make him particularly welcome. The fact that he has a crush on John, who earlier rescued him from an attempted gay bashing, adds to the attraction. As Niall becomes more deeply involved with what he himself describes as the "sect", it begins to take over his life to the extent he breaks contact with his family and friends, including his old school friend Patrick, his new friends at TCD, and the boyfriend, Chris, he meets in a Dublin gay bar and with whom he has the chance of building a relationship.
Following a nervous breakdown he is brought to his senses, and starts to rebuild a normal life. However he eventually has a relapse, and resorting again to consulting random texts, he rushes off to France to find Sarah and John, before coming to a final realisation.
The major part or the novel does concentrate on Niall's dealings with his obsession and the sect's activities, and it does require some effort at times to stick with it. However this is a beautifully written story and Niall's obsession is convincingly portrayed, as is his youthful enthusiasm for involvement despite the indifferent treatment from Sarah and John.
It is interesting to see how his relationship with his childhood friend Patrick matures, and how he eventually reconciles his earlier infatuation with Ian. His affair with Chris, an office worker from a north Dublin working class background and who comes over as a particularly appealing character, is heart warming, and that Chris puts up with Niall's unreliable behaviour indicates the depth of his feelings for Niall.

Why all the great reviews?.......2006-11-13

This is a disappointing book. The basic idea is intriguing -- using random excerpts from books to answer questions -- and could have set up a interesting opposition between the possibilities of an actual secret world of auguries versus an uptight intellectual's nervous breakdown when he enters the big new world of college and his own sexuality. But it's way, way, too long and far too repetitive. McCrea seems to be committed to an absolute literalism of description -- no detail of an action is to small to be included, whether or not it forwards the story or reveals anything about a character. I lost count of the number of times Niall tries to follow some elusive figure through a bar only to have them dissolve into the crowd. Similarly, when Niall embarks on his many aimless treks around Dublin I began to feel as hopeless and dispirited as if I'd walked every step of them myself -- and I don't think that that was the author's intention. The result is prose that's clunkily written -- not what you'd expect when it sports an enthusiastic blurb from such an immaculate stylist as Edmund White. Frankly, the great reviews it's received here are a mystery to me.

The First Verse - THE LAST WORD!.......2006-11-03

Barry McCrea's first novel, The First Verse, opens with the words 'In the end...' Straight away you are aware this is a clever, playful and courageous writer.

The world McCrea describes is MY world. We must have sat beside eachother at lectures in Trinity College Dublin without knowing. He paints a picture familiar to me and hundreds like me who attended Trinners in the years which gave birth to the 'celtic tiger' - Ireland's booming economic miracle.

Being gay in Dublin has never been easy. And being a literary boffin just makes it worse!

The main character in this novel inhabits various such parallel universes at once. The story is propelled along by cultish mysteries and the recognition that a youth culture, born without direction or values, is more prepared to live their lives according to hocus-pocus than to actually take control of their own lives and accept responsibility for their life-choices.

This book is so well-written and thought out that it must surely join the ranks of such luminary Irish writers as Joyce and Beckett.

Even the tiniest detail of Dublin is so well observed and noted that I am all the more in a state of shock that THE FIRST VERSE has not yet been published in Ireland and seems to be aimed primarily at the U.S. market.

Irish people don't yet know Barry McCrea. But, once they do discover his first novel, he will be the toast of a whole generation who recognise their city and themselves amongst its finely crafted pages.

Intriguing, frightening, and really very cool.......2006-07-24

I was floored by this book, which grabbed me right from the beginning. Niall is a loveable young student seduced by a literary cult in post-boom Dublin; the idea fascinated me and I wasn't disappointed. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the book is Niall's alienation, and the ways in which that isolation slowly drives him to madness. After a while you start to question whether what's happening is 'real,' and as you put the pieces of the puzzle together you're left surprised and amazed. The quality of the writing is so much better than most of what's out there, and the story is mysterious, moving, and very exciting. I read it a while ago and I'm still thinking about it.

