The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two (The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 2)

Book Description

The Book of Lost Tales was the first major work of imagination by J.R.R. Tolkien, begun in 1916, when he was twenty-five years old, and left incomplete several years later. It stands at the beginning of the entire conception of Middle-earth and Valinor, for the Lost Tales were the first form of the myths and legends that came to be called The Silmarillion. Embedded in English legend and association, they are set in the narrative frame of the great westward voyage of a mariner named Eriel (or AElfwine). His destination is Tol Eressea, the Lonely Isle where Elves dwell; from them he learns their true history, the Lost Tales of Elfinesse. The Tales include the earliest accounts of Gods and Elves, Dwarves, Balrogs, and Orcs; of the Silmarils and the Two Trees of Valinor; of Nargothrond and Gondolin; of the geography and cosmography of their invented world. The Book of Lost Tales is published in two volumes. The first contains the Tales of Valinor; and this second past includes Beren and Luthien, Turin and the Dragon, and the only full narratives of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin. Each tale is followed by a commentary, together with associated poems, and each volume contains extensive information on names and vocabulary of the earliest Elvish languages. Additional books in this series will extend the history of Middle-earth as it was refined and enlarged in later years and will include the long Lays of Beleriand, the Ambarkanta or Shape of the World, the Lhammas or Account of Tongues, annals, maps, and many other previously unpublished writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Customer Reviews:

BEST BOOK IN THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EARTH SERIES.......2006-03-10

If you like the silmarillion and book of lost tales one, than you cannot wait another day to get this. If you are like me and REALLY LIKE this whole middle earth thing with the trees, music of the ainur. etc, then you absolutely have to read this.

The first lost tales was the first half of the silmarillion, and of course part 2 of lost tales is the rest of the silm. Though a lot of these works are unfinished(certainly the whole tale telling itself with eriol and gilfanon?, yet some seem very finished like the fall of gondolin.

Some people don't think peter jackson did not do a good job with the lord, yet they do admit it was still a pretty good movie. I did not find return of the king NEAR as good as the other 2 movies, but I think that Pete was the best choice as director.

Now the point that I wanna make is that with all of the material from the book of lost tales part 1 AND 2, the silmarillion, unfinished tales, and all the annals I think Peter Jackson could make another epic movie doing 1 of 3 things, or something that I'm not thinking of. It doesn't matter how these are made, I just wanna see them on screen.

1. Make a two-part movie 6-7 hours in total.
2. Make a 3 1/2 hour or 4 hour movie
3. Pick a certain tale like turin or luthien

Any of these things that I have suggested are acceptable to me, but I would be open to any way possiblre to put this on screen.

I honestly feel that with the very strong emotions in these books it could be better than the lord of the rings movies.

`Great was the power of Melko for ill,' said Eriol,.......2005-09-02

`if he could indeed destroy with his cunning the happiness and glory of the Gods and Elves...'

When the hateful god Melko marred the world, the Valar hid within the blessed land of Valinor, abandoning the Elves and Men of Middle Earth to slavery under his terrible rule. This was the time of great heroes who challenged Melko's impossible might. Beren and Lúthien entered Melko's hall to pluck his most prized possession from his crown. Cursed Túrin became a feared enemy of all evil creatures. Tuor fought to save a beleaguered realm. The mighty kingdoms of Gondolin - ruled by King Turgon - and Menegroth - ruled by King Thingol - long provided refuge for the few free people. Finally Eärendel risked all to beseech the Valar for aid. These heroes made terrible sacrifices to rid the world of the greatest evil it has ever known. Ashamedly, as magic faded and the Elves fled from the world, Men forgot these great deeds.

Ages later, the English mariner Eriol sailed to Tol Eressëa, the Lonely Isle, where Elves welcomed him as guest. In grand oral tradition, they recounted to Eriol the tales that should never have been lost.

Anybody who enjoyed The Book of Lost Tales Part 1, which should be read first, will love Part 2. It is also helps to first read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Unfinished Tales, and, most importantly, The Silmarillion.

Christopher Tolkien continues to expertly assemble and present his father's works. His precise commentaries are essential to understanding J.R.R. Tolkien's mythos.

Some of the stories in Lost Tales are much more detailed than their final versions in the Silmarillion. Lost Tales is a treasure trove of rejected content that really fleshes out the myths.

The Book of Lost Tales Part 2 has six sections.

