Popular Music From Vittula: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Spectacular

growing up as a huckleberry Finn

Episodic Swedish Coming-of-Age Story

Funny, absurb, incredible

Very Sweet Coming of Age Novel

Popular Music From Vittula: A Novel
Mikael Niemi
Manufacturer: Seven Stories Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Mikael Niemi. Popular Music from Vittula.(Book Review): An article from: World Literature Today

ASIN: 1583226591

Book Description

"A blissfully eccentric, fiction-enhanced memoir. . . . His prose buzzes with wonder, fearlessness and ecstatic ignorance: the sensations of youth. Each chapter is an epic in miniature."-Hugo Lindgren, The New York Times Magazine

"Haunting and glorious . . . Niemi's finest achievement is to have created a world poised between an adult's fantastic memories of childhood and a child's naÃ¯ve dreams of his future. Graceless sentiments like disillusionment or regret are never allowed to trespass upon Pajala's icy rivers and twilit woods. The future remains a frantic hallucination, while the past is absurd and wondrous."-Nathaniel Rich, Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Popular Music from Vittula is a tale of boyhood friendship elastic enough to include numerous digressions, some fantastical, some so precise in their sociological observation . . . that an anthropologist could make good use of them. . . . In British translator Laurie Thompson's hands, Niemi's language is a constant, fresh poetic surprise. . . . Even the alphabet-â€~a scary army of sticks and half-moons'-comes strangely alive in this marvelous book."-Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times

"A beautiful, poignant, often very funny novel about growing up in a remote area. Niemi writes with real poetry as he strings together the culturally rich vignettes of Matti's experiences, snapshots of childhood that are at the same time intensely personal and universal . . . An exquisitely beautiful novel, artfully translated."-Paula Luedkte, Booklist

Now in paperback, the enchanting, unforgettable Popular Music from Vittula is the single best-selling book in Swedish history.

Poet and novelist Mikael Niemi grew up in Pajala in the northernmost part of Sweden, near the Finnish border. He is the founding owner of Pajala's sole bookstore.

Laurie Thompson has translated some 15 novels from the Swedish.

Customer Reviews:

Spectacular.......2005-11-24

This is one of those gems that would never have been published in the US unless it came in with some momentum and buzz from afar. It describes adolesence, dipping deeply into the well, stringing together a series of vignettes that are well tied together. I'm a 54-year old businessman, parts of the book were agonizing and I actually found myself squinting through my fingers in raw embarassment. The wedding chapter was tremendous.
jk

growing up as a huckleberry Finn.......2005-02-17

Growing up anyplace isn't smooth, it isn't describable exactly. If you search your memories later, trying to ask why you did something, you can't, for the life of you, remember why. You just did it. Things happened. You tried to get to China. You mimicked the rock stars when you thought you were alone. You might even have licked cold locks---if you grew up in northern climes--- and got your tongue stuck. You were never the hero of your own legend. Well, folks, this novel captures that confusion perfectly. I've never set foot in Sweden, let alone in its far north by the Finnish border, where all the growing up takes place. But now I feel I know what it was like. Niemi's description, magical realism and all, gives you such joy, such interest, that I assure you, you will read POPULAR MUSIC IN VITTULA as quickly as you can. I haven't laughed out loud over a book so much for years. Hey, I even laughed in the Boston subway like some kind of weird, public transport cackler. But I didn't care. Kids fight in the woods with B-B guns, try to start rock bands to impress girls, experiment with sex and alcohol, get up the teacher's nose, visit scary old healers, watch the grownups pass out at huge drinkups, and dream of fast cars. In the very end, things turn out quite differently, but that's really familiar too. Most of the themes are hardly unique to the area, but it's Niemi's genius that he makes you feel it exotic and familiar at the same time. It's contemporary writing at its best and I think all readers in English owe a vote of thanks to the translator too.

You've got to have a strong stomach for a couple sections, say for example, if large piles of dead mice are not your forte. If you have ever seen Kaurismaki films like "Leningrad Cowboys Go America" or "The Man without a Past", you will recognize the same deadpan Finnish humor in Niemi's novel, whose characters are mainly from the Finnish minority in Sweden's rural north. I could recount a scene or two for the surfing reader, try to "deconstruct" whatever, go literary if I could, but your best bet would be to read the book. You will not regret it.

