Book Description
With the bravura storytelling and pungent authenticity of detail she brought to her acclaimed Lymond Chronicles, Dorothy Dunnett, grande dame of the historical novel, presents The House of Niccolò series. The time is the 15th century, when intrepid merchants became the new knighthood of Europe. Among them, none is bolder or more cunning than Nicholas vander Poele of Bruges, the good-natured dyer's apprentice who schemes and swashbuckles his way to the helm of a mercantile empire.
In 1461, Nicholas is in Florence. Backed by none other than Cosimo de' Medici, he will sail the Black Sea to Trebizond, last outpost of Byzantium, and the last jewel missing from the crown of the Ottoman Empire. But trouble lies ahead. Nicholas's stepdaughter--at the tender age of thirteen--has eloped with his rival in trade: a Machiavellian Genoese who races ahead of Nicholas, sowing disaster at every port. And time is of the essence: Trebizond may fall to the Turks at any moment. Crackling with wit, breathtakingly paced, The Spring of the Ram is a pyrotechnic blend of scholarship and narrative shimmering with the scents, sounds, colors, and combustible emotions of the 15th century.
Customer Reviews:
It doesn't get any better than this........2006-03-22
Don't walk, run. Go buy the first of this series, and then the second, and then the third. But read them slowly, not only for the richness of the content, but because you will only get one chance to read them for the first time. The entire "House of Niccolo"series is unique and priceless and should be read by anyone who loves historical novels. .
my review.......2001-05-31
In this sequel, we see our hero, Claes or Nicholas, thrown into the complex situation in the middle east. Will the Sultan take over Trebizond where he has been sent as consul for Florence? If anyone can find succes in such a venture, Nicholas is the person, and he does. He succeeds not only in his trading, he saves his people from the Turks and also his step-daughter, Catherine.
Once again, the author has written a masterpiece. We are thrown from Florence to the middle east with all its complexities, but all the time we are rooting for our hero and he makes us proud!
And to think I still have more books to enjoy! I can't wait...
Take a Magic Carpet to Trebizond!.......2001-01-25
Reading this book is like taking a magic carpet to a mystical place. Ms. Dunnett has the knack of taking her readers to whatever era and place in the world she chooses. In this book our Niccolo has matured somewhat but he still has some hard lessons to learn about how lonely it is to be a leader. He also has to learn that a true leader leads without his employees or friends knowing that that is what he's doing. In fact, these books of Niccolo could be used for demonstrating leadership. I'm surprised that no corporate videos have been made from them. This is a good book even though Niccolo fails to fascinate as much as Lymond does, but I don't think there ever can be another Lymond. I don't find the characters as likeable in this series for one, and Catherine is certainly no Philippa (at least not yet), but there is high adventure, intrigue and enough court gossip to keep anyone interested in the politics of the 15 century.
Get Me on the Next Flight to Trabzond.............1999-12-29
That was my reaction after reading this superb sequel to Niccolo Rising. Dunnett's blend of intricate plotting and historical depth is amazing. Here she concentrates on the little known period immediately after the conquest of Constantinople, when the Byzantine empire struggled to survive in a corner of the Black Sea. Their allies are possible more dangerous than their enemies, making a perfect setting for Niccolo's games. This past spring we were able to visit Trabzond as part of a 5 week trip to Turkey, and while the modern town is rather dreary, Dunnett's descriptions of past glories were still fresh in my mind. I'm finishing book 5 now, Unicorn Hunt, and she continues to capture the essence of each country that Niccolo explores. Her descriptions of Cairo can serve as a guide for modern travelers.
Dunnett never fails to disappoint.......1999-09-10
After being completely entranced by Dunnett's Lymond chronicles, I eagerly picked up her Niccolo books. This is book two, and is everything I could have hoped for, with plot twists, uncertain loyalties and a rich historical landscape. Encore!
Amazon.com
Rosemary Rogers' innumerable fans will be thrilled by this continuation of the passion of Ginny and Steve that began in Sweet Savage Love. Ginny and Steve's blazing love survives through a tumult of historical events that threaten to separate them forever.
Book Description
Desire -- savage, untamed and undeniable -- bound tempestuous Virginia Brandon to Steve Morgan,her magnificent, dangerous soldier of fortune. And in the blistering heat Of revolution's flames, they swore tolove for an eternity and beyond.
Now explosive events have shattered their turbulent union -- tearing Steve and Ginny apart and casting them upon fateful tides flowing toward separate perils and faraway secret affairs. But no great distance, no sensuous betrayal, notreacherous intrigue of warrior or king can extinguish the brilliant of their majestic love. For their passion is on their destiny -- and it will blaze anew with a white -- hot intensity when their bodies at last entwine once more.
