The Family Jewels: A Guide to Male Genital Play and Torment
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Very helpful
  • Mistress enjoyed this book
  • Why Didn't Anyone think of this before?
  • Got male parts or play with them? This book is for you!
  • Handy Guide for CBT Play
The Family Jewels: A Guide to Male Genital Play and Torment
Hardy Haberman
Manufacturer: Greenery Press (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Gay MenGay Men | Sex Instruction | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Sex Instruction | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
HumanHuman | Sexuality | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Mistress Manual: The Good Girl's Guide to Female Dominance The Mistress Manual: The Good Girl's Guide to Female Dominance
  2. Female Dominance: Rituals And Practices: Rituals and Practices Female Dominance: Rituals And Practices: Rituals and Practices
  3. The Art Of Sensual Female Dominance: A Guide for Women The Art Of Sensual Female Dominance: A Guide for Women
  4. The Sexually Dominant Woman: A Workbook for Nervous Beginners The Sexually Dominant Woman: A Workbook for Nervous Beginners
  5. Female Domination Female Domination

ASIN: 1890159344

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Very helpful.......2005-10-13

My wife loved the book and has found it very informative. She was not aware that she knew so much through our trial and error methods, but now more errors....just more fun.

5 out of 5 stars Mistress enjoyed this book.......2005-09-14

I Purchased this book for my Mistress. She read it entirely in one sitting! She very much enjoyed the look on my face as she described what she had read.

5 out of 5 stars Why Didn't Anyone think of this before?.......2003-04-10

Let's get all the cliches out of the way first. "The Family Jewels" is a gem. It is precise, finely cut to spec and invaluable. In fact, the first time I laid eyes on it, my first thought was, why didn't anyone think of this before?

Hardy Haberman has filled a void in the SM literary canon that not only give tips to the experienced edge player, but to beginners as well. There are also a few chunks of anecdotal scene evidence to add the touch of hard-on reading that any book of this nature needs to keep the entertainment value at a maximum.

You may not be familiar with Mr. Haberman, who considers himself a "Pain Technologist." He specializes in CBT and has an unusual fondness for clips, clamps and clothespins, as well as more exotic SM play. I recommend this book to anyone with even a passing interest in learning about esoteric genital play.

5 out of 5 stars Got male parts or play with them? This book is for you!.......2002-11-28

When we hear or see the term CBT we think "torture" and that usually makes us all cross our legs. But Haberman's book is really focused on creating intense or simply pleasureable sensations for male genitals in ways that do not involve intercourse. The book has four main divisions: anatomy, safety (please don't skip over this one), basics & toys of CBT, and finally a collection of nine short stories to demostrate the first three sections. The stories aren't really arousing, they are more instructive. If CBT is something you've thought about but know little about, this is a great place to get information. Read it with your partner and you can figure out what he is interested in.

4 out of 5 stars Handy Guide for CBT Play.......2001-12-06

Being in the computer field, for years I thought CBT was an acronym meaning something other than Cock and Ball Torture. While those three words might make the average man cringe or instinctively cover their groin, there are those men who enjoy it immensely and other men and women who enjoy doing CBT to them! It is for these two groups of folks that this book is primarily written for.

Among the topics Haberman covers here include basic male anatomy (and there's quite a bit to know about it!), negotiation and safewords, play benefits and risks involved, safe sex play and cleaning CBT toys, all very important subjects to cover.

There's also a chapter devoted to various CBT toys, including clamps, ball stretchers and spreaders, cock rings and electrical toys just to name a few. There are also diagrams included on how these toys are to be used, as well as several diagrams on tieing up the proverbial cock and balls. There's even a chapter on CBT "recipes," guaranteed to give the proverbial Dom/me lots of ideas!

