Book Description
Within the walls of Echo Terrace, the world ...
A beautifully resonant novel with a dazzling array of characters whose life stories are woven together into a breathtaking braid of love and memory.
Farro Fescu is the proud and observant concierge of Echo Terrace, a condominium in New York City. Passing through his lobby at all hours of the night and day is an exotic cross-section of the world's population: an Egyptian-born plastic surgeon who lives on the fifth floor and specializes in gender reassignment; a fighter pilot, on the eighth floor, who flew for Nazi Germany during World War II; an Iraqi spice merchant and the world-famous crazy-patch quilter with whom he's having an affair; the adulterer's son, dreaming of becoming an undertaker; and the widow whose apartment is a jungle Eden filled with a menagerie of specimens -- finches, canaries, a defanged cobra, a monkey named Joe -- that had been the subject of her dead husband's research.
Farro Fescu knows them all, knows all their secrets. He knows what happened to Yesenia Rivera, the nineteen-year-old staff housekeeper from Queens, when she took a fateful ride one evening on the Staten Island Ferry. He alone knows the truth behind the mysterious mishap that befell the fashion designer Ira Klempp, a resident of the twelfth floor. And he knows -- and would like to know much more -- about the alluring Mar#237;a Gracia Mo#241;o, sometime lover of Harry Falcon, the brilliant captain of industry who lives in the penthouse and is dying of cancer.
He is keenly attuned to the building and the people in it, yet he does not know what is in his own heart -- why, after a long, hard life, he is still alive, and still alone. Nor does he know what he will be capable of in the face of sudden, overwhelming tragedy.
As the narrative eye of Between Two Rivers floats from one apartment to another, revealing the characters' private histories and tracing the dramatic intersections of their daily lives, a lush tapestry of experience emerges. The story, in beautifully textured prose, is laced with wit and humor, subtle ironies and haunting echoes, and everywhere a profound sense of the resilience of the human spirit.
Customer Reviews:
So deserving of a wider audience.......2007-03-27
I was captivated by Between two Rivers when it was first published three years ago, and have since loaned my copy to at least six friends, each of whom has thanked me for the recommendation and wondered along with me - why has this outstanding work not been more widely read? Rinaldi has given life to an unforgettable, multidimensional, disparate cast of characters, each with an absorbing backstory, all of whom move inexorably toward their personal confrontation with the horror of 9/11. We know this is coming, and because we are made to care so very deeply for these people, we hold our breath during the final fifty pages, asking ourselves - with the hindsight of those horrific images - where is he, what does she know, what is he feeling, how will she get on with life? Since the publishing of BTR, several other authors have incorporated themes of 9/11 in their works, most notably Claire Messud in The Emperor's Children and Ian McEwan in Saturday. But none have done so as masterfully as Nick Rinaldi.
A great book........2007-02-07
Between Two Rivers has been heralded as one of the best '9-11 novels' written. Upon finishing it I think you'll agree that it deserves every ounce of critical praise it has received. In the end, however, it is so much more than a '9-11' novel, and such a label sells it short -- way short. In a more fair world would be a best seller, but in this one it will have to settle for being a very intelligent work of fiction clearly written for intelligent (and discerning) readers to enjoy. The good news is that while striving for something higher than most new novels published today, it never becomes too self-conscious for its own good.
Incorporating the tragedy in both subtle and eventually very concrete ways, it is incredibly powerful. This will sound cliché, but trust me, it has everything: deeply drawn characters, plot, and a sense of where we are as a culture and how these distinct people fit it into it. Read it, you will not be disappointed.
What a storyteller!.......2007-01-15
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I have never lived in NYC, but this book made me feel like I did. Poignant, gripping, imaginative, empathetic...pure magic!
A Rare and Emotional Experience for This New Yorker.......2005-07-11
I am in awe of this novel.
I live in New York City and let me say that this portrait of a city's people is one of the best, ever. I wanted to read "Between Two Rivers" because it is the story of lives that entertwine in a Manhattan apartment building, a world I know very well. Each portrait of a character is propelled by involving storytelling that also has a rare, ruminative quality that are the mark of a major writer.
