Book Description
Comic artist Ivan Brunetti, the creator of Schizo, offers a best-of anthology of contemporary art comics, along with some classic comic strips and other historical materials that have retained a “modern” sensibility. As with Chris Ware’s selections for his best-selling McSweeney’s anthology, Brunetti’s choices make for a highly personal book (“my criteria were simple: these are comics that I savor and often revisit”) that serves as a broad historical overview of the medium and a round-up of some of today’s best and most interesting North American comic artists. Included here are works from such well-known artists as Robert Crumb, Kim Deitch, Art Spiegelman, Chris Ware, Ben Katchor, Charles Burns, Gary Panter, Seth, Phoebe Gloeckner, Daniel Clowes, Lynda Barry, Joe Sacco, and Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, as well as many other pioneers whose names may be less familiar.
Brunetti offers selections from the works of more than seventy-five avant-garde comic artists. His selections are arranged by genre and grouped thematically. Luxuriously produced and printed in four-color throughout, the book is a must-have for collectors, aficionados, readers of comics, and those generally interested in cutting-edge art and literature.
Customer Reviews:
An interesting introduction to "comix".......2007-09-22
I wanted to get a taste of some "graphic fiction," and this book looked pretty good. I've enjoyed it, and it has certainly increased my knowledge of the medium, but it could have been better. By sticking to only the North American continent, there are a number of glaring omissions, such as Tintin, Asterix, and the enormous field of Japanese-language comics. The rising medium of webcomics has not a mention. There are even a few notable American comics which were omitted, such as Popeye and Dick Tracy. Krazy Kat is here, but with only one strip. Though I realize that space is at a premium here, there are a number of things which seem poorly represented.
Much of the book is made up of graphic novel excerpts, which irritate me slightly, as they tend to end just when they've captured my interest. However, there are also a lot of "short stories" and single-page or single-spread comics.
It should also be noted that this book is not intended for children. There is a good deal of what is often referred to as "language" and a number of depictions of sex and/or nudity.
One last thing...this book includes two "farewells" to Charles Schulz by Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware, which will no doubt interest Peanuts fans.
A Great Resource For the Newer Materials.......2007-07-13
I don't know if there is a softback version of this book, but I got the hardback and it is a bit of a pain to handle; the spine is real stiff and it is heavy and sharp edged; like it would be hard to lug in a back pack to be read on a subway train.
If I'm not mistaken, there is no Brunetti material in the book, other than his intro, sequencing, etc.! This was an oversight of Mr. Brunetti's!
There are some wonderful artists here, people whose work I haven't come across yet - I'm making a list as I read and googling them and buying their works. In this way the book is a wonderful guide - you could almost call it a buying guide. As mentioned in another review here, the book is hurt by not having a TOC or an index - no index! It makes researching these artists a little harder, but I'm getting around it.
This is a must buy for anyone that wants to be up to date on the more recent alt comics. It will be one of the reference works that will be left standing 30 years from now, when libraries and the great learning institutions finally realize how important these works are and teach them in lit courses and collect manuscripts, ha ha. I love the new attention for this genre that I have loved and followed for something like 35 years now, but since it's become mainstreamed the prices have gone up, and we are forced to read pompous, over-intellectualized and uptight reviews by the likes of Gary Groth, etc. I hope they relax one day and stop straining so hard to legitimize this genre; it is getting there in its own way and own time.
A change from the usual comic fare.......2007-06-21
There is a stark difference between mainstream commercial graphic fiction and the alternative or independent variety featured here. The difference is between Michael Bay and Darren Aronofsky although maybe even Aronofsky is too commercial. In many cases it's the difference between Bay and a college film maker. The point is that mainstream comics are generally intended for safe consumption by a mass audience while independents tend to reflect an artists true vision. Let me just say that this collection is not for everyone and it most certainly is not for children. The stories feature molestation, pedophilia, raw language and graphic nudity both male and female. Don't be fooled by the whimsical cover.
