The Fiery Pantheon: A Novel

Average customer rating:

Crazed youth in love

a small jewel

much ado about very little

A madcap, delightful, original novel

one of the few true stylist's working in fiction today

The Fiery Pantheon: A Novel
Nancy Lemann
Manufacturer: Scribner Paper Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0684852055

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The pantheon in question in Nancy Lemann's third novel, The Fiery Pantheon, is a private hall of fame constructed in the heart of protagonist Grace Stewart, a young woman living in New Orleans. As a gentleman's daughter growing up in the South, Grace's world-view has been shaped by southern ideals of honor--ideals embodied in the men whom Grace has placed in her pantheon: her father, her grandfather, and her fiancé, Monroe Collier. What qualifies all of these men is their devotion to tradition, to family, and to the South, and in cleaving to them, Grace seems set on a path that will keep her comfortably within the physical and emotional geography she has always known.

Enter Walter, whom Grace regards as "a crazed individual." He, too, is from New Orleans, but he is very different from the men Grace idolizes: for one thing, he's left the South to go to Manhattan, where he works as a highly sought-after stock analyst; for another, he's just slightly unbalanced, and--worst of all--rather than looking to the Glorious Past for his inspiration, he prefers Ian Fleming's fictional hero, James Bond. He's hardly a suitable candidate for Grace's pantheon, but this doesn't stop Walter from attempting to get in anyway. Traveling from New Orleans to Virginia to New York to Istanbul and back, The Fiery Pantheon follows the twists and turns of Walter's loopy pursuit and Grace's evolving definition of honor in a tale that is poignant, humorous, and compassionate.

Book Description

Acclaimed for her "gleeful and contagious love of language" (Los Angeles Times), Nancy Lemann evokes the tattered glamour of fading traditional Southern society like no other writer. Now she introduces the aristocratic Stewart clan of New Orleans, in particular, the self-effacing Grace, who is vacationing with her family at a rambling old resort in Virginia and mulling over her recent engagement to Monroe Collier, her ideal Southern gentleman. When she spots the crazed but brilliant Walter, she pegs him as a likely candidate for a nervous breakdown, but he determinedly attaches himself to Grace and begins to work his charms on her.

Will Grace remain true to laconic Monroe and the ideals of her homeland or will she fall for the strangely charismatic Walter? Who will gain entry into the Fiery Pantheon, Grace's personal gallery of beloved and honored heroes? In the tradition of Evelyn Waugh and Walker Percy, The Fiery Pantheon is a witty and rapturous novel about the weight of past glory, the attachment to place, and the love of a man.

Customer Reviews:

Crazed youth in love.......2006-06-16

Nancy Lemann's "The Fiery Pantheon" is the sort of book that Edith Wharton would have written, if she had lived in late-twentieth-century New Orleans. It's a wry look at the South and its children -- even the ones who move away -- but it's also an endearingly eccentric love story between two "crazed youths."

Grace Stewart has always idealized Southern honor and gentility, and the "lost South" as personified by her fiancee Monroe Collier. But while vacationing at a Virginia resort, she encounters Walter -- a jaded, eccentric New Orleanian who is on the edge of a nervous breakdown. He's very different from the men she idealizes (her "fiery pantheon"), but Grace finds herself interested anyway.

And even when Walter returns to New York, he finds himself longing after the elusive Grace and her eccentric ideas. Soon he joins her in her travels across Europe and the Middle East, hoping to win her heart. But will Grace fall back on the familiar -- boring Monroe and the lifestyle she's in love with -- or will she follow her own eccentric heart?

"The Fiery Pantheon" is the third novel Nancy Lemann has written about "crazed youth" from the South, and she hasn't lost her touch. The main downside is that the romance between Grace and Walter has more quirk than chemistry, and it's never quite clear why she likes him as much as she does.