As Part One neatly ended exactly halfway through the book I did wonder if the stories were going to continue to unspool, beautifully told but isolated, without a real connecting thread that would carry me through to the end, an overall scheme would be a must. I decided that both the love affair burgeoning between two young characters and the pregnancy of an unforunate member of the cleaning staff were pointing to a satisfyingly involving second half. I think this was the same point that another reviewer or two put "Between Two Rivers" down for good. And miss the magic that is the second half of the book.
I do not want to read a novel that deals directly with 9/11. Let it be a contributing undercurrent to any portrayal of modern New York City,of course, but I lived through it and it's still too painful. I thought it was brilliant that Rinaldi used a retelling of the first Trade Center bombing in 1993 to create an exciting story as a distancing mirror to today; the Echo Terrace apartment building in Battery Park City sits so close to the site.
But "Between Two Rivers" does turn into an unflinching and brutal story of the morning of 9/11, and it's too late for the more sensitive reader to turn back. I hurtled in agony through those last pages as my fellow New Yorkers hurtled down stairwells and sprinted uptown.
Nicholas Rinaldi has faced the horror of that day with audacity and outrageous confidence, but he has also written that book I went into "Between Two Rivers" looking to find. Of doormen and drug couriers, bars on Third Avenue and late night trips up the East River on the F.D.R, of musicians and plastic surgeons and Latino blue-collars living on the Queens elevated subway. Each of us is a short story and at the same time a piece of an unfathomable quilt.So much of this city is in "Between Two Rivers".
It is a singular experience to read. Quite extraordinary, beautiful and unrelenting, metaphysical and yet utterly specific, philosophical and with page-turning plots. Again, I'm in awe of this book.
A surprise for me.......2004-12-10
Not knowing anything about this book, I bought it on a whim. Partly because of the cover, partly because the bookseller had turned it out on the shelf. Partly because I had watched up close the terrible events of that terrible day. But I was not disappointed by this taut and at times poetic tale of the condo dwellers, each with their peculiar fates. The novel is not about 9/11, and it is not mawkish or sentimental. Nor is there anything exploitive about the treatment of the World Trade Center tragedy. Instead, I found it very life affirming. The characters were vivid and powerful and easily formed themselves in my imagination. The writing is elegant and simple, and reading the book took no effort at all. I wondered where Rinaldi had come up with the names of some (all?) of the characters, which sounded improbable to me and a little distracting. But that's just me. All in all, I would highly recommend this as a rewarding read.
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The Land Between Two Rivers: A Novel of Ancient Babylon
Jo Ford
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0595389805 |
Book Description
When the young girl, Nitocris, leaves her village to live in the Babylon harem of King Nebuchadnezzar, she enters a Palace life filled with concubines and courtiers, princes vying for the throne, and scribes serving warring gods.
Although a favorite of the King, Nitocris finds harem life confining. By law, she is to become a queen, but a shocking event changes that. When she proposes the building of a garden mountain, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the King approves the project.
The challenges of building a mountain in the desert and watering its grandiose gardens bring the temptations of forbidden love to three couples who test the boundaries set by tradition, the king and religion.
Can Nitocris, property of the King, resist her attraction to the Jewish exile Avnah? Will the passion of the scribes Kaylah and Samuel transcend the gods' prohibitions? The oracular priestess and the royal Overseer try to maneuver skillfully through the perils of Palace treachery as the improbable gardens begin to rise above the converging Tigris and Euphrates rivers. All discover the high cost of crossing cultures, realizing ambitions and consummating love.
Download Description
When the young girl, Nitocris, leaves her village to live in the Babylon harem of King Nebuchadnezzar, she enters a Palace life filled with concubines and courtiers, princes vying for the throne, and scribes serving warring gods.
Although a favorite of the King, Nitocris finds harem life confining. By law, she is to become a queen, but a shocking event changes that. When she proposes the building of a garden mountain, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the King approves the project.
The challenges of building a mountain in the desert and watering its grandiose gardens bring the temptations of forbidden love to three couples who test the boundaries set by tradition, the king and religion.
Can Nitocris, property of the King, resist her attraction to the Jewish exile Avnah? Will the passion of the scribes Kaylah and Samuel transcend the gods' prohibitions? The oracular priestess and the royal Overseer try to maneuver skillfully through the perils of Palace treachery as the improbable gardens begin to rise above the converging Tigris and Euphrates rivers. All discover the high cost of crossing cultures, realizing ambitions and consummating love.