Ironically what got me interested in independent artists was a collection from DC comics called `Bizarro Comics' which featured alternate-comic creators doing their takes on the DC characters. Inspired by the unique stories in Bizarro I purchased `McSweeney's Issue 13' which absolutely blew me away. However, my next purchase, `The Best American Comics - 2006' was a big disappointment and led me to wonder if there just weren't enough quality alternative comics produced in a single year to create an entire 300+ page book. Some of the stories were entirely too long and left me wishing they were over. `An Anthology of Graphic Fiction' is an out of the park home run. The author presents comics going back to the 1940's but leaning decidedly towards current stuff. They run the gamut from Aline Crumbs primitive scratchings to Chris Ware meticulous works that look like they came straight from a graphic design class. The writing is much more profane and a helluva lot more gloomy than what you find in mainstream graphic fiction. Someone should do a study on why alternative artists are so depressed.
One final point. At the risk of sounding like an advertisement you DEFINITELY get your money's worth with this one. It's 400 pages jam packed with great material. Get this one... get `McSweeney's Issue 13' but skip `Best American' and if you still need more grab up the vastly underrated Bizarro Comics. If you've never experienced some of the alternate comics out there you really should give it a try. It's certainly different and definitely more intimate, honest and thought provoking.
Amazing Introduction for the Non-believer.......2007-03-27
This is one of the best graphic novel/alt comics anthologies that I have ever read.
The choice of selections and their arrangement are outstanding, allowing this anthology to serve as a great introduction for someone not familiar with the form and a terrific read for devotees.
Highly recommended, even if you already own Pekar's Best American Comics or Ware's volume of McSweeney's.
Great introduction to graphic fiction.......2007-03-20
I'm not extremely well-read on the subject of graphic fiction/cartoons/ comics as editor Ivan Brunetti refers to his anthology. This collection is extremely lengthy and definitely provides a taste of several different and very unique styles of artistry and story-telling.
There are about 30 contributers to this anthology. Some are more entertaining than others, but nearly all of them are intriguing in their own way. They each have some special draw that keeps you reading. And that's what Brunetti is putting on display here.
It seems like if you already knew what cartoonists you liked this book might be kind of useless, considering you'd probably already own the collections of comics that this book takes excerpts from, but as an introduction to this world of interlaced stories and drawings, it's perfect.
I felt like they could have been ordered in a more understandable way, maybe by date published, or alphabetically. But overall I have no complaints. The pages are beautiful and each different comic has its own style of paper and printing. It makes the anthology even more exciting to read. This is the perfect book to keep around for those times when you feel like reading a few non-committal pages.
Amazon.com
In her 10th novel, True to Form, Elizabeth Berg finds her way into the year 1961 and into the head of 13-year-old Katie Nash at the start of her summer vacation. Katie's world is smooth and easy with endless possibilities and sunshine. You almost expect sitcom-style canned laughter when she whines in frustration or stomps up to her room and turns the radio way up, but then almost everything Katie does fits that era's squeaky-clean conventionalities. The younger daughter of a remarried widower, Katie craves popularity, a great summer job, and a direct line to the local DJ to make requests. Newly transplanted from Texas, she settles in with her only friend, Cynthia, who shares her views on status and appearance and boys. Between a regular babysitting gig for a household of little boys and caring for an elderly bedridden woman, her summer is off to a less than auspicious start. Cynthia's mother's plot to start a Girl Scout troop and to camp out for a weekend in their living room doesn't help. Berg's plot doesn't exactly mine new territory, but Katie emerges as a girl who sees the world differently from the rest of her peers. Her poetic perspective on her surroundings and her predicaments should eventually win readers over. The period backdrop feels unformed against this portrait of a young artist-to-be, but Katie imbues it with fresh eyes. --Emily Russin
Book Description
In this warm and engaging novel, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg revisits the heroine she so lovingly brought to life in Durable Goods and Joy School.
