Savage Run

Amazon.com

Laconic Joe Pickett returns to his slightly offbeat duties in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains in C. J. Box's Savage Run. Joe is called to the scene when an exploding cow kills a famous ecoterrorist, Stewie Woods, and his bride of three days, who were peacefully spiking trees. A visit to the cow's pugnacious owner leaves Joe defensive, angry, and curious: Why doesn't the rancher ask any questions about the bizarre accident that happened on his land? Then Joe's wife, Marybeth, begins receiving phone calls from her high-school boyfriend—-the peculiarly healthy-sounding Stewie Woods. Stewie may or may not be alive, but his old pal Hayden Powell and other environmental activists are all turning up deceased in strange circumstances. As the body count climbs, Joe tries to sort out the bad guys, the good guys, and the truly dead guys in this sometimes funny, sometimes angry sequel to Box's award-winning first novel, Open Season. Box depicts the spare beauty and cussed individualism of the intermountain West with the sure hand of a seasoned writer. --Barrie Trinkle

Book Description

C. J. Box's debut novel, Open Season, with its memorable new hero, thrilling plot, and vivid settings, hit the mystery-book world with the force of a speeding rifle bullet-and put it "on the Best of the Year track" (Los Angeles Times). Now C. J. Box returns with a gripping and suspenseful new novel, as dramatic and brutal as its Wyoming wilderness setting.

When a massive explosion occurs deep within the forests of Twelve Sleep County and a colorful environmental activist appears to have perished in the blast, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is called to the scene to help investigate. Pickett soon discovers clues that lead to a deadly conspiracy-one that will test his courage, his survival skills, and his determination to "do the right thing" despite all costs.

A richly textured novel, Savage Run is an exciting confirmation of the talents of a writer hailed by Tony Hillerman as "a great storyteller."

Download Description

In Savage Run - C.J. Box's acclaimed follow-up to his career-making debut Open Season - game warden Joe Pickett looks into the bizarre death of an environmental activist...and what he finds is bigger and far more sinister than anything he imagined.

Customer Reviews:

I love Box, but I don't love this book.......2007-07-14

I *loved* Open Season, and I certainly like the way C.J.Box writes, and I also loved the first half of Savage Run. But, I'm sorry, the plot contained too many wildly unbelievable coincidences and dei ex machina for me. Amazon guidelines and common decency prevent me from listing them, but they caused my suspension of disbelief to disintegrate completely, and I was so disgusted that I could only skim the last bit of the book.
Having said all that, I'll still read his next book, because C.J. certainly has talent. But with this book I felt much the same frustration I feel after seeing a thriller movie that has so much promise and then tanks at the end: don't authors or screenwriters let someone read the book (or see the movie) before publication, so they can find out if the story seems to fall apart and become a comic book at some point? If you want us to suspend disbelief and be completely into the story, then the story must be believable on some level.
Box still gets three stars from me because I like his writing, but *please* work out the plots a little better!

Great read!.......2007-06-29

If you like the outdoors and the West you'll love this one. A real page turner! Hated for it to end!

Savage Run.......2007-05-10

Great writer who once again came up with a great book. It's the only thing I can get my hubby to read.

Better in concept than execution.......2006-01-18

Savage Run starts off on a note worthy of Carl Hiaason - a cow explodes and blows up Stewie Woods, environmental extremist, and his bride. The book ends with a good dose of Zane Grey as the protaganist and his companions are chased to an impassable canyon by a deranged killer. In between, two serial killers take out several well-known treehuggers in particularly humiliating ways. All in all, an entertaining concept for a mystery.

What I did not like about this book was the writing, which I thought needed polish. The author seems most interested in portraying the earnest game warden Joe Pickett, a good guy but prone to costly mistakes. The serial killers are well developed also. But many characters have been drawn straight from central casting - the bad guy lawyer, the sheriff who wants to write off the crime and be done with it, the pretty wife who throws a hissy fit and stamps off to her room. In addition, parts of the book are thoroughly predictable. Will Joe forget to take the evidence and later find that it's disappeared? Is the wife upset because she was involved with Stewie in the past? You could answer without reading the book.