Book Description
Children of the Seasons rule the city-state of Ohndarien, a bastion of freedom and justice in a brutal world. But their brightest star, Brophy, the Heir of Autumn, has been falsely accused of murder, and the utopia falls to treachery and deceit. Exiled to an enemy kingdom, Brophy's only hope for survival lies in the deadly gladiatorial game of Nine Squares—and in the uncertain favors of a beautiful queen. And Ohndarien's struggle for peace and liberty falls under deeper shadow when evil powers, lost for centuries, wake in the wilderness, and an ancient terror walks the world again.
Download Description
"
A young man forced into a fight for survival . . .
A concubine sorceress seduced into the ultimate test of will . . .
An enigmatic spy in love with a forbidden queen . . .
And a reawakened evil that could remake the world.
Introducing a major new talent, this riveting fantasy debut brings alive a richly imagined tale of brutal combat, sexual intrigue, and sinister magic in a world where one must always struggle to survive.
A bastion of freedom and justice in a brutal world, the city-state of Ohndarien is ruled by the Children of the Seasons, four brave men and women tested before the awesome Heartstone and sworn to place the needs of others before their own.
When Brophy, the Heir of Autumn, is falsely accused of murder, the city-state falls to treachery and deceit. Exiled to an enemy kingdom, Brophy's only chance for survival lies in the deadly gladiatorial game of Nine Squares and the uncertain favors of its beautiful queen.
Meanwhile, enslaved by the brutal perfidy of her master, the young courtesan Shara must face her deepest fears and darkest desires if she is to free herself from the web of foul sorcery that ensnares her magic and her very soul. But as Ohndarien fights for justice, evil powers, lost for centuries, wake in the wilderness, and an ancient terror walks the world again.
Lyrical, powerful, and compelling, Heir of Autumn heralds the arrival of a brillant new voice in fantasy.
"
Customer Reviews:
lovely epic.......2007-09-16
The story of a young boy turned man waaaay too soon. Brophy is the epitome of the good, trusting, responsible kid. At fifteen his two best friends are a twenty year old girl who is part of a sex cult and an eighteen year old boy who is known for his cruelty and lies. Yet, Brophy stands by them, loves them, forgives them even when one accuses him for their own horrible crimes. When he is cast out of the home and city he loves, nearly dies, and is thrown into another situation that could mean him his life, Brophy tries to take the good, honest road and again is scorned and nearly looses his life. Yet, the reader cannot help but cheer for him. I called to him to not ever give up. To never change. Even though we ourselves live in a jaded world with beattened down heros, I wanted to live in Brothy's world and believe in him.
A creative and well thought out debut.......2006-11-01
The debut book the heir of autumn is a great book that has many creative aspects. The book follows a young boy named Brophy and his adventure to save Ondarion. Along the way Brophy meets many awesome characters that really bring the story around. Most of the story takes place in a distant land that is clashing with his home city. Here brophy is forced to play a game called Nine Squares. This game is one of the most creative and well thought out games that I have ever read about. I book is great and a fun read, I was captivated by it all of the way through and plan on reading the next two once they come out.
Flawed but compelling debut.......2006-07-12
I started Heir of Autumn with skepticism because (1) it's a first novel (2) by two guys who've been friends since high school (3) that begins with a nubile young woman fondling herself as part of her sorcerous training. A few times during the first few chapters, I considered returning it to the library and writing it off as another botched heroic fantasy epic.
Fortunately, I read on.
The bulk of the story occurs in the fabled city-state of Ohndarien, the "jewel of the known world," founded as the dream of four families and ruled by their descendents, The Children of the Seasons, who comprise an eight-member council (one man and woman representing each season/house). The story revolves around the titular character, Brophy, and the struggle by him and his allies against political intrigue within Ohndarien; the threat of invasion by the kingdom from which the city-state succeeded; and the curse of a fallen city of sorcerers manifested in the form of a dreaming child. (In this and other ways, the tale is reminiscent of George Martin's A Game of Thrones: a civil war erupts against the backdrop of a supernatural threat (the Others in Martin's saga).)