Lucifer's Garden of Verses 3: The Student ...or Nude Descending a Staircase, Head First (Lucifer's Garden of Verses)

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Lucifer's Garden of Verses 3: The Student ...or Nude Descending a Staircase, Head First (Lucifer's Garden of Verses)
Lance Tooks
Manufacturer: ComicsLit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1561634468

Book Description

Inspired by the German silent film classic ³The Student of Prague², this is the story of Andre Baldwin, a down-on-his-luck would-be Basquiat who enters into a Faustian bargain with a powerful art critic in exchange for status, riches and the love of a woman. Acquanetta Scapinelli is the critic in question, and she recounts this bitter tale with sardonic delight... ³For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?²

Verse Three, Chapter One: The First Multiverser Novel

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Verse Three, Chapter One: The First Multiverser Novel
M. Joseph Young
Manufacturer: Valdron Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0970036833

Book Description

Three ordinary people--a soldier, a housewife, an auto mechanic--are pulled from their ordinary lives and thrown into marvelous adventures. Between them they encounter a djinni, travel on starships, fight vampires and undead monsters, learn to defend themselves and help others, and discover that there is more to them than the ordinary. Eventually finding each other, they work together in a final adventure that demands they use what they have learned to save the life of a friend.

Customer Reviews:

GoodReads.......2007-10-05

This is a delightful book - interesting characters, action, romance, a little of everything. Worth the time and a possible re-read.

Another winner from Emilie!!.......2007-10-02

This book is another treasure from Emilie Richards! The characters, the descriptions and the story line are interesting to the point of making this a page turner.....
I have loved Emilie's books since I first read The Parting Glass and I must say that readers will not be disapointed.
If I could give it 10 stars, I would!!!!

So very good.......2007-07-13

I found the history included in this book about an American city that isn't often mentioned in historical books very interesting and enlightening. Had never really thought about Cleveland's history. The story line is woven so well between the history and the modern that you just keep reading and turning pages. I was thrilled to learn that there is a sequel.

Whiskey Island.......2007-06-17

I loved this book. Emilie is very good at creating interesting, well developed characters and including enough detail to make you see the places they go, the things they wear, etc. I was particularly interested in the part of the storyline that revolved around finding out more about the family history, which is a personal interest of mine. I thought it was a great novel and have recommended it to many friends.

A family drama, better than expected.......2005-06-30

"Whiskey Island" kicks off with an attempted carjacking that introduces ex-priest, Niccolo Andreani, to the three Donaghue sisters of Whiskey Island saloon in Cleveland, Ohio. Niccolo's persistent investigation of the mysterious stranger who helped ward off the carjackers brings him closer not only to the eldest sister, Megan, but also to uncovering a century old secret surrounding Irish immigrant, Lena Tierney and Father McSweeney. The novel begins slightly slow-moving the first one hundred pages or so, only because the author has to set the stage and early clues before you can dive right into the core of the mystery. Once that happens, with clue after clue, it is impossible to put the novel down.

Around the middle of the book the story regularly alternates back and forth with a couple chapters each between past and present. It's hard to say whether the present with Niccolo and Megan, or the past with Lena's struggles is more engaging because the author richly creates the setting and all the characters so well. Both times come alive with the realism of the descriptions, relationships and emotions. There are several passages where the prose is especially moving; though reproducing it here would spoil some events. But there's no shortage of surprises. Even at the end of the book when everything is supposedly resolved, the author still delivers one last revelation on the last two pages!