`The Tale of Tinúviel', one of Tolkien's most popular stories, tells of the triumphant love between Beren and Lúthien. This version is shockingly different than that found in The Silmarillion, and it contains much more dialogue and plot.

`Turambar and the Foalókë' is the stirring tragedy of Túrin son of Úrin (or Húrin). Cursed as a child, Túrin rages against fate with heroic intensity. This account is wonderfully detailed.

`The Fall of Gondolin' recounts the final days of King Turgon's fair city. Ulmo (the only Valar to intervene in Middle Earth during this period) sends brave Tuor upon a divine quest to bring counsel to the doomed realm. This Lost Tales version is staggeringly well detailed. The final battle for the city (summarized in a few sentences in The Silmarilllion) here receives tremendous attention. This action-heavy scene is definitely a highlight of the book.

In `The Nauglafring', Elves and Dwarves battle over cursed gold. This early-abandoned tale flatly contradicts much of Tolkien's other work.

`The Tale of Eärendel' tells of the legendary mariner who now sails the firmament above Earth as a radiant star, bringing hope to men. J.R.R. Tolkien never wrote this story, so this section consists of outlines, poems, and heavy commentary.

`The History of Eriol or Ælfwine' delves into Eriol's life. It clearly identifies Middle Earth as our Earth; for instance, the origins of England and Ireland are spelled out and Rome is presented as an Elvish enemy. Although enlightening, this thoroughly explained setting lacks the mysterious grandeur of LoTR's Middle Earth. This tale was never finished, and Christopher Tolkien shows superhuman diligence in piecing together jumbled outlines and narrative fragments. It is densely commented and makes a slow, though worthy, read.

The Book of Lost Tales shows the devotion J.R.R. Tolkien had for his craft. It is a perfect choice for any Silmarillion fan.

-Zach Zelmar

Essential Continuation to Part One. Tolkien'sEarly Myths .......2005-06-21

`The Book of Lost Tales, Part One and Part Two' by J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by son, Christopher Tolkien, is, according to the editor's Foreword, some of the very earliest works written by Tolkien on the mythology of Middle Earth. Many, it is stated, were drafted in the 1920s, nearly ten years before the start of `The Hobbit'.

This is an important fact, as it means that they were not written to `fill in' details of references made in either `The Hobbit' or `The Lord of the Rings' (LOTR). It means that both of these published novels were narratives of a preexisting world of Middle Earth with a history stretching back thousands of years, to the very creation of the world. This supports the sense of historical depth one has when you read both novels. Early in the Foreword, editor Tolkien addresses this very aspect and the danger that the great depth of history felt in the novels may not transfer to documents that lay out that history. I personally do not sense that danger when I read these works. The intellectual effort required to understand the text and tie it together with all the Tolkienania that has gone before is more than enough to keep me busy. This is the basis of my title for this review, `Fantasy for Grown-ups'.

My experience is that neither `The Hobbit' nor `LOTR' books or movies had a strong appeal to the same audience as the literal and virtual comic book works such as Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Star Wars, Lara Croft (Tomb Raider), or even Indiana Jones. The world in which Middle Earth is set is much more subtly different from our world or the world of `Long ago, and far, far, away...' Even in `The Hobbit' one gets hints that the world of Middle Earth is not our comfortable sphereical planet with a different geography but the same physics, chemistry, and biology. One gets the sense that while the great `Gandalf the Gray' may be called a `wizard', he is not a wizard in the same sense as Merlin or a wizard of `Dungeons and Dragons'.

The most important difference between Middle Earth and our world is that this continent is in the center of a great disk surrounded by seas across which are the undying lands including the Elven island of Eressea and Valinor. The next major difference is that there are beings, primarily elves, which walk the earth and which are literally immortal. That is, they cannot die by natural causes. They can, however, be killed in battle, as seen in `The Two Towers' movie with the death of the elven archer allies helping to defend the Hornburg with Aragorn, Theoden, and the Rohrrim. It is also interesting to see that Gandalf possesses an immortality of an entirely different order, as he survives the great battle with the Balrog in the mines of Moria, a battle that would have killed any ordinary immortal elf.

It would have been interesting to see Tolkien deal with immortality in the same way that John Boorman did in his script for the movie `Zardoz', an easily underestimated movie. (Oddly enough, Gandalf is most like the characterization of Merlin in Boorman's movie, `Excalibur').