To reveal more of plot would be both difficult and spoiling, though this raises one of the main flaws in the novel. Rarely is an epic fantasy novel too short, but Heir is. The story moves at breakneck speed--few paragraphs are longer than three sentences--and the development of characters and emotional resonance falters as a result. (In the opening chapters, the plot also seems to drive the characters, instead of vice versa.) In 465 pages of lean paragraphs are the introduction of the main characters and a tour of Ohndarien; rape; an ambassador's visit; a sorcerous graduation; a smorgasbord of sex (warranting an NC-17 rating); false accusations; exile; gladiatorial training and games; abundant plots and counter-plots; secret passages for numerous escapes; cave diving; post-hypnotic commands; magical swords; siege; war; gallons of blood; and true heroism. For many readers, the pace may be a good thing, but those who like to savor deep, rich draughts of fantasy (like the works of Patricia McKillip and Guy Gavriel Kay) may find Heir too airy.
That said, the authors deserve special commendation for such a rewarding culmination to the epic's first book. Heir's strength is its plot, as the authors sometimes show their inexperience through info-dumps (including at least one instance of the infamous "As we both know ..." device in a conversation between two characters on p. 29), weakness in handling points of view (including the relegation of some important scenes and events off-stage), and uneven dialogue (including a fondness for unnecessary dialogue tags--"`Gods!"' [he] cursed). In addition to the pacing, dialogue is Heir's largest flaw: sometimes the characters sound like the otherworldly heroes they aspire to be; sometimes they sound like test-readers for a teenage TV melodrama. Unless the authors weave a similarly strong plot into the sequel--something that would be remarkable--these flaws will have to be mended to produce a comparable effort.
I recommend Martin's A Game of Thrones and Greg Keyes's The Briar King above Heir, which lacks the resonance and craftsmanship of the former and the intricate world-building of the latter. Still, Heir is a worthwhile read for mature fans of heroic fantasy and, for those with the pocket change, is worth considering as a new purchase. A good debut. Four stars.
Comment on dialogue and mood.......2006-07-10
This is the first that I have posted any kind of comment on any book from Amazon, so I am sensitive to the fact that this is also a first novel as well. I suppose I am speaking up because I actually find some very good elements in this book in terms of structure, pace and device, and now and then an exceptionally good moment in language -or- in image, but not quite both together yet.
There are too many instances, in this novel, when the dialogue lurches across the line from polished and in character, to floundering juvenile, out of character, prattle. I don't know how it happens, and it really does not matter, but I do hope the authors can find a reader to help them get that apparently habitual glitch under control in time for the next phase of the story.
That shortfall shattered the mood and interrupted the pacing sufficiently for me as an objective reader so that I wanted to give this book a 2 star rating in honor of the aggravation caused by the dissonance, but my heart could not do what my head said should be done. I enjoyed the overall premise of the story and its execution too much.
masterful fantasy writing!.......2006-05-29
Carwyn and Fahnstock create a beautiful city out of images and fantasy. I spent a day with this book and got lost in the city and in this epic tale. The nine square game .. it is like nothing you've ever played. There is good to be exalted and evil to be vanquished!
This is the first of a trilogy and we eagerly await more.
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Heirs of Autumn
Manufacturer: Kim Publishing Corp.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0897722558 |
Product Description
Long before Tara had ever met Grant Monroe, she'd tried to imagine him, wondering if the best-selling author was as vibrant and exciting as his novels. And then, they were face to face, and Grant offered her a job as his personal assistant. Tara didn't know what to say..was this the chance of a lifetime? Or would her encounter with this worldly man only end in sorrow?
Product Description
Long vefore Tara had even met Grant Monroe she'd tried to imagine him wondering if the best-selling author was as vibrant and exciting as his novels. And then, they were face to face, and Grant offered her a job as his personal assistant. Tara didn't know what to say...was this the chance of a lifetime? Or would her encounter with this worldy man only end in sorrow.
Book Description
Jewish science fiction and fantasy? Yes! The distinguished list of contributors includes: Bernard Malamud, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, Harlan Ellison, Pamela Sargent, Avram Davidson, Geo. Alec Effinger, Horace L. Gold, Robert Sheckley, William Tenn, and Carol Carr.