But the book itself is a charming parade of weird characters, who are usually drunk, depressed or just peculiar. Lemann has a knack with poetic prose ("The world was warm with liquor") that evokes lazy days, tropical climes and ornate houses. And the odd rambling dialogue fits the slightly odd characters, whether they're psychoanalyzing or groaning about atom bombs.

Lemann also plays a small trick on readers with her leads: As the book starts, Grace seems like the more normal character, but we soon see that she's playing a part. And Walter, who seemed kind of unstable, is actually the more normal of the two. But they are both "crazed youth," which basically means that they are both ragingly eccentric.

New Orleans gets carried around the world in "The Fiery Pantheon," the oddest little romance you will read for a long time. Charming and honorable.

a small jewel.......2003-05-30

I discovered Nancy Lemann because Tom Robbins said that he reads her. If you like Anne Tyler or Robbins, chances are you'll like this book. Dark, funny humor, with great characters and clever prose. If you're too politically correct to enjoy it, it's your loss.

much ado about very little.......2000-07-30

Nicely written, silly book. Repetitive. Characters about whom one cares little, lolling through desolate lives, doing nothing -- extravagantly. The humor is stretched and vague. Fortunately, it is a quick read and some of the insights into the lives of Bush-like Southern families are interesting -- almost frightening to realize that our next President may come from this wasteful milieu. Makes one want to tax the rich to support the needs of the working poor.

A madcap, delightful, original novel.......2000-04-04

When I wake during those ghastly hours of the early morning, I often think of a line from this wonderful, bubbly novel: 4 a.m. is bedtime for many people. Instead of wallowing in life's troubles, I think of a madcap cast of characters removing their tuxedoes, their high heels, and hopping into bed. I highly and happily recommend this cheerful novel!

one of the few true stylist's working in fiction today.......1998-09-22

People ask if the novel is dead. Reading this truly funny, truly philosphical book reminds me that not only is it not dead, but in the hands of a talent like Lemann, it is gloriously captivatingly alive. The stew of goofy southerners alone make this a great read - but it works on a much more thoughtful level as well. Don't miss this one.

Average customer rating:

Graphic SF Reader

"If this isn't literature, nothing is." --Peter Straub

A must read

It's going to be a beautiful day...

One of the series' best.
Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives (Sandman Collected Library)
Neil Gaiman , and Peter Straub
Manufacturer: Rebound by Sagebrush
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 1417686162

Amazon.com

One might think that the climax of the 10-volume Sandman series would come in the last book, or even the second to last. But indeed the heart and soul of Neil Gaiman's magnum opus lies here in Brief Lives. It could be because one of the most central mysteries--that of the Sandman's missing brother--is revealed here (in fact, the plot of this volume is the search for this member of the Endless). It could be because everything that comes after this volume, however surprising or unexpected, is inevitable. But it's more because this is a story about mortality and loss, the difficulty of change, the purpose of remembering, the purpose of forgetting, and the importance of humanity. If you have wanted to find out what all the good buzz on this great comic book series is about and haven't read any Gaiman before, don't be turned off by this volume's pivotal position in the larger story of the Sandman series. This book might actually operate better as a stand-alone story, in that its depth and compassion are more condensed, pure, and brief. --Jim Pascoe

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Dream is sulking, until his sister Delirium motivates him to help her look for Destruction, their brother who has abdicated his Endless responsibilities.

On the way, through the various people they meet, and reflected in his servants and helpers, we see Dream's thought processes begin to change and mellow, even more so after he finally gets around to dealing with his son, Orpheus, after such long neglect.