Customer Reviews:
Shameless cash-in.......2005-02-03
Fans of "Sweet Savage Love" hoping for a passionate continuation of Steve and Ginny's romance will be horribly disappointed. They spend most of the novel apart...and in bed with other people. Hard to get interested in a couple that isn't even together for most of the book. Re-read "Sweet Savage Love" and don't bother with this
It's almost as good as "Sweet Savage Love".......2003-12-19
Probably I would give it 3.75 stars; the first half of the book is excellent, but the part where Steve gets amnesia was a bit overdone...Nothing beats the first book and it really didn't NEED a sequel, but this is pretty good.
Not A Lighthearted Read, But Still A Good Read.......2001-03-24
I've come to take the Steve and Ginny saga as less of a romance and more of a historical adventure/misadventure. The "dark" in Dark Fires is most appropriate. What I really appreciated in this novel, apart from some gripping storytelling, was Rogers' treatment of substance abuse in the latter half of the Nineteenth Century. There's nothing pretty about it, and I think it's important to point out that abuse is not just a modern phenomenon. I also admire the way Rogers treats the simple fact that people change and develop as a result of their experiences--and also that one can become stronger through adversity.
What happened????.......1999-06-25
I can't believe that this is the continuation for Steve and Ginny. After reading the first book (which I could not put down) this one was a disappointment and not just this one the third book too lacks many of the sophistication and adventure of the first book. The last book to this series was equal to the first. Too bad for the two middle books.
Average customer rating:
- True Space Opera
- It still is a worthy read
- great Saga
- Great sci-fi series!
- In addition to what's already been said...
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Heaven's Reach (The Second Uplift Trilogy #3)
David Brin
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Infinity's Shore (The Uplift Saga, Book 5)
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Brightness Reef (The Uplift Trilogy, Book 1)
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The Uplift War (The Uplift Saga, Book 3)
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Sundiver (The Uplift Saga, Book 1)
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Startide Rising (The Uplift Saga, Book 2)
ASIN: 0553574736
Release Date: 1999-05-11 |
Amazon.com
Heaven's Reach is the final volume of the Uplift trilogy, which begins in Brightness Reef and continues in Infinity's Shore. It chronicles the adventures of a handful of primitives from the planet Jijo who have left or been taken from their homes only to be swept into the intrigues of galactic politics. The novel also continues the story of the fugitive Earth starship Streaker, pursued across the galaxy for its precious cargo of ancient artifacts. Just when it looks like things can't get worse for Streaker, the foretold Time of Changes rocks the galaxy. Devastating "space quakes" shake every planet and star, and some of the particularly unscrupulous alien races attempt to use the disaster to further their bizarre goals. There's danger and excitement on almost every page (in contrast to much of the first two books in the series) and Brin finally delivers on many of the mysteries of the Five Galaxies. The Progenitors, the Hydrogen Breathers, Streaker's cargo--these and more are explained at last. Or are they? Each seemingly ultimate truth tends to dissolve a chapter later, revealing a new and more complex truth. New adventures and mysteries await. --Brooks Peck
Book Description
Winner of the Nebula and Hugo Awards, David Brin brings his bestselling Uplift series to a magnificent conclusion with his most imaginative and powerful novel to date--the shattering epic of a universe poised on the brink of revelation...or annihilation.
The brutal enemy that has relentlessly pursued them for centuries has arrived. Now the fugitive settlers of Jijo--both human and alien--brace for a final confrontation. The Jijoans' only hope is the Earthship Streaker, crewed by uplifted dolphins and commanded by an untested human.
Yet more than just the fate of Jijo hangs in the balance. For Streaker carries a cargo of ancient artifacts that may unlock the secret of those who first brought intelligent life to the Galaxies. Many believe a dire prophecy has come to pass: an age of terrifying changes that could end Galactic civilization.
As dozens of white dwarf stars stand ready to explode, the survival of sentient life in the universe rests on the most improbable dream of all--that age-old antagonists of different races can at last recognize the unity of all consciousness.
Customer Reviews:
True Space Opera.......2007-04-14
Brin truly comes into his own here. Despite some ups and downs in previous books in the series, this one is all that is wanted. Heaven's Reach has vivid multiple characters, amazing plot devices and unexpected twists, and overarching philosophical depth. Many of the confusing plot lines or mysteries of previous books are revealed, and everything finally comes together.
