Under Kilimanjaro

Customer Reviews:

Another version of "True at First Light".......2007-06-28

Readers should be aware that this "last" book by Hemingway is not really new. In essence, it is just another version of the previous "last" Hemingway title, "True at First Light," published in 1999. Both are based on the same unfinished manuscript, but edited by different people & put out by different publishers - "True at First Light" was edited by Hemingway's son Patrick and published by Scribner. Of the 2 accounts, "Under Kilimanjaro" is significantly longer, clocking in at over 100 pages more than "First Light."

Under Kilamanjaro.......2006-11-04

My first Hemingway experience, ironically, his final work? Halfway through my 4th of his offerings at this time, I am inspired to read his entire catalogue. The characters were varied, rich and endearing. The settings, their "campi"(camp) and surrounding areas, warmly described. One could sense the congenial yet mildly tempestuous dynamic maintained between the various tribesman and the employees of the British colonists and Hemingway. A familiar, symbiotic relationship of convenience. Takes a little while to become acquainted with the characters and their surroundings because of the frequent Swahili based references, but this should not deter one from moving forward or beginning this novel. In time, this becomes a non issue and actually contributes to the unique flavor of this work. When my wife started to read this novel, I suggested that she take note of the glossary at the back. In retrospect, I would have done so after reading the introduction, prior to beginning chapter one and perhaps used it as an occasional guide throughout the reading. A thoroughly enjoyable visit to early 1950's East Africa with a unique individual.

Joe Jessome

A poor representation of a great man's skill.......2006-06-09

Hemingway left his memoirs of his African safari in a Havana bank vault. These memoirs were stored away as insurance for future publication. Hemingway had requested that these rough drafts never be published after his death. The Authors of this book should have respected his orders.
Under Kilimanjaro is an attempt to resurrect the ghost of Hemingway's great writing skills, and in so doing, it fails miserably. Part of Hemingway's trademark was to edit a work to its bare essentials. This book fails in this regard as well.
The plot essentially revolves around his wife's obsession to kill a lion. Her obsessive-compulsive temper tantrums are a common occurrence throughout the book. In other events, Hemingway is in a continues killing and drinking spree. There are, however, some entertaining moments, mainly when Hemingway's reflects on his past adventures in France and Spain.
In short this book should have been left in a vault in Havana. . For a more accurate account, one should read "the Snows of Kilimanjaro". Under Kilimanjaro amounts to a poor representation of a great man's skill. It is an attempt by his family to profit from his legacy by trying to resurrect his ghost.

hemingways last hunt in africa.......2006-04-26

I`ve always been skeptical judging the hemingway books published after his death and whether they really could be hemingway books since they were mostly unfinished and unsigned by the author himself for publication.If a work that purports to be an attempt at artistic expression is unfinished or considered for that reason by the author to be unpublishable, can you really include it the canon of his works?Can his reputation be affected by it as these books have undoubtably affected hemingways? Or have they at least created a perception in the value of his work , from beginning to end?The Old Man and the Sea was the last book he authorized for book publication and anything that was to published after that(his death) should be judged seperately as a curiosity.All that said , Under Kikimanjaro is a marvelously written work in progress.To anyone who thinks hemingway lost his gift after the great work in the twenties and thirties, read some of this prose.It is reminisent of the Green Hills of Africa and you might even call it Green Hills of Africa 2 On the whole, is it a great book?No, but it is an entertaining one and a wonderful thing to have and to hear that voice again mostly in full stride.Now lets see the "The Garden of Eden" without the cuts and the letters being collected written by (whether you like him or not) the most influential literary stylist of the 20th century.Note added 17 may 2007;1st vol of letters to be published later part of 2008.Papa re-dux.

An important, definitive polishing of Hemingway's final creation.......2005-12-05

Under Kilimanjaro was Hemingway's last book and was an autobiographical novel about the country he knew and grew to love when he spent several months in Kenya between 1953 and 1954 - but it was completed in 1956 and is the last of his manuscripts to be published in its entirety. No definitive Hemingway collection could be without Under Kilimanjaro: co-editors Robert Lewis and Robert Fleming have aspired to produce a complete reading text of Hemingway's original and their work makes for an important, definitive polishing of Hemingway's final creation.

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Under Kilimanjaro
Belo Lionel Brescia
Manufacturer: Carlton Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0806250224

Customer Reviews:

Three Short Stories.......2007-08-14

Even Hannah Howell had to give the paranormal a try....