Another problem for me was the descriptions of the crime scenes. Although they include glaring clues, Box expects the reader to accept them as unsolvable. Whether you go along depends upon your tolerance for the highly improbable. Such as authorities wondering if the charred victim set the fire himself. Yeah. First he died, then he poured the gasoline and lit it.

Although I finished this book, I felt it didn't live up to its hype. Mine is a minority opinion though; the other members of my book club loved it.

Run to the Store and Get This!.......2005-09-11

C.J. Box's debut novel Open Season was so good I immediately looked for the sequels. Savage Run the next in the Joe Pickett series although a little bit predictable in parts maintains the high quality of the original masterpiece. The Carl Hiaasen style characters continue in Savage Run with extreme environmentalists, arrogant trophy hunting rich ranchers who have politicians and officials in their pocket and surreal criminals.

In Savage Run environmental guerrilla warfare against developers, ranchers, loggers and hunters organisation One Globe leader Stewie Woods is continuing his vandalism and destructive ways against those pilfering the environment when he is blown up along with his new wife by a bomb strapped to a cow. The cow is one of Jim Finotta's an arrogant rich and powerful rancher who as Joe finds out when he visits him is not opposed to shooting game out of season, cutting off their heads as a trophy and leaving the rest of the animal to rot in the wilderness. Soon other environmental lawyers, activists and other prominent pro wilderness people's deaths join Stewie Woods on the obituary list. An organisation long thought to have died out called The Stockman's trust has hired two killers to restore the world to the way they think it should be.

If you haven't already done so read Open Season. In fact it is a good idea to read that novel before this one as parts of that story are given away in Savage Run. Also if you haven't done so check out Carl Hiaasen novels which are similar to Box's but set in Florida instead of Wyoming.

Outlanders: Destiny Run, Exile to Hell, Savage Sun

Average customer rating:

Pretty good listening

Outlanders: Destiny Run, Exile to Hell, Savage Sun
James Axler
Manufacturer: DH Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1552049868

Customer Reviews:

Pretty good listening.......2000-10-13

I am amazed this has not received any reviews! This is a good old-fashioned shoot-'em-up adventure hard sci/fi with the beautiful, brainy, courageous warrior and two studdly sidekicks: Kane, with whom she has an unstated love-interest and his pal, black Grant, the bruised giant with the big heart. They are fighting on an Earth long destroyed by WWIII and nuclear bombs but the whole scenario was set up eons ago by alien Archons, shawdowy figures controlling their earthly puppets and decimating mankind. The three work in a secret underground redoubt, Cerebrus, where they have the wise, old leader Lakash who lived during the 20th c. before the war and is working to undo the damage done by the Archons. In this book, they travel to a hidden base in the Gobi desert and battle descendents of Kublai Khan and other Asian warlords and their Russian archenemies for some secret Archon treasure trove. Lots of fights, blood, torture, great descriptions, stock characters but extremely entertaining especially if you are an 'aggressive driver' as I am and need something to take your mind off that idiot in front of you who doesn't know where he/she is going. Great action adventure. Listen to it for fun!

The Everything Home-Based Business Book: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run a Successful Home-Based Business (Everything Series)

Average customer rating:

The Everything Home-Based Business Book: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Run a Successful Home-Based Business (Everything Series)
Jack Savage
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Home Based | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1580623646

Mark McGwire: Home Run King (Sports Achievers)

Average customer rating:

Mark McGwire: Home Run King (Sports Achievers)
Jeff Savage
Manufacturer: LernerSports
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0822536757

Average customer rating:

Home Run Kings
Jeff Savage
Manufacturer: Raintree Steck-Vaughn Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Sports & Activities | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 073980216X

Run Baby Run : The Explosive True Story of a Savage Street Fighter

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Run Baby Run : The Explosive True Story of a Savage Street Fighter
Nicky; Buckingham, Jamie Cruz
Manufacturer: Bridge-Logos Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MZ8MOO