In this final book characters and species are clearly delineated, although there are so many new species discussed in Heaven's Reach, you really can't hope to understand what is happening without the companion Contacting Aliens: An Illustrated Guide to David Brin's Uplift Universe. I found myself constantly turning to Contacting Aliens to reveals some element of a new species.
I said everything finally comes together. I lied. Heaven's Reach will tell you *a lot* more about the Uplift Universe, and how everything works together. I was highly impressed at how different divergent ideas that I wouldn't have thought were at all related, mesh perfectly together. Indeed, that's a major point of philosophy, even theology, in the book. But you'll be happier knowing ahead of time: this book will not reveal the mystery of Herbie, or answer the issue of whether or not Earthclan is true Wolflings. Oh sure, there are hints back and forth, and suppositions, but all of them are ultimately negated, and you are left really, really wishing Brin had tied up those ends.
If you go into the book knowing this, you'll be able to fully enjoy an astonishingly well-written work of over-arching themes and true novelty.
It still is a worthy read.......2007-01-30
Lets be honest, if you have come this far with the Uplift series you are not going to stop now no matter what the reviews say. I love the Uplift series and while I would have preferred that Heaven's Reach would have tied up more loose ends it still is a worthy read. It is obvious that the later books in the Uplift are more about stretching out the series and offer little closure to the multiple story lines. One thing Heaven's Reach does is to offer more of the imaginative mind of Brin and is a recommended read. I think it is obvious that Brin is not done with the Uplift stories.
great Saga.......2007-01-04
David Brin writes true science fiction, not space opera. His ideas are as intriguing as they are feasible. This series is a great addition to the original uplift trilogly.
Great sci-fi series!.......2006-12-25
Read 1, you'll want to read the rest. Great Sci-fi series. The main character grabs your attention & hold it from 1 book to the next. Read all of them!
In addition to what's already been said..........2006-11-10
As you have no doubt read many of the other reviews, I will only summarize many of the flaws already mentioned: new main characters, deus-ex-machinas after deus-ex-machinas, wildly spinning plotlines that are hard to keep track of, lack of continuing character development, some parts that are just plain boring...
What I haven't seen said so far, and what annoyed (and insulted my intelligence) more than anything else, was use, reuse, and overuse of the *same* suspense plot device: We're about to find out some crucial part of of the storyline, and right before the character gets it out, there's an alarm claxon, or (s)he get's interrupted by someone, or some trivial duty must be attended to. COME ON!!! Give us more credit than that! I don't need a cliff-hanger at the end of every section. I almost put this book down out of frustration more than once, but only stuck with it because I wanted to see where the story went. But I definitely got to the point where I stopped identifying with the characters.
Let's see - he fell prey to the Hollywood syndrome of the genius character who figures everything out in nanoseconds. I'm sorry, but I don't buy off that a mathematician from a primitive world, no matter how intelligent (within the limits of human intelligence) can suddenly start figuring out that the universe is about to undergo an etherquake, without the years of exposure it takes to grasp/grok the fundamental science/mathematics. An arbitrary, contrived, and (to me), unbelievable plot device (which in addition didn't really serve the storyline much purpose).
Another thing - he needs a better editor. He kept using the word "occulted" (related to the occult?) where I think he meant "occluded".
Overall, a very disappointing end to the series. Unless he's going to rewrite the end book, don't bother with it. Pick up another series.
Average customer rating:
- Hope with Understanding on our Grieving
- Hope with Understanding on our Grieving
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Embraced in Love, We Reach Heaven: The Path to Happiness, Stopping Grief
William Moreira
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Grief & Bereavement
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ASIN: 0595162975 |
Book Description
Suffering is a positive factor in everyone¡¯s life and the dream of eternal existence in a painless world is in our heart. We all are seeking to reach this level of happiness and peace through religion, cult or any other avenue that is available in both the material and spiritual world.
I reached this level after 67 years of going through the purifying process in evolution, where pain comes in every form, physically and morally, I bring to you the knowledge that intercommunication exists between the two worlds; the material one that we all see and feel and the spiritual world that only a few can see and feel, but that can be noticed by almost everyone if we pay close attention.
This book is divided in 95 chapters, easy to understand, and in the form of a friendly conversation. It brings us the much needed consolation, especially to those who revolt against suffering. This revolt most commonly occurs when a person who is very dear to us departs tragically,leaving a huge hole, a suffocating emptiness in our hearts. (I personally went through this experience when my 33-year-old daughter died in a horrible accident only four years ago). I share my experience with you, as a lesson from our Creator, demonstrating His bountiful mercifulness to us, his children. It is something very important spiritual, as a warning that we must appreciate Him every single moment of our life.