I didn't care of any of these three short stories. They all were just too simple and lacking in content--even for short stories.

Entertaining fluff.......2007-01-16

After reading many intriguing vampire stories, and many stories of the Highlands (most notably, the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon), the only way to categorize this is "fluff". The feel of the Highlands is glancing and repetitive, and the horror level is mild. There is just too much of the trashy romance novel here for my taste.

Of course, as everyone's taste is different, your mileage may vary.

Great Vampire Romance book.......2006-01-17

I really liked this book. It was the first vampire, historical, romance novel that I read and now I can not find enough of them. If you enjoy historical romance with a twist you will enjoy this book.

three delightfully biting vampiric historical Scottish romances .......2005-08-26

"Kiss of the Vampire" by Hannah Howell. In 1478 at court Janklyn MacNachton sees Efrica Callen for the first time in three years and realizes he still desires her. When two lords accost Efrica, he intercedes. She makes it clear she wants him, but he offers this wealthy heiress nothing but darkness that will eventually become the light that he sees deep in her soul.

"His Eternal Bride" by Adrienne Basso. In 1321 Anaxandra watches the wonderful Highlander lead his men to a slaughter of the English. Afterward the creature of the night slips into his keep and has her way him. The McCloskey clan blames the death of their chieftain on his bride Callum. They lock her away in an isolated tower where she dreams of seeing her beloved once more. As she begins to believe he still lives in a shadowy place, Callum debates joining him in his realm.

"To Tame the Beast" by Deborah Raleigh. Bane the Beast of MacDonnell is cursed to live a lonely existence so he forces each generation of the Foster clan to give him the oldest daughter when she turns twenty-one. Kathryn will be the next sacrifice shortly, but her younger sister Isobella challenges Bane to leave them alone, but is stunned to find a handsome man rather than a monster. He is shocked that the lass will do what no warrior has done in centuries get into his face and no woman ever before get into his heart.

These are three delightfully biting vampiric historical Scottish romances that will leave the audience thirsting for more bloodsucking hunks and passionate women who tame the beasts.

Harriet Klausner

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L.G. Burbank is the successor to Anne Rice

The Ruthless (Lords of Darkness)
L.G. Burbank
Manufacturer: Medallion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 193281521X

Book Description

Mordred Soulis, the Chosen One, has awakened from his healing slumber, and must now continue his mission to save mankind.It is time to journey to the land of ice and snow, to the place where earth and heaven meet.It is time to enlist the aid of the second of the mighty Vampyre kings, Lir.

Customer Reviews:

L.G. Burbank is the successor to Anne Rice.......2005-10-14

The Catholic Church created Vlad in their quest for immortality but lost control of him. He now wants to eradicate humans from the face of the earth and hopes that Mordred, the half vampyre he created will help him. Mordred rejects him and is on a quest to get the aid of the other vampire kings to help him in the upcoming battle with Vlad. He must prove to each of them he is the Chosen One, destined to defeat his creator and bring light into a troubled world.

After gaining the acceptance of the Narrangantti vampyre king, he travels to Rome because an evil sect within the church has awakened Vlad who possesses one of their priests. When he arrives in Rome, he kidnaps Father Simon and travels with him to the Carpathian Mountains to the home of Vlad the Impaler. Vlad is trapped in the Impaler's body. He hopes to break the possession but ends up in mortal combat with his enemy and loses consciousness. He wakes up in Valhalla where he is to fight the second vampire king so that he will acknowledge Mordred as the Chosen One. They next seek a sacred object hidden by the Knights Templar in the New World unaware the evil sect within the Catholic Church, the Red Caps, are hunting for Mordred because according to the prophecy in the Dead Sea Scrolls, he can ruin their plans.

No doubt about it, L.G. Burbank is the successor to Anne Rice. Her vampyre Mordred is unique, refreshingly original and doesn't give in to his dark side. Readers will admire him and empathize with the many travails he undergoes. THE RUTHLESS is a fast paced action packed supernatural thriller worthy of a Bram Stoker award nomination for its originality and creativity. The audience will eagerly await the next book in this terrific series.