Another big difference is that the physics of this world is different from our world. Light, for example, simply does not behave like our notions of light. It is much more like a liquid that can be captured in the Silmarils or in the vial give by Galadrial to Frodo in Lorien. This is part of the reason neither Gandalf nor any other character, even Sauron, seems to use much `magic'. What may appear to us as magic is simply bending the different laws of physics to the will of the magician, as Sauron does in creating the One Ring.

These two books are yet another step removed from the `popular fiction' of `LOTR'. `The Silmarillion' was one step removed in being much more like Hesiod's mythology than Homer's epics. The `Unfinished Tales' were another step removed in that they were close to being stories with extensive editorial annotations. These two volumes, which are really one work in two books are reconstructions of even cruder material. Reading them may be about as much fun as reading Frazier's `The Golden Bough'.

Now, reading `The Golden Bough' can be fun for a particularly intellectual interest, but it takes just a bit extra to gain the same pleasure from these works, as they are not stories from a historical mythology which may explain genuine primitive thought and beliefs. They are make believe! They just happen to be of a type of make believe which is more different than just about any other fiction you can imagine.

The greatest insight I get from these myths on the early history of Middle Earth is on the origins of Tom Bombadil and the Ents. While neither is mentioned, there are ample hints that both are beings who sprung up from the bones of Middle Earth itself, independent of any efforts by the Valar. This explains the total difference between Bombadil and every other character in `LOTR' aside from Treebeard and the Ents. The Elves, the Wizards, Sauron, dragons, and probably dwarves, hobbits, and men all arose out of immigrants from `The Undying Lands' or were created by the Valar.

I find the single most interesting character in these pre `LOTR' stories to be the Noldor (elven) leader Feanor. He seems to have the air of Prometheus about him in that he defies the gods (the Valar) without being an evil force like Melkor / Morgoth or Sauron. When Feanor is not on the stage, my interest drops several notches.

These are the first two volumes of the twelve volume `The History of Middle Earth'. While several of the volumes seem independent, I would not venture to read any of them without having read `The Silmarillion'. They will make very little sense without this background in hand.

Tolkien Rediscovered through the efforts of his son, Christ.......2005-05-30

WARNING - if you're not a Tolkien fan, you may find this review rather hard going! You have been warned....*

The Book of Lost Tales 2 is the second of a set of early versions of stories by JRR Tolkien compiled by his son, Christopher. The title is a little misleading as the stories for the most part made their way in a somewhat shortened format into the book The Silmarillion. (In case you've never heard of it, this deals with the first and second Ages of Middle Earth - that is, before both The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings.)

There are 6 actual stories in The Book of Lost Tales 2, which are as follows:

1/ The Tale of Tinúviel

2/ Turambar and the Foalókë

3/ The Fall of Gondolin

4/ The Nauglafring

5/ The Tale of Eärendel

6/ The History of Eriol or Ælfwine of England and the end of the tales

Along with the following:

Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales - Part II
Short Glossary of Obsolete, Archaic, and Rare Words
Index

1/ "Tinúviel" is more commonly known as Luthien, and this is basically a slightly extended version of "The Lay of Beren and Luthien" (if there are any inaccuracies here it's because someone borrowed my copy of The Silmarillion a while ago and I haven't got it back yet...)

2/ This is the story of Turin in The Silmarillion, and is the only version here that I actually prefer to the edited version that appears in that book. This is because there is interesting incidental detail included that is not included in the final version. Not hugely different but still something Tolkein enthusiasts will really enjoy.

3/ This tells, as you might have guessed, of the fall of Gondolin. It is rather wordy and benefited greatly from the greater brevity it was treated to in The Silmarillion.

4/ Most of the narrative of this story about the Nauglafring (Necklace of the Dwarves) failed to make it in any form into The Silmarillion, so this is the only place you're ever likely to see it. In his commentary, Christopher Tolkein explains that much of the original text is in pencil only (meaning it was the first draft), and he is not sure why his father abandoned so much of it. As Middle Earth mythology goes, it's certainly not all that shoddy but would almost certainly have slowed down the incredible narrative drive of the finished product.

5/ This isn't a story as such but an outline of how the story (which was never actually written) was planned to develop. There are some poems which allude to the character Eärendel, and these are included. The pains Christopher Tolkein goes to here to explain how the intended story would fit in with all the others are quite astonishing - he really seems to take unravelling his father's ancient texts and drafts as seriously as a devout scholar might undertake translating sacred scrolls.

