Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre

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Mrs. Pringle of Fairacre
Miss Read
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618155880

Book Description

Through the eyes of many Fairacre friends, we trace Mrs. Pringle's life and her stormy standing as the redoubtable cleaner of the town's school. However maddening she is, life at Fairacre would be poorer without her.

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Colorful characters are at the center of Miss Read's work.

Mrs Pringle (Fairacre Chronicles)
Miss Read
Manufacturer: Chivers Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0745162185

Customer Reviews:

Colorful characters are at the center of Miss Read's work........1999-03-11

Just as a Persian rug maker uses yarn of many different colors and designs to weave a rug of exquisite beauty; so does Miss Read use many colorful characters and events to create a colorful masterpiece of fiction.

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Mrs Pringle of Fairacre
Read Miss
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JPHJX2

Amazon.com

How does he do it? George R.R. Martin's high fantasy weaves a spell sufficient to seduce even those who vowed never to start a doorstopper fantasy series again (the first book--A Game of Thrones--runs over 700 pages). A Clash of Kings is longer and even more grim, but Martin continues to provide compelling characters in a vividly real world.

The Seven Kingdoms have come apart. Joffrey, Queen Cersei's sadistic son, ascends the Iron Throne following the death of Robert Baratheon, the Usurper, who won it in battle. Queen Cersei's family, the Lannisters, fight to hold it for him. Both the dour Stannis and the charismatic Renly Baratheon, Robert's brothers, also seek the throne. Robb Stark, declared King in the North, battles to avenge his father's execution and retrieve his sister from Joffrey's court. Daenerys, the exiled last heir of the former ruling family, nurtures three dragons and seeks a way home. Meanwhile the Night's Watch, sworn to protect the realm from dangers north of the Wall, dwindle in numbers, even as barbarian forces gather and beings out of legend stalk the Haunted Forest.

Sound complicated? It is, but fine writing makes this a thoroughly satisfying stew of dark magic, complex political intrigue, and horrific bloodshed. --Nona Vero

Book Description

In this eagerly awaited sequel to A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin has created a work of unsurpassed vision, power, and imagination. A Clash of Kings transports us to a world of revelry and revenge, wizardry and warfare unlike any you have
ever experienced.

A Clash Of Kings

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. And from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

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Here is the second volume in GEORGE R. R. MARTIN¿S magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, GEORGE R. R. MARTIN¿S stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction. A CLASH OF KINGS A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders¿Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon¿who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war. It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-10-11

Minimum Maturity Level - Adult
Strong violence. Strong language. Sexual situations.
Not for kids.

Previous Reading Required - Major
Must read "A Game of Thrones" before you read this one. Otherwise, you will be lost in what is going on.

Reading Level - Average
Easy to read. Never a confusing paragraph.

Rate of Development - Extremely Fast
Everything picks up from where "A Game of Thrones" left off.

The Story - Five kings clash for the throne of Westeros. Major battles are fought. Intrigue and conspiracies are afoot.

My Suggestion - Highly Recommended
Not much of the story can be revealed as it would be a spoiler. This book is by far more exciting and a joy to read than is predecessor. There are times you will cheer and there will be times you'll scream "Why did you just write that George R.R. Martin, GRRRRAAAAHHHHH!". This is one of those books that will shock you and also make you feel glad to be alive (to read). And if you think this book is good, wait till you read the next one.

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin.......2007-09-19

A Clash of Kings is the second in the ongoing "Song of Ice and Fire" series, sequel to A Game of Thrones, and the series continues to be entertaining and interesting, one of my favorite ongoing fantasy series. What makes it different from other fantasy series is that Martin, instead of using chapter numbers and having everything be specifically chronological, has about five to ten characters whose heads you are in. So you can be immediately whisked away to another battle, another land, another family feud by the turn of the page. Plus Martin isn't afraid of killing of characters, which can be horrible if one gets really attached to certain characters, but I find it admirable that he has the bravely to do this. I think it isn't done enough in fiction, specifically fantasy. Sure the good guys need to win, but not all the time!

Near the end of A Clash of Kings there was a huge battle between two big armies: one attacking the other on a river, so starting as a naval battle, and then once the men landed on the ground moving on to trying to break into the fortress. Your regular historical or fantasy novel would have you in the head of your main character who would likely be one of the leaders of the armies. The P.O.V. might switch during the battle to the other leader's viewpoint on the other side and then come back to your main character. With Martin's literary device, the reader sees the battle unfolding from three interesting viewpoints: from the leader of the army in the fortress (who is an ugly dwarf); from one of the captains of the ships on the other side attacking the fortress, as he leads in the ship and engages the enemy (he ends up getting killed); and from a young girl who is a hostage in the fortress, under the watchful eye of the queen, in a room full of the important women who are just waiting around to find out if they are on the winning side, or if they are on the losing side and the enemy is about to break down the door and the knight will be ordered to kill them all so they won't end up as hostages. So instead of seeing the entire battle from one of possibly two P.O.V.s, the reader gets three totally different viewpoints, and it just helps to heighten the tension and suspense.

