Book Description
In the spring of 2232, hopes for a more humane world become manifest in the red-roofed houses of "China on the Rhine." There, Emily Ascher, once a freedom fighter, lives as Mama Em, mother to the orphans of a war-devastated land.
But unto the people of Chung Kuo, two children will be born: "Coffin Filler," a baby girl smothered and thrown away but not yet dead, and baby boy Josef, delivered into a hostile land, yet determined to fight for his life. They are part of a new generation who will see more death than any who have gone before.
While peace seems to reign, the puppet master of an army of giant androids plans one final, absolute destruction. And while the great T'ang, the dictators of Earth, are gone, the mega corporation GenSyn remains. And soon its pleasure drug called "Golden Dreams" will make Chung Kuo a funeral pyre for golden corpses--until the only escape lies in sending the survivors toward new stars. . . or joining Emily Ascher in a battle for liberty and a new Earth.
Customer Reviews:
Books I-V excellent, then this.......2003-08-23
While Wingrove has always been kinda mediocre in his writing, his imaginations and characters made the first 6 books good.
And I felt he should have STOPPED. There was a fairly satisfying ending at that point. Stop. Stop
Book VII is so irritating that I've tried to read it 3 times, and failed. Consider that I commonly read 1000s of pages of fantasy/sci-fi a year, and the number of unfinished series [because of apathy] over the last 30 years is countable on one hand.
Stop with Boook VI. You do NOT need any thing else
A must have.......2003-04-18
Take the chance and embark on a long journey with David Wingrove. You will not be let down. Problem is, you will see nothing of your friends or family for the next three months.
But, that is what you are looking for in a book, isn't it?
Good... but not great.......2001-11-13
I liked the way this book was done. Once again the Chung Kuo series manages to capture my attention. However, i feel that David Wingrove lost something in writting this, and the end of the last book. Some aspect of realism or such was lost.
Bit of a let down.......2001-08-29
I discovered this series in 1993, I devoured the first five books and absolutely loved every page of them. It was exciting, original, fun, and interesting. Then I read Days of Bitter Strength and abosolutely hated it. I felt the author completely lost his way and I really did not enjoy where he took this once-promising series. It was one of the biggest literary letdowns I have ever been dealt.
Don't bother.......2001-07-28
Don't bother with this book or its sequels. David Wingrove started out great with this series, but he got lost somewhere. By the end of this opus the author blatantly uses a "deus ex machina" . I felt betrayed because of all the time I spent reading the last 3 books.
Average customer rating:
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A Big Hit In Pelican Bay
L. C. Goldman
Manufacturer: Airleaf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1600021913
Release Date: 2006-09-29 |
Product Description
In the serene setting of a crime-free Pelican Bay, an affluent complex of seventy odd communities on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida's burgeoning Naples area, a man and a woman hit team, contracted by a mob boss in Chicago, was embarked on a path to kill someone on the Federal Witness Protection Program. Tully and Elaine Sullivan, a notorious execution duo, had a $1,000,000 contract to take out Salvatore Balviano, a soldier in the Masucci crime family in Chicago. Balviano received protection and was waiting to testify against his former Don. Testimony that could slam a cell door closed on the Don for many years. Detective Bill Sargent, a Chicago Cop on the eve of retirement, was assigned by a vindictive Captain to track down the killers of five murders in the Chicago area by a man and a woman hit team. An informants tip, tenuous at best, leads the Detective to search for the killers in Naples and Pelican Bay. However, he finds himself caught up in the middle of the plot to kill Salvatore Balviano. His instincts lead him to believe that the Sullivan's are the duo he has been searching for. And realizes they are the same hit team out to get Balviano. The first order of business is to prevent the hit, by finding the witness before the killers do. A daunting task, since his face has been altered and has a new identity. The surprise ending will intrigue those who enjoy matching wits with the writer in determining the outcome. A Big Hit In Pelican Bay offers that challenge.
Download Description
"In the first of Charlotte Douglas's Maggie Skerritt mysteries, an experienced police detective has to predict a serial killer's next move while charting her course for the future. But will Maggie's longtime friend and confidant add another life-altering event to the mix?
Customer Reviews:
Pelican Bay.......2005-10-10
As a rash of mysterious deaths shake the habitual peace of Pelican Bay, police detective, Maggie Skerritt is determined to find out who is ending lives that were just beginning to come together. There is no apparent motive of gain in more than one of them, but they all do share a link. All of them were involved in the same diet program. As Maggie delves deeper, the case turns sicker and more sinister. If she's not careful, Maggie will never get a chance to get her own life on track.