While CBT may not be my idea of a good time, I fully support those who do enjoy it. I enjoyed the book because it covers the topic well and Hardy's easy-going style makes reading this book fun and enjoyable.
The Torments of Love
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Torments of Love
    Helisenne De Crenne
    Manufacturer: University of Minnesota Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
    Literary TheoryLiterary Theory | History & Criticism | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    LiteraryLiterary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    MedievalMedieval | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Heptameron (Penguin Classics) The Heptameron (Penguin Classics)
    2. The Romance of Tristan: The Tale of Tristan's Madness (Penguin Classics) The Romance of Tristan: The Tale of Tristan's Madness (Penguin Classics)
    3. The Fairy Tales in Verse and Prose/Les contes en vers et en prose: A Dual-Language Book The Fairy Tales in Verse and Prose/Les contes en vers et en prose: A Dual-Language Book
    4. The School for Wives and The Learned Ladies, by Moliere: Two comedies in an acclaimed translation. The School for Wives and The Learned Ladies, by Moliere: Two comedies in an acclaimed translation.
    5. The Lais of Marie de France (Penguin Classics) The Lais of Marie de France (Penguin Classics)

    ASIN: 0816627894
    Collection of 8 Romance Titles By Janelle Taylor: (1) Anything For Love (2) By Candlelight (3) Fortune's Flames (4) Golden Torment (5) Love Me With Fury (6) Someday Soon (7) Taking Chances (8) Whispered Kisses (Set of 8)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Collection of 8 Romance Titles By Janelle Taylor: (1) Anything For Love (2) By Candlelight (3) Fortune's Flames (4) Golden Torment (5) Love Me With Fury (6) Someday Soon (7) Taking Chances (8) Whispered Kisses (Set of 8)
      Janelle Taylor
      Manufacturer: Zebra Books
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000WSFKRI
      Falling in Love: A History of Torment & Enchantment
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Falling in Love: A History of Torment & Enchantment
        Sheila Sullivan
        Manufacturer: Macmillan
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        GeneralGeneral | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
        NeuropsychologyNeuropsychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
        Social Psychology & InteractionsSocial Psychology & Interactions | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
        Collections & ReadersCollections & Readers | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: 0333753542
        Falling in Love: A History of Torment and Enchantment
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Falling in Love: A History of Torment and Enchantment
          Sheila Sullivan
          Manufacturer: Macmillan U.K.
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover

          RelationshipsRelationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books | Codependency | Conflict Management | Dating | Divorce | Friendship | General | Interpersonal Relations | Love & Loss | Love & Romance | Marriage | Mate Seeking | Nonmonogamy
          EmotionsEmotions | Mental Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Gender Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
          Behavioral PsychologyBehavioral Psychology | Behavioral Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Reference | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 0333753534
          The four zoas: The torments of love and jealousy in the death and judgment of Albion the Ancient Man
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The four zoas: The torments of love and jealousy in the death and judgment of Albion the Ancient Man
            William Blake
            Manufacturer: Swallow Press
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Unknown Binding

            BritishBritish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
            ASIN: 0804008426
            Love in Torment
            Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
            • delightful read!
            Love in Torment
            Natalie Fox
            Manufacturer: Harlequin Mills & Boon
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            GeneralGeneral | Romance | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 0263777952

            Customer Reviews:

            5 out of 5 stars delightful read!.......2003-08-11

            charming characters and sharp story. From the book write-up: MAN FROM HER PAST. Gemma had never forgiven Felipe Santos for walking out on her without so much as a backward glance. They'd been lovers---until he'd decided that he preferred his glamorous cousin Bianca. When fate throws Gemma and Felipe together again, the hurt is still there. But so is the desire....
            Love in Torment
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              Love in Torment

              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: 037318641X

              Product Description

              Publisher: Edition: first
              Love's Raging Torment
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Love's Raging Torment
                Alma Ashley
                Manufacturer: Leisure Books
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback

                HistoricalHistorical | Romance | Subjects | Books | England | General | Regency | United States
                ASIN: 0843921757
                Love's Raging Torment
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Love's Raging Torment
                  Alma Ashley
                  Manufacturer: Bt
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                  ASIN: B000MW9NUY

                  Werehunter
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • story's of SKitty
                  • Not-so-diverse collection
                  • A great read!
                  • oh it's ok
                  • Attention, Diana Tregarde fans...
                  Werehunter
                  Mercedes Lackey
                  Manufacturer: Baen
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Mass Market Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  AnthologiesAnthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  ContemporaryContemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Lackey, Mercedes | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  PaperbackPaperback | Lackey, Mercedes | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Lackey, Mercedes | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  PaperbackPaperback | Lackey, Mercedes | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  AnthologiesAnthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  ContemporaryContemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  All 4-for-3 DealsAll 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
                  Similar Items:
                  1. Fiddler Fair Fiddler Fair
                  2. Sacred Ground Sacred Ground
                  3. A Cast of Corbies (Bardic Choices) A Cast of Corbies (Bardic Choices)
                  4. Burning Water (Diana Tregarde Investigation) Burning Water (Diana Tregarde Investigation)
                  5. Children of the Night: A Diana Tregarde Investigation Children of the Night: A Diana Tregarde Investigation