Next in the series is A Storm of Swords, with A Feast For Crows due out November 8th. As Martin was writing A Feast For Crows, passing the thousand-page mark a couple of months before the book was done, he was told by his publisher that they can't have one book be this long. He'd previously promised that his next book would not be as long as A Storm of Swords, which was 1216 pages in the mass market edition. Since he's going to long pass this, he negotiated with Random House to split the book in two. What he's decided to do, and as I get further into the series I can't understand how he's going to do this, is have half of the characters in one book, and the other half in the next book. Some of the characters can be on their own tangents, meeting different people, and not actually have anything to do with the other main character's whose heads the reader is in, but there are other main characters who interact with each other quite often, and I just don't know how Martin is going to reconcile this.

It's going to be interesting, that's for sure. And the good thing Martin said is that the new book comes out soon, and the next one is already half done.

For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com

Kings.......2007-09-11

This book was in excellent shape and a joy to read...i appreciate the quickness with which it was shipped

A Clash of Kings: good follow up.......2007-09-01

This is a good follow up to A Game of Thrones. Like many other readers, the period setting and charcterization are the strengths of this book. The point of view narration is a stand out.

I don't mind getting lost in a good book. If you're looking for loose threads to be tied up and tight plot adherence, you will be disappointed. This is not a G, PG, or PG13 fantasy epic it is R or even X rated in places. Sometimes, I found the sex and violence gratuitous. Just a caveat emptor.

I liked the characterizations. They were believable. For instance the good guys (all right, the characters I liked best) were not saint like and brilliant 100% of the time. Small side characters that seemed all right in Game show themselves be less than savory in Clash. There are some new POVs in this novel as well. The most interesting being Davos, a knight serving Stannis Baratheon. The bad guys,show that they are not static caricatures.

Plot developments were believable in that again it didn't turn on magic but mundane events.

Overly complex, bloated and sluggish pacing, but still a good read.......2007-08-19

Ok, I just finished Book 2, and I have to say I'm not quite as happy as I was with Book 1. Don't get me wrong - it's still a very entertaining read, but I'm encountering enough things that irritate me to actually speak up a bit.

(1) LEADEN PACE: Yes, I can now see what others have complained about. Book 1 moved along slowly, but Book 2 positively crawls at times.

(2) EXCESSIVE LENGTH/COMPLEXITY: The author should have put this book on a treadmill, and made it loose 250 or so pages. It's too flabby, even for someone of my laid back literary nature. The chief problem is that the author tells the tale from too many different angles at the same time, and the result is a story that's fragmentary ... and difficult to get back into if you put it down for more than a few days. Working from 8 different moving points on the same map, in simultaneous fashion, is a too fragmentary, and makes it difficult for the reader to relax into the tale. Instead, the reader is left to paddle furiously, like a poodle dropped in a swimming pool, with people shouting "over here !" from multiple different angles. It's sink or swim.

(3) EXCESSIVELY GRAPHIC VIOLENCE: I have the same complaint with movies these days ... the author seems to revel in describing sucking chest wounds, ropy intestines spilling out, and festering wounds. I'm well acquainted with the harsh realities of limited medieval medicine, but the author goes overboard at times, and there are moments when it feels like I'm watching a "splat" movie. Also, his "maester" healers seem rather under skilled, medically ... for all their supposedly great training, all the author seems capable of having them do is do simple bandages, pour boiling wine into gashes, apply leeches, and give people "milk of poppy" or "dream wine". There's a lot more to first aid, even at the medieval level, than just that.

(4) EXCESSIVE SEX: I've noticed a definite trend in both TV, SciFi and Fantasy over the past 20 years towards more and more sex. There were a few scenes in Book 1 of this series that raised my eyebrow, but not enough to carp about. This book, however, raises the bar considerably ... we see fellatio & cunnilingus, as well as repeated references to anal sex, buggery, incest, rape-murders, and even a reference to necrophilia {re: the character "Reek"}. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to name a chapter than didn't seem to have an obligatory sex scene, or sexual reference in it - and more often than not in an unsavory context. Don't get me wrong - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, and these things are realities of everyday life ... but there was no warning on the cover that the book is liberally interspersed with such content. Things have come a long way from the days of Robert E. Howard's Conan, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars pulps, in which we occasionally see women clad in gossamer veils, the occasional flash of nipple, and a quick fade-out on people who begin to get it on. GRRM doesn't leave the room at all ... he just lowers the action from XXX to NC-17 (single x) in order to avoid excessive complaints. In other words, he's pushing the envelope of the genre. I don't mind mature content at all ... but I *do* mind the lack of notice on the cover. The book should be marked as such, for the convenience of prospective readers who don't want to get blindsided by such things.