"If this isn't literature, nothing is." --Peter Straub.......2007-07-30

This is one of my two favorites in the 11-volume "Sandman" series, which has proven Gaiman to be a genius storyteller. Three centuries ago, Destruction -- one of the seven Endless, who existed even before the gods -- abandoned his responsibilities, left his realm, and went off to do his own thing. Essentially, he ran away from home. Not that the world has lacked for destruction since then, but he's not behind it, anyway. Delirium, who has roughly the persona of a three-year-old combined with a drugged-out-flower child -- but is a very sweet person for all that (well, . . . not "person" . . .), misses her big brother and tries to find one of her siblings to help her look for him and convince him to return. Dream (the Sandman) finally agrees to accompany her, but for his own reasons, and the quest brings in a number of innocent bystanders (who suffer, as bystanders do), as well as an assortment of ancient but now out-of-work deities. A number of neat ideas are tossed out casually, too, like the notion that a few thousand people still exist on Earth from the very earliest days of civilization, or even from the dawn of the species.

Bernie the lawyer, killed by the collapsing wall of a derelict building, tells Death, "I did okay, didn't I? I lived fifteen thousand years. That's a pretty long time." To which Death, a pragmatic sort who resembles a Goth girl, replies, "You got what everybody gets, Bernie. You got a lifetime. No more, no less." Great stuff.

A must read.......2007-06-27

Read this series! I read these when they were published as individual comics and revisiting the series has been a joy. Read them in order if at all possilble. I wish Gaiman had the time to write another graphic novel series.

It's going to be a beautiful day..........2006-12-28

Did anyone other than myself get addicted to this series due grossly in part to Gaiman's amazing work with his novel "American Gods"? I thought "American Gods" reminded me of King's phenomenal work with Roland in his gunslinger world - and finally, Gaiman expanded on this work with the next chapter of his Sandman stories in "Brief Lives". It seems that I continually go up then down and further up again with this series, and this is one of those chapters that shot me further up into the sky than imaginable. With a fair swoop of his creative pen, Gaiman brings us family, voyages, and the truth about those pesky little creatures roaming our world known as Gods. They do exist. They roam our world. They were here before the birth of this planet, and finally, Gaiman exposes them to the world. They are merciless, they are wealthy, they are strippers ... they are us. Again, nobody could do it like Gaiman does and he proves it with his greatest heroine creation "the Sandman" and with the series entitled, "Brief Lives".

For the past several episodes, Gaiman has been dropping hints that Sandman had a missing brother that left the family a long time ago, there was sadness, but most were moving away from any sort of emotional scarring. Well, I should say "most", because little sister Delirium cannot seem to forget about her big brother. She wants to find him, and while most of her other siblings turn her away, Sandman jumps in headfirst in hopes that he can eliminate the worries about loosing a woman that he has been with for some time. He needs to shake her feelings, so he travels with his sister to find their brother, Destruction. As they travel, they meet up with old friends, Gods, which assist with their journey. These friends of the family assist with unlimited spending cash, a chauffeured vehicle, and a path towards their final destination. While our travelers decide to stay in the "real world", they learn more about the dying breed of Gods and, my favorite, that Death does not show favoritism.

Just as we prepare ourselves for a two part episode, an unexpected guest (who is actually expecting them) welcomes our travelers into his home, only to share his disappointment with his current state of the world as well as his position. In a rather emotional ending, Gaiman twists his words together to point the finger back at our current society as well as the state of this series. He even takes Sandman closer to his family, and asks him to perform a deed that was unexpected as this journey began. In one quick collection of stories, Gaiman has successfully given us back the power, the force, and the drama that reminded me of how this series began. Since the first collection, I didn't quite see that same emotion until I read "Brief Lives". In a short 150 pages, the raw force of the series was sparked back. The family dynamics, the power of the unknown, and the idea that our world - planet Earth - is just the backdrop to a much larger grandiose story that will constantly boggle our mind and expand our universe - was exactly what made this "Brief Lives" the best collaboration.

Overall, I would like to say that if you read just one collaboration in this series YOU MUST READ "Brief Lives". I fell in love with this entire family all over again this in one short collection. We had a chance to see their lives, their human nature, and their need for each other. I loved being back with Sandman, in which I missed him with the prior collection. He is the star and full supporter of these graphic novels. Gaiman, I believe, realizes this as he receives most of his praise for those in which he blows our minds with simple stories with amazingly sharp characters. There was not one flawed scene in this entire collection. I could - and will - read this again. For those seeking Gaiman's best work, and what makes him stronger than the words that he prints - I would highly suggest "Brief Lives".