                  ASIN: 0671578057

                  Customer Reviews:

                  3 out of 5 stars story's of SKitty.......2006-10-26

                  Science fiction
                  Werehunter
                  By: Mercedes Lackey
                  This is an anthology of stories and I am writing about three in particular that target one character SKitty. SKitty is a genetically engineered cat made to be on ships that they help out by clearing out rodents that sneak on board and cause trouble or/and damage therefore making it easy for the crew. Bio-tech made these cats like SKitty since spacers could not deal with pets that need looking after yet they also couldn't deal without a cat to act as a rodent control for mice and things on their ship. So bio-tech made genetically engineered cats to be intelligent companions of astronauts on their ships. So they made cats that were as intelligent as humans and other unique qualities. The type of ships cat that SKitty is has like all the different types enhanced intelligence, a smooth short undercoat so that they she does not shed, forepaws like that of a raccoon, and middle eared tuning so that she actually enjoys some types of space movement instead of disliking it. They also are trained before adoption to use the crew's sanitary facilities and are taught the emergency procedure. At six months old they are put up for adoption. This book is about her adventures with dick her caretaker.

                  I kind of enjoyed this book. Why I liked as much as I did is because it was fun and I do not often read science fiction although I do still enjoy it. One of the reasons though that I did not enjoy it more is that it is in an anthology and while I am happy that it was at least more than just one short story it was not much and it leaves me wanting more.

                  4 out of 5 stars Not-so-diverse collection.......2003-04-02

                  This is a collection of short stories intended as a companion to FIDDLER FAIR.

                  The book begins with a strange introduction about caring for birds. I do not know why this was included, or so long.

                  Four of the stories compose the Skitty stories previously found in the CATFANTASTIC books. These are rather contived tales about a telepathic Shipscat. They sort of remind me of bad SF mysteries; you know the type where some unexplained device is pulled out at the last minute to save the day.

                  Some of the other stories have also shown up in other collections.

                  Diana Tregarde fans will enjoy a cute story as DT attends a romance-writer's convention.

                  The final two stories are "Grey" stories. The first was written for a birdkeeping magazine, but neither is really about birds. The author describes them as sort of a Victorian-age Diana Tregarde series.

                  Overall not a bad collection, but a little less diverse than FIDDLERS FAIR. If you tend to buy collections and like these sorts of stories, there is a very good chance you have read or encountered these stories before.

                  5 out of 5 stars A great read!.......2001-08-27

                  I've been reading a lot of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series and came across this book while searching for more books of hers! I must say that the editing is much better (the misspellings in her other books were bugging me) although her writing itself is as enjoyable as always. I would LOVE to read more stories about SKitty and her family and I definitely think she should do a trilogy or more on the Grey stories! This was also my first introduction to Di Tregarde and I loved it! If you haven't read Lackey's stuff yet, this is a great book to get. It shows her dynamics as a writer and is quite enjoyable!

                  3 out of 5 stars oh it's ok.......2001-05-27

                  Its not one of the best of her books.......but it is interesting. Its a bundle of short stories so don't be expecting a book.They i very good short stories which i hope she's adding onto.It just wasn't what i expected though.

                  5 out of 5 stars Attention, Diana Tregarde fans..........2001-02-19

                  If you're hard up for a Diana Tregarde investigation (Lackey won't write them anymore), you're in luck! *Two* Tregarde stories can be found herein (short, but we take what we can get).

                  "Werehunter" - A young woman from our world, swept through a gate into High Hallack, finds that she has the powers of those of Were blood - she takes the shape of a wildcat. We find out a bit about how Kildas, one of the 12 *other* brides taken by the Were riders, fared after Gillan and Herrel left the Towers in _Year of the Unicorn_.