It would be great injustice to cram the novel to fit a single mold or genre. From the description on the back cover, the novel would be nothing more than romantic suspense with a dab of history and mystery, a description that would completely undersell the gripping, action-packed, and any other adjective to describe magnificence that "Whiskey Island" is. The relationships between Megan and Niccolo in the present, and Lena and Terence Tierney in 1880, both have equal focus in the romance of the book. Many social issues are touched on including child abuse, the homeless, mental and physical disability, morality and religion, doing what is right over societal institutions, and of course, love. What the novel expresses about love is beyond any simple romance novel, subtly centering more on honor, loyalty, and protection of people you care about. One intriguing part is watching Lena's internal struggle over protecting her husband unfold and thereby subjecting herself to the formidable James Simeon. In her confession to Father McSweeney she asks, "Is it a greater sin to commit an act you know to be wrong in order to protect those you love, or to let them perish because you are afraid for your own immortal soul?" Yes, there is plenty of drama here.
This is the first Emilie Richards book I've read and it definitely won't be my last.

Polly: The True Story Behind Whiskey Galore

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Polly: The True Story Behind Whiskey Galore
Roger Hutchinson
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

In 1941 an 8,000-ton cargo ship ran aground in the Sound of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. In the difficult war years any gift from the sea was welcome, and the SS Politician had among her cargo a quarter of a million bottles of whisky. The events that followed inspired Compton Mackenzie's novel Whisky Galore. Using eyewitness accounts, historical papers, and official documents, this book tells the story of the SS Politician and the circus that surrounded her, from islanders in small skiffs to wartime excise officers and the final solution, to the problem of the vessel affectionately known as the "Polly."

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Deception
More Hard-Boiled Magic
An over looked writer
better than the first book, a first rate mystery novel in a fantasy setting
The devil you know isn't always the best

The Dwarves of Whiskey Island
S. Andrew Swann
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0756403154

Customer Reviews:

Deception.......2007-07-20

Lack of intensity, superficial, compared to other of SA.SWANN I am disapointed.

You do not get "involved", you turn pages but without real fun....

More Hard-Boiled Magic.......2006-08-31

This is the second book about investigative reporter Kline Maxwell in a magic-soaked Cleveland (DRAGONS OF THE CUYAHOGA is the 1st). This time he starts with a political story, the suicide of the City Council President. A phone tip makes him curious about why the suicide was committed. But when the tipster turns up dead before being able to spill the beans Kline finds himself once agin in the middle of the police and FBI, both who are investigating different areas of the case. It seems there is some involvement with the local Dwarf population. But then things take on a more personal twist.

First Kline is the subject of some nasty visions. Secondly, his daughter is coming to the city and may be in big trouble. Now the forces behind the suicide are against Kline and his daughter. Kline has never been in more danger as it seems Hell itself is after him. But what does it want from him and how does he keep his family safe?

This one is even wilder than the last one and set about two years later. The hard-boiled detective aspect is still the heart of the story. This time we get to see some of the more unsavory aspects of magic. Once again the author does not stoop to using magic as a cheap out but he also pulls out all of the stops in this one. The story moves a little faster than in the first book and it is almost dizzying. If you liked the first one you will have to check this one out. I want more!

An over looked writer.......2006-01-31

The second in what hope is a series , by a writer that I think is under rated. The plot and setting are all standard stuff, but the way Swann uses them are the mark of a pro, you will want to read all his stuff.

better than the first book, a first rate mystery novel in a fantasy setting.......2006-01-13

I like this book better than its predecessor. I don't know whether that's solely because I've read far more urban fantasy since then and come to appreciate more about the genre, or whether Swann's writing has improved, or both. I suspect that a big part of it, however, is that this book is less fantasy, and more crime/murder mystery, which is a genre I like even better than fantasy. It's a very good mystery that happens to be in a fairly good fantasy setting, possibly an ideal combination for a genre-fiction junkie like me.

A lot has happened out in our world since the publication of the first book in the series, "Dragons of the Cuyahoga." It came out in October 2001, obviously written before 9/11. In "Dwarves" Swann has managed to incorporate some of the changes in law enforcement in the US fairly seamlessly. That some of our cops are elves does not change the fact that there's plenty of the traditional resentment and non-cooperation between local police forces and the FBI; Homeland Security has to deal with such things as dragons immigrating through the Portal, and the City Council has to deal with dwarven equivalents of labor unions - it's a nice way to make some of these conventions fresh within the mystery setting.