Average customer rating:

Run The Good Race
Lillie Patterson
Manufacturer: Abingdon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J9XKFE

Average customer rating:

Run the Good Race
Amy Morris, Illustrated by Savage, Steele Lillie
Manufacturer: U.S.A.: Abingdon, 1965
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NZ5RLO

Sammy Sosa, Home Run Hero (Sports Achievers Biographies)

Average customer rating:

Sammy

Sammy Sosa, Home Run Hero (Sports Achievers Biographies)
Jeff Savage
Manufacturer: LernerSports
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

Customer Reviews:

Sammy.......2002-02-01

This book reflected on Sammy's life as a child and a big leaguer. This book also talks about how he was brought up in life, as a child and as a miner in baseball and when he first was in the majors. Sammy didn't always have a great batting average but he steped up to the plate one day and started hitting moon balls. Then once he started hitting moon balls pitchers where starting to pay a lot more attention to Sammy and the fans started coming and looking at Sammy as the greatest player of all time.

Average customer rating:

Savage Run
C. J. Box
Manufacturer: G. Putnam's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MVMIXY

Customer Reviews:

Longer Versions Required.......2007-07-02

The Yearning by Hannah Howell left me just that...yearning for more...all the needed elements were there for this to work as a short story HOWEVER, once again, Hannah has the reader so engrossed in her characters that you truly want more of them...a full length novel would have been thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the Scottish language and felt it added immensely. An age old curse forcing two families to live tragically until at last, one sees a possible end to it...but will it happen in time? Read on and find out if love can indeed conquer all.

Bitten by Lynsay Sands is my first read by this author and I must say, I again found the short story too short when so many other facets of the characters could have come to life and easily allowed this story to continue on in a much longer version. Keeran is such a wonderful leading man...a man not eager to be the creature he was made in to who falls in love with a woman only too eager to join him for an eternity. I found myself wanting more of Keeran and Emily together and for even a bit more of their lives before they met. However, Ms. Sands did the story justice for a short story format.

Stranger in the Night by Sara Blayne was overwhelming in the treasure hunting and historical detailing (it seemed the author really wanted this to be a full length novel but since she was writing a short story format, she decided to squeeze in too much information that almost made me forget it was a romance afterall) that by the time the Georgiana and Julius took over, I found myself a bit befuddled. I found myself wanting to throw the book every time "the Devil" was said as it was said far too often. This was a story that truly needed a longer format. I actually skipped over several passages as the mundane blandness of the details bored me to tears. I almost skipped over the whole story but forced myself to read on. In the end (or close to it) I found Georgiana and Julius a wonderful couple and the gripping ending worth hanging for. Ms. Blayne should have made this a full novel...in doing so, she would have gained a new reader.

The Awakening by Kate Huntington absolutely would make a welcome full length novel read. There were basically two romances taking place...one old and one new and both deserve to be told in their entirety. Adrian is torn by his vampire lifestyle...hating to constantly see his lovers die off but not hating it enough to end it all. Then his mate Thalia is revealed and while short, it held me enthralled and again, had me wanting much more. While this short version works, a longer and more in depth story would be awesome.

Overall, I rated this 4 stars because 3 of the 4 stories were well written as short stories even if I personally would have preferred longer versions.

Very enjoyable read........2004-05-20

THE YEARNING - Hannah Howell. Lady Sophie Hay has seen the women in her family suffer from a curse one of her ancestors cast on a lover who spurned her nearly 500 years before. Sophie is determined to break the curse. Alpin MacCordy is the latest of his clan to suffer from his affliction. He had to live in darkness & craves blood. When Sophie comes to stay & to try to find a way to break the curse, Alpin doesn't think she has a chance...

BITTEN - Lynsay Sands. Emily is on her way to marry an earl when everyone except her are lost at sea, her uncle as well, who arranged her marriage. Emily is saved by Keeran. He takes her home & lets her stay. She brightens up his home. If only she can do the same for him. When Emily realises what Kerran is she is shocked. But soon all she wants is Kerran for all eternity.