** If you buy this book looking for romance, you're doomed to disappointment. It's very light on that aspect. However, this is a mystery with all the intricacy of a Columbo mystery, though the killer is not revealed until the end. **
Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer.
terrific police procedural .......2005-09-17
Five years have passed since the Florida West Coast town of Pelican Bay has had a homicide until now. Police detective Maggie Skerritt investigates who murdered the twenty-two years old obese Edith Wainwright in her home while her boss wants her to fail because he hates female cops.
Clues at the crime scene lead to Karen Englewood, a counselor at the Pelican Bay Weight Management Clinic as it appears the victim died from cyanide laced chocolate apparently given as a reward by Karen. Maggie interviews Karen who insists she refuses to use Skinner's conditional behavior to help her clients lose weight; they must do it themselves with her assisting them. She also says that Edith was upbeat; this is confirmed by a co-worker. When a second victim Sophie Morelli dies from cyanide poisoning, the evidence again points towards her weight counselor Karen. Still nothing adds up as her retired former partner in Tampa and current lover Bill Malcolm tries to quietly help Maggie resolve what seems like a closed case in which a deranged weight counselor is killing her clients.
PELICAN BAY is a terrific police procedural with a touch of a romantic subplot that stars forty-eight years old dedicated cop trying to look at a bewildering case from different perspectives because the obvious culprit seems innocent in at least her mind. The story line is action-packed as Maggie works the clues that a serial killer leaves behind to either paint Karen as a crazed murderer or she is. Though the killer's motives take a strange twist that seems unnecessary, fans will appreciate this fine tale and look forward to the next appearance of Maggie once she finishes her sailing vacation with Bill.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
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Extracts from Pelican Bay
Manufacturer: Pantograph Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1880766108 |
Book Description
anthology of writings/art from notorious US prison
Average customer rating:
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The birds of Pelican Bay
Hal Gordon
Manufacturer: Westinghouse Communities of Naples
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006DHHD4 |
Product Description
October 1967. Special Scientific Report-Fisheries No. 558, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 25 pages.
Average customer rating:
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A Match Made
Patrick Ray Garberick
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1553951441
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Book Description
Sterling has been locked out of his house, agonizing over his failing marriage, worried about how his eight-year-old son will handle a separation. Faye is trapped in an abusive marriage, her once abundant will and energy having been sapped.
Their chance meeting at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley sets off a chain of events... a chess match in Central Park with a ninety-nine year old man named Ben... a revenge murder in New Mexico carried out by a dancer and woman of the sky... a marble ashtray in San Francisco that plays a role in ending years of abuse... and a moonlit beach in San Juan Capistrano, where all the pieces finally come together.
Not all miracles come from a wave of a magic stick. Some come from that place that (for lack of a better word) we call heaven...
Average customer rating:
- A Deep Look Into Shallow Minds and Lives
- Pelican Bay may be too real
- Great Book!
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Pelican Bay
Daniel Hallford
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413769381 |
Book Description
On his release from California's maximum security prison at Pelican Bay, Jimmy Kendall is determined to reunite with Rita, his old flame and, he thinks, true love. But Rita, now a call girl with a string of unsavory clients, is not so sure of her feelings. Kendall is also determined to leave behind his prison gang past, in which he served as a hit man for the Aryan Brotherhood in their wars with the Black Guerilla Family. He quickly discovers that the world into which the ex-con is thrust is no less confining than the walls of Pelican Bay, and that his past involvement with gangs and violence has set him on a road with no exits. Daniel Hallford's Pelican Bay is a fast-paced and riveting look at the ugly underbelly of society where sleazy businessmen and corrupt politicians mingle easily with desperate call girls and ruthless killers.
Customer Reviews:
A Deep Look Into Shallow Minds and Lives.......2006-09-11
The author has been a writing instructor in California's prisons, as well as a parole officer. It shows. The book is utterly simple and transparent as pulp fiction, yet it is utterly deep look and feel of how the minds and lives of life's desperadoes really work. I really appreciate the occassional pieces like this one which don't over-psychologize, nor over-explain how what I think of as really bad people act and think, or don't think. Says it's based on real events, and I don't find that hard to believe. Well worth the evening it will take to read it.