It is 1961, and thirteen-year-old Katie is facing a summer full of conflict. First, instead of letting her find her own work for the season, Katie's father has arranged for two less-than-ideal baby-sitting jobs -- one for the rambunctious Wexler boys and another for Mrs. Randolph, a kind but elderly, bed-ridden neighbor. To make matters worse, Katie has been forcibly inducted into the "loser" Girl Scout troop organized by her only friend Cynthia's controlling and clueless mother. A much-anticipated visit to her former home in Texas and ex-best friend Cherylanne proves disappointing. And then comes an act of betrayal that leaves Katie questioning her views on friendship, on her ability not to take those she loves for granted, and, most important, on herself. "One thing to say about you, Katie, is that you are true. You should be proud of it, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise," Cherylanne insists. But whether or not Katie will ever feel true to herself remains to be seen.
From the writer whose work The New Yorker calls "strong" and "timeless," True to Form is a delicately told tale of a young girl wise beyond her years, whose growing pains finally awaken her to the clarity of forgiveness and a greater understanding of the complicated world around her. Full of the anguish and the joys of adolescence in a much more innocent time, True to Form is sure to make readers remember and reflect on their own moments of discovery and self-definition.
Download Description
In this warm and engaging novel, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Berg revisits the heroine she so lovingly brought to life in Durable Goods and Joy School. It is 1961, and thirteen-year-old Katie is facing a summer full of conflict. First, instead of letting her find her own work for the season, Katie's father has arranged for two less-than-ideal baby-sitting jobs - one for the rambunctious Wexler boys and another for Mrs. Randolph, a kind but elderly, bed-ridden neighbor. To make matters worse, Katie has been forcibly inducted into the "loser" Girl Scout troop organized by her only friend Cynthia's controlling and clueless mother. A much-anticipated visit to her former home in Texas and ex-best friend Cherylanne proves disappointing. And then comes an act of betrayal that leaves Katie questioning her views on friendship, on her ability not to take those she loves for granted, and, most important, on herself. "One thing to say about you, Katie, is that you are true. You should be proud of it, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise," Cherylanne insists. But whether or not Katie will ever feel true to herself remains to be seen. From the writer whose work The New Yorker calls "strong" and "timeless," True to Form is a delicately told tale of a young girl wise beyond her years, whose growing pains finally awaken her to the clarity of forgiveness and a greater understanding of the complicated world around her. Full of the anguish and the joys of adolescence in a much more innocent time, True to Form is sure to make readers remember and reflect on their own moments of discovery and self-definition.
Customer Reviews:
A beautiful, simple book.......2007-05-29
"True to Form" beautifully illustrates the small challenges and trials of growing up in one of the most realistically stunning novels I've read in a long time.
In this coming of age novel, we are reunited with young Katie Nash, of Berg's previous novels, who is facing some difficult choices apropos for a young girl at the age of 13. While, as many have noted, we're not exactly breaking new ground here, Berg writes beautifully and with such authenticity that it's nearly impossible not to enjoy the ride.
Katie's struggles are relatively minor, but they are vividly drawn portraits of the challenges of a thirteen year-old girl, and watching Katie work through it with the pluck and shortcomings of a precocious young girl is an absolute delight. Unlike other novels that deal with childhood betrayal, Katie's transgressions are fairly simple, and more typical of a girl her age - she backstabs a close friend in the name of being 'cool' - yet it is so wonderfully written that every scene leaps off the page. This is not a book that's high on plot - it's more of a simple, beautiful character study of a young girl coming into her own, warts and all.
I absolutely reveled and delighted in it, and it's short enough to be a quick summer read while frittering away a hot afternoon by the pool.
THE CONTINUING STORY OF KATIE.......2006-09-08
"True to Form" is actually a sequel to one of Berg's previous books, "Joy School." Once again, the writing and plot seem aimed at a young adult reader. To a mature reader, the book may appear juvenile in content and writing style.
Katie, the main character, has moved to Missouri with her strict army-dad, her new step mom and the two family dogs. She has also found a new best friend in Cynthia. One of the strongest characters in the book is Cynthia's Mom who is just a tad bizarre. Katie wins a radio contest and the prize is a plane trip anywhere she would would like to go. She chooses to visit her former best friend in Fort Hood, Texas, where she once lived. There is a lesson for Katie from this trip - nothing is ever quite the same as it was.