STRANGER IN THE NIGHT - Sara Blayne. Georgiana Thornberry returns to her ancestoral home, which is under a curse. She is researching her family history when she meets Julian Lanthrop. Who is he & what has he to do with a duke who went missing a few hundred years before?

THE AWAKENING - Kate Huntington. Thalia arrives at her aunt Cordelia's home to find she has been hiding something from her & that is Adrian Lucerne. Adrian appears to be about 20 years younger than his lover Cordelia. She is warned about the monster (Adrian) but to no avail, by the vicar who is concerned for her well being & immortal soul. He lost the battle with the aunt, he won't loose the niece to Adrian.

Four very enjoyable stories about 4 dark tortured souls who are looking for redemption & the women to give it them. I have only one complaint & that is they are not long enough. When I find a book I enjoy I want it to carry on & never end.

So-so collection of vampire novellas - Iýve read much better.......2004-05-10

The first story in this collection is The Yearning, by Hannah Howell. I found this story profoundly irritating, largely because of the very distracting use of dialect. When American writers set out to write Scots, they seem to take it as a challenge to prove that they can write phonetic dialect - but it's never consistent and always distracting. I was also bored because the characters aroused no interest at all in me. They seemed one-dimensional and boring. I found myself counting the pages remaining until it was over.

Lynsay Sands' Bitten was somewhat better, though not up to the standard of her new vampire series. Emily, shipwrecked, is saved from drowning and wakes up in a strange castle. Her host is the man who rescued her, but he keeps some very strange habits, such as never appearing before dark, never eating with her, never appearing to socialise... and when she figures out the truth about him she is first shocked, but later intrigued. Does she have the courage to spend eternity with Keeran?

Sara Blayne's Stranger in the Night suffers greatly from telling rather than showing. It had the potential to be an interesting and even romantic story - Georgiana is attracted to the ruined castle which is her ancestral home. She is convinced, as she explores, that she's being watched - and so she is, by Julian Lathrop, who seems to know rather too much about the history of the area and of her family. By the time she realises who and what he is, she is deeply in love with her. The problem is that Blayne fails to show the reader why she loves Julian and why he loves her - we're just told. There is far too much telling, far too much description, in this novella, and not enough dialogue and introspection. Even an important, climactic moment, which should be terrifying for Georgiana, is ruined by insufficient showing of her fear.

And finally, there is Kate Huntington's The Awakening, which I did like for the most part, with one rather large exception. Thalia Layton's aunt, her only relative, is very sick, and so Thalia has journeyed north to visit her - Cordelia was shunned by Society years ago for running off to live with her lover, Adrian Lucerne. However, Thalia finds that Cordelia wishes she hadn't come - and that Adrian Lucerne seems to be at least 30 years younger than she had expected. And she is very, very drawn to Lucerne, despite his obviously still being her aunt's lover. What I really found distasteful about this book was Thalia and Lucerne acting on their attraction while Cordelia, whom both of them loved and who was jealous of their feelings for each other, was lying on her deathbed - and how they made love within an hour of her death.

Not a keeper, this collection.

wmr-uk

Four very warm and fuzzy vamp tales.......2003-10-01

These are not dark and deadly vamps, but romantic ones. All the tales were very well written and special.

I especially loved Lynsay Sands' tale. I have been a long time reader of her works so I come to expect things about her writing that are very familiar. Lynsay's fans, who expect her typical brand of hysterical historicals will be in for a treat as she shows yet another new side along with her recent contemporary The Loving Daylights and followed by the Smash Hit Single White Vampire. She offers a much more tender and intensely romance Lynsay. Though I love her magic humour, this tale surprised me and touched my heart. In her "Bitten" we have a tale of a Emily Collins lass who is rescued from drowning when her ship sinks in a storm. Keeran MacKay, a Scots Laird, is her rescuer and offers her shelter and so much more. But it she who offers the ultimate gift.