6/ Although this is one of the weakest examples of storytelling I have ever seen by the great JRR, it is probably the most interesting in that he seems to be attempting to make a coherent link between Middle Earth and our own world. Sadly this just feels a little too contrived to ring true (taking into account the suspending of belief you must have when reading created mythologies, obviously), and lacks the power and passion of his true Middle Earth writings.

In general the writing is not quite up to Tolkien 's high standards, but then that's to be expected as these represent his mostly unedited work. The one real exception to this is in the second story in the collection, Turambar and the Foalókë, which contains staggeringly good descriptive prose and imagery together with an amazing plot. However as it is not a great deal better than the version Tolkien decided to go with in The Silmarillion, I can't claim (as I am somewhat tempted to do) that this story alone is worth getting the book for.

The appendices etc are very well put together but I can't imagine anyone but a real Tolkein nut being particularly interested in them. And that is the weakness of the whole book, unfortunately - while it is superbly researched and written, and the footnotes and commentary are interesting, it is only ever going to have very limited appeal. Even for myself, an affirmed Tolkien admirer, will probably never go back and read this book again (okay apart from to remind myself what it contained while reviewing it).

Because of this, and I really hate to do so because Christopher Tolkein has done an amazing job with reconstructing lost texts and piecing together the history and relationships of each piece, I'm only going to give it 3 stars and a not recommended. [Sorry Christopher :-( ] If you are a real, dedicated Tolkein fan, however, you will certainly enjoy it. (But then, you probably already have it...)

A great continuation..........2004-03-12

The Book of Lost Tales 2 is a fantastic continuation to the first, taking place right where it left off this book goes in deeper than the first. The Book of Lost Tales includes 6 tales that where apart of the first but explains it with greater detail. This book was edited by Christopher Tolkien, the author's(J.R.R. Tolkien) son. All of the six stories include many notes that help you with the story, and 4 of them include a commentary that Christopher Tolkien wrote. I found the commentary and notes to be very helpful and enjoyable although he refers a lot to The Simarillion so one who has not read that might not understand some of it, and infact the stories that are in The Book of Lost Tales 2 are briefly in The Simarillion, which is also a very wonderful book. These books can be at sometimes a little difficult to read given the ammount of detail and information that they give you, sometimes it is hard to organize all of it but as you read on more things fall into place.

I highly recommend this book, although suggest reading The Simarllion before hand, J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world is quite enjoyable and his writings are full of detail. I also found the appendix and index of words quite useful and very nice to have, it tells you where all the names come from and have referances to where you can find them in this book and others. If you have read Lord of The Rings then you will find referances that are from this book and also The Simarillion that you did not get before.

Overall I thought this book was very enjoyable, although some what tedious at some points, and I recommend it to all fantasy and Lord of The Ring fans.

Average customer rating:
The Book of Lost Tales : The History of Middle Earth, Parts One & Two
J. R. R. ( John Ronald Reuel ) with Christopher Tokien Tolkien
Manufacturer: Boston : Houghton Mifflin & Company (1984)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KI0VJW

Average customer rating:
The Book of Lost Tales Part Two
J. R. R. Tolkien
Manufacturer: The Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000IXCWPU

Average customer rating:
The Book of Lost Tales Parts One and Two
J. R. R. Tolkein
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000VUNY2A

Average customer rating:
The Book of Lost Tales; Part two
J. R. R. Tolkien; Christopher Tolkien
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LH9YWW

Book Description

It takes a strong man to match a MacKenzie woman: the MacKenzie sisters are smart, strong, and sassy. But when Beth is forced to marry her tong-time enemy to save the MacKenzie railroad, she wonders if the price isn't too high.

The ruthless owner of the Lone Star Railroad, Jake Carrington has desired Beth-and her railroad-for years. But when he proposes to her, he's motivated by revenge, not love. Savoring dreams of the marriage bed, the handsome devil never imagines that Beth might turn the tables on him. Like a modern-day Scheherezade, she cleverly puts off the wedding night, one night at a time-but when passion overcomes reason--will love follow?

Customer Reviews:

The Mackenzies:jake.......2007-01-21

I loved this set of books,you get hooked and can't put them down great book.