                  "SKitty", "A Tail of Two SKitties, SCat", "A Better Mousetrap" - These tales appeared separately in various volumes of _Catfantastic_. The basic idea is based on the old tale of Dick Whittington - how he became a wealthy man, when all he could invest in a shipping venture was his cat. These 4 stories are much better than the source material, though. Meet the CatsEye Company ship Brightwing - more specifically, the shipscat SKitty and her handler, Dick White. All of them revolve around Brightwing's new contract to trade with the Lacu'un.

                  Shipscats have to be smart enough to stay out of trouble - so they've been bioengineered to give them greater intelligence, and front paws resembling hands (and in SKitty's case, a wildcard - she's also telepathic, at least with Dick). One consequence - *nobody* envies Dick's job of looking after SKitty's occasional litters of kittens, since a kitten has only 2 neurons - one to keep the body moving at warp speed, and the other to get it into trouble. "You SWORE to me you weren't in heat when I let you out to hunt!" "I lie."

                  "The Last of the Season" - The slimebucket protagonist has the perfect cover for his activities as a murderous child molester - he's the ice cream man. His only concern is that his activities are seasonal - he can only stalk children safely during the warm season, when an ice cream vendor can blend into the scenery. But Molly, the little girl who is 'the last of the season', turns out to be his undoing.

                  "Satanic, Versus" - Diana Tregarde *does* have a day job - and her agent Morrie has persuaded her that, as a member of Romance Writers of the World, she should attend their Halloween costume party. (Andre suggested the Avengers costumes; he vetoed her idea of going as a witch and a vampire, since it's not 'come-as-you-are.') Morrie also wants them there as an escape hatch for another writer - Robert Harrison, who's looking a bit wild-eyed by the time he meets them, having been shanghaied by Morrie to escort another, newly-divorced writer. Dangling a presentable, single man in front of the RWW crowd - can we say, "drumstick in a school of pirahna"? (And yes, this is *the* Robert Harrison, from _Stalking the Night Fantastic_. When an emergency pops up, it's hilarious to watch him and Diana *both* step in to handle it, neither one knowing what the other is.)

                  "Nightside" - The first Diana Tregarde story to be written; it later grew up to become the novel _Children of the Night_. (It turns out Di *did* write Andre into one of her Regency novels; when he finds out, he offers to help her do some more 'research.' Ahem.)

                  "Wet Wings" - A world where political correctness has grown into censorship and oppression.

                  "Stolen Silver" - The only Valdemar story in this book. Ever wonder how Alberich, a Karsite soldier, became the weaponsmaster of the Heralds' Collegium?

                  "Roadkill"- What if that trash skittering across the road in the breeze really *were* alive?

                  "Operation Desert Fox" - As you should know, 'Desert Fox' was Erwin Rommel's nickname (the great German tank commander, the one who appeared in the film _Patton_). Here, though, Rommel *is* a tank - Bolo RML-1138, an AI in a tank's body, working with a human partner, Siegfried O'Harrigan (if you think Siegfried's name is odd, you don't know the half about his background; he's from Liberia). The two of them have been assigned by a cheapskate government to meet the minimum requirements for a colony's defense force. After all, nobody would *really* attack a backwater like Bachman's World, would they?

                  "Grey", "Grey's Ghost" - Grey is an African parrot, the beloved pet of Sarah Lyon-White, a new student at Mem'sab Harton's boarding school in London. Lackey describes Mem'sab as 'a sort of Victorian Diana Tregarde, sans vampire boyfriend.' Instead, she has her husband, Sahib Harton, and the staff of the school.

                  "...Mem'sab was a completely remarkable woman, for she had a Sikh, a Gurkha, two Moslems, two Buddhists, and assorted Hindus working in peace and harmony together - 'and Mum said in her letter that it's easier to get leopards to herd sheep than that!'" Instead of the stereotypical Boarding School Hell, this school provides familiar things for the children born in India, Africa, and other outposts of the Empire - curries and rice to eat, the sounds of Hindustani (Kipling is an especial favorite with the kids, since he reminds them of home).

