Wild Thorns (Interlink World Fiction)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Multi-layered Story that Needs to be Heard
  • An invitation to sit at a Palestinian dinner table
  • tragedy or farce?
  • Understanding the Realities
  • Truth is only one but there are many versions of it
Wild Thorns (Interlink World Fiction)
Sahar Khalifeh
Manufacturer: Interlink Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1566563364

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Multi-layered Story that Needs to be Heard.......2006-07-11

This is a great book. It's does not portray that Palestinian experience in a black & white way - it shows different reactions to the occupation and the consequences of those reactions. I loved the recurring theme of "Sink in the mud Palestine." That theme is sort of the antithesis of the romantic Palestinian reaction - it shows the disappointment and the acceptance of defeat. Absolutely wonderful and rich literature.

4 out of 5 stars An invitation to sit at a Palestinian dinner table.......2003-07-13

Guess what? Palestinians are people, too. If that sentence makes you angry, then you probably won't want to read this book -- but if you're willing to read with an open mind, you may come away from the book with an enriched understanding of "the other side." On the other hand, even if you already are sympathetic to the plight of the Palestinians, but from the remote perspective of news reports, then this book will make it all more real to you.

The tale is already twenty-six years old, set just a few years into the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Written by a Palestinian, about Palestinians, it is sympathetic to them, but it's not a propaganda piece. We get only rare glimpses of Israelis in this book, but when they do appear, they are shown in the same humane light that shines on the main characters. When a five year old Syrian boy meets his imprisoned father for the first time, the Israeli guards turn away with tears in their eyes. This is not the only scene in which someone on one side of the conflict responds compassionately to the suffering of someone on the other side.

Parents and grandparents want their boys and young men to study and become professionals with good incomes, and they hope for their daughters to marry successful daughters. Men struggle to feed their families and to negotiate a little self respect in spite of the compromises they find themselves making. Other men (and boys) alternate between pride, fear, and shame as they try to respond to the humiliations and oppression of their people with costly courage.

One of the great functions of literature is to let the reader walk in another's shoes. That is what I had in mind when I chose to read this book. I have not been disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars tragedy or farce?.......2001-10-01

My cousin kills a man and I carry off his daughter. Tragedy or farce?
-Wild Thorns

This novel is part of something called the Emerging Voices Series and, from what I could find online,
although the book is now over twenty-five years old and Sahar Khalifeh is in her fifties, she is indeed
considered one of the important voices in Middle Eastern literature. The action of Wild Thorns takes
place just a few years after Israel occupied the West Bank, which is where Khalifeh lived when she
wrote it. The main character in the book is Usama, a young Palestinian returning to the territories
after being fired from his job in the oil states. Though his mother has high hopes that he will marry a
lovely cousin, Usama has actually returned to his homeland on a mission, to blow up the buses which
carry Palestinian day laborers to their jobs in Israel.

Usama is shocked by the changes he finds on his return, the indignities that people put up with,
starting with the difficulty getting through the check points on the way into the territories, having to
submit to searches and interrogations. But he is most disturbed by how economically dependent
Palestinians have become on Israel, both for jobs and for consumer goods. He sees this as a kind of
collaboration, which implicates everyone in the occupation.

Meanwhile, the hero of the book is really Adil, another young Palestinian, Usama's cousin, who has
stayed at home, works at one of the well paying Israeli jobs in order to take care of his extended
family, and wants no part of the coming violence. But, inevitably, he too gets caught up in the sweep
of events. In the first instance, when he just happens to be on the scene when an Israeli soldier is
attacked and stabbed, Adil carries the soldier's young daughter to safety. But in the end, when Usama
and his cronies attack the very bus convoy that Adil is riding in, he ends up grabbing a gun himself.

Though Ms Khalifeh is obviously sympathetic to the plight of her people, the novel is largely
non-polemical. Adil seems to be as much a victim of Usama's mindless terrorism as is the Israeli
soldier. Yet, Adil's final decision to take up arms makes a certain awful sense too. Even someone as
generally hostile to the Palestinian cause as I am can understand how even the most decent and
reluctant of men would choose to fight with his own people when push came to shove. But, of course,
this is the evil logic of terror, to make everyone take sides, to turn even the peace loving into killers.
It is this that makes the events of the novel as tragic as they are inexorable.