Pelican Bay may be too real.......2005-08-09
As a prison and parole insider, I am pretty skeptical when it comes to "correctional" fiction. Yet, the parolees Hallford presents reflect composites any law enforcement officer will recognize. In fact, they may be too real for non-cops to understand. The problem is the public's existing perceptions and Hallford's reality are worlds apart. Unlike ALL of what Hollywood produces, this book will give the reader a GOOD look at BAD actors.
The story is fast, vividly narrated and consuming. I recommend it to all who enjoy crime fiction in the tradition of Wambaugh.
Great Book!.......2005-05-26
The story revolves around the infamous Pelican Bay maximum security prison in California with a cast of souless and seedy characters. This is one of the finest examples of modern pulp fiction I've read so far. And I've read many. Compares favorably with mid 20th century noir writing. Highly recommended!
Average customer rating:
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Usgs Pelican Bay 7.5
Usgs
Manufacturer: US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QBTCO8 |
Book Description
The bestselling MechWarrior phenomenon continues
Exarch Damien Redburn has called for the election of his replacement. As Paladins assemble, vying in the nomination process, Heather GioAvanti and Jonah Levin investigate suspicious activities swirling around this high-level gathering.
Download Description
"Exarch Damien Redburn has called for the election of his replacement. Paladins assemble from all corners of The Republic, vying in a lively nomination process that threatens to turn the election into a bloodbath. Paladins Heather GioAvanti and Jonah Levin are both conducting investigations into suspicious activities swirling around the edges of this high-level gathering. It becomes clear that more than one group intends to disrupt the election of the Exarch. Through political influence, assassination, or rebellion, each of these cabals ultimately seeks to place its own candidate on the Exarch's seat-and whoever controls the Exarch controls The Republic. But Damien Redburn refuses to allow his successor to be a puppet. He is willing to throw a few 'Mechs and a secret agent or two at the situation to get the result he wants-even if what he wants may be a surprise to his operatives."
Customer Reviews:
Best Dark Age Novel Yet.......2007-04-04
I gave up on Mechwarrior after trudging through the 1/2 dozen novels following Stackpole's "Ghost War". Two years later, I picked up where I left off with "Fortress of Lies", which I actually found to be quite good. My joy was short-lived and I died a little on the inside when I read what I believe to be the worst book in the series - "Patriot's Stand". Even though the writing got better after that atrocity, I was on the verge of giving the serie up for dead. Fortunately, "Hunter's of the Deep" caught my interest, not because it was great, but because it was different and I found it interesting, if not inconsistent with what we should expect. "The Scorpion Jar" was definitely the light at the end of the tunnel and has helped to reassert my intnerest in the Mechwarrior series. Granted, there is VERY little mech combat in this book, but it is packed full of the back-stabbing politics that made Battletech so engrossing. I would say, without reservation, that this is BY FAR the best book in the series so far and has me looking forward to what's to come (even though I see a lot of what's to come has gotten terrible reviews). Thanks, Jason Hardy, for restoring my faith in the Mechwarrior series!
Politics and Instant messaging make for weak MechWarrior.......2005-07-06
The writing in this story was quite detailed and the story certainly supplies background for current events in the MechWarrior universe. Unfortunately, there are very few MechWarriors making war with their 'Mechs in this book. There are only three actual battles in the story; all are short, none involve more than a single 'Mech and none of them have any real relevance to the story. Instead, the book presents a mystery to the readers with the perpetrators exposed almost from the beginning. While the protagonist works to solve the mystery, the story is supplemented by pages and pages of the politics of the Republic as well as the details of instant messaging that occurs between primary and background characters. Much of this makes for dull reading. The author could have spent a few these pages providing a little more background on the murder victim, as that character certainly merited more detail for anyone who has not read many BattleTech books. One additional note on a detail that particularly bothered me: I seriously doubt that a kick to a large man's back could sever a renal artery. Those arteries are very well protected at the core of the torso by a thing we call the rib cage. I encourage the author, in future MechWarrior books, to apply his skill at detailed description to battlefield exploits.
Excellent reading.......2005-02-24
I usually don't enjoy books like this, as I find them boring and slow to develop. However, The Scorpion Jar is an excellent novel that everyone will enjoy. With the fast-moving plot, boredom is nearly impossible. Often times I stayed up into the night reading it; I couldn't put it down. The only downside was bloodshot eyes in the morning. This book is a necessity for everyone's bookshelf.
Great read for newbies and hard-core game nerds alike!.......2005-02-18
I am new to the BattleTech universe, but a couple of people in my Jane Austin book group recommended this title. I was hesitant, as I am not normally into Science Fiction, but once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down!