                  Dragon's Egg/Starquake: 2-in-1 (Two Novels in One)
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • One of the best in the 'Hard Sci-Fi' arena
                  • Top Of The Line Science Fiction
                  • One of the best science fiction books I have ever read
                  • excellent hard-science novels
                  • Good scientific piece, yet very boring.
                  Dragon's Egg/Starquake: 2-in-1 (Two Novels in One)
                  Robert L. Forward
                  Manufacturer: Del Rey
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Mass Market Paperback

                  Forward, Robert L.Forward, Robert L. | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  FantasyFantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Alternate History | Anthologies | Arthurian | Contemporary | Epic | General | Historical | History & Criticism | Magic & Wizards | Series
                  GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: 0345388984
                  Release Date: 1994-07-02

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars One of the best in the 'Hard Sci-Fi' arena.......1999-02-22

                  This is 'the' book that hooked me on 'hard Sci-Fi'. It is way out there but it is also very plausible. The story grabs you and pulls you in..you live it as the main characters.. not knowing what is going on.. and you discover, with them, great things. The aliens are us!

                  5 out of 5 stars Top Of The Line Science Fiction.......1998-10-17

                  This is the very best in Scifi that I have read. I have loaned it out to numerous people who felt the same way and one friend wouldn't let go so I am searching for another copy now! It has twists and turns that leave you breathless and the characters are extremely well developed. Read this!

                  5 out of 5 stars One of the best science fiction books I have ever read.......1998-06-25

                  Dragon's Egg, I feel, is a better book thn Starquake, but they are both excellent stories. The narrative device used, especially in Dragon's Egg, adds interest as it leaves the reader to make a very important discovery about the Cheela. In addition, Dragon's Egg gives historians something to chew on as it is not only based on hard science but also historical theory as well. Would such a different society pass through the same developmental stages as human society? Dragons Egg is one of my four all-time favourite books; I re-read it (again) to celebrate World Book Day and it is still an excellent read. There are not many books that can stand re-reading and still maintain the reader's interest. Ideal for people who think they don't like "hard" science fiction.

                  5 out of 5 stars excellent hard-science novels.......1998-02-03

                  If you're not excited by feeling your mind being stretched by science that is right at the very edge of theoretical physics, then you may be someone who thinks this book is "boring". If you aren't filled with wonder as an entire utterly alien civilization is presented to you, then you might not like this book.

                  But if you're enraptured by a plausible alien civilization that uses almost future-magic technology which is nevertheless comprehensible (especially if you're an avid reader of physics journals or popularizations), then this book will be one of your favorites.

                  Negatives: Bob Forward is at his best when writing about the science; he is weakest when writing dialog. For the alien dialog, this isn't really a problem, but sometimes the way his human characters phrase their sentences will make one wince. I found this fairly easy to overlook, but others may not.

                  2 out of 5 stars Good scientific piece, yet very boring........1997-04-10

                  This book gives a fantastic look into the scientific aspects of neutron stars, but is very boring to read as a novel
                  Starquake
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • Highly original hard science fiction and a gripping story as well
                  • Among the best hard SF books ever written
                  • Good, but not as good as number one
                  • Good but not as good as the first one
                  • A sequel. . .
                  Starquake
                  Robert L. Forward
                  Manufacturer: Backinprint.com
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  Forward, Robert L.Forward, Robert L. | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  High TechHigh Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  Similar Items:
                  1. Dragon's Egg (Del Rey Impact) Dragon's Egg (Del Rey Impact)
                  2. Rocheworld Rocheworld
                  3. Return to Rocheworld: Return to Rocheworld Return to Rocheworld: Return to Rocheworld
                  4. Timemaster Timemaster
                  5. The Mote in God's Eye The Mote in God's Eye

                  ASIN: 0595167489

                  Book Description

                  Starquake, the sequel to Dragon’s Egg, takes place on the surface of a neutron star. The gravity is 67 billion Earth gravities. The native “cheela”, the size of sesame seeds, live a million times faster than their human friends in orbit. After a starquake, the humans have only one day to save the remains of cheela civilization from extinction.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Highly original hard science fiction and a gripping story as well .......2007-08-27

                  How long does it take for a civilization to rise from one of hunter-gatherers to interstellar spaceflight? Or to fall back again to primitive, subsistence levels? Years? Decades? Centuries? Millennia?

                  For the cheela, just a few hours.

                  The cheela are among the most intriguing aliens ever to appear in science fiction and are both at the same time quite alien and also quite familiar. They don't live on any terrestrial world like Earth, Mars, or even the Moon. They inhabit the surface of a rapidly rotating neutron star 20 kilometers in diameter, one dubbed Dragon's Egg, visited by humanity in the year 2050.