There - I have drooled enough. Time to read it again.

Grade: ***** out of *****

One of the series' best........2005-11-30

Neil Gaiman, Sandman: Brief Lives (Vertigo, 1995)

Sandman has had its ups and downs over the years. Brief Lives is very much an up, perhaps second in the series only to Dream Country in its brilliance.

Brief Lives tells the story of Dream and Delirium, off to search for their missing brother Destruction, who abandoned his realm three centuries before. As they search, the people they try to get to help them have a startling habit of ending up dead, leaving Dream to question the wisdom of Delirium's quest.

The book ties up a few minor loose ends from other books in the past, but that's just icing on the cake. Gaiman and co. stick with a simple story here, perhaps the simplest they've yet told in the books, and in doing so they truly allow Gaiman's considerable narrative talents to shine through undiluted. We already know we're going to get good art and great characters. The story's the thing, then, and this one shines. **** ½

Customer Reviews:

Nice read.......2007-08-31

I enjoyed the book (see other reviews for synopsis). It was a "fun" read with a little bit of thoughtful material (e.g., what it would be like to be confined to life as a ship). It was one of those books that frequently made me smile, but it was not a page turner.

Mystery, adventure, and even a little romance in this very fun novel by two excellent authors........2007-02-05

I'd been looking for a bit of intelligent escapism, and certainly found it in this collaborative effort by Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey. The Ship Who Searched is the second in the Brainship collection (though the books needn't be read in order) - where each book in the series is a team effort between McCaffrey and various eminent authors in the genre.

The Brainship world of the series is a version of our own future, where humankind has long since left our solar system. The characters are still very much informed by the Earth history we know, however, and though the novels take place amongst other worlds and are occasionally populated by other nonhuman species, the story feels very real for that reason.

Hypatia Cade (Tia) is a precocious and brilliant child, and as the daughter of xeno-archaeologists has spent her young life traveling from one planet to another on exploratory digs. Her parents are investigating the puzzling disappearance of a world-hopping alien civilization that vanished without a trace long ago.

While playing at her own "pretend" dig, Tia uncovers what seems to have been a waste repository for the aliens. She somehow contracts a virus that results in the gradual loss of feeling and control in her extremities and by the time she tells her parents (not wanting to interrupt their work with what the ship's AI tells her are "growing pains"), it is too late. Hypatia is transferred to a medical facility, where it is determined that she will never regain control of her body below the neck.

In this future world, children born with debilitating congenital defects are often entered into the Brain/Brawn program, where their non-functioning bodies are sealed up into ships (or occasionally spaceports or other facilities) and their minds become the "brains" of the craft. These "shellpersons" are essentially one with the ships they inhabit; their brains have been enhanced and modified to monitor every aspect of the electronic and mechanical workings, and they "feel" the hull as though it were their own skin. Brainships are paired with a Brawn, a living (and mobile) component to the ship's operations. These pairings are typically very close, given their intimate proximity and the partners' frequent long-term isolation in space travel during their assignments.

The Ship Who Searched has a lot of heart for a sci-fi novel. Hypatia is a compelling and likeable character; her only hope is to convince the Brain/Brawn directors that she's not too old to be included in the program, so that she can fulfill her dreams of becoming a pilot with the Archaeological division. So, too, must she solve the riddle of the vanished alien race, whose disappearance may be linked to the disease that devastated her body - plague is a common threat to the archaeologists of the future. And, as both a Brainship and a developing young woman, she must navigate her growing feelings for her newly assigned Brawn, Alex.

