Horn of Africa: A Novel

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A memorable tale of war

Best fiction book I've read this year

Horn Of Africa

Characters do not come to life

Well written wanderings into the Heart of Darkness....

Horn of Africa: A Novel
Philip Caputo
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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DelCorso's Gallery

Indian Country

Acts of Faith

A Rumor of War

Means Of Escape: A War Correspondent's Memoir of Life and Death in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Vietnam

ASIN: 0375725113
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Book Description

When Vietnam veteran and foreign correspondent Charlie Gage is recruited by the shadowy Thomas Colfax to assist with something called Operation Atropos, he has no idea he is about to be enlisted for guerilla warfare in northeast Africa. Once he realizes he’s a mercenary, however, he is not at all concerned. Ever since his young secretary was killed by a grenade at their bureau office in Beirut a couple of years before, he has lost all volition. Which is why he so readily capitulates not only to Colfax, but also, and more dangerously so, to every command of Jeremy Nordstrand, the mystical megalomaniac determined to achieve greatness on their seemingly suicidal mission. Set in the forsaken yet exotic deserts of Ethiopia, Horn of Africa is a vividly detailed and masterfully plotted novel chronicling a broken man’s struggle for salvation and inner freedom in the midst of a broken nation’s fight for stability and peace.

Customer Reviews:

A memorable tale of war.......2007-06-28

Philip Caputo's Horn of Africa is probably not his best novel, but is a pleasurably brisk read. Though it is set in the Cold War of the late 70s, current events in the Horn of Africa ensure that it remains quite relevant.

Like other reviewers here, I found the characters a bit too stark. Nordstrand, the Nietzschean superman was drawn a little too simply for my tastes. Moody was a bit too . . . well, moody - he clearly stood at the opposite end of the spectrum; his various hangups make him ultimately a farcical character worthy of Noel Coward. Nonetheless, the clash between these two archetypes is rendered memorably, and Caputo gives careful thought to both their actions and dialogue.

At heart, this is a novel about war and the things that outsiders bring to other peoples wars and Horn of Africa ultimately feels true, even as it gives us these stark, uncomplicated characters. It stands up well as a cautionary tale about regarding war as any kind of opportunity for self-definition, as anything other than a wrecker of human beings.

Best fiction book I've read this year.......2007-03-13

The character of Jeremy Nordstrand reminded me of the Nevada State Highway Patrolman in Stephen King's book Desperation. Huge and eerily powerful in more than just physique.

Go up and click on "See all Editorial Reviews" , page down and read "Excerpt.".

This was my first Caputo. I've since read 'The Voyage', 'A Rumor of War'. Both terrific. I'm currently reading 'Means Of Escape'. And am thinking of getting 'DelCorso's Gallery' next.

The book I read just prior to this and which I HIGHLY recommend (for a taste of north Africa) is Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King. It'll take your breath away.

Horn Of Africa.......2007-01-10

Anothe great one from Caputo, it will keep you turning pages deep into the night!

Characters do not come to life.......2005-06-12

I only read to p.122, but since there are no negative reviews ...I just did not think Caputo was successful in bringing his characters to life, and thus realizing the potential of his concept. I stopped reading soon after encountering Nordstrom, a self consciously aspiring Nietzschean "superman". Yes, I have read and enjoyed Conrad; and Graham Greene.

Well written wanderings into the Heart of Darkness...........2003-05-05

Caputo' Horn of Africa is a well-written novel in a style that emulates or aspires to Graham Greene or Joseph Conrad. I enjoyed the book, and admired the writer but the story never completely 'clicked' for me.
Horn of Africa is a psychological/military thrill that takes place in a fictional province of Ethiopia, Bejaya, that closely resembles Eritrea but is not really supposed to be anyplace. The story is told through a first person narrative of one of the characters, Charlie Gage. Gage is a burnt out journalist hanging around Cairo. He's recruited by a simultaneously creepy, pompous and shadowy CIA character to go along on a clandestine mission to Bejaya to assist local rebels against the Ethiopians. Gage is joined on his mission by an uptight, by the book Britain with local experience and a larger than life American, Jeremy Nordstrand, with a borderline psychotic sociopathic philosophy about life and their mission. Nordstrand is both philosopher (in a base way) and soldier, with obvious capabilities despite his slightly unbalanced philosophy. Soon enough, he becomes the group's real leader. Nordstrand first willingly descends into violence, testing both himself and his idea of society, and then slowly descends into madness.
Caputo has Gage set the tone of the novel in the first two pages: the reader knows that this is not a story with a happy ending, and that ugly things happen. This is both good an bad: I thought it simultaneously gave a great sense of foreboding throughout the novel, but when the dark events occur they were anti-climatic.
Also, Nordstrand wore his psychosis on his sleeve, as did the British character. I had a hard time believing that they would be put in a position of power on an important mission, rogue or not. The story was interesting but the base premise, in my mind, was a little hard to believe.
Anyway, I don't think you will be disappointed by Horn of Africa. Its extremely well written with deep characterizations, and an interesting story. Is it quite up to Conrad or Greene? Maybe on one of the formers' worst days... but its still a good novel and a worthwhile read.