                  Dragon's Egg is unimaginably harsh by human standards; a crushing surface gravity equivalent to 67 billion Earth gravities, an 8200 K surface temperature, a massive magnetic field, and a rotation rate of about 5 times a second.

                  Though the typical cheela weighs as much as a human, they are little larger than a sesame seed. Instead of being comprised of what the cheela called "expanded matter," they are instead made up of nucleonic matter. The nuclei in the cheela body have lost their electron clouds, crushed by the high gravity and intense magnetic fields into a tiny and super dense form (one that will collapse at a touch anything made of normal matter). In physical appearance they are glowing, white hot vaguely slug-like organisms, with a slug-like tread used for locomotion and seeing through a ring of twelve stalked eyes all around their periphery and able to manipulate items through a series of limbs.

                  The cheela though are stranger yet. Not only does the neutron star move fast, the cheela live and die very fast, by human standards at least. One day on Egg (what the cheela call their world) is equivalent to 0.2 human seconds; the cheela live their lives a million times faster than humans do. A cheela year only lasts 29 human seconds. A cheela generation is 15 minutes apart, and a cheela lives on average about 45 minutes, an entire life of growing up, going to school, mating, having a career, and retiring. One hundred cheela generations will have come and gone in the span of a single human day.

                  _Starquake_ is the sequel to the brilliant earlier novel by Robert L. Forward, _Dragon's Egg_. Owing to the nature of time in the book, it is really more a continuation of the first book, not a sequel, as only minutes I believe separate the events from the end of the first book from the opening events in the second. The cheela, having advanced from basically what we might call something akin to Neolithic times to a civilization that has mastered the use of artificial black holes in the space of about a human day or so (these events were covered in the first novel), have long since surpassed humanity's technical achievements. The astronauts who visited Egg were about to leave for home but a disaster occurs, one that is averted only by what are to human standards very quick action on the part of the cheela. Grateful for the assistance, the humans pledge that they will aid the cheela any way they can. The cheela, while quite polite, decline, wondering how they could ever provide any additional help to them; they wish their human friends a safe trip home.

                  As one might guess from the title, a massive starquake occurs, killing nearly every cheela and destroying their civilization. Can humanity help? How will the few brave cheela that survive the catastrophe rebuild their world?

                  Owing to the time perception differences, by necessity most of the book is told from the point of view of the cheela, as many interesting cheela live epic lives trying to save themselves, their friends, their world, to remake their civilization in the span of mere minutes and hours for their human friends. I think the book was a bit slow at first, as the author spent a good deal of time explaining how cheela spacecraft, space elevators, and launcher facilities might work, something hard to manage as it is in our world but to me inconceivably difficult in a world where a vessel needs to achieve a significant fraction of the speed of light in order to reach escape velocity and make it into space. A bit technical at times, once the starquake occurs the book becomes quite gripping, a wonderful story of heroes, villains, and great personal sacrifice.

                  Definitely one of the most original science fiction sagas out there and well worth reading.

                  5 out of 5 stars Among the best hard SF books ever written.......2006-05-23

                  The key attractions of this story and its sequel "Starquake" are:

                  1) Life based on neutronic interactions vs electronic/chemical interactions
                  2) Communication between two races, one which is 1 million times faster than the other.
                  3) "Monopole-pumped black hole dust" used in Cheela anti-gravity machines
                  4) Life on a neutron star with a surface gravity 67 BILLION times earth gravity, and a surface temperature of 8200 K.
                  5) Faster-than-light technology / time-travel technology, described almost believably
                  6) Cheela waiting, bored, while their ship accelerates to half the speed of light, over 1 kilometer of acceleration, in order to reach escape velocity from their home. 50% light-speed, over 1 km??
                  7) Rise and fall and rise of Cheela empires, with several very interesting characters
                  8) A very plausible description of how humans may nullify the tidal forces near neutron stars, and go into close orbit.

                  4 out of 5 stars Good, but not as good as number one.......2004-09-10

                  I get the idea that Dr. Forward just wanted to write a sequel. This book's premise is interesting - the cheela, due to their sped-up lifetime, have only one day (human time) for their earthling friends to figure out how to save them. I didn't like the characters as much and the story didn't hold my interest as much as the first book, but I still recommend it to fans of "Dragon's Egg" and those who love really scientific sci-fi.