5 out of 5 stars Understanding the Realities.......2001-04-16

I have always considered myself a dedicated sympathiser to the Palestinian cause, I have always had my doubts as to how to categorise in my mind those Palestinians referred to as "Arab Israelis" and those who accept to work 'inside'. With this book I have learned of my total ignorance on the subject of occupation, and Ms. Khalifeh has taught me a valuable lesson: it is impossible to draw this conflict in black and white. The shades of grey in this novel render the reality from within all the more tragic. Never before have i empathised so with this most unbelievable of injustices, one of the heaviest burdens to be placed squarely on the conscience of all nations and most of their citizens. I am sure that anyone who reads this book will be robbed of his or her ability to view the current developments with cold indifference.

5 out of 5 stars Truth is only one but there are many versions of it.......2000-12-13

Even for those persons with strong opinions about the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, or with those like me who truly do not know what comes first if the egg or the chicken, this book will open their eyes to the real nature of every conflict. It shows with amazing beauty how life is more powerful than death. How every time a person picks up an arm to impose its ideas, he is merely a tool for the dispensers of stupidity.

I do agree completely with the other reviewers who have stated that this book can not be approached believing that is merely propaganda against Israel. It simply shows that no matter the reason, violence only creates suffering for of those who are involved in the conflict.
Gone Wild
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Wild and Dangerous
  • An excellent thrill-ride
  • Hall's books terrify me - but I can't wait for the next one!
Gone Wild
James W. Hall
Manufacturer: G K Hall & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0783813686

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Wild and Dangerous.......2002-01-15

The story opens with a woman and her daughters in the Borneo jungle looking for orang-utans, seeking to document their positions as part of a census. They are shocked when they stumble upon poachers who are hunting the apes, but who are not afraid to turn their guns on humans.

This book deals with the dwindling numbers of endangered species and man's indifference to whether they live or die. In particular, the orang-utan is highlighted. It's a battle between Alison Farleigh who is desperate to stamp out poachers, trappers and other enemies to animals, and a couple of brothers who have made it their lives work to capture wild animals no matter the cost.

Once again James Hall portrays his bad guys as just about the lowest, most demented scum of the earth, yet smart enough to keep getting away with their evil deeds. Thorn, Hall's recurring laid-back alternative-living hero, plays a minor role as the backup for Alison. It seems that his main role in this book is to get the living bejeezus repeatedly beaten out of him.

It's an action-packed thriller interspersed with more sensitive moments when the story is told from a young orang-utan's perspective. There are no real surprising twists to the story, yet it remained compelling from start to finish. Any book that highlights the plight of the many endangered species of animals around the world is a worthwhile book.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent thrill-ride.......1999-05-31

This book was awesome, it had everything: murder, fighting, monkeys, etc. Everything you need to make a good book. I was only going to read the first chapter, but after that i got drawn in and couldn't put it down. A real killer of a book.

5 out of 5 stars Hall's books terrify me - but I can't wait for the next one!.......1998-11-23



****SPOILER****


As I get immersed in the Florida heat and sounds and even smells of the latest James Hall book, I cringe to think what he will do to his characters next. Hall is more likely to kill off his main characters and the people close to them than any writer I've ever read. It makes for a much more exciting, if heart-wrenching read, because he also has a knack for making you care deeply about the people in his novels. No formulas here, all bets are off. Please hurry with the next one, Mr. Hall!
Wild Thorn
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Mystery with Vivid Writing
  • Virginia author writes excellent mystery
  • A Mystery That Feels Real
  • TAME THORN
  • strong anti-hero tale
Wild Thorn
William Hoffman
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060197986
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Book Description

From the critically acclaimed author of Tidewater Blood and Blood and Guile comes a gripping novel of suspense about a man who puts his life in jeopardy in order to bring a killer to justice.