Customer Reviews:

Now it seems like the sorceress seems to have her eyes on someone else.. .......2006-05-04

This time its Emilys turn to make some action and complete her destiny to healing avalon. The book gives you a major hint on how they will get to avalon and find it.

Emily bonds with an amazing creature Indi who I think is cute, makes more powerful magic than ever, saves the day, stops the sorceress from her doing, becomes level two, envoles jewel and most of all gets a crush with a prince!!lol.

I also would have to say the cover looks very catchy and catch my attention as I was walking in the store. It includes a encyclodpeda in the beggining for people who haven't read the series and as well as a map of Aldenmore. I wonder how the Dark Sorceress knows so much about Emily's powers??

What a shame to the series.......2006-03-15

I am an Emily fan and was excited for the new book. After I read it, it was too short, not detailed enough and made it seem like at the end this prince gets all the credit! He is OK and all but I'm a little upset that he is part of the gang now since Emily and him like each other. He didn't really do much mostly Emily and with the help of the other mages stopped the Sorceress from her evil plans.

Well it was a good book and I thought it was OK. It had alot of adventure thats for sure so it made it up and I couldn't put the book down! It was OK but the beggining may be a little boring but the ending makes it all up.

I can see why alot of people like this book!.......2006-02-11

Anybody who is a fan of Emily, like I am, you will definatly enjoy this book. Emily the healer becomes into a level two mage, bonds with a unicorn, well a power crystal! Experiences more magic than ever,saves the water creatures and one of the farimentals, not to mention a meets boyfriend (pratically everybody mentioned that on the reviews)! Most of all completes her destiny to have a better chance to heal avalon! I am also curious such as somebody wrote from one reveiw, how does the dark sorceress know soo much about Emily's other powerful magic? Ohh well I hope later in the series or sooner they'll mention that. The adventure is very exciting even though its short.

Was ok but a little short.........2006-01-15

I found the book was ok but not the greatest still it was good but could have been better and I dont think the author tried hard enough. Emily becomes a level two mage has pladin and saves the day the sea dragons and all the ocean creatures and discovers her new powers. The ending is great and full of suspense which bugs me the most because I cant wait till May for the new book! Well again it was a nice book but could have been longer and more detailed like the 2 and 3 books in the new series.

And Now, The Avalon Book We've All Been Waiting For!.......2006-01-02

This book is the fourth in the Avalon: Quest for Magic series. The author, Rachel Roberts, does a good job getting the reader reoriented to the Avalon environment again. There is even an encyclopedia type thing in the beginning of the book that lays out the characters and the quest for you. There is also a map of Aldenmor in the beginning of the book that has not been featured in any of the books so far. You could read this book and understand what is going on without having to read the others, though reading the previous books before reading this one would give some valuable background information.
Heart of Avalon puts the focus on Emily, who is distressed that she is only a level 1 mage without a bonded animal or a paladin, while her friends, Adriane and Kara, are level 2 mages and have both a bonded animal and a paladin. The story follows Emily as she tries to figure out how to heal the water dragons and all the water-dwelling animals from something that's making them sick, looks for another power crystal, and looks for the water fairimental who has disappeared. Emily and a rude prince get stuck on an island with a magical creature that eats Emily's gemstone. During the journey away from the island and towards the power crystal, Emily discovers her level 2 powers and some things about herself. The ending of the story is satisfying and the epilogue is intriguing.
All in all a good book. It isn't too predictable or terribly boring. It has a good ending, which makes up for its shortness.