I want to share with you that death does not exist. We simply leave the material world to another world and should accept this as naturally as the act of being born. During our material life, we must make every possible effort to enjoy life, to live as a happy family and to understand that suffering is simple a lack of understanding our spirituality. After reading the pages of Embraced in Love, We Reach Heaven you will realize that heaven is inside your conscience, just as God is. It comes in the form of a Divine guidance to those seeking the answer to ¡°why and why life is like ths.¡± You will learn from this book that life is not only to be ¡°born, suffer and die¡± but a continuous process of evolution through time.
Contrary to popular belief, death is a challenge to those that stays behind, and not to those who have left this world. We are the ones who grieve, looking at life in despair and hopelessness, revisiting the site where our loved ones are entombed, ignoring that this side holds only decomposed flesh, matters that once housed a marvelous energy called the spirit. William Moreira 305 Frank E.Rodgers Blvs.South - Harrison, NJ.07029 - (973) 485 3192 SpiritNew.com = SpiritNew@aol.com
Death is a challenge to those that stays behind and not to those already on the other side. We are the ones that griefs, looking down at the windowless dark and muddy hole in the ground, where our loved ones are entombed, ignoring that inside is just a pile of matter, once the marvelous housing of a energy called spirit.
Customer Reviews:
Hope with Understanding on our Grieving.......2001-08-17
I never found words so well written to soothe someone's grieving as in "Embraced in Love, We Reach Heaven." It came out at the right time, exactly when I thought I had lost all hope.
William Moreira is a gifted person because grief is the number one reason that many souls feel lost in the turbulence of life. His victory over his grief, and his experiences in helping others proves his expertise in the field. As Moreira says, to help others in their sorrows, we must put ourselves in their shoes and help them overcome their grief by teaching them how to achieve spiritual growth. I learned that Mr. Moreira wrote more books and I hope to find them because if they are anything like "Embraced in Love" they will be rewarding. I like his writing style because it is humorous, educational and spiritual, and also because we feel like we are penetrating into his private peaceful world. As I read the book I could hardly wait to see what awaited me on the next page, because I felt like I could shed tears or laughter throughout this learning process. Many times we make a mistake in only seeking well-known writers, ignoring the chance to read a book by a new writer, and he is one of them. The way William Moreira writes makes us feel like we are part of his experiences.
Hope with Understanding on our Grieving.......2001-08-17
I never found words so well written to soothe someone's grieving as in "Embraced in Love, We Reach Heaven." It came out at the right time, exactly when I thought I had lost all hope.
William Moreira is a gifted person because grief is the number one reason that many souls feel lost in the turbulence of life. His victory over his grief, and his experiences in helping others proves his expertise in the field. As Moreira says, to help others in their sorrows, we must put ourselves in their shoes and help them overcome their grief by teaching them how to achieve spiritual growth. I learned that Mr. Moreira wrote more books and I hope to find them because if they are anything like "Embraced in Love" they will be rewarding. I like his writing style because it is humorous, educational and spiritual, and also because we feel like we are penetrating into his private peaceful world. As I read the book I could hardly wait to see what awaited me on the next page, because I felt like I could shed tears or laughter throughout this learning process. Many times we make a mistake in only seeking well-known writers, ignoring the chance to read a book by a new writer, and he is one of them. The way William Moreira writes makes us feel like we are part of his experiences.
Average customer rating:
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Heaven's Reach
David Brin
Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GSHSK6 |
Average customer rating:
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Heaven's Reach
David Brin
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VAJZYG |
Book Description
THIS 12 PAGE ARTICLE WAS EXTRACTED FROM THE BOOK: Life Power and How to Use It, by Elizabeth Towne. To purchase the entire book, please order ISBN 1564599582.
Average customer rating:
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Reach for Heaven (An Avalon Romance)
Susan E. Kirby
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States
| World Literature
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ASIN: 0786221941
Release Date: 2099-10-01 |
Book Description
How to get rid of the three barriers that keep us from being whole persons: (1) inability to receive forgiveness; (2) inability to forgive; (3) inability to accept ourselves.
Customer Reviews:
A Fresh Approach to Inner Healing.......2006-08-02
I first read this book several years ago, but the concepts and ideas have so pervaided my life that they continue to guide me. In fact, I have re-read this book several times over the past few years.
While other reviewers have remarked that the author seems prideful or her ideas too simplistic, I found her to be direct - cutting the concepts to their basic "black and white" cores.
LeAnne Payne reminds the readers that we too often focus of what we shouldn't do as Christians leaving too little time to focus on what we should do. For me, that was a stepping stone into evaluating the actions and activies of my life and my mindset.