(5) EXCESSIVE MORTALITY: Ya know, I've played in some role playing campaigns in which the mortality level was gratuitously high - to the point where it seemed like the GM was perhaps overcompensating for their own real life shortcomings (e.g., no career, no sex life, no control over their fate) by making everyone else's life a living hell. In the case of this book, the author seems (to me) to go overboard in setting up characters and sub-plots, and then killing everything (and everyone) off, just to keep people guessing. Some people call that being bold and taking risks with the plot, whereas I think of it as being excessively sadistic - what's the point of sitting though all GRRM's long and plodding buildup, only to have the author crumple it up and toss it in the trash and go off in a completely different direction ? Where's the intellectual and emotional payoff ? Although gripping and entertaining, I'd be hard pressed to find much in this book that's uplifting, comforting, secure, nostalgic or inspiring, because the author is constantly ripping down plots and characters and papering up new ones every other chapter ... like a frothing tyrant, setting up elaborate patterns of dominos, just so he can gleefully kick them over. There's a fine line between having enough mortality to make death and failure a constant presence in the overall story (as it is in real life), and having half the characters die horribly, from book to book. It's too much, IMHO.

(6) ERATTA: There are some things that the author just plain gets wrong. For instance, the author's distance terminology usage appears wrong. I haven't analyzed it too closely, but it seems (to me) like he uses the term "leagues" as if they were the same as kilometers. They are NOT the same. One league = 3 miles = 4.83 kilometers. If his usage of the term were correct, then it should take a *lot* longer for people to get from place to place than it seems to in his plot. The author, however, doesn't seem to have the patience to support that sort of slow travel pace however, so he just seems to ignore the consequences of his improper use of terminology.

(7) CULINARY SHORTCOMINGS: I enjoy writers who take their food seriously (big props to GRRM for that), but it bothers me when people make mistakes. For instance - people going on multi-week trips over rough terrain, on foot or horse, don't typically lug lots of raw eggs with them for breakfast ... they're fragile, they're heavy (mostly water), and they easily spoil. Rib bones don't have soft edible marrow ... only the bones of extremities have soft marrow that's suck able. I'd also complain about blueberries (early summer), mint (late summer & early fall), and grapes (fall) not being in season at the same time, but since the seasons in the author's world span multiples of years, I think we can let that one slide. However, if the main continent of the seven kingdoms is truly a thousand leagues long, then Dorne and The Wall should be in different hemispheres, and the growing seasons should be reversed ... however, the plot seems to imply that the entire continent is in the same hemisphere, with much the same growing season. Perhaps there's something that the author is not telling us, and that perhaps their world is 10x the diameter of Earth (and spins faster on it's axis to make up for it). Still, I find it hard to believe that they can enjoy fresh oranges way up north, at The Wall. Based on the distances involved, the author should have (instead) featured pickled lemons, instead of fresh citrus. Also, there's not enough regional variations in the cuisine depicted. We don't see much dothraki cuisine except for mares milk and horse meat, and over in the seven kingdoms, and cuisine in the north seems to differ from the south only in that the south is more wealthy, and that fruit is a bit more prevalent. The only time the author mentions spices is in spiced wine, and the only seasoning in his food is salt and pepper. For the amount of word count that the author devotes to food, he could do better, with regards to regional diversity of cuisine.

Bottom line: I'm still very much enjoying this series, but there's room for improvement.

Shaman King, Volume 7: Clash at Mata Cemetery (Shaman King)

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Long Battle...BUT Great
One BIG fight

Shaman King, Volume 7: Clash at Mata Cemetery (Shaman King)
Hiroyuki Takei
Manufacturer: VIZ Media LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591169968

Customer Reviews:

Long Battle...BUT Great.......2005-10-15

I've seen almost all of shaman king in Japanese and to tell you the truth this was the longest fight. Sure it's good but i didn't find it to have to take up much time. Soon after this it gets funny and then we learn a little about Ren's past and present. Well enjoy this volume and a good fight and then enjoy the next one or two as a good story and some nice fighting.

Also for the below reviewer no it doesn't follow the dragonball z where fights take forever. This is one of the longest fights in the series.