The Ship Who Searched is a fast-paced, emotionally satisfying, and thoroughly entertaining read. The application of archaeology to a science fiction setting was compelling and well conceived, and the Brain/Brawn program feels surprisingly believable. I found it refreshing to read a novel where several main characters are physicaly disabled, and found the book's treatment of the subect to be very balanced sympathetic without being pandering. While the ending felt a bit too quick, it was natural and fulfilling. I had quite a bit of fun with this one, and will definitely be investigating others in the series.

-Jacquelyn Gill

Brains and brawn come together in one remarkable team.......2006-05-09

Hypatia (Tia) Cade is an astonishingly bright and surprisingly well adjusted daughter of two distinguished archeologists. Although her parents were totally engrossed in excatvating long dead civilizations on remote planets they were also quite devoted to their daughter, refusing to send her away to be raised by strangers or enrolled in a boarding school. During the day while they were outside working at the site Tia kept busy working at the teaching terminal supervised by the resident A(rtifical) I(ntelligence) and occasionally chatting with Moira, the brainship that serviced their site. It was a happy life for Tia, one that she intended to continue so that she could join her parents as a colleague once she completed school. Unfortunately tragedy struck in the form of an exotic virus that left Tia completely paralyzed, her only option for any sort of independent life lay in becoming a shell person, a living brain encased in a shell and controlling a space station, a city, or a ship.

Once Tia completed her training and selected her 'brawn' Alexander the pair found themselves tracking down tomb raiders and stopping plagues from sweeping through the galaxy, jobs they were uniquely suited for. Along they way they made a few other discoveries that would have even more far reaching consequences than they ever could have foreseen.

This 1992 book is a continuation of the 'Ship' series begun by McCaffrey years before with THE SHIP WHO SANG. The basic premise of the series is that severely handicapped infants are placed into 'shells' where their devasted bodies are no longer a prison for them. There are references to earlier books in the series, as well as a few inside jokes concerning other future collaborators to the series but this work can definitely stand on its own and be enjoyed without any knowledge of earlier works.

Two Of My Favorite Authors.......2004-12-02

This book was a book club choice. It is written by two of my favorite fantasy Authors. The thought of them doing science fiction together intrigued me. The book turned out really well. I enjoyed the story from cover to cover. I found that I could not put this one down. I have gone on to slowly read the rest of the Brainship series. Each one is a piece that can be read by itself as well as a series. This one if facinating because tia is not put into the brainship program at birth but at 7 years old.

Couldn't "Bear" to put it down........2003-12-16

This book will have you from the first few chapters on. I simply loved it and couldn't find myself putting it down. How can one resist the will of a cute girl with a strong will and a teddy bear? This book is good for all ages. Anne McCaffrey will always be one of my favorite authors.

Brain Ships (PartnerShip & The Ship Who Searched)

Average customer rating:

Not a cheat necessarily
Omnibus
Reprint compliations can be great
Reprint of older books
Good compilation.

Brain Ships (PartnerShip & The Ship Who Searched)
Anne McCaffrey , Mercedes Lackey , and Margaret Ball
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743471660

Customer Reviews:

Not a cheat necessarily.......2007-01-01

I knew from the title "Brain Ships" plural that this was probably an omnibus reprint of previous books. Easy enough to check if any book you are interested in is such a reprint.

THE REAL CHEAT is "The Ship Avenged". The premise of human brains in starships is converted to a ship driven by an artificial intelligence program built by Joat (jack of all trades). SHAME on Stirling.

Would have been a much better sequel if story was about Joat overcoming the big obstacles that disqualified her for a ship's brawn.

Omnibus.......2004-02-02

When I bought this book I had the feeling it might be an omnibus of old books (because most of the new Anne McCaffrey books lately have been). But I didn't mind since I am just now starting the Brain Ship series. This omnibus contains "The Ship Who Searched" and "PartnerShip". I enjoyed both stories and look forward to reading the others in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't already have these two books but is an Anne McCaffrey fan. Otherwise, you should probably skip the book.