In Wild Thorn, Charley LeBlanc returns to the place of his birth only to find himself caught up in corruption and intrigue. The black sheep of a distinguished Virginia family, Charley has now settled in Montana to escape his felonious past. When he heads east for a brief trip, he discovers that an old mountaineer woman he has befriended is dead under questionable circumstances. Charley wants answers and sets out to find them.

He's hampered by a local law force that remembers only too well Charley's previous misdeeds. But he's unexpectedly welcomed by the richest man in the area -- and his sexy, younger wife. The deeper Charley digs, the more he believes the old woman's death is not what it first appeared. And before long he uncovers a devious and dangerous enemy.

Brilliantly written, with a strong sense of place and an intriguing cast of characters, Wild Thorn confirms William Hoffman's place as a writer of rare and extraordinary talent.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Mystery with Vivid Writing.......2007-09-21

This is my first book by William Hoffman and I almost did not read it. But I started and when I read his first paragraph, it was written so well that I read on. You could actually feel as if you could see what he was describing. I had not read such in colorful and in-depth narrative on the scenery for quite a while.

This book is centered on a Vietnam veteran called Charley LeBlanc who is from a very prominent family. Yet we learn right away that he is the black sheep of the family and has a tough girlfriend he calls Blackie who lost an eye in a bar fight. They both have a criminal background and this helps to form their strong relationship with one another. They live in isolation in Montana when they decide to go visit Aunt Jessie Arbuckle in West Virginia. Though everyone calls her Aunt she is of no relation to anyone in the book. And when they arrive they find here dead under mysteries circumstances.

A wild hermit named Esmeralda has been taken into custody because of this suspected murder. The authorities allude both that she is a suspect and also that they have taken her into custody for her own safety. Charley decides he has to do all he can for this poor woman and look into this murder that no one seems to want to talk about. The path he follows takes us on a slightly twisting path. The authors writing conjures up such vivid images that you read on. This is a good book to check out from your library.

5 out of 5 stars Virginia author writes excellent mystery.......2007-05-18

William Hoffman has been publishing since the 1950s. His protagonist, Charles LeBlanc, is the black sheep of a wealthy family who has fled to Montana and now returned to West Virginia to butt heads with the local sheriff among others. This is the third Hoffman novel I've read and I liked the same protagonist in the earlier books. Hoffman's writing style is also strong and spare, what appeals to me.




5 out of 5 stars A Mystery That Feels Real.......2004-06-23

I just love William Hoffman's work. He writes mysteries that feel real. The plot isn't some intricate conspiracy that has to be unraveled. It's a loose connection of facts that have to be worked and reworked for the protagonist to make progress. One small shred of evidence leads to the next until he builds a case. People lie to him and he sometimes gets distracted, pretty much like the real world.

Hoffman has brought back Charley LeBlanc, the flawed but fascinating main character from his Hammett Award winning Tidewater Blood. Charley is a former Viet Nam vet and convict. He definitely has flaws but to me that's what makes him fascinating. I think the best mysteries are the ones where the detective isn't a cop.

Hoffman clearly knows the mountains of West Virginia. Whether it's his vivid description of the land and wildlife, his depictions of the people who inhabit the abandoned coal mine towns or the history of the region, you'll feel you've been there when you finish the book.

4 out of 5 stars TAME THORN.......2003-08-16

One cannot dispute the writing skills of William Hoffman; he has a stunning sense of character, place and time. Unfortunately, his laconic, laid back style hinders the suspense in this novel. Charley's back (from "Tidewater Blood"), and his character is not one of my favorites. Although he was done wrong in the first book by his own family, his retreat into a fantasy, anchorite's world only makes him irritating. His desire to leave the world behind, live in the wild and avoid people may be idealistic but still unrealistic, too. He's hooked up with Blackie, a woman with a criminal record, and his relationship with her forms a strong foundation for what drives a lot of the story. The mystery surrounding the mysterious death of Aunt Jessie takes a back seat to Charley's own obstinance and lack of perception. His sudden act of infidelity only shows how shallow he can be, and his decision to keep it from Blackie leads to the inevitable dissolution of their relationship. It doesn't take long to figure out the culprits in this one.
Although not an exceptional book, Hoffman's skills make it one worth reading; let's hope he picks up the pace in future novels.