Within the fantasy elements of the story, I always appreciate it when fantasies have some sort of structure and rules, rather than the author assuming that since it's fantasy, nothing has to make sense or follow in a logical manner. Swann's magical creatures have rules and limits to their power, which is one of the things that helps the book play fair under the conventions of the mystery genre. In addition, I like the fact that Swann's Cleveland is a recognizable place. Some fantasy novels are set in real places but give you so little sense of place you wouldn't recognize it - Hamilton's St. Louis for example, doesn't seem to have any characters other than Anita Blake's circle and no other businesses but the vampire clubs; we wouldn't know it was St. Louis if she didn't happen to mention it. Swann's Cleveland, on the other hand, is definitely a real city - with politics, businesses, economic divisions between different neighborhoods, and lots of local color, including digs at professional sports.

The plot will look familiar to mystery readers: reporter Kline Maxwell gets a call from a potential informant, who is then murdered before he meets with Maxwell. From there, Maxwell must determine not only who killed his informant, but what the subject matter is that the informant was going to tell him about. (Have you ever noticed, in the mystery genre, that when someone says "I can't tell you over the phone; you'll have to meet with me," it invariably means that they should've gone ahead and said something over the phone, before it's too late?)

Swann has quite a way with a turn of phrase. Undeveloped suburban land attracts industrial parks "like a presidential campaign attracted unreasonable promises." And at the warehouses in those parks, "Semi trucks backed into loading bays -- industrial young sucking the teats of their mother." Isn't that a great image?

Other things to look for: the introduction of zombies into the existing cast of supernatural characters; a short dig at academic grant wrangling; the history of salt.

Anything more than that would be giving away too much of the plot. So I'll just end this review by saying that people who think they don't like fantasy, but who do like murder mysteries, probably will enjoy this book. Possibly more than people who prefer their elves with bows and arrows and their dragons in caves.

The devil you know isn't always the best .......2006-01-03

Two years after the events in DRAGONS OF THE CUYAHOGA reporter Kline Maxwell of the Cleveland Press is amazed to find that he has fallen into another Fuzzy Gnome story - this time about Dwarves.

Maxwell doesn't want to cover this story, but he soon realises that it has political implications and when the Feds get involved and threats are made against his family he doesn't see much choice but to go ahead with the investigation.

This story is well paced and an enjoyable read. Its good to read an urban fantasy that doesn't involve a hard boiled noir investigator. While this is essentially a mystery novel, Maxwell doesn't go out of his way to know about the supernatural that surrounds him on a daily basis and in these books we learn some the harder magical facts of life as he does. For a nice light urban fantasy mystery these are a good couple of novels.

The Island Whisky Trail: An Illustrated Guide to the Hebrridean Distilleries

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the island whisky trail an illustrated guide to the hebridean distilleries

The Island Whisky Trail: An Illustrated Guide to the Hebrridean Distilleries
Neil Wilson
Manufacturer: Interlink Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1903238498

Customer Reviews:

the island whisky trail an illustrated guide to the hebridean distilleries.......2007-01-10

This is a splendid book about the single malt distilleries of the Hebrides, and although it features a yacht owners' exclusive tour, it is well worth the read just to find out about the distilleries that will show you around and give you a whisky tasting. Nice photography and well-written narrative. The 4 star rating (as opposed to 5) is because very few of us will be able to afford it!