Episodic Swedish Coming-of-Age Story.......2005-01-17

If you're looking for a funny and tender coming-of-age story set above the Arctic Circle, this is the book for you! It's set in Pajala, a small town in the remote Tornedalen region of Sweden, far north and near the Finnish border. The semi-autobiographical story is told through a series of twenty self-contained short stories that take Matti roughly from age 5-15 or so from the mid-'60s to mid-'70s. One is immediately given a taste of the book's style in the prologue, in which the adult Matti manages to freeze his tongue to a metal plaque atop a Nepalese mountain. He only manages to free himself (and live) by using his urine to break the bond, which then launches him into the story of his youth. The broad outlines of his experiences are similar to those of any other boy growing up in a remote place forty years ago. Life was boring and filled with hard work, some things were manly (hunting, work, fighting, hockey, eating, drinking, machines), and everything else is "women's work." If you're not good at manly things, well... at a minimum you won't fit in very well.

Of course, Matti is a little outside the mainstream, but manages to make his way with best friend Niila by his side. Where the book shines is in the the specifics of his childhood, in which wacky antics shine with humor and pathos, and magic realism rears its head every now and then. Some of the events covered include: discovering rock and roll music via the Beatles, a summer job as a mouse hunter, a raucous arm wrestling contest, an equally grueling sauna endurance contest, a sermon in Esperanto, a mind-boggling teenage drinking contest, tall tales of family prowess, a will reading degenerating into a brawl, starting a band with a cardboard guitar, the vagaries of a fundamentalist Christian sect (Laestadianism), first sexual encounters, and a BB-gun war. And let's not forget the transsexual hermit magician... All these individual parts are quite entertaining, even if they never quite add up to a complete hole. It's an amusing, and sometimes very funny look at growing up rural which would probably resonate much more with other remote cold climate dwellers than the average reader. A welcome oddball addition to the coming-of-age genre.

Note: The book was a runaway bestseller in Sweden, selling one copy for every twelve Swedes! Naturally, the book has been adapted as a film--which was co-written and directed by an Iranian who immigrated to Sweden as a teenager!

Funny, absurb, incredible .......2004-08-08

Usually, it's my husband who keeps me awake laughing at whatever book he's reading in bed. This time, it's my turn! This is the first book in years that has made me laugh out loud over and over again. Yes, it's crude in spots -- but that shouldn't surprise anyone who has spent time with teenage boys. The amusing stories are just part of the author's arsenal of techniques for conveying the sense of living on the very scary edge of reality that comes with growing up.

I'd give a special award to the translator for the freshness of the language. I put this book in a class with the works of Tom Robbins and John Barth and will be looking for more from Mikael Niemi.

Very Sweet Coming of Age Novel.......2004-05-06

Poplular Music from Vittula is a very sweet coming of age novel about a boy growing up in Sweden in the 60s and 70s. It's an enjoyable read, filled with very funny episodes from Matti's life. Matti grew up in the middle of nowhere in Sweden--he remembers the first paved roads coming into his town. Matti also shares the first time he heard the Beatles and his antics in the local rock band. Niemi throws a bit of almost magical realism or mysticism in the novel. This is a charming and funny novel. Enjoy.

Mikael Niemi. Popular Music from Vittula.(Book Review): An article from: World Literature Today

Average customer rating:

Mikael Niemi. Popular Music from Vittula.(Book Review): An article from: World Literature Today
Laura Wideburg
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Popular Music From Vittula: A Novel

ASIN: B00084BJ4Y
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on September 1, 2004. The length of the article is 598 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Mikael Niemi. Popular Music from Vittula.(Book Review)
Author: Laura Wideburg
Publication: World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: September 1, 2004
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: 78 Issue: 3-4 Page: 128(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

At age 13, Obi-Wan Kenobi resolves to quit the Jedi. He finds himself on a planet where his youth promises him power - perhaps too much power. Can he overcome the peril that faces him without the help of his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn?