Her suggestions on how to release negative thoughts to Christ was incredibly helpful... and her discussion of negative thoughts and how the enemy actually uses them against us... well, I'd never read anything like it.
If you're looking for a book which will lead you into deeper introspection - and you're willing to take your time to apply the concepts - I would highly recommend this book.
Pretty Good, But Some Problems.......1999-11-28
The purpose of this book is to describe how to receive emotional healing from Christ. Primarily, it focuses on the three main barriers that people have in this regard. For the most part, the book is pretty effective. However, at times it becomes a bit too simplistic and kum-ba-yah. For instance, Ms. Payne chirps, "[Christians] alone have reason never to despair. Faith and hope are ours, and they shine like beacons in the darkest circumstances." Somehow, you doubt she'd be saying that if she lost both legs in an accident, or if one of her grandchildren were brutally murdered.
In a section on affirmation, Ms. Payne's account of her Aunt Rhoda goes a little over the top, and isn't in the best of taste. Although no doubt Aunt Rhoda was a fine woman, Ms. Payne basically portrays her idealistically as without fault. Naturally, this account lacks some believability.
It does seem ironic that while Ms. Payne focuses on the sin of pride to an almost extreme degree in the book, she seems to show no lack of it herself. For example, when referring to some misguided intercessors, Ms. Payne remarks, "Thinking themselves to be intercessors *extraordinaire*..." This statement, among others, smacks of the very kind of pridefulness and condescension that Ms. Payne speaks out so loudly against.
It is also ironic that Ms. Payne seems to contradict her own teaching at one point. Continually she stresses that discernment of spirits be used before determining whether a demonic entity is present. However, when relating a story about a seminarian friend, Ms. Payne states, "[My friend] became very ill and phoned me. As I listened, I realized his physical condition was directly related to demonic warfare..." Even though she does mention that afterward she spent several days praying about the matter, her assertion that demonic warfare was directly involved in her friend's condition (a conclusion reached simply from listening to him over the phone) goes against her own teaching. This might not be such a big deal if she didn't continually reiterate her teaching as much as she does.
One notable omission from the book is any mention of the condition "love addiction," or whatever one wants to call it. Since this seems to be one of the most common conditions that people seek help for, it's rather puzzling that Ms. Payne doesn't even touch on the subject. Also, while Ms. Payne frequently emphasizes that feelings of inferiority to other people--like feelings of superiority--are rooted in pride, she never explains exactly why this is the case. Such an explanation would be very helpful.
Finally, while Ms. Payne rightly warns Christians about focusing too much on demons, she seems to have no similar qualms about focusing too much on sin. Her statement concerning the dangers of focusing on demons ("In many cases, persons become fearful of others, even paranoid, and the grievous sins of slander and pharisaical pride result, all the evil fruit of fastening one's eyes on darkness rather than on God") can be just as easily applied to focusing too much on sin. Don't get me wrong--sin is serious and needs to be addressed adequately, but at times Ms. Payne seems to derive an almost unhealthy enjoyment from the topic of sin.
The issues above aside, the book contains helpful information about how to pray for emotional healing. It also has an insightful concluding section on spiritual warfare. Overall, the book is a pretty good read; one just needs to take things it says with a grain of salt every now and then.
Provides holistic healing for the soul.......1998-06-09
Many Evangelical Christians today have lost the understanding of the richness and depth of the human soul. Payne seeks to expose the richness that can be there and the steps towards healing and the restoration of a hollow people. I highly recommend this book as a biblically sound and spiritually anointed resource for anyone seeking to know their own soul in the light of God's truth.
Books:
- The Story of Lucy Gault
- The Town That Forgot How to Breathe: A Novel
- The Water and the Blood: A Novel
- Two Girls Fat and Thin
- Unknown Man #89
- Unquiet Earth
- Utopia Parkway: The Life And Work Of Joseph Cornell
- Vegas Heat
- Vendetta Defense, The
- White Noise Critical: Text and Criticism (Viking Critical Library)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- You Are My I Love You
- The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ: The Philosophic and Practical Basis of the Religion of the
- My Drowning
- Life Is Not a Fairy Tale
- Landscape Architecture, Fourth Edition
- Pattern Classification
- Return of the Bird Tribes
- Merchant Prince: The Story of Alexander Ducan McRae
- My Great-Aunt Arizona
- Your Money Style
Race of Scorpions
Niccolo Rising: The First Book of The House of Niccolo
Scales of Gold: The Fourth Book of The House of Niccolo
The Unicorn Hunt: The Fifth Book of the House of Niccolo
To Lie with Lions: The Sixth Book of The House of Niccolo