William Tenn's futuristic story "On Venus, Have We Got A Rabbi" takes on the volatile issue of "Who is a Jew?"--a question certainly as timely in 1998 as he imagines it will be in 2533. Asimov's "Unto the Fourth Generation" takes on the issue of Jews as endangered species in America, a theme that is even more apparent today than it was in 1974. Davidson's "The Golem" humorously plants the Frankenstein monster of Jewish folklore right in the middle-class bungalow culture of contemporary Hollywood, California.
Wandering Stars reminds us that we are still studying, still suffering, still making jokes and myth, and still trying to figure out what it means to be Jewish. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy this clever book. We laughed out loud reading it.
Customer Reviews:
Great to see this classic collection back in print!.......2004-01-22
This book, first published in 1974, was billed as "the first time in a science fiction collection that the Jew -- and the richness of his themes and particular points of view -- will appear without a mask." Mask? What mask? The mask of non-Jewish pennames, for one thing. Did you know that "Clyde Crane Campbell" is really Horace L. Gold? Or that William Tenn is Phillip Klass? Heck, even "Jack Dann" doesn't sound very Jewish. As Isaac Asimov points out in his intro to this book, many Jewish F&SF writers of the pulp era used gentile-sounding pennames to get published, because antisemitism kept people with names like "Chaim Ishkowitz" out of print. Asimov was the first Jewish SF writer to use his own ethnic-sounding name because, as he explains in the introduction, "I didn't know any better." (Asimov's intro, entitled "Why Me?", is a real gem -- be sure to read it!)
Jews also come out of the closet in the stories themselves. In most F&SF of the time (and even today) you rarely see an openly Jewish character or theme. Here in "Wandering Stars," we meet futuristic rabbis, Hasidim, dybbuks, golems and more. Some of the stories are humorous, others are spine-chilling. "Gather Blue Roses" falls into the second category: Imagine a highly-developed empath trapped in a Nazi concentration camp... Then there's "Trouble with Water," which is more of a fantasy, as is the I.B. Singer classic, "Yachid and Yachidah." Two of the stories also deal with the theme of gilgul (reincarnation): "The Jewbird" by Bernard Malamud, and "I'm Looking for Kadak" by Harlan Ellison.
One thing which struck me about this collection is how many of the stories assume that Jews will still be persecuted in the distant future. William Tenn's "On Venus have we got a Rabbi" actually uses persecution as the definition of "Jewishness" on a planet of non-humanoids. In "Paradise Last," Jews who score well on standardized achievement tests are "rewarded" with a planet of their own -- and thereby removed from mainstream society. These are good stories, but I would like to think that there could be a better future-vision for my people. Still, this anthology was ground-breaking in its time, and remains a good read today.
An Easy Read, Repeatedly.......2002-01-31
The stories here address Jewish themes, but they also address more universally human themes. The best science fiction is as much about the characters and their motives as about technology. The truly sublime stuff gives us an insight into how technology affects the character's motives.
The stories in this book range from the merely great to the truly sublime. Most are humorous and these tend to be the most memorable. This book has quickly become an old friend I pick up when I don't have the energy to read a new book.
Memorable!.......2001-12-14
I read this book in its first release over twenty years ago. I lent my book out to many of my friends and eventually lost track of it. I just had to have another copy so I bought it once again. "Unto the Fourth Generation" was my introduction to Isaac Asimov and led to my love of his writing over the years. "Look, You Think You've Got Troubles" by Carol Carr is a humorous look at futuristic bigotry ... I think of it as a jewish Archie Bunker in space. All of these short stories are excellent and I look forward to re-reading each and every one of them..
Laughter between the covers.......2001-01-11
Have you ever found a book that you simply fall in love with for no reason at all? I will confess, WANDERING STARS has enchanted me.
STARS is a book that transcends its target market. It is more than science fiction, more than Jewish. Its themes are universal, its stories are written for those of us who are solidly human.
That such a diverse group of writers could contribute to such a well-rounded anthology is not this book's biggest surprise. The laughter you hear rippling over each page takes that honor.