One BIG fight.......2005-10-09

Being a Shaman King reader, it's good to see Yoh and Ren finally duke it out (again). I've always found Yoh's character to be interesting, as he's a welcome departure from the "loud and stupid" male protagonists that frequent manga like One Piece and Naruto. Ren's character, however, is getting a little confusing...he recently preached about how he wants to stop the bloodshed of his family's reign, yet is not above spilling blood in order to achieve his goals. I say he should just remain a little ball of hatred, pure and simple.
The action is spectacular, and Takei's artwork, as usual, is dynamic and full of kinetic energy (he constantly seems to find new, awsome poses for Amidamaru).
Unfortunately, the story doesn't progress much in this volume. The whole battle takes up nearly the entire book, and it STILL isn't finished...I'm seeing shades of DBZ and One Piece in here (meaning animes that are made of nothing but long, boring, mindless fights with annoying twists). Thankfully, this fight keeps you on edge, as Yoh's power seems to be to pull some new, wild tactic out of his behind at the last minute to keep from getting slaughtered.
Overall, kinetic and exciting, and, of course, if you've got the last 6 volumes, you'll want this one. If you're a manga fan looking for a new series, this will give you a new, interesting series to pick up.

Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the warrior kings (Campaign)

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Excellent overview of this epic battle of antiquity.
Full of insights and very well Written

Qadesh 1300 BC: Clash of the warrior kings (Campaign)
Mark Healy
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1855323001
Release Date: 1993-05-27

Book Description

The earliest battle in history which can be reconstructed in detail, Qadesh pitted the two great warriors of the age against each other, Muwatallish of Hatti and the great warrior-Pharaoh Rameses II. With the Hittites gaining the initial advantage, all seemed lost until Rameses himself led his personal followers into the fray. However, in spite of the appearance of Egyptian reinforcements, the bravery of the pharaoh and the tactically superior showing of the Egyptian chariotry, the dislocation of his army frustrated the Pharaoh's wider strategic aspirations. Mark Healy recounts the course of this key battle, which could so easily have gone either way.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent overview of this epic battle of antiquity........2000-03-21

I thoroughly enjoyed this installment of the Osprey Military Campaign Series. As usual, the information is concise, to the point, interesting, and a fascinating read. Also, the maps and other illustrations and photos, are fantastic. If you like ancient history, this is an excellent introduction to a particular epic battle of antiquity.

Full of insights and very well Written.......2000-01-29

Another excellent book from the Osprey Campaign Series. This earliest recorded Battle in the human history is recounted and critiqued by the author in an exciting manner. As opposed to a mundane account of the battle and the events leading to it, the author constantly provides objective strategic insights to the battle based on the analysis of the battlefield as well as the compositions of the armies. This introductory book is well illustrated and provides photographs of key areas of the battlefields. Highly recommend.

The Colonial Wars: Clashes in the Wilderness (First Book)

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The Colonial Wars: Clashes in the Wilderness (First Book)
Alden R. Carter
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The War of 1812: Second Fight for Independence (First Book)

ASIN: 0531156540

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Clash of Kings
George R R Martin
Manufacturer: Voyager
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8RUOW

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A Clash of Kings Signed 1st US Edition
George R. R. Martin
Manufacturer: BANTAM BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UZESIU

Clash of Kings! A Tale of Arthur and Merlin (A Timemaster Adventure)

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Clash of Kings! A Tale of Arthur and Merlin (A Timemaster Adventure)

Manufacturer: Pacesetter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0917609131

Product Description

Special TIMEMASTER adventure in which the Time Corps agents travel back and forth through a fantastic Arthurian history.

A Clash of Kings. A Song of Ice & Fire #2

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A Clash of Kings. A Song of Ice & Fire #2
George RR Martin
Manufacturer: Voyager
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: B000M633ZQ

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2 (Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2)

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The Gleeman at Work

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2 (Song of Ice and Fire, Book 2)

Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: 0736699406

Product Description

Martin resumes his Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. Kings, queens, knights, and ladies carry the principal roles, with a smattering of whores and other unsavory characters adding spice to the story as members of House Stark and House Lannister struggle over the seven kingdoms of Westeros, while an even greater supernatural threat gathers on the horizon. Roy Dotrice rises to the challenge, providing each character with his or her own unique voice. Dotrice's range of vocal tones, from gravelly and commanding to silkenly dangerous, creates a mood of insistence that holds the listener captive throughout the epic story. S.D. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004

Customer Reviews:

The Gleeman at Work.......2006-01-06

Ever read Robert Jordan and wondered what it would be like to listen to a gleeman?
Well, Roy Dotrice certainly earns this title. The narrator is even better than the author and together they combine an iresistable combination that got me hooked on audio books.