Dion Fortune's Glastonbury: Avalon of the Heart

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MAGICAL

Dion Fortune's Glastonbury: Avalon of the Heart
Dion Fortune
Manufacturer: Red Wheel Weiser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

The Isle of Avalon Sacred Mysteries of Arthur and Glastonbury

ASIN: 0850307937

Customer Reviews:

MAGICAL.......2000-06-01

Celebrate ... this book is no longer out of print! After searching for it for many years, it has recently been reissued. Dion Fortune, a.k.a. Violet Mary Firth, wrote this classic work in the 1930s, yet her observations on Glastonbury still ring true today. GLASTONBURY: AVALON OF THE HEART eloquently brings together in one place all of the various mundane and esoteric lore that surrounds this quaint little hamlet in the middle of the English West Country. All of the mystery, intrigue and sacredness of this land are beautifully rendered in her tiny collection of essays. To read this book is to inspire a visit to that sacred land. To visit the ancient seat of Avalon is a life-changing experience. Those of you who are familiar with Dion Fortune know clearly of her association with esoteric secret societies, the sacred Qabalah, and psychic warfare. Fortunately, for those of you haven't the time or inclination to pursue those other nobel but complex disciplines, AVALON OF THE HEART has been kept simple and accessible. Read it. Then visit this truly magical land.

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Shadows of the Heart (Avalon Romance)
Carol Blake Gerrond
Manufacturer: Thomas Bouregy & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Shadows of the Heart is Carol's fifth book for AVALON. Everything They ever Wanted is also available.

Average customer rating:

A poignant testament to the magic, and power of Avalon

Avalon of the heart,
Dion Fortune
Manufacturer: S. Weiser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

A poignant testament to the magic, and power of Avalon.......1999-03-22

Dion Fortune manages to capture the ethereal feel of Avalon and transform it into beautiful prose, understood by anyone who has a living soul. After visiting Avalon, her words alone seem to fittingly describe that "holiest earth in England." Avalon of the Heart is a testament to both the unique history, and spiritual path of the isle of Avalon. But more than anything, it is a testament to the love Dion Fortune, and anyone else who has been there, feels for that holiest of places.

The Biggest Heart In Choctaw Hollow (Avalon Romance)

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*a sweet book*

The Biggest Heart In Choctaw Hollow (Avalon Romance)
Bernadette Pruitt
Manufacturer: Thomas Bouregy & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The Biggest Heart in Choctaw Hollow is Bernadette's fourth book for AVALON. Indian Summer, Bachelor on Pioneer Street, and A Christmas Wish are also available.

Customer Reviews:

*a sweet book*.......1999-11-24

* this book was so sweet. the characters were so life-like. i really enjoyed the story..it was filled with heart-warming scenes that will fill you tummy with a warm tingle =)..*

Blizzard of the Heart (An Avalon Romance)

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Blizzard of the Heart (An Avalon Romance)
Susan E. Kirby
Manufacturer: Thomas Bouregy & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Captain of Hearts- An Avalon Career Romance

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Captain of Hearts- An Avalon Career Romance
Jean Ann Moynahan
Manufacturer: Thomas Bouregy & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

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Change of Heart (Avalon Romances)
Dorothy P. O'Neill
Manufacturer: Thomas Bouregy & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Change of Heart - An Avalon Romance
Sandra D. Bricker
Manufacturer: Avalon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

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Christmas Stories for the Heart
Alice Gray
Manufacturer: Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P0H2T2

Customer Reviews:

Incredible!.......2004-04-08

I loved this book! I feel like these characters are my friends. I find myself rooting for them. An excellent read! Highly recommended!

Tale of politics, love, magic, and adventure.......2003-09-02

What I loved about this book was that the protagonists were very intelligent and resilient (but of course faced insurmountable odds). There was no cheesy evil god or some such like you'll see in some epic fantasy, and that is but one of many ways in which this world seems so believeable and real. Its detailed tapestry of a world in turmoil yet still beautiful is surpassed only in the emotions and depth of the characters.