Reprint compliations can be great.......2003-12-28

I hate to see a book containing two great stories receiving negative reviews simply because these stories were published previously. There are hundreds of great science fiction stories that have gone out of print over time. I think that these books being made available again is wonderful opportunity for readers to explore and enjoy great works from sf's past.

Reprint of older books.......2003-12-12

The brain ship books are superb writing and if you don't have the older books, it is well worth getting. But the description is deceptive in that it does not tell you that this is a compilation of three books reprinted together under a different cover. Therefore, I am returning the book.

Good compilation........2003-11-30

First of all, if you already have the three stories in this book, you probably don't want it. If, however, you have not read these stories before, bundling them together in one binding certainly hasn't devalued the stories any.
I'll admit, I usually either love a book, or hate it. This one falls into the former category. Three good stories for the price of one.

Partnership/the Ship Who Searched/the City Who Fought

Average customer rating:

This time it is a "brain" named Nancia that needs to find a compatible "brawn"
This is a really great book!!!!
A non-taxing, good, warm fuzzy read.

Partnership/the Ship Who Searched/the City Who Fought
Anne McCaffrey , Margaret Ball , Mercedes Lackey , and S. M. Stirling
Manufacturer: Audio Literature
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 155800923X

Customer Reviews:

This time it is a "brain" named Nancia that needs to find a compatible "brawn".......2006-05-22

"PartnerShip" is the second book in the Brainship Series that was begun by Anne McCaffrey in the short stories that were collected under the title "The Ship That Sang." But this second book is a novel rather than a short story collection, tells the story of a new shellperson, and is co-written by McCaffrey with Margaret Ball (they also collaborated on the Acorna boks). Readers of the first book might be disappointed that this "sequel" is not about Helva, but the idea of brainships lends itself to new characters and if you have read McCaffrey's Pern and/or Talent series then you know she likes to tell new stories about new characters more than she does finding new tales for familiar (and even beloved) ones.

Nancia Perez y des Gras was an aristocrat, a member of one of the High Families, who was born with grave physical disabilities that required her human body to be encased in a massive titanium column that provided a direct link between her mind and the computer of her ship, XN-935. Nancia never would have survived without the complex life-support system the shell provided and which also allowed her to have a career as a new brainship for the Courier Service. Although she has been well trained, Nancia is not ready for dealing with the five "ordinary" human beings who are her passengers on her first voyage.

They are also members of the High Families and what her passengers have in common is that they are the proverbial black sheep of their respective families. That is why they are being sent to the forgotten far side of the galaxy. Usually the "brain" on a Courier Service ships is complemented by a "brawn," a human pilot special trained for such services, but Nancia is traveling without one on her maiden voyage. So Nancia is shocked and appalled by what she hears as her passengers plan to make their illegal fortunes and enjoy their ill-gotten gains. However, these five aristocrats do not know that they are on a brain ship and Nancia never bothers to tell them that she is listening (and recording) all of their plans.

What I like about "PartnerShip" is that Nancia bides her time before bringing the Nyota Five to justice. After all, she is fairly new to the ways of the real world and, as the title indicates, she is not going to be alone with the time comes to put her plan into motion. Consequently, in addition to the anticipation as to how Nancia is going to get these five clowns there is also a question of who is going to be the "brawn" to her "brain"? The former appeals to be a bit more simply because I like it when somebody on the inside has got the goods on the bad guys, but I was satisfied with the specific partnership that McCaffrey and Ball came up with for Nancia. Final Note: the cover art for this 1992 book is by Stephen Hickman.

This is a really great book!!!!.......1998-07-23

McCaffery does it again! I love how she winds intrigue, betrayal, and suspense into one super novel!!!