The plot of "True to Form" is not exceptionally exciting, but the well-developed characters are what gives the book warmth, humour and style. "True to Form" is certainly not once of my favourite Berg novels; however, it is an okay read and we have the opportunity to find out how Katie's teen years are progressing.
Excellent!.......2006-02-28
I have no idea how long this book has been on my bookshelf. I was bored the other night and needed something to read ~~ not too thick of a book and something that I can sink my teeth in. After having read Berg's other books, I thought, oh I can't go wrong with this one! Yep! I didn't go wrong! For such a slim book, it really packed in a story that makes me want more!
Katie Nash is living in St. Louis. She is lonely. She has only one friend, Cynthia. She still keeps in touch with her best friend from Texas, Cherylanne and visited her for a few days after winning a contest on the radio. Katie was planning to have a nice quiet summer ~~ but her father has other plans. She has two babysitting jobs and they both impacted her life in more ways than one. She has to babysit three little boys and help an elderly couple with the caretaking of the wife. Katie didn't want to take these jobs ~~ she had dreams of glamourous jobs like working the concession stand at the local pool or something else. Just not babysitting.
This is one of the best written books I have read in a long time. Berg describes the midwestern summer nights so perfectly or even the long summer days. I grew up in the Midwest and just lived in those descriptions. Katie is a budding poetress and her thoughts are so similar to what I had as a teenager ~~ it felt like I was reliving my past through the words of this book. I love it when I find a good book like this ~~ because it's a keeper and it hits close to home. It is about a young girl growing up ~~ and it is about life, viewed through the eyes of a young girl.
If you have a chance to, I would recommend this book for you to read. It is one of the most unforgettable books you'll ever have a chance to read. Katie will stick with you long after the last page has turned.
2-27-06
Elizabeth Berg writes beautifully! .......2005-08-29
The attention to detail, the descriptions and colorful expressions, infuse the reader's senses, so that the story isn't merely visualized but heard, felt, tasted and smelled too! Told from the refreshing viewpoint of a delightfully introspective and creatively expressive young girl who has the artistic soul of a poet, the story resonates with lessons of adolescence (and even adulthood) that I certainly relate too.
I enjoyed this follow-up story to Durable Goods and Joy School immensely, however it was really another chapter in the life of Katie rather than a conclusion to the series. There are still many loose ends and I am left wanting more, wondering how Katie and the supporting characters will continue on their journey and what will become of them all. Katie isn't a character who is easily forgotten, and these 3 books have only covered 1-2 years of her remarkable young life.
Authentic Voice and a joy to Read! .......2005-08-06
I admit I'm an Elizabeth Berg fan, and that I've read her previous novels in this 'series' about Katie Nash. I did find this book to be the best however, and I think it's because I identified the most with the age that Katie appears in this book. I remember being 13 like it was yesterday.
What an awkward age for any kid, and Katie has had her share of sorrow. Instead of going gloomily through life however, she has a poet's heart and mind for words. The interactions between stepmother and father are also woven in a way of magic, and it's interesting to watch their relationship unfold. Katie finds out you can't go home, but in the process gains a new understanding for a friend she thought was something more glamorous than she really was. There are funny parts (girl scout sleep over in the livingroom) that leave you wanting more and also those true to life betrayals we've all made and wish we could take back. I could almost feel Katie's heartbeats as she told her secrets to the popular girls.
Great book, you won't be disappointed. The only thing I can say is I wish these stories were longer. They end way too quickly!
Average customer rating:
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The Jonah watch: A true-life ghost story in the form of a novel
Jack Cady
Manufacturer: Arbor House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 United States
| World Literature
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| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
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| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
ASIN: 0877953422 |
Average customer rating:
- Under rated sophomore book
- An example of hatred toward Christians
- Adolescent, but good
- Blasphemous, yeah, but poor writing a much larger sin
- This is something else
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True Faith
Garth Ennis
Manufacturer: D C Comics (a division of Warner Brothers - A Time Warner Entertainment Co.)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Pride & Joy
ASIN: 1563893789 |
Customer Reviews:
Under rated sophomore book.......2005-10-06
I dont think this book sucks like some of the other reviewers, as well as its author seems to do the first couple pages.