Customer Reviews:

My First SW book! Jude Watson is truly talented........2006-12-21

I read this book a few years ago because I had just seen Episode III in theatres and I was interested in anything Star Wars. At the time I did not realize thet this book was the sixth book in the series and as soon as I finished this book, I went back and started with number 1. Anyway, I LOVED this book. It made Obi-Wan my favorite character and even the sub-charaters were great. The relationship between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is truly special and this book will give you chills. I can't wait to see if/when/how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's relationship is mended. Even though this is a short and simple read, this book is great for any age. The emotion in this book was so well described and portrayed. I recommend this whole SERIES to anyone who has the faintest interest in Star Wars or good books in general.
-Murl

A Jedi Craves not These Things..........2005-08-25

I am liking this series. I read the first 5 books last year, and started again just this week. I am a nut when it comes to reading a series in order, so I wanted to start with these books to see how Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon interact together before venturing into the prequels and follow-up novels to the movies.

This series is set towards young readers, but I find the story on an adult level. A good and easy read for someone wanting a short story.

Uncertain, You Are.......2002-12-12

Jude Watson brings to life the choices we face everyday. It shows how Obi-Wan Kenobi had to mkae one deceision between his home and when his friends on Melida/Daan needed him most.
When his friend is murdered and all his other friends, except two who remain loyal to him, turn into his enemies. He has no where to go and his former Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn isn't availible to protecthim, Obi-Wan must learn to be on his own with no one to help him.

A Let-down from Defenders of the Dead.......2002-06-19

Overall, I've greatly enjoyed the Jedi Apprentice series. It's not Harry Potter, but it gets the job done. Defenders of the Dead was a highlight, with an ending that left this jaded, cynical adult gasping with shock.

Unfortunately, The Uncertain Path leads to too much boredom. Obi-Wan mopes and Qui-Gon sulks, while the Youth on Melida/Daan regress into the children that they are. A few things salvage the book. Yoda giving Qui-Gon a chewing out (sorry, "Yoda a chewing out giving Qui-Gon, hmmmm?"), a touching scene with Cerasi's father, and the lack of quick resolution to the Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon conflict. Hope remains high for book 7.

Obi-Wan faces an 'uncertain path'........2002-04-08

The bloody civil war on the planet of Melida/Daan has ended with the Young the victors. Obi-Wan has left the Jedi order to stay with his friends Cerasi, Nield, and the rest of the Young to govern the planet. But instead of having peace after so much war, the Young is starting to break up. Everyone is fighting each other, dividing friends. Taking up the chance, the Elders of Melida and Daan begin to protest. Qui-Gon himself is having many problems. After returning Tahl back to the Temple, he still feels betrayed by Obi-Wan for abandoning him. He finds it hard to forgive Obi-Wan for hurting him, can he ever be able to forgive him? Then he discovers that a series of thefts have begun in the Temple. Could it be one of the Jedi students, or someone outside the Temple? Then Qui-Gon gets the shock of his life, Obi-Wan calls for help! Will Qui-Gon go back to his former apprentice to help?

A continuation from the previous book, "The Defenders of the Dead", the story really explores the characters of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan has left the Jedi order willingly, yet he begins to have doubts about his choice. Will he ever be one with the Force again? And will he ever get Qui-Gon back as his Master? Qui-Gon is also hurt and betrayed, finding it hard to forgive Obi-Wan. Together they must search their hearts to find out what is the correct path for them. A good ending though you'll probably be in suspense for what is going to happen next in "The Captive Temple". Jude Watson has certainly done an astounding job, the plot and story of the book is so unique and interesting and I couldn't put it down! I still enjoy reading the books as much as I did when they first started coming out in the summer of 1999.

This series explains a lot about how Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan first meet. Their beginning is far from simple and all smooth-sailings, which would be pretty monotonous if it was. Though the books are said for ages 9-12, like many other reviewers I agree that the Jedi Apprentice Series are for anybody. Extremely well-written, the emotions, thoughts, and feelings of the main characters are very well put down into words. I also like the different array of humans and aliens which are portrayed, both good and bad; young Cerasi who has seen so much pain, Nield who strongly believes in the "Young's" cause, Tahl who though is almost dying has a strong will to live, and more.

The first Jedi Apprentice book is written by Dave Wolverton while all the rest (19 more books) are written by Jude Watson and are all very highly recommended from me. The books don't really 'end' at all, the books ends in either a cliffhanger or with a little glimpse into the future. Believe me, once you start reading them, you'll want to read the next one...

Average customer rating:

Utterly Strange

Good, with a few flaws

Must add to your library

A breathtaking and suspenseful tale

Uncertain Magic
Uncertain Magic
Laura Kinsale
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0380751402

Book Description

Roderica Delamore has a "gift." Cursed with the unwanted ability to hear the thoughts of others, she is dedicated to raising her family's prize thoroughbreds and resigned to living without love. But one man's mind is inexplicably closed to her: a mysterious Irish rogue who may be the lover she has been dreaming of her entire life.