Superb..........2005-01-22

I can't say enough about this series. I absolutely love it. This book is tied (the other being The MacKenzies: Cleve) as my favorite in this series. I was a little disappointed when I saw that "Jake" was the title of this book because from reading David & Peter there was somebody else that I was really hoping for to be with Beth. But, as the say don't judge a book by the cover or should I say "title" in this case. I loved seeing everybody from the previous books & I loved what they did with the Billy Boy Walden Gang. I highly recommend this book. I would recommend reading these books in order though so you have a real understanding of what's going on with the other people in the book.

The MacKenzies in order (so far):

Luke
Flint
Cleve
David
Peter
Jake

Don't miss this series it's been the best so far & there's still more to come in this series.

A Good Book.......2004-03-16

It was a nice book but, to understand and enjoy it you need to read first "The mackenzies : Dave" and "The Mackenzies Peter". I didn't read them and i think i've missed a lot of the plot because of that.

Railroad Dreamer Meets Financial Genius.......2000-04-23

Beth MacKenzie dreams of finishing college and returning home to help her father, Matthew MacKenzie with their dreams of linking a railroad between Denver and Dallas. But during a starlit night on the banks of the Charles River, Beth meets a young man, Jake from Texas with a devastating smile that causes her heart to flutter. She falls for this handsome college man from the start - love at first sight. They spend a wonderful and passionate weekend together, but Beth's happiness is soon shattered! Beth overhears one of Jake's friends joking about Jake's new reputation for gettting a girl into his bed for the entire weekend. Michael Jacob (Jake) Carrington has to prove himself anew with the fiery professional Miss Beth MacKenzie becomes since their shared weekend. Jake has really fallen for Beth, but now he's got to fix the bridges between them.

This book was a joy and pleasure to read because of the author's ability to bring the characters from the previous books (The MacKenzies: David; and Peter) back. Beth's sister Thia and Angie, along with the other colorful characters made me smile. These sisters have such a strong bond of commitment to each other and their respective dreams for hearths and husbands. I recommend this book, along with the other five books from The MacKenzies Series, prior to reading the next book in the series "Josh" which is scheduled for release in the next few months.

Good book if you don't mind weak females........1999-09-02

Overall, I think the book was okay. It had its moments, but I think Beth let Jake get away with too much. How quickly she forgot the reason she was married to him in the first place. Why do the female leads always fall victim to the mans kisses. No matter how hard they try they just can't seem to laugh in a mans face after he tries to dominate her using his sex appeal. Maybe, I'm just tired of weak female characters. For once, I'd like to see the male character brought to his knees without somehow turning to tables on his leading lady. Other than Beth being a total wimp, I'd say the book is pretty good.

5 Titles in The Mackenzies Series by Ana Leigh: (1) Jared; (2) Jake; (3) Josh; (4) Luke; (5) Zach

Average customer rating:

5 Titles in The Mackenzies Series by Ana Leigh: (1) Jared; (2) Jake; (3) Josh; (4) Luke; (5) Zach
Ana Leigh
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VFUUTA

Amazon.com

Over the last few years, Jack McDevitt has quietly been producing an outstanding collection of science fiction novels. Earlier works such as The Engines of God and Ancient Shores had a thoughtful, archeological-exploration bent, but with Moonfall he takes off the gloves to create a splashy, near-future science fiction thriller with a big cast of characters and a do-or-die attitude. At the center of the story is Charlie Haskell, the U.S. vice president, who in 2024--an election year--has arrived at the American Moonbase to cut the ribbon and declare it operational. But there's a problem, and it's a doozy: a "sun-grazer" comet, with immense mass and speed, is on a collision course with the moon. Haskell, with an eye to his public image, puts himself at the bottom of the evacuation list. But time grows critically short, and soon more than his political future is in jeopardy--broken chunks of moon will begin exploding outwards. If they reach Earth, some of the chunks are big enough to cause an extinction event. McDevitt pays attention to his science while revving the action, and the stakes couldn't be higher: Haskell's choices will decide who lives and who dies--if anyone survives at all. --Blaise Selby

Book Description

It's the 21st century, and all is right with the world. Or so it seems.

Vice President Charlie Haskell, who will travel anywhere for a photo op, is about to cut the ribbon for the just-completed American Moonbase. The first Mars voyage is about to leave high orbit, with a woman at the helm. Below, the world is marveling at a rare solar eclipse.

But all that is right is about to go disastrously wrong when an amateur astronomer discovers a new comet. Named for its discover, Tomikois a "sun-grazer,"an interstellar wanderer with a hundred times the mass and ten times the speed of other comets. And it is headed straight for our moon.