Now that you're hooked on Eileanan..........2003-02-16

In this second book, Isabeau takes a bit of a back seat, recovering from her ordeal in delivering the talisman, and learning humility and obedience as a servant in the Righ's palace. There is a shift of interest to her twin sister, Iseult, whom Meghan discovered when she visited the Dragons. Iseult, raised by her faery kin on the icy Spine of the World, seems as different from Isabeau as night is from day. where Isabeau is laughing, impetuous, and headstrong, Iseult, raised by a tribe of fierce warriors in a dangerous, snowy land, is solemn and disciplined. Meghan convinces Iseult that she must leave her tribe and seek out her destiny among her mother's people. Meghan and Iseult meet up with the lost prionssa who has been hiding for years, since escaping from his brother's treacherous wife. He is a bitter young man, passionate in his desire for revenge against the Banrigh, Maya the Ensorcellor. Guided by Meghan, he and Iseult set off on the dangerous quest to unite the rebels, depose the Banrigh, and restore the Coven. To do this, they must rescue the Lodestar, an ancient magical scepter which has been locked away since the day the witches were betrayed, and which is dying from lack of contact with the royal family. The character of the prionssa is delightfully complex. Just because he's supposed to be some kind of hero to the people and to us doesn't mean they or we always like him, and it doesn't mean he always does everything right. Some people prefer cardboard cutout characters that are some kind of archetypal representation of an idea of a hero or a villan or a leader or an ingenue. And some people like characters who are made from their experiences, with a dash of nobility of character which makes them strive to overcome their experiences to be and do more. The latter should be pleased. When you finish The Pool of Two Moons, I know you won't be able to wait for The Cursed Towers (so maybe order them both together).

Great book!.......2002-04-15

This series is great, and this book is my favorite of all the others. I love the way the author suddenly switches scenes and we are left wondering what happened to the character, but then we forget about them as we become entrapped in the plot of what's going on with everyone else. Overall, this is my favorite book.

Great Follow-up.......2002-04-13

I was impressed that the Witches wasn't a one hit wonder. This second book was well planned if not a little on the slower reading side. The first book truly focuses on the relationship between Meghan and Isabeau, whereas this second book deals with the relationship of Meghan and Iseult, and Iseult and Lachlan. Again praise for the research of pagan traditions.

The Moon Pool (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)

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A coruscating novel
classic, influential sci-fi reissued
A MASTERFUL FIRST NOVEL
Merritt at his finest
Still a Classic

The Moon Pool (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)
A. Merritt
Manufacturer: Bison Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

Short Stories | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0803282680

Book Description

On the island of Ponape in the South Pacific, the cold light of a full moon washes over the crumbling ruins of an ancient, vanished civilization. Unleashed from the depths is the Dweller, a glittering, enigmatic force of monstrous terror and radiant beauty that stalks the South Pacific, claiming all in its path. An international expedition led by American Walter Goodwin races to save those who have fallen victim to the Dweller. The dark mystery behind the malevolent force is Muria, a forgotten, mythic world deep within the earth that is home to a legendary people intent on reclaiming what was theirs long ago. This commemorative edition of The Moon Pool features an introduction by Robert Silverberg, a review of the first edition, and a glossary of the Murian language.

Customer Reviews:

A coruscating novel.......2004-11-04

This is a fascinating novel. Merritt has a gift for setting. You actually feel like you are in a South Pacific ocean, or standing in front of the moon pool. This book grabs you and suck you into the setting. You have the feeling of gloom and wonder as you enter the Moon Pool for yourself.

However, Merritt's gift for setting is also the books main drawback. His prose gets wordy and adjective-heavy to the point of being absolutely unreadable. I kept rung back to Strunk and White: "Omit needless words," "Be clear," "Write with nouns and verbs, not with adjectives and adverbs. The adjective hasn't been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight place," and "Avoid the use of qualifiers."

I cant tell you how many times I read "coruscations," a word that refers to metallic sparkles and glitters. It is also the noun form of "Coruscant," of George Lucas fame.

It is an obscure word, but it blunts the prose's effectiveness and story-flow if you have to stop reading and get a dictionary to figure out what's going on.

Once again, Strunk and White:

"Avoid fancy words. Avoid the elaborate, the pretentious, the coy, and the cute. Do not be tempted by a twenty-dollar word when there is a ten-center handy, ready and able. Anglo-Saxon is a livelier tongue than Latin, so use Anglo Saxon words."

Amen!

*

Aside from being thoroughly unreadable, this novel fascinates me. The setting is supernal, and I felt something move in the dept of my soul as I read it. To be sure, it is pure pulp, but pulp is just a corruption of true myth. It seemed to be a return to the underwater cave of Grendel's mother in "Beowulf."