                  3 out of 5 stars Good but not as good as the first one.......2004-01-06

                  The book is good but is a pale book compared to dragon's egg (the first part) which is such an excellent book. So skip this one because nothing new is here. On the other side if you have not yet read Dragon's egg ...Don't hesitate any longer.

                  4 out of 5 stars A sequel. . ........2003-10-02

                  . . .and in my experience, sequels can be difficult to make "work". Robert Forward, brilliant in "Dragon's Egg" is less brilliant here, primarily because this novel requires more actual "storytelling", character development, and plot than "hard science" -- and hard science is what Forward does best.

                  Nevertheless, if you enjoyed "Dragon's Egg" and wish to delve more deeply into the lives of the Cheela, you won't be disappointed. I'm rounding up to four stars.
                  Starquake
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Starquake
                    Robert L. FORWARD
                    Manufacturer: Del Rey
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover
                    ASIN: B000OPFEKC
                    Starquake
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Starquake
                      Robert L Forward
                      Manufacturer: Ballantine Books, 1985.
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover
                      ASIN: B000VFVBSY
                      Dragon's Egg/Starquake
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        Dragon's Egg/Starquake
                        Robert L. Forward
                        Manufacturer: Del Rey
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Paperback
                        ASIN: B000OVJT5M

                        God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason (Oxford Paperbacks)
                        Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                        • Understand the Purpose of this Book
                        • An awesome blend of philosophy of faith
                        • Somewhat Disappointing
                        • Mixed Bag
                        • Rationality of Belief in God
                        God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason (Oxford Paperbacks)

                        Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Paperback

                        GeneralGeneral | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                        ModernModern | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                        GeneralGeneral | Philosophy of Religion | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                        GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                        JewishJewish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
                        Similar Items:
                        1. Philosophers Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers Philosophers Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers
                        2. Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings
                        3. Epistemology: Contemporary Readings (Routledge Contemporary Readings in Philosophy) Epistemology: Contemporary Readings (Routledge Contemporary Readings in Philosophy)
                        4. Making Sense of It All Pascal and the Meaning of Life Making Sense of It All Pascal and the Meaning of Life
                        5. Our Idea of God Our Idea of God

                        ASIN: 0195101197

                        Book Description

                        "I am a philosopher because I am a Christian," writes Brian Leftow. "To many intellectuals, this probably sounds like saying that I am a dog because I am a cat." Indeed, prejudice against religious belief runs deep in the academy; in particular, many philosophers hold that faith is incompatible with their profession. But Thomas Morris has met that view head-on by asking a distinguished group of philosophers to write about the union of faith and reason in their lives. God and the Philosophers offers a series of highly personal, thoughtful essays by traditionally religious philosophers, revealing the power of belief in their intellectually rigorous lives and work. Figures such as William P. Alston, William J. Wainwright, Marilyn McCord Adams, Peter van Inwagen, and Morris himself, to name a few, speak of their own spiritual journeys, sharing their experiences as philosophically reflective individuals seeking to center themselves on God. We read of conversions from unbelief, struggles with doubts raised by the presence of evil in the world, and changing convictions shaped by constant questioning and communing with God. For example, Brian Leftow describes his acceptance of Christianity, after being raised in a secular Jewish home, and Laura Garcia writes about her conversion to Catholicism from her earlier Protestant stance. Along the way, the writers reveal religious philosophy at work--demonstrating, as Arthur F. Holmes writes, "the motivation to intellectual inquiry that Christian faith brings." Here we see how individuals with extraordinary intellectual training, discipline, and knowledge grapple with personal and existential problems, drawing on their faith as well as their finely honed reason to achieve new understanding. Profoundly honest and deeply thoughtful, these essays reveal how highly educated philosophers--working in the halls of dispassionate analysis--come to grips with their faith in a skeptical world. Together, they make a profound statement on contemporary spirituality, and the quandaries facing today's religious individual.