Harriet Klausner

Lords of Darkness: The Soulless (Lords of Darkness)

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nice author, bad book
Disappointing "ending", if you can even call it an ending....
A chore to read
Don't read this book if you like cliched, overdone vampires...
inaccurate & boring

Lords of Darkness: The Soulless (Lords of Darkness)
L.G. Burbank
Manufacturer: Medallion Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

ASIN: 0974363995

Book Description

I was once the consort of queens, advisor to kings, and a prince among men. I sat to the right of each throne from the earliest, Scorpion King, to cleopatra VII, and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. After the fall of the Egyptian Empire, I remained undisturbed, feeding off the countless dead buried beneath the shifting sands, until now. I have been awakened by a half-born vampyre, Morderd Soulis. He is not pure, but a mixed breed of both mortal and immortal. I am told he is to be the savior of all mankind. He will champion the cause of humans in the centuries ahead. For now, he is no more than a young pup, and one sorely in need of much education on the way of the undead. He tries my patience, refuses to listen to my words, and asks more questions than there are stars in the sky, but he also amuses me. And so, I will reveal to him that whcih he longs to know. But you should always take care in what you wish for. the knowledge I bestow upon this impure creature could help him, or harm him. Only the endless march of time will tell!

Customer Reviews:

nice author, bad book.......2006-10-14

I only bought the book because I met the author and really liked talking to that person.

Anyway, as many suggest, this book is not worth the read. It's prose is flat, character is unwittingly dull; and action is too glossed over. When Soullis is "made" the scene was too abrupt and you end up thinking, "Huh?" I am not a novice to vampire stories or fantasy novels, and I just had to re-read it a hundred times to make sure I understood what just happened.
His transformation from honorable human knight to vampyre seemed almost too cartoonish to be taken seriously.

The whole plot of the CRusaders protecting a vampire was just too ridiculous to behold. And, let's be honest, the Crusaders were fighting for their God, not to protect a vampire. ....but I digress...I don't claim to be a Templar professor, but I know enough about them to say, "blech" to that concept.

I know this was pure fiction, and not meant to be taken seriously, but it is very unreadable due to the fact of the 'historical facts'.
The conclusion is lame and anti-climatic at best. Predictable, and I did not just believe in Soullis' "burning need" to take it out on Vlad.
The dialogue has many cliches, I just can't even put in this review. If there were 'minuses' I'd put it at a '-5'.
Unfortunately, not worth the pick up, nice author though.

Disappointing "ending", if you can even call it an ending...........2005-11-01

Talk about a lot of reading for no pay-off! The premise for this book is very promising but fails to deliver.

In a nutshell: The tale starts off with the creation and education of the fledgling vampyre, Mordred Soulis. He is eventually taken under the wing of the Templars and put through a series of tests...all to determine whether he is the Chosen One, the one to save all mankind from Vlad, an evil vampyre, (and his father; as Vlad is the father of all vampyres). Mordred is destined to battle Vlad in the end to save the human race.

Without boring you by going through the whole rigamarole, we follow Mordred on his journey of enlightenment, the author loads the story of his journey with rich detail, at this point I am completely engrossed in the book.

Suddenly! The book becomes very fast paced with little or no detail at all. The author pretty much ties the whole story up in a matter of a few paragraphs. I was so disappointed after reading all that I had :( I thought this was going to be a book that really stuck with me. I feel the author really copped out in the end and ruined what could have been a truly spellbinding tale.

The long anticipated final battle with Vlad that Mordred spent the entire book preparing for never occurs, there is one wimpy fight between them where Vlad ends up running off with his tail between his legs saying something to the effect of "We will meet again for the final battle" ...and the book leaves you hanging, forcing you to read the second installment in this lame series.

I say save your money- I know I won't bother to waste my time.

A chore to read.......2005-08-21

Though this was an interesting twist to what's become fluid vampire mythology in today's vamp fiction trend, I struggled through this well-written yet slow-paced tome by L.G. Burbank. The story goal was too vague to hold my interest, I skimmed over many passages of superfluous exposition, and the character of Mordrid wasn't developed enough for me to care what happened to him. He was a puppet without a past, and his motivation for becoming a mercenary soldier was never made clear. If it was just for the money, why? Was he building himself a fortune for... what? Every time I picked the book back up I considered it a chore to read rather than a pleasure. By the time I got halfway through, I knew I couldn't finish it. I didn't care whether or not Mordrid being a vampire would somehow save the world. The lack of suspenseful storytelling made it too boring to finish.

The cover art is fabulous, but because of the story inside, I would not recommend it to friends. I will not read anything else by L.G. Burbank.

I'm an avid reader of horror and dark fantasy, but this was definitely not the book for me.