In less than five days, if scientists' predictions are right, Tomiko will crash into the moon, shattering it into a cloud of superheated gas, dust, and huge chunks of rock that will rain down on the earth, causing chaos and killer storms, possibly tidal waves inundating entire cities...or worse: a single apocalyptic worldwide "extinction event."

In the meantime, the population of Moonbase must be evacuated by a hastily assembled fleet of shuttle rockets. There isn't room, or time enough, for everyone. And the vice president, who rashly promised to be last off ("I will lock the door and turn off the lights"), is trying to figure out how to get away without eating his words.

In Moonfall,McDevitt has created a disaster thriller of truly epic proportions, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters: the reluctant Russian rocket jockey entrusted with the lives of squabbling refugees; the woman chosen to be first on the moon; the scientist who must deflect the "possum" (POSSible IMpactors) knocked from orbit or witness the end science itself. And at the center of it all is Charlie Haskell, the career politician who discovers his own unexpected reserves of only himself and his country, but for all humankind.

Moonfall,is a spellbinding tale of heroism and hope, cowardice and passion played against the awesome spectacle of human history's darkest night.

Customer Reviews:

Too many characters, but I've always liked his inclusiveness.......2007-07-05

I have read many of McDevitt's books. I salute him for placing humans of various races in his books who are just people, no more no less.

As I deal with the insults against black women by prominent idiots in the popular culture, black and white alike, it is nice to know that there are artists out there who are giving strong roles to women of color in their stories, not to mention roles to women of character, period.

I cannot say I liked this story much, however. Too many characters! Too many displays of cranks and opportunists, just like those in "Ancient Shores." I prefer not to have to deal with the vast displays of human stupidity in my science fiction.

I prefer some of his other efforts and will continue to go back into his collection to read those I haven't gotten to as yet.

I found myself skimming most of the book, but reading all of the Haskell and Evelyn scenes, along with the Saber and Lee scenes.

Nevertheless, I say, keep them coming!

Big book but worth the time........2006-09-19

Its the year 2024, and the situation of the world could not be better. the opening of Moonbase is about to take place, and opening it is Vice President Charlie Haskell, the first ever manned mission to Mars is about to launch, and a rare solar eclipse is taking place.but as the eclipse passes by, an amateur astronomer discovers a comet. But this is no ordanary comet. At 100 times the mass and 10 times the speed of regular comets, this is the worst threat ever. It's about to hit the moon. As chaos ensues all over the planet, the population of Moonbase must be evacuated. every shuttle must be used, they must plan the rotation down to the minute, and it still may not be enough. The government must try to keep the nation calm while the people scramble to higher ground, scared to death of tidal waves caused by debris. The military starts to plan evacuations of major cities. Meanwhile, Moonbase realizes that it must leave behind 6 people. In those 6 is Vice President Haskell. The Mars shuttle prepares to launch them, but it will leave 20 minutes before impact. Every single person is trying to prepare for the catastrophy about to occur. The Mars shuttle gets ready to launch while its occupants prepare for the ride of their life. Finally, they launch 20 minutes before the impact. Will the shuttle survive the trip? Will the debris destroy everything Earth loves? Will we survive? Read the Book to find out. Personally, I enjoyed this book very much. it kept me in suspense, it showed what people really think about people in power, and has a very gppd plot. This is a great story, if you dont mind the length. Moonfall, by Jack McDevvit, is a great read.

first time for mcdevitt.......2005-06-17

first time i have read a mcdevitt novel, it was exceptional.
I enjoyed everything about this book, the characters, the story, etc. the authors ability to describe space travel was terrific, I strongly recommend this book to others.

A Must read!!.......2004-10-04

this book should have been made into a movie. Instead, they made Armaggedon and Deep Impact which are entirely forgettable. Moonfall has it all-a disaster that threatens Earth, people who are trying to fix it, fruitcakes crawling out of woodwork and of course, the Moon exploding(or breaking into pieces, to be exact). Oh, if only you could see something like that on the big screen I'd be first in line. I couldn't put it down. Fantastic book!

Really 4 1/2.......2004-05-28

Although the title may make you think the moon falls out of the sky, MOONFALL is actually a story of courage and daring to do great things even though they may lead to great failure (ala Teddy Roosevelt). In the early part of the next century the Vice-President of the United States travels to the Moon to officially open Moonbase to coincide with a total eclipse of the sun. During the phenomenon a comet is discovered heading our way from behind the sun. The comet is of unprecedented size and is traveling orders of magnitude faster than any comet previously known. Its trajectory will cause it to strike the moon and possibly shatter it.