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Whiskey Island 49
Summer 2005
Manufacturer: UNSPECIFIED VENDOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UDO1PM

Whiskey Island Magazine (Cleveland State University, Summer/Fall 1998)

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Whiskey Island Magazine (Cleveland State University, Summer/Fall 1998)
Pat (ed) Stansberry
Manufacturer: Cleveland State University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VDOX5Y

Whiskey Island Magazine (Issue 47, Spring 2004)

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Whiskey Island Magazine (Issue 47, Spring 2004)

Manufacturer: Cleveland State University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000F7ZIBE

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Whiskey Island Magazine (Summer 1996)

Manufacturer: Cleveland State University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000AUTA92

Product Description

1996 Fiction & Poetry Contest WinnersInternet Interview with Liz Rosenburg

Whiskey Island Magazine: Contest Issue Fall 2001

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Whiskey Island Magazine: Contest Issue Fall 2001

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BXEN2C

Product Description

Contest winners from Cleveland State contest for poetry and fiction.

Whiskey Island Magazine: Fall/Winter 1992

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Whiskey Island Magazine: Fall/Winter 1992
Cynthia Meyer, Editor, Illustrated by John Mercer Sabik
Manufacturer: Cleveland State University, 1992
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IU8YXC

Customer Reviews:

Great Continued Story.......2007-09-18

Dan Abnett is one of my favorite Warhammer 40k writers. He continues his great writing in this 3rd novel about Inquisitor Ravenor. His character development and story telling are great and this novel is a great addition to any collection.

A great ending to an awesome trilogy.......2007-06-12

The only thing I didn't like was that it ended. It keeps a high pace from start to finish and wraps up the Ravenor series nicely. Dan Abnett is a great writer and I can visualise the incredible scenes in his stories with ease.

A good, solid book!.......2007-06-01

Dan Abnett is one of my favorite authors, and is definitely one of the best of those who write for game franchises. You can always count on him to deliver a good, solid adventure story, and Ravenor Rogue is no exception. Although I preferred his Eisenhorn series, Ravenor and his team are good fun too. If you like 40k and you love a good read, you could do worse than to pick this one up!

Great Abnett story, comment follow.......2007-06-01

This is a very good addition to the Ravenor series. My comments contain spoilers.

SPOILER WARNING

Abnett resolves the multi-book plot of the search for Molotch, the Slyte daemon thread, and adds a few surprises to boot. My thoughts and comments are as follows -

Molotch - Abnett, more than any author I can name, creates challenging, competent villains who are usually the equals of the protagonist. This is unlike many authors (including BL authors, some of whom just offer comic-book antagonists), and is a strong point of this book and series in general.

Early introduction of the Door allowed it to be used in the climax without too much of a taste of Deus ex Machina, though I got some of that anyway. The Door, on the other hand, would certainly seem to defy much of what is established in W40k (instantaneous travel through space and time). The only thing I have heard of this type of thing involved the emperor's project on Terra before he was not-killed.

Visit to 404, M40 - when the party escapes, how did the sword-woman (forgot the name) get her sword back? That would be kept in an evidence room or an armoury, not in the medical area. For that matter, how did they even escape, Nurse, the Chair and all, and get off the base? It seems like he skipped over writing something that might have been very hard to write believably.

I had been annoyed since the first book about Thonius's issue and the apparent blindness of Ravenor to obvious circumstantial evidence in books 1 and 2 - in fact, I had wondered if Abnett was going to write book 3 with Ravenor having suspected all along, but nope.

This book was kept to what seems to be a BL-standard 300 pages. I wonder how much material Abnett had that didn't make it into this book. The ending reminds me some of the Eisenhorn trilogy ending despite us being given far more detail here about Ravenor's probable fate. Unlike his recent Armour of Contempt, I think he was able to get a good story in 300 pages here. I do with BL would consider raising this cap.

A Fantastic Story.......2007-05-14

As always Dan Abnett proves the streotype of trash scifi run and gun novels apart with innovative characters, vivid and imaginative locales and a worthwhile plot. When it comes time for the action you care about who wins and have a strong mental image of what is happening. My only complaint is that the end seems robbed, similar to Eisenhorn. I get the feeling that Dan was told he better get an ending tacked onto this series quick. It speaks the the content of the subject matter that a rushed ending from Abnett is still of so satisfying.