Hannah Howell's "The Yearning" is an interesting tale. For four centuries of the male of Clan MacCordy must walk by night.
Alpin MacCordy lives with the curse, but he also must marry for money. Lady Sophie Hay is the "bank" but she is more than just a blood bank or a money bank for her love might just be the cure for the curse.

Sara Blayne offer us "Strangers in the Night." Georgina Thornbury loves things ancient; digging for treasures in ruins is her cup of tea. Then she meets the mysterious Julius Lathron. What a find for a gal who digs old things?!

In "The Awakening" by Kate Huntington. Set in 1800s Her aunt is ailing, so Thalis Cordelia rushes to her side. Once there, she meets her aunt's very strange company who is talk, dark and vampish.

Perfect for a raining afternoon.

Spellbinding.......2003-09-03

"The Yearning" by Hannah Howell. In Scotland, for over four centuries the males of Clan MacCordy seek blood for nourishment as they walk the night. By 1435 Alpin MacCordy lives with the curse, but also must marry for needed money. However, Lady Sophie Hay fires up a different thirst, making him wonder if love can conquer the curse.

"Bitten" by Lynsay Sands. When her ship goes down from the storm Emily Wentworth Collins nearly drowns, but Keeran MacKay saves her from the sea. The reclusive nightwalker offers her shelter. Though in some ways his castle feels like a cage, Emily finds the vampire's kiss quite enticing.

"Stranger in the Night" by Sara Blayne. Though a male occupation, Georgina Thornberry relishes digs for ancient treasures as the antiquities fascinate her. While working at a ruin, she meets enigmatic Julius Lathrop. One glance and they just about fall in love but will their embrace lead to his moon-darkened world or her sun shining realm?

"The Awakening" by Kate Huntington. In 1814 Thalia Layton rushes to Lancaster to nurture her beloved ailing Aunt Cordelia. At her relative's estate she meets Cordelia's strange companion who introduces Thalia to the dark side of love.

These four vampire romance novellas are a treat as each contains a strong bite of a plot starring delectable lead male vampires and charming innocent females. The story lines are cleverly designed so that the audience embraces the four immortals and desire replacing the women they cherish.

Average customer rating:

great rainy day book
His Immortal Embrace

Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739437798

Customer Reviews:

great rainy day book.......2005-10-24

If you are looking for deadly vamps that are often more monster than man, these tales might seem tame to you. But if you are looking for troubled souls and woman that will risk all to be with the man they love, then you will find all these tales very heartwarming. These are not dark and deadly vamps, but romantic ones. All the tales were very well written and special.

I especially loved Lynsay Sands' tale. I have been a long time reader of her works so I come to expect things about her writing that are very familiar. Lynsay's fans, who expect her typical brand of hysterical historicals will be in for a treat as she shows yet another new side along with her recent contemporary The Loving Daylights and followed by the Smash Hit Single White Vampire. She offers a much more tender and intensely romance Lynsay. Though I love her magic humour, this tale surprised me and touched my heart. In her "Bitten" we have a tale of a Emily Collins lass who is rescued from drowning when her ship sinks in a storm. Keeran MacKay, a Scots Laird, is her rescuer and offers her shelter and so much more. But it she who offers the ultimate gift.

Hannah Howell's "The Yearning" is an interesting tale. For four centuries of the male of Clan MacCordy must walk by night.
Alpin MacCordy lives with the curse, but he also must marry for money. Lady Sophie Hay is the "bank" but she is more than just a blood bank or a money bank for her love might just be the cure for the curse.

Sara Blayne offer us "Strangers in the Night." Georgina Thornbury loves things ancient; digging for treasures in ruins is her cup of tea. Then she meets the mysterious Julius Lathron. What a find for a gal who digs old things?!

In "The Awakening" by Kate Huntington. Set in 1800s Her aunt is ailing, so Thalis Cordelia rushes to her side. Once there, she meets her aunt's very strange company who is talk, dark and vampish.

Perfect for a raining afternoon.