Customer Reviews:

Very Scary.......2007-10-03

This was a good horror novel with depth. There is plenty of back story, which is explained, fiendish baddies you love to hate, and good guys that take a number of punches but still manage to win.

There are some very strong violence and violent sexual scenes - rape does appear in this story. I would NOT recommend this to a young adult.

The only other horror I've read is Stephen King. This is not quite on his level, but is a good, chilling, Halloween-prep reading, nonetheless.

(*)>

Good Read.......2006-09-09

I liked this book alot, it wasnt as good as the Haunted. But, i dont think she can ever top that one. But this book was heart retching and exciting it has a new fresh idea, it combines sex in the right places and murder, then adds old style magic.
a must read.

Another great book from Tamara.......2005-01-31

This is another ggreat book from Tamara Thorne. In a small town there exists a monastery, run by nuns. A local sherrif, who lost his younger brother years back, suddenly finds himself drawn closer to he mystery of the nuns. At night, large, unknown, evil birds (or something else) fly over the region. Past comes back to reveal the truth with the help of an old woman, who has been fighting the nuns throughout centuries. Now the sherrif must face the evil worshipped by the nuns and save his son, his new-foundlove and himself. Great read from beginning to end.

This book got me hooked on Thorne's creepy style..........2002-08-21

This was the first novel I ready by Tamara Thorne. It kept me hooked to the very last page and is an entertaining read with a smooth flow. She has a very smooth writing style and her writing is crisp and clear.

Be WARNED: Tamara is not some feminist horror writer who writes what is politically correct. She is a much better writer than Anne Rice, who OVER-WRITES! Tamara paints a bloody and sexy read that keeps you wanting to read to the very end.

Tamara is a very nice person who RESPONDS to fan mail. She is witty, funny, and very left wing. Her writing has gotten better with each novel and she continues to come up with new and original ideas; not overused cliched plots.

Two thumbs up for this story about Sara Hawthorne who returns home to teach at a girl's school. Strange things start to happen and a budding romance with the police chief make things erotically charged. The two collaborate on how to stop the EVIL taking place at the school and the ending is shocking!!

Keep 'em coming, Tamara!!!

Tamara Thorne hasn't disappointed me yet!.......2002-07-30

I can't say enough good things about Tamara Thorne. The first book of hers that I read, "Haunted", remains one of my favorite books of all time. Moonfall delivers another great story, a compelling account of St. Gertrude's (better know as St. Gruesome's), a Catholic girls' school that isn't at all what it seems, complete with terrifying nuns, local legends, witches, gargoyles that come to life in the night, and nasty, evil secrets.

Thorne (a pseudonym) is one of the better modern horror writers out there, and deserves far more attention than she receives. Unfortunately, the horror genre is the least popular of all genres in the U.S., (a puzzle I still haven't figured out), so she's in a tough market. Why she hasn't won a Stoker award is beyond me, because she certainly deserves one. Her stories are original, well-written, and entertaining from word one. I recently bought the rest of her books (Eternity, Candle Bay, and Bad Things), as well, and can't wait to read them.

Book Description

Tasman is born into a world populated by two-headed bicephalic "twins" who share one body. Alone, she struggles for acceptance and becomes the unwitting key to the Earth_s salvation, in a poetic and apocalyptic vision of the future where technology exists as a mere remnant of a destroyed world, conjoined twins are the norm and the orbit of the moon is decaying.

Customer Reviews:

Enraptured by Moonfall.......2003-08-26

Heather Spears is a very complicated and disturbing writer, artist and human being. Her "other" career (as an artist) has often been to draw sketches of children in situations of great trauma such as at birth or with facial deformities or the Palestinian children of the Intifada ... maimed, wounded and hospitalized, often fatally. Moonfall is not exactly a book. It is a genre of its own, part poetry, part dream, part science fiction, part prayer ... this small book, first of a trilogy, is an intuitive comment about the direction in which the world is heading. As such it is a remarkable testimony to Spears' com/passionate belief in the ability of humans to care for one another above all else. This is also the book's eloquent message, healing and teaching. Every person in the story except one is a conjoined twin. The characters reveal an empathy and connection with one another which is quite extraordinary, although most fear and reject Tasman, the singleton. Spears' language is metaphor. One almost feels as if one is thinking or feeling the book rather than reading it. But really, to experience Moonfall is to transport yourself to a place beyond words. I highly recommend this book. I found it enrapturing.