My main problem with SciFi is that character development and thematic construction are usually sacrificed in favor of technological mumbo-jumbo, frenetic action, and buxom women. I was pleasently surprised to find that Jason Hardy is able to keep the pace fast and furious, but, with great economy of words, develop characters that I really cared about. In addition, I was intrigued and, frankly, quite moved by Hardy's underlying thesis about technology's effect on interpersonal relationships vis a vis the many and exciting battles that make up this work. Also, Hardy does an excellent job of juxtaposing the violence and action with some "laugh-out-loud" humor. Hardy must have sat at the knee of some seriously funny people growing up to have learned to write like this. I would love to meet his inspiration, be it some comedian, or possibly an older brother.
My only quibble with the book is the underuse of one of the most fascinating characters, "Brigham". I felt that, were his role expanded, he had the heroic qualities to be a major protaganist, sort of an "Atticus Finch in the 25th Century".
All in all, I thought this was a fine work by one of our up and coming young writers. I would encourage everyone to read it. I am currently learning German so I can read the rest of Hardy's works.
Victor's Last Stand!.......2004-12-08
Do you know what's wrong with the Inner Sphere of 3134? Well, Victor Steiner-Davion, ancient Paladin of the Sphere, certainly has an idea. As he prepares to break the dire news to his fellow Paladins when Exarch of the Sphere Damien Redburn calls for the election of his own successor, Victor's life of semi-retirement gets interesting once more. Unfortunately, two nightly assassins are a bit much to take on for an old warrior well past his 100st birthday. But then, Victor Steiner-Davion never really expected to die peacefully of old age anyway ...
Fans of classic BattleTech have to give credit to author Jason Hardy for not letting Victor just pass away in his sleep. Actually, the entire story is based on the question what dark secrets Victor had discovered that someone wanted him dead. And who?
Jason Hardy is a newcomer to writing BattleTech - but you won`t notice. Known perhaps for his two excellent, action-packed novels set in the Crimson Skies-roleplaying universe, his Mechwarrior-debut couldn't have been much better - although the story doesn't allow for a lot of battlefield-action, as Paladin Jonah Levin investigates the prospect of corruption and murder at the highest levels of The Republic. But that's just fine. It's about high time to learn something about what's really going on in the The Republic, considering this is volume #13 of the Mechwarrior Dark Age series already. Of childish, petty faction leaders and their pointless bickering we have had about enough recently, thank you!
Jason Hardy's writing style and skills are fully up to the task, making The Scorpion Jar a nice change after the total failure of volume #12 Hunters of the Deep", that really brought the series deep down, so to say. 313 pages (in finer print than usual, but also with ultra-short chapters) provide sufficient quantity. Believable characters, a storyline worth following, well-written and brief dialoge scenes and enjoyable - if rare- battle sequences make this book a page-turner. The fact that Hardy's sense of humor hits home and fits like an Atlas` foot on a scout vehicle doesn't exactly hurt, either. The layout of the story reminds me on some of Michael Stackpole's books, especially the cloak-and-dagger stuff, which takes up most of the plot. But Jason Hardy's protagonists are much less talkative than Stackpole`s, which gives the story a healthy pace. Easily one of my favorites beside #8 Fortress of Lies" and a strong buy!
Book Description
Did Jesus rise from the dead? Although 19th- and early 20th-century biblical scholarship dismissed the resurrection narratives as late, legendary accounts, Christian apologists in the late 20th century revived historical apologetics for the resurrection of Jesus with increasingly sophisticated arguments. A few critics have directly addressed some of the new arguments, but their response has been largely muted. The Empty Tomb scrutinizes the claims of leading Christian apologists and critiques their view of the resurrection as the best historical explanation.
The contributors include New Testament scholars, philosophers, historians, and leading nontheists. They focus on the key questions relevant to assessing the historicity of the resurrection: What did the authors of the New Testament mean when they said Jesus rose from the dead? What historical evidence is needed to establish the resurrection? If there is a God, why would He resurrect Jesus? Was there an empty tomb? What should we make of the appearance stories? Apart from historical evidence, is belief in the resurrection justified?
The Empty Tomb provides a sober, objective response to arguments offered in defense of Christianity's central claim.