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CLASH OF STAR-KINGS
Avram DAVIDSON
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000L6FG02

Book Description

The crew of the ship were marooned on a planet with no ship repair facilities, where the well-meaning schemes of social engineers had created a nightmare of battling gangs. They had their own invention with them-an emotional amplifier, which could cause anyone to feel a heightened emotion, but this wasn't useful at first. If they heightened the locals' sense of pride, they took pride in becoming better criminals. So they pretended to be the Royal Legions, sent by a distant star kingdom in pursuit of an all-powerful villain who was hiding on the planet. Things were going better than they could have hoped, and the planet was rapidly becoming civilized . . . and then the real Royal flagship showed up. They thought they were doomed-but instead they were told they had shown just the type of initiative and intelligence that the new arrivals were looking for. So they were inducted into the Interstellar Patrol. And that was just the beginning. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Better than before.......2004-11-21

I remember reading most of the stories in Interstellar Patrol, which collects and reissues a series of stories by Christopher Anvil which first appeared (mostly)in Astounding/Analog between 1958 and 69. I remember them fondly, and find on re-reading that they are better than ever.

The science is good, the adventure is fun, but what is most delightful is the interaction between personnel from the Interstellar Patrol, the Stellar Scouts, the Space Navy, and the (civilian and governmental) Planetary Development Authority.

What makes these stories better than before is that when I first read them I was young and, naturally, idealistic. Being much older now and (I hope) more experienced and wiser, I have a better appreciation of the ways in which various branches of government can foul each other up (with some totally civilian entities thrown in for fun) even though they all believe they are working toward the same end. What is fun is to read how one or two intelligent people who keep their eyes on the donut and not the hole can figure out how to overcome the multitude of roadblocks that government agencies (and their devout personnel) can throw in each other's way, given their different views of the end goal. What wins in the end is the ability to think outside the box, which for me is the ultimate joy of science fiction.

I recommend this book (and its promised successors) without reservation - more than worth the money.

Think Sidestage Lensman.......2004-11-10

This book is a collection of stories that have been published before in one form or another. The introduction by David Weber makes that very clear.

What is not clear is that this is space opera of the old style. If you liked (loved?) E.E. Doc Smith's Lensmen series, then you are going to enjoy this. It is simple story telling, without any of the pscyhobabble claptrap that seems to encumber most SF today.

The characters are gruff, they smoke cigarettes(?), they carouse and they shoot first and sometimes ask questions later. In short, Lensman type space opera.

Reccommended without reservation.

A GREAT sci-fi yarn!.......2004-09-21

Some old sci-fi ages badly, but this collection is like wine and just gets better with age. This book isn't just a page tuner, it funny, insightful, and shows you what makes old sci-fi a totally different 'animal' then what is written today. There is no hand wringing, or rules, or feeling sorry for people who are disadabanged in these stories. These stories are about men solving MAN SIZED issues, but not with pure violence. More often then not the characters create the solutions by being smarter rather then just the end of a gun. Yes, its heavy handed and simpistic, but this book is one that every sci-fi fan should read.

Murphy's Law in Action.......2004-02-21

Interstellar Patrol is a collection of stories in the Colonization universe, including the early tales of Roberts, Hammell and Morrisey. This volume also includes several other tales related to Federation agencies other than the IP.

The Paradise tales describe how the captain and crew of the Orion, an Interstellar Rapid Transport ship, found themselves stranded off the planet Boschock III, misnamed Paradise. The Captain Vaughn Roberts, the cargomaster Hammell, and the comtech Morrissey brought the worst injured down to the planet in their tender, but crashed in the jungle outside the only city. Nearby settlers took the injured back to their village for treatment in return for some weapons and ammo, but the city officials, under the overall command of the central computer, were less than helpful.

After escaping from the city, Roberts and Hammel returned to the tender to discover that Morrissey, having time on his hands, had stumbled across an unusual application of their communications system; it generated a field that induced various emotions in anyone within range of the equipment. Experimenting with the effect, they learned how to project and overlap several fields as desired. Using this want-generator to control the emotions of the various factions on the planet, they created sufficient chaos that the central computer of the city decided to provide repairs to their ship and equipment just to get them offworld.

In subsequent visits to the planet, the trio found themselves somehow becoming responsible for the whole planet under the guise of Dukes of the Empire. Then they found that the Interstellar Patrol had been observing their progress with interest and was offering them a chance to become recruits in that organization.

The Boot Camp tales introduce Dan Bergen, another IP recruit, as well as Colonel Valentine Sanders, who becomes their commanding officer. In these stories, the IP submits the recruits to various tests, both to evaluate their capabilities and to induce the proper attitudes. Some of the tests are live and others are simulated, although it is hard to tell the difference. However, it is better to be eaten alive by carnivorous fish in a simulation than in the real world, although the sensations are much the same.