Average customer rating:

HIS IMMORTAL EMBRACE
SANDS, BLAYNE... HOWELL
Manufacturer: zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KK0EAQ

Average customer rating:

A pretty good SF-mystery-thriller. 3.4 stars

A dangerous scientist's ongoing experiment with human lives

Sturdy, readable, not memorable

I really wanted to like this book.

Good SF Mystery/Thriller

Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel (Retrieval Artist Novels)
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Rusch, Kristine Kathryn | ( R ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0451459342
Release Date: 2003-07-01

Customer Reviews:

A pretty good SF-mystery-thriller. 3.4 stars.......2005-07-05

"The Extremes" was gripping enough to read in one sitting. Characters are (mostly) well-drawn, but the backstory is odd, there are annoying logic-lapses, and Rusch keeps throwing in weird little over-the-top melodrama bits to break your mood. Worthwhile overall, but needed another edit.

Google for these full reviews, both more positive:

Rusch's cast is all good, with a stand-out villain -- think of an intelligent and chillingly persuasive cross between a mad scientist and Ayn Rand. It's a particularly impressive portrayal, given that the villain doesn't step on stage until almost the last chapter, so her portrait is entirely drawn second hand through other characters. -- Donna McMahon, SF Site

Rusch delivers a very readable and thought-provoking novel that satisfies the reader in just about every possible way. Buy and enjoy." -- Tom Easton, Analog

Happy reading--
Pete Tillman

A dangerous scientist's ongoing experiment with human lives.......2003-11-15

Combine a detective story revolving around a detective who always gets the worst assignments and a fellow investigator who is just feeling his way after buying the business of investigating and you have an engrossing story revolving around a murderous scientist's dangerous experiment during a moon race. The Moon's Extreme Marathon is an event which draws thousands - and the perfect setting for a dangerous scientist's ongoing experiment with human lives. It's up to two renegade investigators to stop her in this engrossing story.

Sturdy, readable, not memorable.......2003-10-30

Extremes is an SF mystery set on the Moon, a sequel to Rusch's 2002 novel The Disappeared. It's competent, readable, but on several grounds not quite convincing and somewhat disappointing in resolution. It's a sturdy commercial work but nothing memorable.

Extremes is told in three narrative threads. One follows Miles Flint, the Retrieval Artist of the overall series title. His job is to track down people who have "disappeared" -- basically, people who have taken on new identities. Flint is approached by a law firm to track down one Frieda Tey, a human Disappeared accused of killing some 200 people by introducing a genetically-engineered virus into an outsystem dome. However, she and her father (who engaged the law firm) claim that the deaths were accidental and she is being railroaded.

Another thread follows Noelle DeRicci, a cliché "maverick" cop (i.e. she's really good but her career is stalled because she won't play politics) who is assigned to investigate a death at the annual "Moon Marathon", a standard length marathon run on the Moon's surface in environment suits. The third thread follows Miriam Oliviari, a "Tracker" looking for Frieda Tey. Miriam has tracked Frieda Tey over several years, and she has decided that Tey is one of the Moon Marathon competitors.

No prizes for guessing who the murder victim at the Moon Marathon is identified as.

The three threads begin to coalesce once the principals realize that besides the murder the Moon Marathon is being disrupted by an outbreak of a virus very much resembling the virus that killed all the people Tey was accused of killing. Oliviari realizes the same thing, and as her cover identity is one of the marathon medical team, she is forced to deal directly with the virus outbreak -- an outbreak she may know more about than anyone because of her research into Tey's past. So the novel continues, with DeRicci dealing with a very unusual murder and an epidemic to boot, and Oliviari forced to compromise her chance to catch Tey in order to save lives; while Flint is also forced to compromise his Retrieval Artist ethics. All ends in a thrilling space chase.