Average customer rating:

Not bad
Very enjoyable book, seems to lack central character/protagonist
Great SF even if you're not a War hammer40k fan
An Excellent Beginning
Eisenhorn part 2

Ravenor (Ravenor 1)
Dan Abnett
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1844160734

Book Description

Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor and his team investigate corruption within the Imperium and find the taint runs deeper than they could possibly imagine.

Customer Reviews:

Not bad.......2007-06-19

This is a decent W40K book. Not as good as Eisenhorn, but better than others.

Very enjoyable book, seems to lack central character/protagonist.......2006-06-02

I read this book after reading Mr. Abnett's Eisenhorn trilogy, and while I enjoyed it a great deal, I did sense that some central character was missing from the story, or not focused on enough to provide a certain intensity of conflict. Ravenor's first-person narrative is less than a quarter of the book i estimate, and much of the actual conflict in the novel is through other characters, understandable given ravenor's condition. I contrast this with the eisenhorn stories, where eisenhorn was the central character and all conflict (or nearly so) revolved around his personal involvement.

I did find Zael whiny and rather tiresome, particularly when he couldn't get his act together after the last dream while ship was invaded...

great book, waiting to receive book 2. Helps a lot with background to have read eisenhorn books first, aside from them being fantastic.

Great SF even if you're not a War hammer40k fan.......2006-05-07

A highly skilled team working for the Imperial Inquisition roots out illegal dug smugglers. Sound overdone except the drugs are tainted with an evil supernaturall power and it's Dan Abnett writing the story.
Truly one of the most underrated SF authors around. If you like military Sf,read this book. If you like adventures of Richard Sharpe, read this book. If you like Star Wars, read this book.

Heck, if you like SF read Ravenor, then do yourself a favor and read the Eisenhorn trilogy. Forget the cheesy covers and find the hidden treasure of an adventure inside.

An Excellent Beginning.......2006-02-17

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (particularly if one has read any of my other reviews of 40K novels), M. Abnett is easily the most talented writer in the Black Library stable of authors. His works often become canon in the game universe, and much of his writings have formative effects on the latter editions of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K game, much in the same way that M. Watson's writings did for the earlier editions.

Ravenor, is an excellent action-adventure that utilizes many of the characters introduced in the Eisenhorn Trilogy: Inquisitor Ravenor, Kara Swole, and Harlon Nayl to name a few. M. Abnett also adds a wealth of entirely new cast-members for our entertainment. Ravenor himself is a fascinating character, essentially limited to the realm of his psychic abilities by his physical restrictions. This book clearly delves more into the background of psykers, their abilities, and the interesting physical consequences thereof than any other penned so far.

One of M. Abnett's chief talents lies in creating a vivid, believable setting. The locations sing with the gothic feel of the universe, but from the vibrant view of the privileged and powerful, rather than the teeming, hopeless masses. His characters are bigger than life, but he ensures that there are equally capable antagonists who can match them blow for blow. This contrast provides dynamic tension throughout the work. Unlike some, his villains act intelligently and have believable motivations of their own. Unlike some less capable 40K authors, he makes very little use of dues ex machina and creates resolutions that don't destroy suspension of disbelief.

If M. Abnett has a weakness, it's his endings, during which his plot devices can become a little too abrupt and a little less believable, but this is a minor annoyance in an otherwise excellent whole. It is also clearly the first book in a series, and though it comes to a conclusion of sorts, it leaves most of the bigger questions unanswered, and the characters make plans for future operations in the "last" chapter.

"Fluff"-ologists will love the book, as it covers new ground for psykers and has an abundance of other background material. General science fiction readers will enjoy it on its own merits. There is a worthy sequel already out, Ravenor Returned (which I have also reviewed).

In short: an excellent action thriller which promises to be the start of another trilogy for a fine writer.