In fact I really liked it, it was an interesting story with good characters to follow and that ennis flare that you just cant not like.
Its a story about a dude whose wife dies in child birth so he decides to kill god.
Thats all Ill say, read the story your self.
An example of hatred toward Christians.......2005-08-18
I was first introduced to Garth Ennis work in Hellblazer, then from there to Preacher. I was of course a non-Christian at the time, so having the same kind of hatred he has for anything Christian, I fell into his writing style's "lap" so to speak. After coming back to the church, after reexamining the hate that pours from each page (no matter which comic he writes, whether we are talking about Goddess or True Faith or Hellblazer or Preacher) of his work, I was glad to throw them all away. Seeing this book, I am not surprised that it is another one of Mr. Ennis's work. He is, after all, one who holds a great hatred toward anyone Christian and anything Christian, especially fundamentalist Christian. If you believe in God, if you believe in Christ, as with Ennis' cliche again and again in his comic books, then you will be attacked, slandered, and beaten until your bloody in the face because that's just how Mr. Ennis' style of work has to be so that he feels good about himself. I would imagine that if Mr Ennis had written a book that was pro-abortion clinic bombings (as he and his type like to cliche those of us who are Christian as being, those of us who say we are pro life are labeled nuts by people like Ennis) I would imagine a million one stars, but as this is about showing hatred and resentment toward Christians and Christianity, I can understand how those of his ilk like to throw mud at anything religious. Yet after awhile, when you take into account all of Mr. Ennis' works, from Hellblazer to Preacher to this graphic novel, True Faith, one stops being insulted and stops being hurt toward his attacks, and just get tired and bored...because mindless repetitive hatred like Ennis holds just makes you throw your hands in the air, say "whatever" to yourself, and just walk away. So, I walk away from this style of comic book and comic book writing and I find myself a better man for it.
Adolescent, but good.......2002-07-22
I'd agree with Benjamin D about this being a 'must buy' only for Ennis completists, but it's not as bad as he makes it out to be. There's some sharp humor, but a certain adolescent tone is evident; a lot of the story took me back to my own profane adolescence. So, if you read that book with that in mind, it works out well. It certainly doesn't stand up to his later work, but whose early work does?
Blasphemous, yeah, but poor writing a much larger sin.......2001-11-20
Don't get me wrong, I love Garth Ennis' work. His stint on Hellblazer was great, and Hitman and Preacher are seminal works. I just don't believe that Garth hit his stride until Preacher came along, and the proof is here in True Faith. Although the story has elements that would appear later in Preacher (and other Ennis works) the story is very poorly written. The dialogue is terrible, and the story just sort of putters out in the end. Some scenes, like the protagonists brain-dead family's conversations, are a little funny but don't really seem to work. Yeah, it's blasphemous, but the writing is a far more worse sin. For Ennis completists only.
This is something else.......2001-06-14
This is one of the earliest books Garth Ennis ever worked on (the second actually after "Troubled Souls") but it already has that Ennis-twist in it for which he got so acknowledged later on in his (still going) carreer. Here you have a book that I can best describe as a typical Vertigo book, only it was written long before Vertigo was found. It already has that certain 'feel' about it. To give an impression of what you're going to read when you start this, without spoiling things for anyone, I'll just say the following. The main thing you need to know is that it's about this guy named Nigel who lives in Londen. Nigel isn't very impressed by religion to say the least and oneday he hears a guy in a bar swearing he is "gonna kill God". Curious by what he heard he decides to follow the guy to his home. But then he gets caught when he's secretly reading the guys diaries and he's in a boatload of trouble now. From there on the book is a roller-coaster of semi-sarcastic views on religion in it's most bizarre variants (Quote: "God is like a clocked toilet ...") and general society (Look at Nigels parents and you'll know what I mean) with Nigel having to do and experience things under pressure that seem against everything he thinks himself. But along the way he's learning things about himself, only he doesn't realize it just yet. I finished the book, or must I say "Graphic Novel" in one sit. It isn't the greatest thing I ever read but it was still very good (better than a lot of other things I read these days), also because I couldn't put it away. You just HAVE to know what happens next, and before you know you're at the end of the book. I'd advise it to people who generally like Vertigo books and especially to people who are a fan of Garth Ennis. Be warned though, it's not for anybody because some people might feel a little offended. It's not for nothing it has been banned from bookshelves for years. But see for yourself.