Pits strike fear in the core of our being. That is why Luca uses them so much in his films for the death of villain. This same archetype works in this novel. Once you get past the awkward prose, you find a very interesting story.

I hope someday they adapt this to film.

classic, influential sci-fi reissued.......2004-09-06

One of the most popular science-fiction writers in the early 1900s, Merritt had the reputation of the Lord of Fantasy. "The Moon Pool" evidences the "baroque complexities that Merritt introduced into his fairly standard plots through his use of elaborately contrived creatures, technologies, and settings," as the editor Levy remarks in his Introduction. The Dweller reawakened on the island of Ponape where an ancient civilization once existed by a Dr. David Throckmartin and his group of scientist explorers is a vampire seeking new souls to devour. Merritt's fantasy about the Manichean struggle between good and evil is colored by his interest in the mystic Madame Blavatsky. Looked on unfavorably by some leading critics of the time, Merritt never gained much notice outside of the field of science fiction. For later generations, his ornate style limited his appeal. But he holds considerable historical interest in this genre of popular literature for opening it up to diverse elements such as developments in the sciences of physics and biology, figures from folk literature, literary references of all types (e. g., Celtic literature), and philosophical and religious ideas and themes like Blavatsky's mysticism which were all a part of his eclectic erudition. One sees such effects not only in today's fantasy literature, but also the popular fantasy movies.

A MASTERFUL FIRST NOVEL.......2004-02-12

A. Merritt's masterful first novel, "The Moon Pool," originally appeared in the magazine "All-Story Weekly," as a short story entitled "The Moon Pool," in 1918. Its full-length sequel, "The Conquest of the Moon Pool," followed in that pub the following year. The first book publication, later in 1919, combined these two works into a unified whole, and the result is an astonishing piece of fantastic fiction. And it would seem that Orson Welles' radio rendition of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" on 10/30/38 was not the first piece of fantasy to dupe the public, either. Readers of "The Moon Pool" in 1918 were so convinced of the book's veracity that they wrote to "All-Story Weekly" wanting more information. I can easily understand their confusion, as this novel is told in a very realistic style, purportedly from notes that the famous botanist Dr. Walter Goodwin had submitted to the International Association of Science. Goodwin had been en route from Port Moresby, New Guinea to Melbourne when he encountered an old associate, Dr. Throckmartin, who told him a remarkable story. It seems that Throckmartin's entire scientific party had been abducted by a being of light, while they were exploring the (actual) Nan-Matal ruins off Panape, in the Caroline Islands. Throckmartin himself is abducted before Goodwin's eyes, leading to Goodwin's exploration of those same ruins. Throckmartin's tale is eerie and quite suspenseful; indeed, those first 30 pages of the book are so very intense that the reader will be amazed to realize that there's another 250 pages in this novel yet to go! En route to Panape to effect his investigation, Goodwin, through a series of somewhat forced coincidences, encounters a Norwegian captain whose family had been abducted by the strange light entity; a visionary, somewhat fey, Irish fighter pilot; and a duplicitous Russian (German in the original magazine version!) scientist, all of whom accompany him on his adventures. And this is just the introductory setup in what turns out to be a long, involving, at times hallucinatory, and all in all quite remarkable tale. Underground civilizations, invisibility cloaks, giant jellyfish, disintegrating beams, good and evil priestesses, battles involving thousands, frogmen, shell-shaped flying cars...Merritt's imagination seems to be bursting loose in this, his first work. Much has been said regarding the fact that Merritt, a newspaperman for the most part (for many years on "The American Weekly"), could switch so easily from dry journalese to the florid, purple prose that soon became his trademark. This book would not be what it is without his dense, adjective-heavy, hyperimaginative prose, with its wide range of reference and yearning lyricism. Just take this example, in which the author describes the flora of the underground world that Goodwin & Co. discover:
"...moss veils like banners of a marching host of Titans; pennons and bannerets of the sunset; gonfalons of the Jinn; webs of faery; oriflammes of elfland! Springing up through that polychromatic flood myriads of pedicles--slender and straight as spears, or soaring in spirals, or curving with undulations gracile as the white serpents of Tanit in ancient Carthaginian groves--and all surmounted by a fantasy of spore cases in shapes of minaret and turret, domes and spires and cones, caps of Phrygia and bishops' mitres, shapes grotesque and unnameable--shapes delicate and lovely! They hung high poised, nodding and swaying--like goblins hovering over Titania's court; cacophony of Cathay accenting the "Flower Maiden" music of "Parsifal"; bizarrerie of the angled, fantastic beings that people the Javan pantheon watching a bacchanal of houris in Mohammed's paradise!"
Despite the reader's desire to flip through the pages breathlessly to see what happens next, prose such as this almost demands a more leisurely pace. I found myself rereading many such passages, just reveling in Merritt's ability to conjure up dreamlike word pictures. But strangely enough, although he is extraordinarily good with these descriptions, sometimes Merritt overreaches himself, and then his attempts to picture things fall flat. I defy any reader to fully visualize Goodwin & Co.'s means of descent into the Murian underworld, for instance, or the geography of the bridge leading to the Portal. But for the most part, Merritt's prose is extremely effective at conveying a sense of alien wonder, and "The Moon Pool" does indeed live up to its reputation as a fantasy classic. I recommend it wholeheartedly to all amazon.com readers.