A non-taxing, good, warm fuzzy read........1997-02-17

The fascinating concept of brainships is wedded with recognition of society's responsibility to maximize the potential of it's members. Nancia's growth from naive newness to flexible adulthood is accompanied by normal emotional trauma. Self awareness, recognition of self worth and valuation of others are wrapped in an entertaining reading experience. Cynical recognition of who you know rather than what you know doesn't detract from the message or the idealistic theme that good works and good will can triumph.

Average customer rating:

The Ship Who Searched
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2M9CQ

Average customer rating:

The Ship Who Searched
Anne & Lackey, Mercedes McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KBJRJY

3 Book Set; PartnerShip. The Ship Who Searched. The City Who Fought. (Audio Cassette Book) (Science Fiction & Fantasy)

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3 Book Set; PartnerShip. The Ship Who Searched. The City Who Fought. (Audio Cassette Book) (Science Fiction & Fantasy)
Anne McCaffrey , Margaret Ball , Mercedes Lackey , and S. M. Stirling
Manufacturer: Audio Adventures
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: B000QCKV4M

Product Description

Clamshell Case with 6 audio cassettes/ 3 novels/ 2 cassettes per novel

Book Description

This book provides answers and details about how the universe was created that are not available in any other traditions, religions, or areas of science. It also provides insights into the spiritual purpose of this creation and what we are really meant to do here. It presents the oldest legends of the creation process from the Vedic texts of the East. It will also give any theist more information and understanding about how the universe is indeed a creation of God.

Every culture in the world and most religions have their own description of the creation of the universe, from where we came, and what we should do. Unfortunately, these are often short and generalized versions that lack details. Thus, they are often given the same regard as myths. However, there are descriptions that give more elaborate explanations of how the cosmic creation fully manifested, which are found in the ancient Vedic Puranas of India, some of the oldest spiritual writings on the planet. These descriptions provide the details and answers that other versions leave out. Furthermore, these Vedic descriptions often agree, and sometimes disagree, with the modern scientific theories of creation, and offer some factors that science has yet to consider.

Now, with this book, we can get a clearer understanding of how this universe appears, and if there is a way out of here. Some of the topics included are:

* Conditions in the spiritual world before the material manifestation

* How the Supreme Being exists before and after the material creation

* The ultimate foundation and cause of the universe is based on compassion of the Supreme. How the agitation of the modes of nature cause the appearance of time

* Detailed descriptions of the dawn of creation and how the material energy developed and caused the formation of the cosmos

* The Vedic description of the evolutionary development of the various forms of life

* The manifestation and purpose of the Vedic literature, the blueprints for the cosmos and life within

* Deep insights into the primal questions of, "Who am I? Why am I here? Where have I come from? What is the purpose of this universe and my life? Why the creation exists?"

* What is the primary source of the material as well as spiritual elements

* The many incarnations and expansions of the Supreme Being in the material creation

* How everything is but an expansion of the Absolute, and much more.

This book will provide some of the most profound insights into these questions and topics.

To add some adventure, there is also a special travel section to the holy places of northern India, and to some of the locations that are directly connected to the Indian legends of the universal creation and ancient history. With this tour is included rare descriptions and over 70 photographs of templs and Deities, ancient holy sites, the Himalayas, along with sages and people of the region. The book is over 300 pages, trim size of 6" x 9", with Index, References, and Glossary. Published by The World Relief Network, P. O. Box 15082, Detroit, MI 48215-0082.

Other books by Stephen Knapp that readers have enjoyed include,
"The Secret Teachings of the Vedas,"
"The Universal Path to Enlightenment,"
"The Vedic Prophecies: A New Look into the Future,"
"Toward World Peace: Seeing the Unity Between Us All,"
"Facing Death: Welcoming the Afterlife," and
"Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence."