Customer Reviews:
Natural Explanations for the Resurrection of Jesus.......2007-07-31
The Empty Tomb is an anthology of replies to Claims about the resurrection of Jesus. A great portion of it is focused on the Empty Tomb. In this volume there is a lot to be learned about these men's interpretations of the History in Palestine. Richard Carrier's treatment of Paul's view of resurrection is humble and friendly and honest. Carrier's historical fervor shines forth throughout his essay and in my opinion it makes it worth the money since he gives examples of legend making in detail. Oddly enough the resurrection stories fall short of appearing embellished and legendary as much as would be expected if the stories were made up or invented in whole or in part. The resurrection stories are more straight forward, though Carrier argues that they still are unhistorical for the most part, with less legendary ingredients than the examples he gives such as the story of Romulus and others. Michael Martin's first essay is actually very redundant, in that miracles are initially improbable and thus the resurrection of Jesus is also improbable. Robert Price's first essay is a detailed look at the primitive creed found in I Corinthians 15:3-11 and his views on the subject as possible interpolations. Robert Cavin's essay has to do with the fact that the resurrection body that Jesus was supposed to have was not verified or strenuously tested to have the properties Christians claim such as immortal, impenetrable, indestructive and so forth. Basically, Jesus' body was not tested in a lab, thus we can't say that Jesus' body had those properties. Theodore Drange's first essay is about how Jesus' life, style of death, prolongation of death, location of that death, burial location and resurrection was not the only way or path that God could have chosen. In other words God had other options, therefore why the need resurrect Jesus. Kirby's essay is an argument against the empty tomb story as authentic. Lowdry's essay against William Lane Craig's defense on the empty tomb is actually quite complementary as opposed to a conflicting response since Lowder agrees a lot with Craig. A funny thing, though, is that Lowder responds indirectly to a few questions and objections that support Kirby's hypothesis, which is just one essay behind Lowder's. Fales' first essay is a strange one in that it tries to review Mathew from a mythological stand point as events such as the sign of Jonah and the story from Bethany to the tomb as political/social symbols to the difficulties of the times and leaves the reader hanging at the end. He leaves the project unfinished and his essay incomplete. Carriers' second essay focuses on the plausibility of a bodily theft for the explanation of the empty tomb and goes against William Lane Craig's arguments again and there is a small thesis on Matthew's account of Jesus being similar to the book of Daniel's account of the Lion's Den. Carrier's third essay is on the Jewish Law and its affects to the death and burial of Jesus. Derret's essay is on who benefits the most, financially speaking, if Jesus is said to have been raised. Price's second essay is basically an ad hominem attack on William Lane Craig, even though he does deviate a tad bit, correctly, on Craig's arguments as opposed to Carig himself for a short moment. Parson's essay is basically on Hallucinations as plausibility for post-resurrection appearances and how Peter Kreeft should have put a reference on one of his works. Martin's second essay is a critique of Richard Swinburne's view of God and how even with Bayes' Theorem the resurrection of Jesus is not so plausible. This compliments, Martins first essay on improbability of the resurrection. And finally, Fales second essay is on Planinga's view of knowledge in a Christian and historical setting.
A few problems are the fact that William Lane Craig is mentioned too much and other Christians are ignored, such as Gary Habermas, Norman Geisler, Michael Licona, or even Bruce Metzger, in terms of needed textual criticism. There is a problem with some writers as dismissing certain texts as embellished or mythology without bringing up supporting evidence such as Carrier, Price, and Kirby or taking away potential reliability by dismissing the text as copied from an earlier source thus ignoring the potential eyewitnesses like Luke, John, and Matthew, without supporting evidence for such a quick dismissal. I really wanted them to talk in detail why they reject a few texts as inauthentic, and unhistorical since they usually don't mention archeological finds that may conflict directly with the narratives to diminish the historicity of Gospels and the Book of Acts. Carrier mentions the crucified man found in a Jewish tomb from around the time of Jesus named Jehohanan, but this seems to support the accounts in all the Gospels not against them. Archeological emphasis is something they desperately needed in order to establish the plausibility of their theories. Without these evidences their theories are possible but unsupported by direct needed evidence, as Robert Price admits in his first essay in his conclusion. More research needs to be done.
Anyways this is a great introduction to naturalist apologetics and their theories which are intelligible, sometimes smooth, other times rough, but over all enlightening, especially Richard Carrier's essays.
Here are the Essays and the authors found in this anthology (in order):
Is There Sufficient Historical Evidence To Establish the Resurrection of Jesus?
Robert Cavin
The Resurrection as Initially Improbable
Michael Martin
Why Resurrect Jesus?