Delightful, escapist, Jewish-culture fastasies.......1998-07-09
This 25th anniversary edition is very welcome. My 1974 paperback, which I have cherished and handled with care, deserves to be retired. My husband and I never tire of rereading some of the stories. His favorite is Malamud's "The Jewbird" and mine is Singer's "Jachid and Jechidah".
Book Description
This stellar collection of Jewish science fiction and fantasy carries on in the tradition of its companion volume--the enduring classic Wandering Stars--breaking new ground with every story.
Trouble with mothers; invading aliens and demons; the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah... all these phenomena and more are tackled in these tales from a creative group of extraordinary writers. We go to the edges of the universe, finding humor, pain and humanity in the unlikeliest of places and situations. Filled with wit, vigor, and sharp insight, this is a fantastic feast for the imagination that will intrigue and delight everyone who picks it up, Jew and non-Jew alike.
Customer Reviews:
More fantasy stories than SF, but still entertaining.......2004-01-25
I must admit that I didn't enjoy this anthology as much as its 1974 predecessor, "Wandering Stars." Maybe that's because I read "Wandering Stars" way back in the 70s, when I was like a thirsty man in the desert, delighted to find anything F&SF with a Jewish theme. "More Wandering Stars" I just read for the first time this weekend, (somehow I missed it in 1981), and my expectations are now higher. Hence the four star rating -- it's a good read, but not as good as its predecessor.
There is very little science fiction here -- most of the pieces are more like fantasy, and some would be difficult to distinguish from ordinary Jewish folklore. I.B. Singer's "The Last Demon" is one of these, as is "The Celestial Orchestra" by Howard Schwartz, which is really a re-telling of a classic tale by the 18th-century Hasidic Rebbe, Nachman of Breslov.
Don't get me wrong -- there is some good speculative fiction included. I especially liked "Phyllis Gotlieb's "Tauf Aleph" (named after the last and first letters of the Hebrew alphabet), about a robot programmed with the entire corpus of Jewish knowledge and sent to the planet of the last Jew in the universe. (That one is definitely SF). In "Dress Rehearsal" by Harvey Jacobs, a group of aliens are learning English from a Jewish actor -- with humorous results, but you need to know some Yiddish to get the jokes. The same is true of Isaac Asimov's intro, where he slips into the Yinglish patois of his Jewish upbringing, to give us a tongue-in-cheek SF analysis of the Bible.
On the more serious side, there's "Warm Dark Places" by Horace L. Gold, which is a sort of sequel to his "Trouble With Water" in the previous "Stars" anthology. But, whereas "Trouble" is rather humorous, "Dark Places" is a creepy little tale. Then there's "Camps" by Jack ("Yankele") Dann, where a hospital patient keeps having nightmares about life in a concentration camp -- a place where he has never been, in this life at least... (Readers of my own books on cases of reincarnation from the Holocaust should note that Dann's story was published in 1979, only three years before my first case in 1981. I find that rather eerie.)
Quite a few of these stories require a modicum (or more) of knowledge about Jewish history and culture in order to understand the themes or, in some cases, the satire. "Leviticus: in the Ark" is one such, where a man is chosen each year to be locked in the Ark at the front of the synagogue where the Torah scrolls are kept. No, folks, there is NO such a ritual in Judaism, and never has been. The tale is an allegory for loss of faith. Ditto for "The Pagan Rabbi." In the case of "Forcing the End" by Hugh Nissenson, it helps to know the story of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai -- which Jack Dann has thoughtfully provided in his intro to the tale.
As for the rest of the stories, most of them didn't do it for me. Harlan Ellison's "Mom" was a hackneyed disappointment, because the "Jewish Mother" stereotype is so outdated and overworked. Then again, it was written in 1976. I find myself wondering what kind of stories today's Jewish SF writers might write. Maybe someday we'll see a third anthology, "Yet More Wandering Stars?"
Disappointing.......2000-12-08
After reading and enjoying Wandering Stars in its original published version many years ago, I was really looking forward to reading this sequel. However, I found that it did not live up to the promise of its predecessor.
Most of the stories were fantasy, rather than science fiction, and I'm not particularly fond of that genre. It was a definite letdown.