Customer Reviews:

AT LAST.......2004-11-28

I HAVE READ A LOTOF BOOKS OVER MANY YEARS BY VARIOUS PHILOSOPHERS (EAST AND WEST), PHYSICISTS, MYSTICS,ETC. ALSO, ON SUBJECTS SUCH AS CONCIOUSNESS, VARIOUS RELIGIONS, DEATH, THE AFERLIFE, THE OCCULT,ETC.
RAISED CHRISTIAN, I NOW FAVOR THE EASTERN RELIGIONS, ESPECIALLY HINDUISM. AFTER READING TEXTS ON THE VEDANTA, UPANISHADS, ETC., I WAS LOOKING TO FIND AN AUTHOR WHO WOULD CONCEPTULALIZE THESE BELIEFS IN A SIMPLE WAY. I CAME ACROSS "HOW THE UNIVERSE WAS CREATED AND OUR PURPOSE IN IT" AND STEPHEN KNAPP. I FOUND CHAPTERS 17, 18 AND APPENDIX 3, PARTICULARILY ENLIGHTENING AND THEY SUMMARIZED A LOT OF IDEAS I HAD BEEN READING ABOUT IN MORE DETAILED PUBLICATIONS.
HIS WEB SITE "STEPHEN-KNAPP.COM" ALSO HAS NUMEROUS ARTICLES THAT CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE OR FREELY DOWNLOADED. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH.

Congratulations to the author.......2002-08-29

My congratulations to the author for a well thought out and meticulously researched book. Stephen does what he says he will do, which is to present the Vedic version and all its details of how the world was created. I have read a little about the Vedic description of the universal creation in the Rig Veda and Upanishads. Though it has always intrigued me, it is not a topic that is easy to understand. The author has done a commendable job in putting it all together in a format that's much easier to grasp and follow. This Eastern tradition always had much more information about the creation process than any other culture or spiritual tradition, and is worth looking at. So I especially appreciate the many dozens of quotes or references from the ancient Vedic books and Puranas that the author uses to illustrate the lofty concepts that they contain. Anyone interested in Eastern thought or alternative spiritual views will appreciate this book and the endeavor that was put into it.

Absolute rubbish.......2002-08-01

I picked up this book hoping for some insight and was thoroughly disappointed.
The author displays a profound ignorance of modern cosmology and his
"arguments" are completely vacuous.
Many of the "unsolved problems" in science such as "how could galaxies have
formed" have already been adequately answered without any help from the Vedas
or any other religious text.
I have considerable reverence for Hindu philosophy, but erecting a caricature of modern science and claiming that the Vedas address "unsolved problems" only exposes
this ancient and rich philosophy to ridicule while insulting science at the same time.

Summary of philosophy that explains the creation of universe.......2002-03-13

The purpose of this book and many of his other books written by Stephen Knapp is to identify our constitutional position as a pure spiritual soul that is superior to material nature. Recognizing our eternal place and working towards to get back there is the esssence and purpose why this universe is created to discipline the rebellious souls. Stephen brings this point forth with clarity out of innumerable references from many scriptures. With his practical experience in practicing bhakti yoga over years helps giving useful practical hints for the souls that are interested in putting this material into use. Like his other works, the content of this book can be best appreciated only when one has open mind and thinks beyond the perception of material senses.

Stephen Knapp reveals conditions in the spiritual world.......2001-02-24

In How The Universe Was Created And Our Purpose In It: The Eastern Answers To The Mysteries Of Life, Stephen Knapp reveals conditions in the spiritual world before the material manifestation; how the Supreme Being exists before and after the material creation; the ultimate foundation and cause of the universe being the compassion of the Supreme Being; how the agitation of the modes of nature cause the appearance of time; detailed descriptions of the dawn of creation and how the material energy developed and caused the formation of the cosmos; the Vedic description of the evolutionary development of the various forms of life; manifestation and purpose of the Vedic literature; profound insights into the primal questions of life; the primary source of material and spiritual elements; the many incarnations and expansions of the Supreme Being in the material creation; and how everything reflects an expansion of the Absolute. How The Universe Was Created And Our Purpose In It is profoundly rewarding reading for students of metaphysics and the Eastern philosophies.

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