Theodore Drange
Apocryphal Apparitions: 1 Corinthians 15:3-11 as a Post-Pauline Interpolation
Robert Price
The Spiritual Body of Christ and the Legend of the Empty Tomb
Richard Carrier
The Case Against the Empty Tomb
Peter Kirby
Historical Evidence and the Empty Tomb Story: A Reply to William Lane Craig
Jeffrey Lowder
Taming the Tehom: The Sign of Jonah In Matthew
Evan Fales
The Plausibility of Theft
Richard Carrier
The Burial of Jesus in Light of Jewish Law
Richard Carrier
Financial Aspects of the Resurrection
J. Derrett
By This Time He Stinketh: The Attempts of William Lane Craig to Exhume Jesus
Robert Price
Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli on the Hallucination Theory
Keith Parsons
Swinburne on the Resurrection
Michael Martin
Reformed Epistemology and Biblical Hermeneutics
Evan Fales
Excellent!.......2006-09-21
Several reviewers below have given excellent, detailed reviews of this book so I will not recapitulate their work. I will just give my subjective assessment: I was enthralled with this book from page 1, and while I did not always agree with every argument, I found the arguments fairly easy to follow. I am not a specialist - no academic credentials - but this book was still compelling reading. I think Richard Carrier is one of the most profound religious philosopher/historians writing today. This book is certainly not for "dabblers", but I think anyone seriously interested in learning the truth about the resurrection story of the Bible will be able to wade the deep waters of this book without drowning. Most of the chapters are fairly respectful of Christian apologists, excepting Price, and keep the tone generally at the level of collegial scholarly disagreement. Price just doesn't seem to much like or respect William Craig Lane. [Don't take that as a criticism of Price - only an observation.]
Out of Date Before it Was Printed.......2006-04-18
While there are those who would give this 5 stars even if it featured nothing but dancing elephants, those with any amount of knowledge of the present state of scholarship will find these essays somewhere in the range of speculative-outdated-appalling. Cavin -- the man who invented the "Jesus had an evil twin who faked the resurrection" theory -- makes for an intro that may as well have come from Acharya S. Martin and Drange need an education in how an honor and shame society worked. Derrett? I wonder how he gets away with an argument that amounts to racial stereotyping ("Jews are good with money") in this day and age. Carrier does the watusi to get out of the consensus on the meaning and understanding of resurrection.
You know me, then you know where to go.
If you only read one book on this subject, read this one........2006-02-26
Having read numerous books on this subject, I can recommend this as by far the best. Very informative and tightly argued.
Lots of Fascinating Arguments.......2006-02-11
It is perhaps a mark of how deep the field of serious, non-apologetical, New Testament studies is getting that so much material is devoted to a single topic. Previously writers, like Price, have devoted books to questioning the historical accuracy of the entire New Testament. Here only one question is analyzed, albeit the possibly important one of the resurrection of Christ. A panoply of writers demonstrate that arguments supporting the opinion that there is good historical evidence for the resurrection are quite questionable.
Most of the book is fairly easy to read and requires no specialized knowledge to understand the arguments. Only the last three articles (50 pages) are a bit abstract and really aimed at a purely academic audience. The other twelve articles (435 pages) are clear, sharp and a lot of fun to read. I laughed all the way through J. Duncan M. Derett's "Financial Aspects of the Resurrection." and Robert Price's "By This Time He Stinketh."
Most of the articles felt it was necessary to offer alternatives to the resurrection hypothesis: that the disciples might have reburied the body, or Jesus' postmortem appearances may have been the results of hallucinations. I felt this methodology was appropriate for handling the issue, given the hisotrical grounds that the evangelicals claim to stand upon, but I am not sure that this way of debating, which involves figuring the historical probablility of specific events in the narrative, does not fall into an intended trap of having the sceptic admit the historical possibility of the narrative. I mean let us say that a cult of Ozists develops in the next century and they deem the land of Oz to be real. They claim that Dorothy hitting her head during a hurricane is a detail that must have happened, because non-beleavers in Oz could have used it to dismiss the reality of Oz. Now, there is a possibility that a girl from Kansas can hit her head during a hurricane, but showing that other things could have happened during the hurricane may not be the best way of showing the fictional nature of Oz.
In any case this is a book that anybody seriously studying the early history of Christianity should read.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Skeptic (Altadena, CA), published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2005. The length of the article is 1455 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Faith v. history.(The Empty Tomb: Jesus Beyond the Grave)(Book review)
Author: Tim Callahan
Publication:
Skeptic (Altadena, CA) (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 12
Issue: 3
Page: 72(3)
Article Type: Book review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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