They call Faelan Savigar "the Devil Earl" -- a handsome, impoverished lord damned by dark rumor and whispered innuendo. But the secrets Faelan hides within are what stir Roderica's desire -- and her need to experience the intoxicating ecstasy of his kiss. But be he liar, swindler, or worse, Roderica knows she can have no other -- and she will trust this enigmatic stranger with her life ... and her heart.

Customer Reviews:

Utterly Strange.......2007-05-16

This book was one of my least favorite books I've ever read.

I mean, maybe it's just because I'm not used to something so dark and mysterious as this, but I just felt the Kinsale was just dragging the story on for about 100 pages.

This story was so very like a fantasy, that I'm wondering if the category should indeed be fantasy.

The only thing this book is missing is a field of Unicorns, and some leprechauns.

Any way, maybe it's just because I'm too "immature" to enjoy a piece as this, but I don't recommend it to people who are into the classic love story, or lightheartedness.

If you're into this sort of stuff, read on.

I just didn't enjoy it at all.

Good, with a few flaws.......2007-03-16

I seem to be on a Kinsale kick, but really, it's because she's fantastic at characterization and plot. In this book the heroine, Roddy (short for Roderica) has a gift that she considers more of a curse - she can hear other people's thoughts. This is a gift passed down from fathers to their daughters, not through the female line, and caused one of her aunts to be a recluse and the other to commit suicide when her husband began to hate and revile her. Very cheerful. So Roddy, naturally, doubts she'll ever get married and instead throws herself into her life on her parents' racing stud.

Then along comes the hero, Faelan, whose thoughts she can't hear. Naturally, being a romance novel, she marries him, despite his positively dreadful reputation and the rumors that he murdered his own father. He, meanwhile, marries her for the outrageous fortune she brings, which he needs to repair his ancestral home in Ireland.

I was a little disappointed that Kinsale didn't do anything with the racing subplot, having made it so important in the beginning of the book. They didn't even bring any horses to Ireland! Faelan's perpetual jealousy bothered me a little, but in retrospect, considering she was the only woman who had ever professed to love him (that he could remember) it was understandable.

Must add to your library.......2007-01-12

Another great book by Laura Kinsale with characters to love and a story that captivates. This is one that would easily be re-readable which to me is one of the greatest measures of a books worth. If you want a book you can't put down, grab this one.

A breathtaking and suspenseful tale .......2006-11-25

They called Faelan Savigar the Devil Earl because he has been reputed to leave ruined maidens in his wake, murdered his father, and even fought and won all his duels, leaving his challengers either dead or fighting for their lives. But none of that mattered to Roderica Delamore, a nineteen-year woman with a special gift, the ability to hear the thoughts of others. To her surprise, her gift failed her when it came to Faelan. Facing a life of seclusion and loneliness, Roderica jumps at the chance to forge a new life for herself by making a bargain with Faelan: Marriage. He needs her money to restore his run-down estate and she needs him to protect her from the relentless intrusion of the outside world.

Despite their mutual agreement, Faelan and Roderica, through a lot of misunderstandings and adjustment periods, learn to like and even fall in love with each other. But their relationship faces an even more dangerous test: Faelan has been missing periods of his life, meaning that there are moments, even hours and days, where he doesn't remember what he did or how he got to a certain place. It's during those times when something dreadful happens.

Because of his dreadful past, Faelan believes he doesn't deserve Roderica's love. Roderica, however, is determined to save her husband from his dark side. But will her love be enough to rescue Faelan? Or is there another evil at work, scheming to destroy her husband's sanity as it had his reputation?

This was a phenomenal story. The prose is exquisite, captivating, and the characters are so easy to fall in love with. It will draw a whole range of emotions out of you from sadness, love, anger and contentment. I was thoroughly entertained.

Uncertain Magic.......2006-05-04

I read this book almost 15 years ago...and still manage to read it over and over again. It was one of the first books I had read that combined romance, intrigue, & the paranormal. Other major pluses were the depth & endearing qualities of the main characters, the interesting minor characters, & the setting. Suffice it to say that this is my all-time favorite romance; a unique story that stands out even today. And I still find the book cover appealing (after all this time!).