5 out of 5 stars strong anti-hero tale.......2002-12-18

Charley LeBlanc comes from a rich and powerful Tidewater, Virginia family, but that doesn't mean he had an easy life. His father was a drunken abusive person so Charley left home to join the army and served in Vietnam. He was dishonorably discharged and did hard time in Leavenworth. He finally has his act together living with his lover Mildred "Blackie' Spurlock in an isolated area of Montana.

He and Blackie return to Cliffside in Shawnee County, West Virginia to check up on Aunt Jessie Arbuckle, a woman who befriended him when many others turned their backs on him. He arrives to find Aunt Jessie dead and Esmeralda, a homeless woman who depended on the charity of Shawnee County to feed and clothe her, charged with her murder. Charley knows through the ties that bind him to Esmeralda that the wrong person is locked away and he intends to find the real perpetrator.

William Hoffman uses words to convey colorful images in the mind's eye so that the reader senses the environment that the flawed protagonist struggles to adapt to so he can have a peaceful life. Charley is an anti-hero who makes very serious mistakes but is likable because of the tenderness he shows to those few people that he cares about. The story line is beautiful in its simplicity but the author writes about complex people who are put in difficult situations and that makes this novel a fabulous read.

Harriet Klausner
3 Satinwood Romances: Wild Thorn Summer / Floodgates of Love / Shadows From Njara (Satinwood Romances)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    3 Satinwood Romances: Wild Thorn Summer / Floodgates of Love / Shadows From Njara (Satinwood Romances)
    Louise Brindley , Nesta St. John , and Judy Sutton
    Manufacturer: banner press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000J4FH82
    4 Titles in the Thorn Series: (1) Tropical Freeze; (2) Mean High Tide; (3) Gone Wild; (4) Buzz Cut (Set of 4)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      4 Titles in the Thorn Series: (1) Tropical Freeze; (2) Mean High Tide; (3) Gone Wild; (4) Buzz Cut (Set of 4)
      James W. Hall
      Manufacturer: Various
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000WWT5GG
      Fraser Darling in Africa: A Rhino in the Whistling Thorn
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Fraser Darling in Africa: A Rhino in the Whistling Thorn
        John Morton Boyd
        Manufacturer: Edinburgh University Press
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

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        ASIN: 0748603689
        Wild Thorn
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Wild Thorn
          William Hoffman
          Manufacturer: HarperCollins
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback
          ASIN: B000OA7PA4
          WILD THORN SUMMER, FLOODGATES OF LOVE, SHADOWS FROM NJARA
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            WILD THORN SUMMER, FLOODGATES OF LOVE, SHADOWS FROM NJARA
            Louise; Nesta St. Johnand Judy Sutton Brindley
            Manufacturer: banner press
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Hardcover
            ASIN: B000JS293O
            Wild Thorns
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Wild Thorns

              Manufacturer: SAQI BOOKS
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000GO6N4W

              The Marchese's Love-Child (Harlequin Presents)
              Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
              • very good indeed : ) though not perfect : (
              • 4 1/2 Stars...Great Love Story
              The Marchese's Love-Child (Harlequin Presents)
              Sara Craven
              Manufacturer: Harlequin
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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              ASIN: 0373125216

              Customer Reviews:

              4 out of 5 stars very good indeed : ) though not perfect : (.......2006-07-25

              back cover: The Italian`s reluctant bride!
              When aristocratic Alessandro Valessi discovers the existence of his love child, he is determined to be part of Polly Fairfax`s life! But Polly has been raising the child alone-and she doesn`t want or need her son`s father, especially after the arrogant Italian count hurt her so badly...
              But Alessandro leaves Polly no choice; he will fight her for custody of their child, unless Polly does as he commands...and agrees to marry him immediately!
              *Italian husbands-serie...They`re tall, dark-and ready to marry!* *sigh*

              4 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Stars...Great Love Story.......2006-03-23