The Others tales present a broader view of the Federation and various unaligned worlds. A major theme in all these stories is interservice rivalry, particularly between the PDA and the Space Force. Another ongoing theme in some of these stories, particularly the Stellar Scouts tales, is the failure of new and improved equipment under field conditions; while some improved devices work as expected, others display quirky and sometimes harmful behavior in the real world.

All these stories say something about the foolishness of human beings. The author has specialized in writing Murphy's Law yarns, where things go wrong in ways none had realized were possible. The author has a rare insight and ability to illustrate the SNAFUs and FUBARs that haunt all human activities, particular in bureaucratic environments. Although such stories are probably not as popular today, there are still enough readers with military, or corporate, experience to relate to these situations.

Only the first three stories have been previously published in book form, so this is a rare opportunity for those who don't have the original magazine versions. However, there are many more out there slowly rotting in attics and basements. The editor has promised that some of those will be appearing in the sequel volume(s).

Highly recommended for Anvil fans and for anyone else who enjoys seeing other people make foolish mistakes much like the ones we ourselves have made.

Irregular Patrol.......2003-08-02

Marooned space sailors are to expect hardships, but not in a planet designed to be an Utopia! Savage beasts, robot policemen, social experiments out of control and an experimental machine that could solve all the troubles of Utopia...if it didn't get everybody killed. And then there is the ultimate solution space captain Robert Vaungh came up with to deal with the warring factions of Utopia: unite them under his rulership against a wizard that did not exist.
Now it is a toss who will get him; the factions, the hostile planet, Space Fleet(which loves to hunt pirates), real pirates, the machine or the Interstellar Patrol drafting ship! Because people who survive mad situations like these are just the kind of people Interstellar Patrol needs.

Book Description

Vaughan Roberts and his two companions had been trapped on a crime-ridden, chaotic planet until they bamboozled the population with a colossal, audacious hoax¿which brought them to the attention of the Interstellar Patrol, who were looking for a few good con men, capable of ingenious improvisation and adept at playing dirty tricks on the bad guys. The new recruits acquitted themselves admirably, so they naturally were given more tough nuts to crack, including:

Flummoxing an alien empire which has taken a number of human prisoners as reconnaissance for an invasion. This has a personal aspect, since the prisoners are from the planet which Roberts tricked into reforming. . . .Stopping a plan by not-so-good Samaritans who are pretending to cure a planetary plague¿which they introduced to the planet¿with a ¿miracle¿ drug which creates an addiction to the same drug, which the schemers will be glad to continue supplying for ever-increasing sums . . .Not only rescuing some Patrol personnel taken hostage by fanatics who plan to execute them one at a time until their leader is released, but convincing other fanatics throughout the galaxy that the consequences of threatening anyone in the Patrol are too terrible even to think about. . . .Making sure that the rightful heir to a planet¿s throne escapes from captivity and overthrows the usurper. This time there¿s a complication: Roberts may be falling for the ruler¿s beautiful sister. . . .And much more. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Mischief and Mishaps in the Space Lanes.......2007-08-03

Interstellar Patrol II: The Federation of Humanity (2005) is the second collection of Interstellar Patrol stories and related SF tales, following Interstellar Patrol itself. This volume includes twenty-two short stories and a short novel set in the Colonization universe.

In this collection, the first six stories are at least marginally related to the Interstellar Patrol, an organization known for its use of unconventional strategy and tactics. "The Claw and the Clock" (Analog, 1971) tells of the disastrous Crustax invasion of the pacifistic world of Storehouse. This story does not directly involve the IP except at the conclusion.

"Riddle Me This . . ." (Analog, 1972) concerns the rescue of two IP agents from a Crustax space fortress by Captain Roberts and his crew. "The Unknown" (Amazing, 1972) relates the tribulations of three con artists who attract the attention of the IP team and their ship. "The Throne and the Usurper" (F&SF, 1970) depicts the confrontation between Roberts and a man with an unusual talent. "The Trojan Hostage" (Analog, 1990) relates the trials of Roberts as a prisoner of clever anarchists.

Warlord's World (DAW, 1975) is a novel about the kidnapping of a royal princess of Festhold who has been admitted by Roberts into his IP crew as a probationary recruit. The villains are very cunning, but the IP is even more persistent in the defense of their new recruit. Since she is the sister of the true King, Roberts and the IP also intervene in an ongoing attempt to usurp the throne of Festhold.