On one level, it's exciting stuff. The ending is pretty scary and well set up. The basic mystery is interesting. The novel is a whole is fast moving and good reading. But nothing really makes much sense! Part of my problem is just economics -- I simply cannot believe there are enough Disappeared and enough associated legacies and stuff to support the apparently thriving business of Retrieval Artists, and the incredible fees they charge. (Flint, for example, is set for life as a result of a previous case.) Part of it is the overblown villainy of the eventually revealed bad guy. Part of it is the strained setup of the original crime, depending on just too many coincidences. Part of it is the mechanics of the whole thing -- Flint's computer security skills, for instance, which as presented might as well be magic. Part of it is the structure -- the novel is supposed to be a Retrieval Artist Novel, but Flint's Retrieval Artist skills basically never come into play. Read the book quickly without thinking much and I think you'll be entertained -- but pull on any of the dangling threads and the whole thing collapses.

I really wanted to like this book........2003-10-01

This was my first Rusch novel. I was all set to like it, based on the good comments I have heard about her work. The ideas certainly are good, but the writing, pacing and characterization are only competent, at best. Promising story lines start out and then fade away without a second look (the first lawyer, the law firm and the two brothers). Events in the second half read as though she were writing directly from an outline in order to meet a deadline. While I respect anyone who has been able to create a successful writing career, as a reader I had one question after finishing - "what does this book add to my reading experience, or science fiction as a whole?" My answer, I'm sorry to say, is "not much."

Good SF Mystery/Thriller.......2003-08-20

I picked this up on a whim and was surprised at how well it blends a near future setting with the police procedural mystery style. A good novel for fans of both genres.

Rauch plays fair with the science and the mystery. Since the reader is privy to information from three different investigators, he or she may well solve plot points ahead of the heroes, but not so far ahead as make the story slow or unsatisfying.

Certainly worth a read in these dog-days of summer.

Book Description

This is the third and final volume of the complete annotated correspondence of the extraordinary nun, Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). One of the most remarkable women of her day, Hildegard was, for more than 30 years, an unflinching advisor and correspondent of all levels of church and society, from popes and kings to ordinary lay persons, from Jerusalem to England. This present volume (letters 218-390) is noteworthy for its large collection of letters to a non-ecclesiastical audience, and because it contains letters not just to such high-ranking notables as Frederick Barbarossa, King Henry II of England, or Eleanor or Acquitaine, but also to common, ordinary individuals of no importance whatsoever, save that they received a letter from Hildegard of Bingen. Addressing matters as diverse as the "humors" and their relation to health and salvation, the fate of departed souls, the frequency and horror of homicide in her age, a means of exorcising malignant spirits, an effective kind of incantation to alleviate nightmares, the proper attitude and response to the fact of excommunication, and male infidelity in marriage, Hildegard provides a unique view of the twelfth century world. Here also are found compositions in epistolary style that are actually sermons, mediations, prayers, or treatises on a wide range of theological topics, such as prophecy, celebration of the Mass, the Lord's Prayer, the creation, and the fall of Adam. Like previous volumes, the translation follows the most recent definitive Latin text, in which the letters are organized according to the rank and station of Hildegard's correspondents.

Customer Reviews:

Mediaeval Masterpiece.......2007-03-10

Here, in the third volume of a three volume set is the translation of the written correspondence
between Hildegard of Bingen and many of her contemporaries. Included among her pen pals
are some of the most well-known figures in history. If you have any interest in Mediaeval history
and Christian theology/philosophy, these letters from one of the greatest Christian mystics,
spiritual masters, artists and intellectuals of all time must be made part of your library.
You will read it again and again. It is the kind of book that is hard to stop reading.
Because the letters are short, you can sample the book for only a few minutes at a time.
A visionary, having received private revelations from God from the age of five years, she kept
them mostly to herself until in her 40's when instructed by the Pope to share them.
Many of her letters contain reveletions that may not be recorded elsewhere. How cool is that.
Unfortunately, all three volumes of her letters in this English translation are out of print.
Get them if you can find them.

The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen Volume III

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The Letters of Hildegard of Bingen Volume III
Hildegard of; Baird, Joseph L. & Radd K. Ehrman Bingen
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OKUO16

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