              I've been reading Harlequin books since I was a teenager almost a decade ago. Sara Craven has always been one of my favorite authors. I can't recall the title of the first Sara Craven I read but it was wonderful and I still have the book. This one was no exception. Polly and Sandro's story was a great love story and a little bit tragic. I think this is the first Presents book I've ever cried over. The story literally brought tears to my eyes. The only reason it is not 5 stars is I was a little frustrated how they would never talk to each other. Then again, that is what a Harlequin is about - they don't discover the "truth" until about the last 5 pages of the book. I suppose this one made me more frustrated because I knew what had happened (or thought I did) and I wanted Sandro to know. Anyway, you won't be disappointed if you pick up this delightful story by Sara Craven. Enjoy!
              The Marchese's Love-Child (Presents)
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                The Marchese's Love-Child (Presents)
                Sara Craven
                Manufacturer: Harlequin
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

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                ASIN: B000OXHV64

                Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
                Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                • How could I be disappointed?
                • Some Outstanding, but not all are true masterpieces
                • Perhaps "Fine Pieces" Rather Than "Masterpieces"
                • A few masterpieces.
                • The Best Anthology of the Century
                Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century

                Manufacturer: Ace Trade
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

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                2. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two A: The Greatest Science Fiction Novellas of All Time Chosen by the Members of The Science Fiction Writers of America (SF Hall of Fame) The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two A: The Greatest Science Fiction Novellas of All Time Chosen by the Members of The Science Fiction Writers of America (SF Hall of Fame)
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                ASIN: 0441011330
                Release Date: 2004-03-02

                Amazon.com

                Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century may not include every reader's choices for the top science fiction of the 20th century, but it lives up to its title. Editor Orson Scott Card has assembled 27 standout stories by the biggest names and best writers in the genre. Not surprisingly, most of these stories have been anthologized or collected elsewhere, and some (like Arthur C. Clarke's "Nine Billion Names of God," Harlan Ellison's "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," and Robert A. Heinlein's "All You Zombies--") have been reprinted innumerable times. In addition, Card has previously placed some of these selections in his retrospective 1980s anthology Future on Ice.

                While some stories in Masterpieces lack fine prose and well-rounded characters, they are solid and engrossing entertainments. Other selections combine literary and science fiction virtues to produce a superior blend, and some of these stories--"Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson, "Snow" by John Crowley, "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison, "Face Value" by Karen Joy Fowler, "Tourists" by Lisa Goldstein, and "The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin--are art.

                Masterpieces isn't an anthology for the well-read fan. However, it is a great book for the new or intermediate science fiction reader. --Cynthia Ward

                Book Description

                An overview of the best science fiction short stories of the 20th century as selected and evaluated by critically-acclaimed author Orson Scott Card.

                Featuring stories from the genre's greatest authors:

                Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ray Bradbury, Frederik Pohl, Harlan Ellison, George Alec Effinger, Brian W. Aldiss, William Gibson & Michael Swanwick, Theodore Sturgeon, Larry Niven, Robert Silverberg, Harry Turtledove, James Blish, George R. R. Martin, James Patrick Kelly, Karen Joy Fowler, Lloyd Biggle, Jr., Terry Bisson, Poul Anderson, John Kessel, R.A. Lafferty, C.J. Cherryh, Lisa Goldstein, and Edmond Hamilton

                Download Description

                "A virtual who's who in a century of imaginative fiction, this new hardcover collection includes classic and influential stories by: Brian W. Aldiss * Isaac Asimov * Greg Bear * Gregory Benford * Octavia E. Butler * Arthur C. Clarke * Philip K. Dick * William Gibson * Joe Haldeman * Robert A. Heinlein * Ursula K. Le Guin * Anne McCaffrey * Frederik Pohl * Mike Resnick * Kim Stanley Robinson * Pamela Sargent * Robert Silverberg * Clifford D. Simak * John Varley * Roger Zelazny With a new critical essay by Orson Scott Card, Masterpieces is a glimpse of the greatest works that mixed science with fiction...and changed the way we think about ourselves, our future, and our place in the universe. Featuring bold, brave, and breathtaking stories, this definitive collection will stand the test of time in this century and in those to come."

                Customer Reviews:

                5 out of 5 stars How could I be disappointed?.......2004-11-06

                Look at the names on that list. Each is like revisiting an old friend. I recommend this collection for anybody seeking a book to introduce another to really good science fiction.