Merritt at his finest.......2003-11-05

This novel sags in the middle with what appears to be padded material to lengthen it out, but the beginning and ending chapters are breathtaking fantasy in a beautiful style. Merritt was a genius and one should simply ignore the padding and enjoy the brilliant parts.

Still a Classic.......2000-12-28

I gave this five stars because it deserved it. It's still a classic and still a lot of fun to read. However, readers be warned. You must remember it was written in 1919. Stereotypes abound. Women are voluptous, wear very little clothing and are either totally good or totally evil. If you can make allowances for all that, then it's a thoroughly enjoyable romp and the author's imagination is stunning. Today, he would place his adventure on an alien planet. In 1919, the vast uncharted regions of the Pacific were vast and alien enough to contain lost races, lost civilizations, unimaginable science, etc. My recommendation is to suspend all disbelief and critical judgment and simply enjoy.

Pools of Lodging for the Moon: Strategy for a Positive Life-Style

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Pools of Lodging for the Moon: Strategy for a Positive Life-Style
David K. Reynolds
Manufacturer: Quill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Psychotherapy, TA & NLP | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0688112781

The Moon Pool (Early Classics of Science Fiction)

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The Moon Pool (Early Classics of Science Fiction)
A. Merritt
Manufacturer: Wesleyan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0819567078

Book Description

One of the most gripping fantasies ever written, The Moon Pool embodies all the romanticism and poetic nostalgia characteristic of A. Merritt's writings. Set on the island of Ponape, full of ruins from ancient civilizations, the novel chronicles the adventures of a party of explorers who discover a previously unknown underground world full of strange peoples and super-scientific wonders. From the depths of this world, the party unwittingly unleashes the Dweller, a monstrous terror that threatens the islands of the South Pacific. Although Merritt did not invent the lost world novel, following in the footsteps of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Burroughs and others, he greatly elaborated upon that tradition. This new edition includes a biography of the author, and an introduction detailing Merritt's many sources and influences, including the occult, mythological, and scientific discourses of his day.

Average customer rating:

Moon Pool and cave diving
The Moon Pool
deep intelligent thriller
cool read
Original Underwater Thriller

The Moon Pool
Max McCoy
Manufacturer: Leisure Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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Hinterland

ASIN: 0843953667

Customer Reviews:

Moon Pool and cave diving.......2006-03-25

I bought this book without very high expectations, because it was apparently published originally as a mass-market paperback. But I'd been told it had a hi-tech cave-diving theme, and it did turn out to mention several cave-divers I know. (But the scene is really a flooded mine.) It's not a mystery; you find out whodunit on the first page of the first chapter. I guess it's a suspense thriller. I found it readable, but the author's inclusion of lots of unnecessary facts in an effort to show off his research skills did get a bit tiresome. The author is better at technology than character development.

The Moon Pool.......2004-07-03

Max McCoy will hold you on the edge of your chair as you journey into not only an under water grave site but the mind and body of a serial killer. At 400 feet deep you will find the victims hidden in what use to be an mining town that now finds itself covered with water and only a part of the past. The killing seems to have gone on for a very long time and a underwater crime scene investigator Richard Dahlgren is called in to handle the investigation. Where the story goes from here is where you come in, by reading this story, it will open your mind and you will enter the mind of a serial killer. Larry Hobson- Author "The Day Of The Rose"

deep intelligent thriller.......2004-07-03

In homage to the mythology's Persephone, every twenty-eight days, he captures a red haired beauty, takes his victims underwater to the ruins of Mineral City, and at the full moon completes the circle by killing his prey. An official missing person's investigation has led to the need of a specialized expert so underwater crime scene investigator Richard Dahlgren leads the inquiries.