Don't read this book if you like cliched, overdone vampires..........2005-07-20

I loved this book for the simple fact it brought some very original ideas into play in what could have been a very boring, cliched vampire novel. The way the word is spelled in the book, vampyre, is from old Russian/Baltic lore. I love the fact that Mordred can go out in the sun, isn't afraid of silver and all that other crap. I love that this is not an Anne Rice book or a Bram Stoker rip off, but a unique, albiet wacky voice in an overwritten genre. And the Roman Catholic church, while it may not have been referred to as such until after 1500, was indeed in Rome prior and was indeed the center of the Catholic faith so I have no issues with the research. Besides, this is a fantasy work first and foremost and we all know vampyres aren't real right? Love it. Looking forward to the next one.

inaccurate & boring.......2005-07-04

It sounded like it had possibilities--but the back of the book was completely misleading. Also, Burbank's utter disregard for history got on my nerves. I'm a professional medievalist (at a university) and I can assure you that even a little bit of research would have saved her. Mordred didn't seem even slightly Scottish. Events, locations, dates--all shaky. And if I had to read that the Crusades were supported by the "Roman Catholic Church" one more time, I thought I'd puke. Pre-Reformation Chritianity was all one religion...there was NO RC church until AFTER 1517, well after the Crusades. Sorry, you can't blame Catholicism alone for that mess. Read a history book; don't try to write them.

3 Titles By Hannah Howell : Highland Vampire Highland Promise Highland Warrior

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3 Titles By Hannah Howell : Highland Vampire Highland Promise Highland Warrior
Hannah Howell , Adrienne Basso , and Deborah Raleigh
Manufacturer: Zebra Historical Romance
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books

Vampires | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PGGQ6Q

Product Description

three mmpb books. 3 Titles By Hannah Howell : Highland Vampire (three stories by three authors) Highland Promise Highland Warrior

Highland Thirst[hardcover,erotic Vampires]

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Highland Thirst[hardcover,erotic Vampires]
hannah howell and lynsay sands
Manufacturer: kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VTWBOS

Product Description

not all vampires live by blood alone....

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A little imagination......................

HIGHLAND VAMPIRE
BASSO, RALEIGH HOWELL
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739458388

Product Description

one kiss could mean forever....the scottish highlands echo with legends of great battles,brave heroes and,hidden deep in the swirling mists,creatures that belong to the night.kiss of the vampire by hannah howell,his eternal bride by adrienne basso&to tame the beast by deborah raleigh.let these seductive,erotic tales of everlasting love transport you to a world where the most dangerous desires awaken after dark....

Customer Reviews:

A little imagination.............................2005-12-16

I enjoyed this book. I normally read contemporary romances, but this was given to me as a gift. I have decided to read more books by these authors. This book is written in 3rd person (for those who do not like 1st person written books!).

Choose Your Own Adventure set: (30) The Curse of Batterslea Hall, (31) Vampire Express, (32) Treasure Diver, (33) The Dragon's Den, (34) The Mystery of the Highland Crest [[Boxed Set 30-34] 1984]

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Choose Your Own Adventure set: (30) The Curse of Batterslea Hall, (31) Vampire Express, (32) Treasure Diver, (33) The Dragon's Den, (34) The Mystery of the Highland Crest [[Boxed Set 30-34] 1984]
Richard Brightfield , Tony Koltz , Julius Goodman , and Louise Munro Foley
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NCWGRA

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Highland Vampire
Hannah Howell
Manufacturer: Zebra Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000UQ7S4A

Book Description

Boba Fett fears only one enemy--the one he cannot see....

Feared and admired, respected and despised, Boba Fett enjoys a dubious reputation as the galaxy's most successful bounty hunter. Yet even a man like Boba Fett can have one too many enemies....

When Boba Fett stumbles across evidence implicating Prince Xizor in the murder of Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle, Fett makes himself an enemy even he fears: the unknown mastermind behind a monstrous deception, who will kill to hide his tracks. Fett also finds himself in possession of an amnesiac young woman named Neelah, who may be the key to the mystery--or a decoy leading Fett into a murderous ambush. Fett's last hope is to run through the list of Xizor's hidden enemies. And since Xizor's hidden enemies are almost as legion as Fett's, the chance of survival is slim--even for someone as skilled and relentless as Boba Fett.

© 1999 Lucasfilm Ltd. and TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Customer Reviews:

AMW.......2006-08-10

I was once again impressed with this book as I was in book 1. The reviews for book 1 were mostly negative. Many said that they were hungry for Boba Fett---here's an idea, buy a poster. If not, you could bake a cake in the shape of Boba's helmet. If not just read the book-relax, and everything will be alright.