                4 out of 5 stars Some Outstanding, but not all are true masterpieces.......2004-06-04

                There are some excellent stories in here; some of them are amongst the best science fiction tales ever spun. Unfortunately there is a lot of "fine" and even mediocre examples as well. One could easily rate the individual stories here at between one and five stars. I give it a generous four stars due to a few of the standouts in the collection.

                Several key authors are missing entirely from the book (and Card apologizes for this in his Introduction). The "Media Generation" chapter includes a couple of stories ("Bears Discover Fire" by Bisson and "Tourists" by Goldstein), that, while fine stores, are not science fiction under almost anyones' definition. I think Card could have chosen better stories by Asimov and Bradbury.

                There are enough good stories to make the book worth purchasing. Of these, I include: "A Saucer of Loneliness," by Theodore Sturgeon, "The Nine Billion Names of God," by Arthur C. Clarke, "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison, "Passengers," by Robert Silverberg, "Inconstant Moon," by Larry Niven, "Sandkings," by George R. R. Martin--and the superlative story "Pots" by C. J. Cherryh.

                The net of this is that I think there is some excellent material here, but that it is neither a comprehensive sampling of twentieth century science fiction nor a true set of masterpieces. Of course, Card chose stories that affected him deeply, without turning this into another compilation driven by awards, and one has to respect that as well.

                4 out of 5 stars Perhaps "Fine Pieces" Rather Than "Masterpieces".......2003-06-27

                This is a much better than average Ace anthology. Typically Ace, it doesn't quite live up to its hype. The twenty six stories collected here are not the "Best Science Fiction of the Century" by anybody's count, even Orson Scott Card's own. Card himself describes his selection process in the Introduction: these are stories he loved at the first reading, enjoys on repeat readings, and "[a]bove all, these are stories that I cannot forget."

                I, however, *can* forget several of these stories - and already have, a mere few days after reading them. Most of the forgettable stories are the more recent ones, which is probably not a coincidence. Early science fiction (pre-1960s, let's say) is almost inherently more worthwhile than most later science fiction, and the stories selected here are cases in point. Terry Bisson's "Bears Discover Fire" is a meandering inanity. "Dog Fight" by William Gibson and Michael Swanwick is a drugs and sex tale, "appealing" only in the way that Trainspotting was "appealing." "Rat" by James Patrick Kelly is similar.

                There are, however, some truly, truly great stories here, which more than merit four stars. "The Tunnel Under the World" by Frederick Pohl, for example, ends with a revelation worth the price of admission. "Inconstant Moon" by Larry Niven is full of emotional impact as two individuals adjust to the thought of the sun going nova. George R. R. Martin's "Sandkings", despite being relatively recent, is a story that would might expect from Stephen King at the top of his game. Heinlein's "All You Zombies-" is a time-travel story to make the head spin. James Blish's "A Work of Art" puts Richard Strauss into the 22d century. Perhaps the most enjoyable of all is "Tunesmith" by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. Biggle, writing in 1957, the dawn of the television age, predicts a society where commercials have subsumed all other forms of art, until a gifted musician appears to save society. A surprisingly moving story, and finely crafted, skilfully bringing the reader full circle without the reader ever suspecting that he was moving.

                ...if you truly want "masterpieces," you should pick up Silverberg's Science Fiction Hall of Fame, volume one, or even the Best of the Nebulas edited by Ben Bova. But if you want several excellent stories by talented writers, you would do much worse than this collection of Card's favorites.