Contains some nice weirdness and thoughts........1999-03-21

An unusually creative and strangely unsettling book, Moonfall takes place in a world populated entirely by conjoined twins except for the main character. Spears's perspective of such a sociaty is interesting and the writing is very clear and well done. Although not classic science-fiction, Moonfall is enjoyable and worth reading.

Average customer rating:

MOONFALL
JACK MCDEVITT
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Moonfall
Susan Whitcher
Manufacturer: Farrar Straus & Giroux (J)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0374350566

Average customer rating:

Moonfall
Joseph F. Cohan
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1401065007

The Children of Atwar (Moonfall Ser., Bk. 2)

Average customer rating:

The Children of Atwar (Moonfall Ser., Bk. 2)

Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HT64NG

Average customer rating:

Moonfall
Susan Whitcher; Illustrator Barbara Lehman
Manufacturer: FARRAR STRAUS GIROUX
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OKA2NQ

Average customer rating:

Moonfall
Jack McDevitt
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OFJVT2

Average customer rating:

The Moonfall
Heather Spears
Manufacturer: Trifolium Books Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000K3NSIS

Average customer rating:

Scholarship for the public

This is good stuff!

Hmmm...

Setting A Trap

Necessary reading, humbling for the soul.

Setting a Trap for God: The Aramaic Prayer of Jesus
Rocco A. Errico
Manufacturer: Unity Books (Unity School of Christianity)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Study | New Testament | Reference | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
New Testament | Bibles | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus

Let There Be Light: The Seven Keys

Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text

Idioms in the Bible Explained and A Key to the Original Gospels

The Modern New Testament from the Aramaic: With New Testament Origin, Comparative Bible Verses, & A Compact English-Aramaic Concordance : Deluxe Study Edition

ASIN: 0871591243

Book Description

The title for this book comes from the Aramaic meaning of the word prayer,"setting your mind like a trap so that you may catch the thoughts of God." This metaphysical look at the Lord's Prayer is expanded from Errico's The Ancient Aramaic Prayer of Jesus.

Customer Reviews:

Scholarship for the public .......2007-09-17

Quality study of the original Aramaic "Lord's Prayer." Very readable and useful in group study. Accommodates conservative theology.

This is good stuff!.......2005-03-19

I am purchasing my fourth copy of this book. I have worn out or loaned or given copys away. "The information is accurate...its what they teach at the seminary..." A minister who borrowed the book told me. I asked why is it not taught from the pulpit. He replied, "People are'nt ready for it"

I challenge you to read the book and decide for yourself if you are ready for it!

Hmmm..........2004-11-06

This is a short read but i must admit, it could have been shorter. At times, i found myself thinking: "Did this have to get stretched out here? He could have minimized wordiness here." That's the bad part. But i will say, it makes up for it's wordiness with a deep introspection of the Lords prayer broken down, line for line. Everytime i recite it now, it means so much more. The purchase of this book is for that reason alone. I give it 4 stars because of how it explained the prayer. It didn't get five because of what i first stated. And the wordines at times makes the read seem dry at times.

Setting A Trap.......2004-07-15

I have heard Dr. Errico say the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic many times. However, this book really helped me learn the essence of Jesus' prayer. Don't let the simple presentation fool you. Dr. Errico brings each line in the prayer to light. It is very powerful. Anyone who says this prayer must read this book.

Necessary reading, humbling for the soul........2003-03-17

Every once in a while, I read a book that teaches me life lessons that are not easily forgotten. This is that kind of book. Even the most common prayer among Christian can be given a fresh light. This book is exciting because it allows one to understand the correct translation with proper context. I believe this author has achieved both. Starting by setting the context, this author then moves verse by verse through the "Lord's prayer," giving food by which one can meditate and quite possibly put oneself in the proper mindset to be able to listen properly and hopefully receive God's wisdom. Every verse is analyzed with the simple goal of setting a proper mindset, attitude, and reverence for God. Although the title of the book can be a bit misleading, alluding to a sense of selfishness, maybe purposefully, one quickly learns that this is not the case, as it should be. Buy it, read it, meditate and live by it.

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