Eisenhorn part 2.......2006-02-15

The only thing keeping this from being the further adventures of Eisenhorn is his absence, not that this is a bad thing. The pacing is excellent and the plot is imaginative and enjoyable. The world of Warhammer 40k isn't bent to fit the writers vision. All in all I'd say this is an excellent read for any sci fi fan.

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Abnett Strikes Again
Actually better than the first title?
A Compelling "Connector"
Shades of Eisenhorn!
The Plot Thickens

Ravenor Returned (Warhammer 40,000)
Dan Abnett
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1844161854

Book Description

On the wild frontiers of human space, Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor and his elite team of agents hunt down mankind's most dangerous enemies. If Chaos is left unchecked, mankind's future is surely doomed.

Customer Reviews:

Abnett Strikes Again.......2006-06-30

The man's quality never slips. He manages to captivate throughout his 7th inquisitor story with what's basically the same formula - undercover ops, high politics and graphic violence, with daemons and cultists thrown in. The action is so seamless that you often forget to admire his attention to detail and ability to pull together complex plot strands with very few holes in the result.

I found the style of the Ravenor novels mildly less engaging than the Eisenhorn trilogy's first-person narration. But that didn't stop me reading them in one go.

The one thing Abnett never quite pulls off is the ending, which as usual leaves you hanging for a resolution. I guess that just means you'll have to buy the next one...

Actually better than the first title?.......2006-06-02

This was a fun book to read, and my primary complaint with the first title in this series (lack of central protagonist, or at least written in a way that didn't associate reader with one) seems to have not been an issue here, despite ravenor's perspective being only a small part of the book.

as usual abnett creates very vivid worlds and villains, I cannot name another author who can make such live and competent villains in this genre.

Obviously this is at least a 3-part series.

A Compelling "Connector".......2005-11-04

It virtually goes without saying by now that M. Abnett is the most talented writer in the Black Library stable of authors. His works have had a formative effect on the game universe, and much of his writings have become canon in the 3rd and 4th editions of Games Workshop's Warhammer 40K game, much in the same way that M. Watson's writings did for the 1st and 2nd.

Ravenor Returned, the sequel to Ravenor, is clearly a middle tale, in much the same way The Empire Strikes Back was a middle tale in the "first" three Star Wars films. This is not to say that it doesn't have an engaging storyline of its own, but it clearly leaves space for the next book in the series as it concludes.

M. Abnett clearly has a talent for immersing the reader in his world, making the background come alive, and helping the reader "see" the words. His characters are bigger than life in many ways, and yet they each have frailties to match their strengths. This contrast makes them seem much more real, even though they are all clearly "heroes" in some form of the mold. His villains act intelligently, having believable motivations of their own, and there are virtually no abominable "belief in the Emperor somehow turns the tide" plot devices (excepting one on a thankfully very minor matter).

Warhammer 40K "fluff" fanatics will love the book, as it's chalk full of background material from the aforementioned immersive world, but even non-gamers will enjoy it on its own merits, though I highly recommend reading Ravenor prior to this one to get the most out of the tale.

In short: a highly entertaining tale; I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book.

Shades of Eisenhorn!.......2005-10-26

The Black Library publishes some mightly fine sci-fi, but Dan Abnett is truly one of its best! I thought his Eisenhorn series was outstanding, and was terribly disappointed when he finally retired Gregor after 3 terrific books! But you can still get almost the same taut, compelling Abnett style since Ravenor continues the tradition with a twist; if Eisenhorn was dashing and lit up his universe with bright swatches of color; Ravenor is reserved and paints his universe with shades and hues.

In Returned, Ravenor goes rogue and returns his strike team to a planet where the corruption goes right to the top. His team gets some help from unexpected places(!) and the action is more subtle, but still twists and turns in ways that will keep you reading! I can't wait for the next sequel!