A fun sci-fi story collection.......2000-03-30
I enjoy science fiction short stories and I enjoy stories with a Jewish view, so this seemed like a perfect collection for me. It was. I found it interesting to see what these different writers, from Woody Allen to Isac Bashevis Singer and Harlan Ellison, came up with for a Jewish sci-fi story. As with any story collection some are better than others. Some basic knowledge of Judaism and Jewish history helps to understand some of the stories.
Average customer rating:
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More wandering stars: An anthology of Jewish fantasy and science fiction
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
United States
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ASIN: 0385170726 |
Product Description
Mass Market Paperback.
Customer Reviews:
a treasure.......2006-03-22
Great for presentations and sermons to use all of the sacred writtings the world has to offer in a logical manner.
Incredible / Great / Wonderful.......2006-03-09
So much religious energy is spent emphasizing the differences between schools of thought instead of focusing on the foundation which is the same. This book allows one to see what he/she has in common with others whose religious tradition may be different from their own.
Absolutely Outstanding.......2004-07-20
I have looked for and read many similar books to this, and I must say that this is the best of the best. These editors really went all out to put together a quality product. World Scripture contains a vast variety of selections from various religious scriptures and sources, and groups them together by category, with background information before each category. I believe the best hing about the book is the tremendous variety of source subjects. Almost everything is in here, including Judaism, Chritianity, Islam, Shinto, Sikhism, Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, African Religions, Native American Religions and more; plus some schools of thought that are bordlerine religions, such as Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, etc. If you are into learning about religions, this book is an absolute MUST. And for such a lengthy book, it sells at a very reasonable price.
I also recommend The World's Wisdom, Daily Inspiration for the Purpose Driven Life (Bible Quotes), Bounty of Allah (Qu'ran quotes and various Islamic / Sufi quotes), and Pearls of Jaina Wisdom (teachings / aphorisms from the scriptures of Jainism). ALso be sure to check out my book A Collection of Wisdom, which contains wisdom from the world's religions and many other sources.
Buy this book!!.......2001-01-13
This is a theology students dream. It must have taken one many years of serious study and labor to compile scripture references in this way. Passages from the holy books of every major and most minor religions are represented here and grouped side by side by topic for quick comparison. On almost every subject the harmony of thought is staggering! It makes one wonder why religious leaders ever quarrel with one another. It's a great book for study and even better to browse. I started reading it in my doctor's waiting room and got hooked. I found myself actualy looking forward to going to the doctor! If you'd like to sample divine wisdom from many cultures and ages. Buy this book and you'll refer to and enjoy it for a lifetime!
Fascinating.......2000-10-20
I received this book as a graduation present from my Unitarian Universalist church and I immediately starting flipping through it. The length is intimidating, but it's all quotes or short text, so there is no pressure to read it all. The beauty of the book is that it contains texts from so many religions that cover every area of life in such philosophical detail. It has answers, but leaves you with questions that you must answer yourself. I found this book especially useful for a Theory of Knowledge class I had last year. This book was constantly at hand and continually provided me with support for my arguments. This book is fascinating and thorough, and I encourage everyone to buy it regardless of your religious background.
Book Description
Presenting scripture readings in the context of their usage within the major religious traditions themselves and taking account of recent scholarship on the role of scriptures in religion, this anthology allows students to encounter world religions in a direct and meaningful way. ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD SCRIPTURES is a collection of the most notable and instructive scriptures of the major living religions of the world: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Also included are the most important scriptures of the new religious movements: Baha'i, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Christian Science Church, the Unification Church, and the Church of Scientology. Supported by introductions to the readings by the editor, this anthology provides the most comprehensive and pedagogically sound access to the sacred literature of the world available in a single volume.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of substance, little context.......2000-09-29
This book presents basic religious texts of a variety of religions, eastern and western, with a more or less objective presentation. However, I found the introductory materials for each religion to be overly academic at times, sometimes raising as many questions as it answered. If you're looking for an entry-level survey of what the world's religions believe -- an interpretation of the doctrines these scriptures lay out -- this may not be the best resource available.
I suspect this would make a fine textbook for a college-level survey of world religions, though I was familiar with several of them by the time I found this book. The layperson, looking for an introduction to what Buddhists, Muslims, or the Shinto actually believe, may be left scratching his or her head.
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