Enchanting Samantha, Uncertain Summer, Magic of Living 3 in 1

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Enchanting Samantha, Uncertain Summer, Magic of Living 3 in 1
Betty Neels
Manufacturer: harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0373200870

Enchanting Samantha / Uncertain Summer / The Magic of Living (Harlequin Omnibus 101)

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Enchanting Samantha / Uncertain Summer / The Magic of Living (Harlequin Omnibus 101)
Betty Neels
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

Betty Neels' sixth Harlequin OmnibusEnchanting Samantha...Samantha considered herself plain and ordinary--too ordinary for a man like Giles. He was kind, considerate, rich and very, very handsome; he would never have to settle for a girl like her. She just couldn't compete with someone like Antonia van Duyren...Uncertain Summer...Serena was shattered to learn that the man she had come to Holland to marry no longer wanted her. Desperately, she turned to his cousin, Dr. Gijs van Amstel, for advice. "There's a simple solution to your problem," Gijs said calmly. "Marry me!"The Magic of Living..."I've decided to marry Gideon. So you'd better forget him." Hilary's determined words made Arabella feel both desperate and angry. She had always let her cousin, Hilary, have her own way. But this time--for Gideon--she was going to stand up and fight!

Average customer rating:

uncertain magic
Traditional juvenile fantasy
Bought it for my kids, then read it myself!
Kids love it, so do parents!
My kids loved it

Uncertain Magic
T. A. Clark
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 073882576X

Book Description

Uncertain Magic is in the tradition of such classics as The Narnia Chronicles, and the books of Edward Eager and Lloyd Alexander. It is set in the Kingdom of Pandium, on a tree-covered island in the midst of a vast ocean. In Pandium magic is an art that those who are gifted and trained can master.

The story involves four children. Nat and Katie are ordinary kids who live in the Florida Keys. They are ten and twelve, and brother and sister. Kyp and Edwin live in Pandium, and are both about eleven years old. Edwin is Crown Prince, and will become King on his upcoming birthday. Kyp is an apprentice to the Royal Magician, Krisgen, but is really more like a slave than an apprentice.

Kyp overhears Krisgen plotting to kill Edwin, and warns the prince. Together they hatch a plan to use one of Krisgen's spell books, and Kyp's uncertain magic, to summon a hero capable of defeating the conspirators. But instead of a fierce, enchanted warrior, they instead conjure Nat and Katie, two ordinary and very unwarrior-like children.

Now stuck in Pandium, Nat and Katie have to work with Kyp and Edwin to defeat the wizard, Only when Edwin is safe can they hope to return home.

Customer Reviews:

uncertain magic.......2001-09-10

I thought it was great. I could not put it down until I had read the whole book.
The story is classic within a modern frame of reference.
I would like to see other work by this writer.

Traditional juvenile fantasy.......2001-06-03

Comparisons to Edward Eager and Lloyd Alexander are not mistaken. This is a highly enjoyable fantasy with snappy dialogue and characters and a well-paced, original plot.

It takes place on the lovely island kingdom of Pandium, where magic is an art like painting or music, that the gifted can master. The characters we are introduced to are Kyp and Edwin. Edwin is the Crown Prince of Pandium, scheduled to become king on his twelth birthday, while Kyp is an apprentice to the Royal Magician Krisgen. Not much of an apprentice, though - his treatment is subtlely illustrated when the author tells us, "He hadn't owned a pair of shoes or boots since Krisgen had taken him as an apprentice."

But apparently Krisgen isn't inclined to let Edwin become king. Kyp overhears his plotting and tells his friend. The two boys utilize Kyp's untutored magic and a borrowed spell book to conjure a hero who can bash down the conspiracy against the future king.

Who arrives? A pair of ordinary kids from Florida, Nat and Katie. Together, the four kids have to defeat Krisgen and his allies before Katie and Nat can be returned to their own world...

I found this book while browsing the publisher's website, and got a copy as soon as possible. It proved to be a well-done book in the manner of Lloyd Alexander's "The Arkadians," with a bit of world-crossing thrown in. I found the characters to be engaging and endearing, especially Kyp and Edwin, who actually act like preteen boys (a rarity in most books). Katie and Nat were also engaging, though I found them a little less so than the Pandian heroes.