Pathetic Ending.......2006-05-23

The first book started out so well, but when you get to the very end here, everything is wrapped up too perfectly. Don't even get me started about Dengar's happy ending even suspending disbelief about as far as I was able it was too hard to swollow. There are just too many coincidences, everybody's fates all just happen to go to the same place. Lazy.

That being said, it's not horrible. It's worth a good read if you like Boba Fett. I'd suggest just getting the first book and this one, you won't miss out on anything skipping the second.

A let down. (possible spoilers).......2006-03-17

I had enjoyed the previous two books in the series, but was disapointed in this. The whole back story of the split of the guilds was worthless to the overall plot. The story moved slowly. This series could would have been better and shorter if the back story was not included. Boba Fett was just a little two big of a genius to be believable.

the final book in a rather horrid trilogy.......2005-04-22

K.W. Jeter's "Hard Merchandise" is the concluding volume of the "Bounty Hunters Wars" trilogy. This novel continues telling the story, the history of Boba Fett, the galaxy's most feared bounty hunter. As in the first two books, "Hard Merchandise" begins with the dual tale of Boba Fett after the events of "The Return of the Jedi" which begins right where "Slave Ship" left off, and Boba Fett's actions between Episodes Five and Six and before he ends up at Jabba's palace where he will end up in the Sarlacc. Having been forced to abandon his ship, Fett had taken control of the ship of one of his enemies, the bounty hunter Bossk. Bossk hates Fett and intends on taking revenge on Fett for personal affronts as well as for being the pivot which brought down the Bounty Hunter's Guild. Fett is, as always, closed mouth about his intentions, which is frustrating for his temporary partners. In the storyline which is in the past, Fett is seeking to learn who is going to great lengths to set up a trap and kill him.

But this book and this trilogy is not completely about Boba Fett. There is a continuing storyline about the Kuat Drive Yards, the company which builds most of the ships of the Empire and potentially the Rebel Alliance if the Alliance could afford to pay. There is internal intrigue on Kuat, and the leader of Kuat, Kuat of Kuat, is trying to keep his company out of the hands of those he deems untrustworthy. That would be everyone.

Honestly, while I have read all three Bounty Hunters books I still have no idea what the books were supposed to be about. Sure there were additional details about Boba Fett's past revealed, but nothing was terribly important or revealing that would warrant one book, let alone three. Other Star Wars books have been able to advance a storyline that ties into the galaxy we know from the movies as well as build upon the movies. The X-Wing series is an excellent example of this. This book, which really concludes nothing, and this series does none of this. For such an intriguing character as Boba Fett, this was a very boring book and a dull trilogy. I can see no reason to recommend these books to anyone. Had I never read this book (and if you haven't made it through the first two, don't start here), I would have missed nothing in the Star Wars Universe. I know exactly why people might be interested in these books: to have a trilogy based around Boba Fett. This book (all three, really) is just not worth the time spent reading. Other books, Star Wars or otherwise, are waiting. Choose another.

-Joe Sherry

The most satisfying of the Bounty Hunter books.......2004-06-01

Hard Merchandise : Star Wars: Book 3 of The Bounty Hunter Wars
by K.W. Jeter continues the story of Boba Fett, Neelah and Dengar after the battle on Tatooine. This book had the most surprises and was really unique in both the style and tone. I really enjoyed reading it. Overall the only problem I really had with the series was the characterization of Dengar as a not so brutal bounty hunter, something that takes away a little from the character. Other than that I have to give Jeter high marks for effort. He took the most mysterious and one of the most cherished characters in the Star Wars universe and crafted a well-written tale that did not totally destroy the perception of that character. Well done Mr. Jeter.

Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter, Book 3: Hard Merchandise

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Star Wars: The Bounty Hunter, Book 3: Hard Merchandise
K. W. Jeter
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000NJXFGE

Star Wars Hard Merchandise (Book 3 of the Bounty Hunter Wars)

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Star Wars Hard Merchandise (Book 3 of the Bounty Hunter Wars)
K W Jeter
Manufacturer: Bantam Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000OEOLV6

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The Little Book Of Conflict Transformation (The Little Books of Justice and Peacebuilding Series)
John Paul Lederach
Manufacturer: Good Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

War & Peace | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace

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ASIN: 1561483907

Book Description

This clearly articulated statement offers a hopeful and workable apporach to conflict--that eternally beleaguering human situation.

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