The remaining stories concern other aspects of the Federation of Humanity. The next five tales are about Soldiers and Scholars. "Goliath and the Beanstalk" (Astounding, 1958) and "Facts To Fit the Theory" (Analog, 1966) relate the tales of Stath invasions of two separate pacifistic human planets. "Cantor's War" (If, 1974) pits an authoritative mathematician against the pragmatic military. "Uplift For the Savage" (Analog, 1968) tells of the practical education given to a learned woman by a fieldworker. "Odds" (Amazing, 1977) depicts the challenges of a man on an improbable planet.

The following five tales are about the Troubles With Cargoes. "The Troublemaker" (Astounding, 1960) concerns a cargo-control man who causes problems and a captain who knows the perfect solution to such antics. "Bill For Delivery" (Analog, 1964) shows why live cargo is often not a good idea. "Untropy" (Analog, 1966) illustrates the perils of drinking and driving. "The Low Road" (Amazing, 1970) shows why it is sometimes desirable to drink while driving. "Trial By Silk" (Amazing, 1970) depicts a situation that must be experienced before it can be believed.

The last seven tales in this collection are about the Troubles With Colonies. "The Operator" (Analog, 1971) puts the acting leader of a colony figuratively between a den of pack-bears and a shipload of neobarbarians, with some desirable females as the prize. "While the North Wind Blows" (Amazing, 1978) continues the previous story, only now the warm spell has led to an influx of giant flit birds and the awakening of the flame throwing slags. "Leverage" (Astounding, 1959) tells of a planet where the lifeforms cooperate much more vigorously than expected. "The Sieve" (Astounding, 1959) relates a tale of a new colony with too many uncooperative druggies. "Mating Problems" (Astounding, 1959) reveals one way of canceling out difficulties. "Hunger" (Analog, 1964) suggests that material goods and self-control is not enough. "Contrast" (Analog, 1964) explains a service provided to jaded citizens by one group of colonists.

Many of these stories have morals of sorts. For example, never attack a group of pacifists without checking out their history; some may be former galactic conquerors trying another approach. Another is to analyse the assumptions when evaluating a problem. In any case, the author doesn't just write a satisfying story, but also gives the reader something to thing about afterwards.

Unhappily, few people remember this author from his glory days. As one of those few, I still enjoy memories of his stories in Astounding and Analog and his few book collections and novels. My first introduction to Anvil was his story "The Gentle Earth" in a used edition of the November, 1957, Astounding, where naive aliens invade Earth and then discover weather.

Note that many of Anvil's stories first appeared in Astounding/Analog, starting with Pandora's Planet in the September, 1956, issue of Astounding. They continued to be published in the magazine for the rest of Campbell's tenure as editor. Apparently Ben Bova did not have the same appreciation for Anvil's style as Campbell, so Anvil went elsewhere. Yet Anvil returned for the last IP story, "The Trojan Hostage", which was published in the July, 1990, issue of Analog.

This is the last collection of IP tales, but not the last of Anvil's stories. The Trouble With Aliens gathers a plethora of short works about various and sundry problems with aliens of all sorts. They may be the best tales ever written by Anvil, but for certain they are even more typical of his style.

Highly recommended for Anvil fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of space adventure, risky situations and competent people.

-Arthur W. Jordin

A Good Followup.......2007-03-28

Interstellar Patrol II is an excellent followup to Interstellar Patrol. The choice and sequence of Christopher Anvil's stories to include in this followup volume was well thought out. Seeing Anvil's work again, some of it barely remembered, was a treat.Interstellar Patrol (The Interstellar Patrol series)

Very good B-list space opera.......2005-09-13

"B-list space opera" might seem like faint praise, but Anvil is not E.E. "Doc" Smith or A.E. van Vogt in their prime, he is (to borrow Eric Flint's description of Laumer) a journeyman rather than a master.

There is quite a lot of enjoyment to be had in reading the Baen books collections of Interstellar Patrol I-II and Pandora's Legions, and I recommend all of them, but I can't give the fifth star I bestow on Smith's Lensman series, Brian Daley's Hobart and Alacrity trilogy, or Lee and Miller's Liaden novels.

Still, recommended to anyone who enjoys a good tale well told.

The continuing adventures of Roberts, and other stories.......2005-06-02

Before giving the review of this book, I want to give full disclosure: I was part of a group that worked with Eric Flint to find many of these stories, to scan them in, and to proof them. Christopher Anvil (Harry Crosby) has always been one of my favorite authors. So I am slightly biased about this book. But in all honesty, this is a good collection of fun stories.

There are 23 stories in this book; the stories are in four groups. These stories were originally published from 1958 to 1978. All but "Warlord's World" were published in various Science Fiction magazines. "Warlord's World" was previously published as a complete book.