                3 out of 5 stars A few masterpieces........2003-03-25

                This title of the book is wrongly chosen, which I don't believe, or some people wanted to betray other people.
                It's of course a tricky business to choose _the_ masterpieces of the century. I think that Card could/should have invested more time in seeking pieces that actually deserve the title best.
                I have nothing against Card, but I hope that some editor will soon make a defining best of anthology.
                Still three stars. Why? Let me explain. This isn't all mediocre.
                The good: Call me Joe, All You Zombies, Nine Billion Names, Repent, Eurema's Dam, Passengers, Who Can Replace, Le Guin story, Niven story, SANDKINGS, dogfight and Snow of Crowley.
                That's a lot of good stories. I didn't like the recent ones.
                Most others were very readable. If this anthology wouldn't have featured such a title it would get four stars.
                If somebody would lower the price and remove some stories from this book it would get five stars.
                Now, if I would create an anthology bearing this name your eyes would roll out of their sockets. It would include Cordwainer Smith, Henry Kuttner, Kornbluth, brown etc. My reference book will therefore remain The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, vol. one, ed. by Silverberg. For now.
                If you really want to own these stories then by all means buy this book. But remember its setup. The editor and publisher lured you to buy this book. Don't stink into it. Look beyond the sausage and go hunt some other best of....
                Just my thoughts. Hey, just to keep things straight: I didn't buy this book. I know its contents.

                5 out of 5 stars The Best Anthology of the Century.......2002-01-15

                Masterpieces is the most accessible anthology of great science fiction short stories I have ever read. Every piece was easy to get into, yet not lacking in depth. Only the Niven and Asimov pieces were even vaguely familiar -- well, I've read absolutely ALL of Asimov. Each author was carefully and, in my opinion, well selected. I was especially impressed by George R.R. Martin's menacing "Sandkings", C.J. Cherryh's "Pots", set in yet another invented universe, and by "Dogfight", the most readable Gibson (written with Michael Swanwick) I've ever encountered, but still illuminated by narrative from within cyberspace. I thoroughly enjoyed every story.

                The Complete Book of Bible Trivia (Complete Book Of... (Tyndale House Publishers))
                Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                • The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                • Not Exactly What I Was Hoping For
                • A Great Book for Browsing
                • A Good Ice Breaker
                • Test your bible knowledge, or prepare to be on a game show
                The Complete Book of Bible Trivia (Complete Book Of... (Tyndale House Publishers))
                J. Stephen Lang , and Stephen J. Lang
                Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

                TriviaTrivia | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
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                2. Fun Facts about the Bible Fun Facts about the Bible
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                4. The Everything Kids Bible Trivia Book: Stump Your Friends and Family With Your Bible Knowledge (The Everything Series) The Everything Kids Bible Trivia Book: Stump Your Friends and Family With Your Bible Knowledge (The Everything Series)
                5. The Awesome Book of Bible Trivia The Awesome Book of Bible Trivia

                ASIN: 0842304215

                Book Description

                People who love the Bible and trivia will enjoy J. Stephen Lang's The Complete Book of Bible Trivia. With over 4,500 questions divided into 14 topical sections, trivia buffs will be tested on such topics as Crimes and Punishments, Military Matters, Things to Eat and Drink, and Matters of Life and Death. Answers are conveniently placed on the following page.

                Download Description

                Non-Fiction: Everyone will enjoy learning more about the Bible with this best selling, entertaining, collection of over 4500 questions and answers.

                Customer Reviews:

                4 out of 5 stars The Complete Book of Bible Trivia .......2007-01-07

                We use this book every Sunday before Church. To get info on a question to ask for the next Sunday.

                3 out of 5 stars Not Exactly What I Was Hoping For.......2007-01-03

                While this is a good book, it is not exactly what I was hoping for. It is not a book with which you can easily play a trivia game with your Sunday School. It seems to be focused more on presenting every tidbit of bible trivia rather than elaborating on the more interesting trivia.

                5 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Browsing.......2003-03-08

                OK, I admit I am a big fan of quiz shows and such, so I like any book with a question-answer format. I also like the Bible, so this book was a natural for me. I like the way it is divided into different categories, also like that it has the answers on the flip side of the page, so they're easy to find. Some of the best and most amusing questions were in a section called "Curious Quotations," with some really quaint-sounding items from the King James Version. This would be a good book for pastors or teachers wanting a bit of amusing trivia or humor to launch into a sermon or lesson.

                3 out of 5 stars A Good Ice Breaker.......2001-05-26

                A neat little book for trivia buffs. This book also comes in handy for teachers of Bible study classes who need ice breakers. Of course you can also learn something along the way, but don't expect deep profound truths.