Like the book "Dulcinea," the writing style is not dumbed down or deliberately made stark. Though a little less descriptive in parts than I would like, the book doesn't skimp on describing the heroes or the objects they focus on (settings are less well-defined). There were definitely some mild awkward passages, like "the cow's blood sizzled and smelled terrible as it hit the hot metal" but these are relatively few and far between.

Overall, this is a magical and well-written fantasy. I hope that TA Clark has more in mind...

Bought it for my kids, then read it myself!.......2001-02-04

I loved Katie for her scientist's mind, I loved Nat for his wisecracks. I loved the fact that this brother and sister bicker like my own kids, but love each other and work together to face challenges. There is humor, there is suspense. The plot has delightful twists and turns that made my son beg me to read just one more chapter. When I didn't read it to him, he sneaked the book and read ahead of me. We can't wait for the sequel.

Kids love it, so do parents!.......2000-09-21

I read Uncertain Magic and then I read it again. I throughly enjoyed it both times. The second reading was to assure myself that I wanted to give it to my grandsons to read. The contents were completely acceptable.The boys not only liked it but they couldn't put it down. There is mystery, suspense, action, and of course, magic. The story of two present day Floridian children caught up in a time warp, in a mystical country is great fun. I hope T.A.Clark has written a sequel. I would love to read about the further adventures of Nat, Kate, Kyp and Prince Edwin.

My kids loved it.......2000-09-21

My daughters really loved this book, and it is so unusual to find them reading anything, that I read it myself. Now I know why they liked it so much. It is a fun story, told with a child's sensibilities, yet it never patronizes them. There is humor and pathos, conflict and resolution, magic and treachery. It reminded me of the Lloyd Alexander books I used to love when I was young. My daughters have recommended it to their friends, and I would recommend it to any young reader (9 to 13, or older) who likes stories where ordinary kids get to do extraordinary things.

Harlequin #87 : 3 Great Novels in One - Enchanting Samantha . Uncertain Summer . The Magic of Living

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Harlequin #87 : 3 Great Novels in One - Enchanting Samantha . Uncertain Summer . The Magic of Living
Betty Neels
Manufacturer: harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OWQSWS

Customer Reviews:

An Old Compendium of Shorts.......2006-08-07

Decades ago, Fred Saberhagen created a universe where humanity and a few other species are at war with a race of machines. Nobody knows too much about the machines except that they are programmed to destroy all life. The supposition is that they were created for an ancient war and that they eventually destroyed their creators. Now they are the problem of the entire galaxy.

This is not one story. Instead, it is a collection of shorter stories. Some are very compelling and some were, to me, a bit tedious. This impression may just be because of the mood I was in while I was reading them. They are all old but very timeless. This was a major series in its time and it is still worthwhile today. It is not my favorite but I have no regrets in having read it. I will probably read all the others as well.

The Best of SF.......2003-07-31

If you haven't read Fred Saberhagen's stories about the Berserkers, you haven't read some of the best science fiction ever writen. Buy this book--you won't be disappointed!

Can't We All Just Get Along?.......2000-03-08

Saberhagen's Berserkers have been scaring you pitiful humans for years. Powerful, insensate, planet-sized warships dedicated to wiping out all life everywhere. Now, I come to you as a representative of a powerful machine civilization to offer you peace. Berserkers are only a myth. We robots are perfectly friendly. There is no need to fear. Hemphill, put down that blaster! Argh! Help, goodlife! Save me!

How do you fight an enemy that isnt alive?.......1999-11-04

How dose one kill what isnt alive, how do youhurt somthing thats feels no pain,how do you reason with something that knows only how to kill, how do you survive aginst somthing that has never lost and will never stop? Bersekers is a book about a group machines created millions of years ago with an artifical brain. These brains knew one thing and had one objective, kill all life. They had traveled threw the galexy for hundreds of millions of years killing all life they came across untill they ran into a small group of life that refused to die, man. This book is made of many short stories from boath sides of the war. They tell of the berserkes never ending pursuit for the end of life and of the human fight aginst geniside. I liked this book because its diffrent. The good guy doesnt always win but story stays posotive. In my opinion its one of the best sci-fiction books I have ever read.