The Plot Thickens.......2005-04-26

Ravenor Returned opens with Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor and his retinue surreptitiously returning to Eustis Majoris to further probe the activities of an illicit trade cartel dealing in narcotics and forbidden technology. Believed dead by their enemies, Ravenor and his compatriots choose to proceed undercover, thus forsaking the official assistance typically afforded an Imperial Inquisitor. The group soon begins to question the wisdom of this decision, however, as it discovers that the trade cartel has very powerful friends in very high places. Compounding the problem is the unexpected appearance of previously unknown third parties, each with its own cryptic agenda. Left to their own devices and facing a variety of foes, Ravenor and crew struggle to identify the architect behind the smuggling operation and the reason for the importation of the warp tainted technology.

Unlike Abnett's earlier Eisenhorn series which featured frequent intense action sequences, Ravenor Returns progresses at a somewhat slower pace and relies more heavily upon clandestine detective work than it does on open conflict and combat. Abnett is one of those rare Black Library authors who always seems to make the "grim darkness of the far future" feel almost within the readers' reach. We remain engaged even as Abnett escorts us to such "mundane" settings as a vast Administratum data center, drowning in bureaucratic minutia, or a dreary Ministorum office staffed by overworked and underappreciated gumshoes. Personally, I think Abnett's overwhelming success as a 40K writer is due in no small part to his ability to make the alien and exotic seem strangely familiar and Ravenor Returned certainly does not disappoint in that regard.

Despite the measured pace of the book, those readers looking for riveting actions scenes will not be disappointed as the snooping and prying of Ravenor and his confederates ultimately leads to several violent clashes with seemingly unstoppable foes. Rather than simply throwing stock antagonists at our heroes, Abnett instead continues to surprise with inventive and nuanced opposition. Along the way, an old adversary returns to the fray and several members of Ravenor's entourage begin to grow and evolve in ways that neither they nor the readers could have imagined. Overall, a gripping account through the very last page which leaves the reader eager for the next installment.

Average customer rating:

Ravenor
Dan Abnett
Manufacturer: GAMES WORKSHOP (ABS)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K1ZJXM

Average customer rating:

Ravenor
Dan Abnett
Manufacturer: Games Workshop Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NZQL32

Average customer rating:

White Fire
John Ravenor (& H.P. Lovecraft) Bullen
Manufacturer: Recluse Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MZQIFE

Book Description

From the darkest days on slave ships to the defiant times of the Civil Rights Movement, prayer has embodied the most intense expression of African and African-American spirituality. As Mrs. Coretta Scott King writes in her foreword to Standing in the Need of Prayer, "It is said that every prayer is heard and every prayer is answered in some way [and] I still believe that the millions of prayers spoken by African Americans from the Middle Passage on down to today have been heard by a righteous and loving God."

In this remarkable book, striking photographs and powerful prayers drawn from the unparalleled collections of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture span the broad spectrum of black religious traditions during the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. From the plaintive Yoruba prayer to "Look after us,/Look after our children" and the humble opening prayer of the Qur'ân to "Guide us on the right path" to W. E. B. Du Bois's prideful prayer to "Let [Thy children] grow in the capacity for worthy work...and may they in the end prove worthy of their great heritage," this extraordinary volume reflects the struggle, despair, determination, and triumph of the black experience through the ages. Drawing from faiths as diverse as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Vodou, the book also includes prayers from some of history's most powerful voices, among them Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

At once beautiful and evocative, Standing in the Need of Prayer captures the most varied, striking, and powerful photographic and poetic expressions of prayer in a joyous celebration of the rich spiritual roots of a courageous people whose incredible spiritual journey will inspire generations to come.

Customer Reviews:

Moving and Powerful.......2004-01-21

For every African American to read is an understatement..This book helps African Americans remember how they fought in times of struggle with the help of prayer.

Beautiful Book.......2003-12-01

This is a wonderful book, a very special book. When I look at these pictures of people praying to God in so many religious traditions, I am moved in a way I have never experienced before with a book. I will recommend this book and I will lift this book as high as I can.

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