Customer Reviews:
Some of this Author's earlier work...........2007-08-15
I didn't care for either character in this book.
They equated good sex with love...huh....
Both could of used a "thump" on the head, in my opinion.
3.75 stars if possible.......2006-07-01
3.75 stars if possible and that is good from me, why because i thought it was well written for a 1988 book from connie mason...
It was a book that kept you turning the pages as silly has some people found it you couldn't put it down, By page 200 you felt like whats left to read because they met got sperated and now they are back together again but it got more interesting as you go along.. I found this book to be good and through out the years she has improve on most of her work...
......................ENJOY THE BOOK.......................
Never judge a book by the first 4 chapters.......2005-04-05
When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be "the typical historical romance". As a matter of fact, I almost stopped reading because of the stereotype I had expected. It just goes to show that one should never judge a book by the cover, or in this case, the first four chapters.
If I were Christa Horton, I would thank Allah for my good fortune, and learn the old adage that "silence is golden". Several times, her obstinate nature could have been her undoing.
A lot of pirates like Redbeard wouldn't give half a thought to the pleading and protesting of a beautiful captive slave, once they tasted the sting of her acid tongue. For once he used his brain when he made the decision he did! I am surprised at Kalim's patience too. Some men in the Middle East wouldn't hesitate to use the bastino to tame Christa's obstinance and acid tongue. Elissa, the one character that needed taming didn't feel it's sting, thanks to Christa Horton and her pleading.
I love the trick Christa used to stay out of Abdullah's reach. His touch repulsed Christa so much, that she left him "wearing something to remember her by", not once, but twice. That made me laugh. He was deathly afraid of being infected by disease. Her "illness" repulsed him so much that he lost interest in her.
Brian Kent was repulsive, and so was Willow but some men and women are driven by lust the connections made by marriage. Poor Willow was always scheming to snare Ahmed (Mark Carrington), but her weedily ways always backfired. At least Ahmed was smart enough to avoid being trapped. I wonder what her husband would have done if she went back to him with a disease? Or if her in-laws followed through with their threat?
Kismet? Not for me...mediocre at best..........2003-06-17
Hard to knock a Mason book, but this one is no masterpiece in my humble opinion. One of her less than steller books to date. Too many contrived situations and obvious plot twists. No spark or chemistry between the main characters.
Heroine was too boring and the hero was too broody and 'baggage carrying' for my tastes. This one fell flat in the sand...
Lady Christa Horton became a helpless prisoner in an exotic and troublesome land, destined for slavery in the bey's harem until fate stepped in in the image of the elusive Desert Hawk.
Hawk took what he wanted, always. This was no different. Wanted and chased all across Algiers, he made the sultan angry with his attacks on caravans. But the Hawk was no thief, he had motive.
This was revenge.
He just didn't expect a lady like Christa to be thrown into the dangerous game. Well, he wanted her and he took her.
The well-bred English lady finds herself caught up in a deadly game of cat and mouse but she can't help but yearn for the dangerous man playing the game.
Kismet? You decide....
Tracy Talley~@
Skip this one!.......2003-05-10
I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered this one....I thought it would be another hot romance like Sheik. Unfortunately I found that this nocel was written way back in the eighties. The story consists of one contrived situation after another, and I found no chemistry between Mark and Christa. As a result the innumerable love scenes had me yawning away. I only finished the book because I paid for it with my hard earned money!
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Average customer rating:
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Desert Ecstasy
Connie Mason
Manufacturer: BMI
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PA03KW |
Amazon.com
Zachary Nixon Johnson, the last private detective on Earth, is hired by the beautiful B.B. Starr, CEO of ExShell (and ex-exotic dancer), to find her missing robot double. The plutonium-powered android is far smarter and stronger than humans, doesn't want to be found, and is a homicidal maniac. As if that's not trouble enough, an unknown enemy keeps trying to assassinate Zach. And HARV, the intelligent computer implanted in Zach's brain, will not shut up.