The first group of stories, which makes up about half the book, is about the Interstellar Patrol. These stories are a direct continuation to "Interstellar Patrol" which was published last year. Roberts and his friends have to solve a number of impossible problems, problems that would overwhelm mere mortals. In one story "Riddle Me This ..." they have to go into an alien fort to rescue two comrades who are being tortured to death. In another story "The Throne and the Usurper" Roberts goes solo against a man with a very amazing mutant ability.

The second group of stories has the least connected set of stories; this is kind of the grab bag set of stories. Two of the stories have to do with colonies of particular branches of humanity fighting off nasty alien invasions.

The third group of stories are about problems a couple crews have in shipping freight between the stars. The first story is about how to handle a new crew member who is a big trouble maker. There are two stories about how to handle difficult cargo. Another story is about potential death during shore leave.

The last group of stories focuses on the struggles of colonists on very hostile worlds. "Leverage" is one of my all time favorite Anvil stories. It is about how the colonists learn to use the deadly fauna to work for them, instead of killing them.

If you have ever enjoyed a Christopher Anvil story, buy this book. These are entertaining stories. The book is hard to put down. If you haven't read any of Christopher Anvil's stories, this is a good place to start.

Average customer rating:

Crashing Suns
Edmond Hamilton
Manufacturer: NY Ace Books 1965.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1401403190

Product Description

Science-Fiction

Average customer rating:

Interstellar Patrol
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: POCKET BOOKS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q1DC3U

Average customer rating:

Interstellar Patrol
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: POCKET BOOKS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SHMAPS

Average customer rating:

Interstellar Patrol
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NVMIKQ

Interstellar Patrol ll: The Federation of Humanity

Average customer rating:

Interstellar Patrol ll: The Federation of Humanity
Christopher Anvil
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NVMIKG

Customer Reviews:

One of Best Books on dianic tradtion.......2003-07-18

This one of best books on dianic witchcraft i have seen and had the pleasure to read. and a must have for anyone who practices the dianic tradtion.Only flaw is book was biased which i favor the goddess but men do have a place and all of them should be open to dianic tradtion but they need to be balanced and this book was written in 1973 need a revision for the times

Best Book On Dianic witchcraft!!.......2003-07-18

This one of best books on dianic witchcraft i have seen and had the pleasure to read. and a must have for anyone who practices the dianic tradtion.

One of best books on Dianic wicca.......2003-07-18

Irecommend it for any woman, and any man who doesn't take offense too easily lots of good infomation here and over all one of best book written on Dianic wicca.dianic wicca has been bashed alot on web in pagan comminuity esp me lol but book like rite of odin ack most dam sexist book ever written i wanted it for freya and warrior goddesses of course the book was sexist and i return it and got this one instead which had what i was looking for with out the fluff I am a woman who speaks her mind and this that this is one of better book on dianic tradtion for format but still alittle too much bias in the book simple as that. Overall nice book with good infomation but need to stress balance

Doesn't pull any punches.......2003-04-02

I think this book is a much neglected gem of the Pagan movement. Dianism (Feminist, Goddess-ony Wicca) has been declining steadily due to lack of good books written on the subject. This book, one of the first of its kind to speak exclusively to women, is still the reigning champion of the Dianic movement.

The book is star studded with some of the most talented Pagan authors of our time, including Starhawk. Spells, herbs, incenses, and colors are all discussed as in the standard Wicca 101 format. The book also offers a unique perspective on Pagan holidays, a different calendar from homogeneous Wheel of the Year literature featured in most books.

Be warned, this book is riddled with historical inaccuracies, if you're a history buff and those sorts of things bug you, you may want to look elsewhere. If you take what is written with a grain of salt, as a "mythic history" and not literal truth, you should weather this well. Also, the book doesn't pull any punches, it can be vicious in its attacks on patriarchy and oppresive culture. Finally, the book will discuss the principle of a "righteous hex", if that really goes against your morals you may want to skip that chapter.

This book was really designed with the Feminist spirit in mind, intended to get women in touch with their own Divinity through their own perceptions. If you are looking for a more balanced non-feminist approach, try anything written by Scott Cunningham.

WOW!!!.......2002-10-26

At first I was afraid to buy this book because some of the reviews give you the feeling that she gose over board & blames everything wrong on men, that is not so. This is a wondeful book the gives alot of empowering information for Women...all women. I think those that are giving negative reveiws have read an older version of the book, but the one in print now, (from Amazon.com) is nothing like that. She dose has strong opinions & you don't have to agree with everything she says but this is a valuble tool for every Witch, even if you are not Dianic. I would not advise this for beginners because some things that she should elaborate on like the sabbats, she dose not. She gives rituals of how she celebrates them but dosn't really go into why. I just love this book and those don't like it are proberly
a bit too sensitive or men who just don't get it LOL! I am going to but a second copy just in case :)

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