Brilliant science fiction from a master short story teller.........1999-07-25

This compendium contains Saberhagen's tauted Berserker stories chronicled from the perspective of a benign historian of an advanced pacifist race. Individually the stories vary in their expose of humanity's battle against ancient war machines whose sole purpose is the extinction of all life. The berserkers have spent millenia cutting a swath through the galaxy until they finally come upon human occuppied space. Humanity, being the least evolved race and therefore having retained the barbaric ability to kill and make war, are, ironically, the only beings capable of defending life.

These stories are almost legendary classics among science fiction and have bred numerous reincarnations from Star Wars' Death Star to Star Trek's Borg. From Dr. Who to Babylon 5, these tales have been inspiration to the current generation of science fiction.

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Watch for charitiesand their people

A Helpful and Inspiring Guideline for Social Ministry

The Call

identifying motives for inner-city ministry

Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development
John M. Perkins
Manufacturer: Baker Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ministry & Church Leadership | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right

Let Justice Roll Down

Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America

Renewing The City: Reflections On Community Development And Urban Renewal

The Presence of the Kingdom

ASIN: 0801071224
Release Date: 1993-07-01

Book Description

John Perkins calls churches to leave behind old political assumptions and apply serious biblical ministry to urban problems. This new vision rejects easy answers, stressing Christian community.

Customer Reviews:

Watch for charitiesand their people.......2006-06-14

This book is great read it. Most charities are perfect and do their job. A few years ago I was asked by a friend debbie Davis to give a book for an auction for the charity called Equest in Lyman Maine. I bought a brand new book called Seabiascuit and gave it to debbie for the charity. She never gave the book to the charity but kept it . I found out a year later. Also My contribution of 25.oo dollars the next year was also kept. I investigate charities now . Give directly to the head people.

A Helpful and Inspiring Guideline for Social Ministry.......2003-04-21

This book is a philosophy and outline for ministry among the American poor, emphasizing the role of God's people in moving beyond charity to uplifting ministry based on building relationships and program development within communities. The book is divided into three sections consisting of vision (for ministry that goes beyond charity), gospel (bridging theology with specific practices of ministry), and messenger (directed towards those considering a role in these types of ministry).
Good: The book is founded on Perkins' years of personal experience and knowledge of social ministry in helping at-risk populations and improving neighborhoods. The stories he shares of ministry successes in Pasadena, CA and Mendenhall, MS are powerful and compelling, as are the numerous people he cites that have had similar successes. Also particularly useful are his six marks of an authentic church, his eight factors that create an environment of hope in communities, and his chapter on discerning God's will.
Bad: Perkins has a definite anti-welfare and conservative political perspective, which is noticable in a few places. This is coupled with the fact that he is writing primarily to church-folk who are interested in church ministries, and leads to a total neglect of prescription for government involvement in the fight to reduce poverty and produce justice. Perkins needs to be more biblically-based in this regard - see Psalm 72. Lobbying for governmental involvement is important for impacting the structural base of poverty.
Opinion: In spite of the one significant area of disagreement mentioned above, this is an invaluable handbook for Christian social ministry. I recommend it without reservation.
Best Quote: I believe there is only one group of people in society who can overcome these obstacles [to solutions of urban poverty]. God's people have solutions that are qualitatively different from any other approach to the poor. The best that God's people have to offer is relationships with the poor that reflect the kind of careful, quality attention we have in our own families. This is the high quality of relationships offered by people seeking to "love their neighbor as themselves."

The Call.......2000-06-02

My story about how I read this book is very interesting. I remember asking Rev. Lockhart for donations to go on a 'missions' trip which would last for 10 days. He answered my request instead by asking me for money. Little did I know that he was a missionary in Atchison, KS. He and his small congregation were sprawling out their lives for the realization of the Christian community in Atchison. For the past five years of my Christian walk, my picture of missions work has been radically transformed from an American version to that of true obedience like Jesus had. Peter was called by Jesus to feed his sheep. The question is this: How can I feed sheep if I am not interacting with the sheep on a daily basis? True shepherds step in the mess on the sheep and continue to work. John Perkins writes from a truly selfless sacrifice for the sake of Christ. He has actually lived out that which he has written - for that reason my ears perk up. As a teacher, I told my high school class that if they want to participate in missions, they MUST READ Beyond Charity by John Perkins.

identifying motives for inner-city ministry.......1998-10-02

Perkins causes his readers to question their motives for giving to the poor, including calling them to the important task of relocation. A deep committment is required for community development and Perkins thoughtfully discusses development from a biblical basis.

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