Bodies suddenly turn up at an alarming rate and a pattern amidst this serial killing chaos forms that the murders have been going on for years. Richard, haunted by his own tragic failure a decade ago, hopes he can do better with the abducted Jolene and with the Goddess seemingly filling his head he might succeed. She meanwhile knows Richard is her only chance of surviving so naked and wearing only a cross she prays that she somehow survives the ordeal rather than become the latest victim in a long running Greek tragedy.

This deep intelligent thriller takes the time to introduce readers to several subplots using scientific and technical vernacular, but worth the energy of those who appreciate a strong tale. The cast is solid whether they are the hero, the victim, the villain, the mythological figures or other support players. The various subplots cleverly merge over the course of the exciting story line in which the circles of murder and mythos overlap so that fans will treasure diving into the invigorating THE MOON POOL.

Harriet Klausner

cool read.......2004-06-25

I liked this book. It was really cool to learn about cave diving and at the same time have a pretty good mystery. I would have liked to have learned more about the victims and the histories of the main character & the villian, but it was still an interesting read.

Original Underwater Thriller.......2004-06-22

I normally shun serial-killer fiction, with its endless variations on the same basic plot and gratuitous violence. But The Moon Pool's premise (a mythology-emulating villain operating in the depths of a flooded mining town) was original enough to attract my interest. I'm glad it did.

Against his better judgment, Richard "Don't-Call-Me-Dick" Dahlgren (possibly the world's only underwater forensic investigator) gets caught up in the hunt for the killer and quest to free the latest victim from her underwater prison. The dangers of diving in a labyrinth of tunnels at up to four-hundred-foot depths are amplified by Dahlgren's haunting memories of a decade-old cave-diving accident that claimed his first love.

In addition to the original concept and setting, the author uses his knowledge of scuba diving and technology to maintain the believability of the somewhat far-fetched plot. He also focuses more on the beauty of the underwater setting than on the hateful violence dispensed by the killer. My only criticisms are that the scientific scuba details were a bit overwhelming and esoteric at times and that the author seemed to rush through some of the key action sequences building to the climax.

But all in all, this was a fascinating novel with beautiful imagery that will play as well on the big screen as it does on the page.

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2 PBs by Kate Forsyth, Witches of Eileanan 2&3: Pool of Two Moons, Cursed Towers
kate Forsyth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WXZP82

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A. MERRITT: REFLECTIONS IN THE MOON POOL

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A. MERRITT: REFLECTIONS IN THE MOON POOL
Sam Moskowitz
Manufacturer: Oswald Train
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GRK1EW

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THE MOON POOL
A. Merrit
Manufacturer: G.P. Putnam's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000HFFOIG

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THE MOON POOL
A. Merrit
Manufacturer: Collier Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TXULNY

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The Moon Pool

Manufacturer: Collier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H506BQ

Book Description

Revised and updated, the third edition of this highly acclaimed anthology surveys all the major religious traditions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and African religions--and also covers Zen Buddhism, Shinto, and the religious experience in America. Ideal for courses in world religions and comparative religion, it introduces the unique claims, hopes, and wisdom of each tradition in its own voice, through substantial excerpts from its scriptures, prophets, and authors. "I have tried to pay heed," Eastman writes in his Preface, "to A. C. Bouquet's warning of many years ago that the study of religion may sink to the level of collecting dead insects or pressed flowers, which in the process lose all their color and reality. There is not much excuse for a dreary book about a subject as inherently interesting and provocative as the world's religions." The following selections are new to the third edition: Diana L. Eck's "Frontiers of Encounter," Barbara Stoler Miller on Yoga, R. K. Narayan's story "Chudala," Julia Ching's "Confucianism in Perspective," Thomas Merton on Chuang Tzu, Joseph M. Kitagawa's "The Way of the Kami," Ian Reader on Shinto, Vincent Mulago on African Religions, and "A Personal Note" by John Hick.

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