Yes, The Plutonium Blonde is a parody of science fiction and hardboiled detective fiction. It is also an affectionate homage to the pulps. Perhaps unsurprisingly, its prose inclines to a pulp clunkiness. But the authors, John Zakour and Lawrence Ganem, are deeply knowledgeable of both genres, and they create some new twists in both the science fiction and the mystery. The plot is breathtakingly paced, and the jokes and wisecracks fly thick and fast (and, like the creators of the Airplane and Naked Gun movies, the authors have no fear of a bad joke). The Plutonium Blonde is recommended to fans of science fiction and of hard-boiled mystery. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
"My name is Zachary Nixion Johnson. I am the last private detective on Earth...not exactly one hundred percent true, but it sounds good."
"The year is 2057 and, after a handful of species-altering upheavals, earth-shatteringc cataclysms, history changing extra-terrestrial contacts, and pop-culture disasters, the world is now a pretty safe place..."
"But every once in a while some crazy thing happens that threatens all of society, all of humanity, or the entire space-time continuum."
"And for some reason it always happens on my watch."
So begins the first installment of this all-new, all-hilarious trilogy that pokes fun at the pulps, and skewers sci-fi, as a private dick of the future goes after the most dangerous prey of all...The Plutonium Blonde.
Download Description
"My name is Zachary Nixon Johnson. I am the last private detective on Earth... not exactly one hundred percent true, but it sounds good.
"The year is 2057 and, after a handful of species-altering upheavals, earth-shattering cataclysms, history changing extra-terrestrial contacts, and pop-culture disasters, the world is now a pretty safe place... But every once in a while some crazy thing happens that threatens all of society, all of humanity, or the entire space-time continuum.
"And for some reason it always happens on my watch."
So begins the first installment of a hilarious trilogy that pokes fun at the pulps and skewers sci-fi, as a private dick of the future goes after the most dangerous prey of all... The Plutonium Blonde.
Please note: This is a completely re-written and expanded version of the novella that was originally published by peanutpress in 1999.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely Hilarious.......2007-09-21
If you love noir fantasy, ala Steven Brust, Simon Green, and others, you will love this series. First, it is well written; second, the stories hang together. Looking back, at the end of the book, you can see that the clues were all there to figure out "whodunnit." I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last, and as you might guess it has to do with a beautiful woman . . . but don't they all. Just ask his girlfriend.
Super Reader.......2007-09-01
"Hypothetically," I said, "if a superpowered android were to escape, where would it go?"
This is the problem for Zachary Nixion Johnson, the last private investigator on earth. A medium boiled PI, he has a lightly boiled supercomputer assistant named HARV, luckily for him. Imagine Orac with a personality, and Zach is a cross between something out of 2000AD and DC's Star Hawkins.
Given that the android double of the femme fatale he has to track down has 200 times the physical abilities of a normal human, and is nuclear powered, having help is good. He also has a genius scientist friend that has fitted him up with some nifty body armour.
Zach's girlfriend could probably enjoy drinks with the Stainless Steel Rat's wife, too.
Light, fast, and diverting.
Sci-fi/PI cross genre dark comedy noir - you'll laugh your plasma pack off.......2007-07-22
In the year 2057 the world is brand new - everything is New - New New York, New New Mexico (the state) as well as New Mexico (the country). Zachary Nixon Johnson is the last licensed private investigator - the licensed bit is the important thing here. There are other private investigators (for example - the employees of DickCo) but none are licensed like Zachary! Gates is God and DOS is hell and news is down to the nano.
When Zachary receives a call from BB Starr - an ex-exotic dancer who is now CEO of the largest corporation of the planet - he is naturally concerned. She is one of the richest and most powerful people on the planet - why does she need him? It turns out she requires his discretion and - unique - skills. So, with the help of HARV - his holographic assistant (who is the most intelligent computer in the world - and is, during the course of this adventure, implanted directly into his brain) - Carol, his psionic receptionist and potential future niece-in-law and Dr. Electra Gevada, his fiance, he sets out to track down BB-2. Of course, things aren't always as they seem. . .