                4 out of 5 stars Test your bible knowledge, or prepare to be on a game show.......2000-08-12

                Mr Lang has written an excellent book that will truly test your bible Knowledge."Bible triva" covers everything from the simple "What two cities of the plain were destroyed for their wickedness?" To the difficult "whose mother was a widow named Zeruah?" to the suprising "what book is the only book in the bible to mention an apple tree?" (hint it's not Genisis) and "what woman is mentioned more often then any other in the bible?" (It's not either Mary). And then there is the just plain trvial "Who had the first birthday party in the bible?" Bible triva also covers more then just what is in the standard protestant bible, It covers things like apocrapha, Bible versions and their history and bible movie questions, my favorite in this catagory: "Cecil B Demille's "The Ten Commandments" (1956) was a remake of a 1923 silent film of the same title. What famous director made the earlier film?" (Ans: at the end of the review) If there is a weakness in this book it's that the questions are some times redundant, asking the same question in a slightly rewitten form. For example: "What King broke his own law when he called apon a spritualist to bring up the gohst of Samuel?" (PG 49) and "what king disguised himself in order to consult with a spiritualist?" (pg 107) As for who dircted the 1923 version of Ten Commandments"? ANS: Cecil B DeMille This along with many questions found in the book would make a great question for "Jeapordy" or "who wants to be Millionaire"
                The Complete Book of Bible Trivia Crossword Puzzles
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  The Complete Book of Bible Trivia Crossword Puzzles
                  J. Stephen Lang
                  Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Crosswords | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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                  ASIN: 0842303243

                  Book Description

                  A collection of 100 crossword puzzles based on J. Stephen Lang's best-selling The Complete Book of Bible Trivia.
                  The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                    Stephen Lang
                    Manufacturer: Tyndale House
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Paperback
                    ASIN: B000IN8DH6
                    Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                      J. Stephen Lang
                      Manufacturer: Tyndale House Pub
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Paperback
                      ASIN: B000OV9ZOW
                      The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                        J. Stephen Lang
                        Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publisher, Inc.
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Hardcover
                        ASIN: B000MDYTKM
                        THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIBLE TRIVIA.
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIBLE TRIVIA.
                          J. Stephen Lang.
                          Manufacturer: Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1996 24th prtg.
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000KIGUSS
                          Curiosidades De LA Biblia: The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Curiosidades De LA Biblia: The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                            J. Stephen Lang
                            Manufacturer: Alba House
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Paperback

                            SpanishSpanish | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
                            SpanishSpanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                            Literatura y ficciónLiteratura y ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Autores, A-Z | Cartas y Correspondencia | Clásicos | Cuentos Cortos | Drama | Ensayos | Ficción de La Mujer | General | Género Ficción | Historia y Crítica | Libros y Lectura | Literatura Mundial | Poesía
                            EducaciónEducación | No-Ficción | Libros en español | Formats | Books | Canada y México | Colegio y Universidad | Consejería | Curricula | Educación Especial | Educación de Adultos y Educación Continua | Escuela Primaria | Escuela Secundaria | Europa y Euroasia | General | Habilidades para el Estudio | Lectura | Método de Instrucción | Participación de Los Padres | Pedagogía | Politica | Referencia | Teoría Educativa | Transición y Jardin Infantil
                            ASIN: 9586079279
                            The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
                              J. Stephen Lang
                              Manufacturer: Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Hardcover
                              ASIN: B000NXTD6Q
                              The Complete Books of Bible Trivia & American Trivia
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                The Complete Books of Bible Trivia & American Trivia

                                Manufacturer: Parsons Technology
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Audio CD

                                TriviaTrivia | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
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                                BibleBible | Religion & Spirituality | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
                                GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
                                ASIN: 1572642572

                                Books:

                                1. X Out Of Wonderland
                                2. 26a: A Novel (P.S.)
                                3. A Dictionary of Maqiao
                                4. A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812
                                5. A River Sutra
                                6. A Slipping-Down Life
                                7. Adios Hemingway
                                8. Alternatives to Sex: A Novel
                                9. An Invisible Sign of My Own: A Novel
                                10. Anthills of the Savannah

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