Always funny, constantly exciting and eminently readable, I cannot recommend this book enough. Zakour and Ganem play with the English language with all the virtuosity of a savant while keeping the story readable and the pace swift. Do yourself a favor and get this book!
A high tech detective story with a comic twist.......2006-02-25
A very funny and well written story. I recomend this book to anyone who likes their detective stories with a lead who makes you laugh, and very well fleshed out set of characters. The first book in this series is a good read, and the later ones are even better.
Interesting comedy/adventure/sci fi.......2005-09-18
I picked this up as a extra book to read while on vacation. Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down. The dialog and interactions between the characters, and amazingly enough the computers, were hilarious. And the action in the sci fi setting kept me reading to discover what happened next. I will definitely be purchasing the next book, which seems to be "The Radioactive Redhead".
Book Description
The Philokalia is a collection of texts written between the fourth and the fifteenth centuries by spiritual masters of the Orthodox Christian tradition. First published in Greek in 1782, then translated into Slavonic and later into Russian, The Philokalia has exercised an influence in the recent history of the Orthodox Church far greater than that of any book apart from the Bible. It is concerned with themes of universal importance: how man may develop his inner powers and awake from illusion; how he may overcome fragmentation and achieve spiritual wholeness; how he may attain the life of contemplative stillness and union with God.
Compiled by Bishop Kallistos Ware
The fourth volume of The Philokalia
Volumes I through III are also available.
Customer Reviews:
WOW!.......2007-10-01
Timeless and precious to the Orthodox Faith. If you want to delve into the mystical aspects of the Orthodox Faith, this will get your toes wet. If you want to pursue reading this text, you will have a few more volumes to purchase, but well worth the investment. Enjoy!
Worth waiting for!.......2007-08-06
Excellent text of the writings of the early Christians. I'd recommend it, and the rest of the series, to anyone who wants to know how the Church started and what it actually believed.
My only problem with the order was that it took so long to arrive. It was one delay after another.
The Philokalia VOLUME 4.......2006-11-03
I thought I was purchasing the Philokalia Volume 1 that got from the library but I noticed the one I got from Amazon was Volume 4. Needless to say through the course of time between the volumes the true meaning displayed in the first volume was not carried over in volume 4. Volume 1 was in line with the Bible whereas Volume 4 had blatent discrepancies to the point I'm going to throw it away. I searched Amazon again for the Philokalia Volume 1 but didn't find it. Do you know where I can get it?
A POWERFUL Resource.......2006-07-27
The Philokalia as translated by G.E.H. Palmer is a POWERFUL spiritual resource for developing humility, patience, and learning how to love and trust in God. It is an important tool for anyone trying to understand the ancient traditions of the Christian East.
For serious seekers only.......2006-06-05
Let me begin by agreeing with the warnings offered by other reviewers. These texts are not for beginners or the merely curious. But they have opened my eyes to the great wisdom of the Orthodox Christian tradition. Some of the readings remind me of Hasidic texts I read many years ago. Although Judaic, those texts also come from a part of the world where Orthodox Christianity was pervasive, and the far earlier date of the writings in Vol. I of Philokalia suggests where the rabbis may have gotten some of their inspiration. I deeply believe that adepts and contemplatives can inspire each other, even though they may belong to different faiths. So I don't feel that only Orthodox monks should read this, although they were the originally intended audience. New-Age dabblers will likely be turned off, but those of various beliefs who nevertheless seek deeper enlightenment will be nourished and inspired by the wisdom here. Read slowly, and with great care.
Books:
- Angels & Insects: Two Novellas
- Another City, Not My Own
- Apex Hides the Hurt: A Novel
- Arabian Jazz: A Novel
- Auggie Wren's Christmas Story
- Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter: A Novel
- Babyji
- Blacker the Berry. . .
- Blue Angel: A Novel (P.S.)
- Brazzaville Beach
Books Index
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