                        Customer Reviews:

                        5 out of 5 stars Understand the Purpose of this Book.......2006-02-05

                        This book is *not* a book of apologetics. It is, rather, an insightful look into the personal lives and thoughts of some of the worlds top philosophers who are also Christians. It is very successful in that task. The contributors list is a veritable Who's Who of philosophy:

                        Thomas Morris
                        William P. Alston
                        Peter van Inwagen
                        Michael J. Murray
                        William J. Wainwritght
                        Merold Westphal
                        C. Stephen Layman
                        Jerry Walls
                        Robert C. Roberts
                        Jeff Jordan
                        Marilyn McCord Adams
                        Brian Leftow
                        George Mavrodes
                        Eleonore Stump

                        This book will challenge the discerning reader from both the rationalistic Christian perspective as well as the skeptic who is reading attentively. Very highly recommended.

                        5 out of 5 stars An awesome blend of philosophy of faith.......2004-07-02

                        "Most of the philosophers in the history of Western Civilization have believed in God" editor Tom Morris writes in the introduction of this book, and so many of the American academic world's leading professional philosophers come forward to share their exciting journeys of faith and life in this exciting collection. Readers come to realize how many of these writers have not only clung to their faith in a very secular world, but have continued to examine and strengthen it after finding truth and reason in Christian theism. Many of the philosophers briefly describe how they find their positions of faith to be the most reasonable to the other alternatives(I say briefly because I know each one could turn their essay into an entire book). They also strongly examine the weaknesses associated with their beliefs(such as the problem of evil) by carefully examining those weaknesses and giving strong arguments towards those weaknesses. The philosophers also show how religious and spiritual faith is not simply based on reason(like demonstrating a mathematical formula's truth or demonstrating the strongest chemical reaction) but also a great life commitment. Each demonstrates how their faith challenges them to become a better person physically, ethically, spiritually, as well as intellectually. I recommend this book to all who want to better understand how religious faith and spirituality are not only compatible with intellectual endeavors, but also greatly enhance them.

                        2 out of 5 stars Somewhat Disappointing.......2004-03-24

                        I suppose I expected more from this book. After reading the introduction by editor Thomas Morris, I was expecting what he termed biographical essays "from the heart". Indeed there were several insightful essays from this slant discussing people's life experiences as they mingled reason and faith. Most of this book, however, was extremely disappointing to me. I found many authors drudging on regarding points that strayed very far from the stated "thesis" of the book and many of the essays were rehashings of the other essays in the book.

                        I really struggled to find the motivation to finish this book and that is quite a strong statement coming from me.

                        3 out of 5 stars Mixed Bag.......2004-02-04

                        This collection of essays is a mixed bag of good and not so good. Several of the authors obviously cling to Christianity because they grew up in it, have had a favourable experience with it and enjoy the sense of community that it brings. But these kinds of reasons could apply to any number of social organizations created by man.
                        I agree that one of the better essays is by Peter van Inwagen. I am troubled somewhat by his remark on p.37 "Nowadays I would say that I don't expect that the New Testament always gives an exact account of Jesus' words.......". (This comment was in reference to the Parousia (the second coming of Jesus)). So how exactly are we to know which words attributed to Jesus are authentic? If, on major points like this Sciprture is not demonstrably reliable then why believe any of it?

                        3 out of 5 stars Rationality of Belief in God.......2003-07-23

                        Is it rational to believe in God? Do faith and reason go together? Can philosophers believe in God? This collection of autobiographical essays answers these questions in the affirmative. The main collective argument of this book is that it is rational to believe in God. Philosophers need not fear belief in God. Indeed this book shows in contemporary form how philosophers have historically believed in God.

                        These essays are personal journeys as to how twenty modern philosophers have handled their religious beliefs in their field of study. There is a diversity of Evangelical, Catholic, Episcopalian, and Jewish philosophers. The essays are of varying degree in quality and content.

                        Here are a few highlights: Peter van Inwagen's essay entitled "Quam Dilecta" is probably one of the best in this collection. He argues that in recent times the deck is stacked against religious belief in academic circles. It has been commonly accepted that religion and philosophy do not mix and that they must be compartmentalized. However he proves this to be a false disjunction. They cannot and should not be separated. In fact they should be wed together.

                        Brian Leftow's "From Jerusalem to Athens" is probably the second best essay in the collection. He argues that he is a philosopher because he is first a Christian. Christian belief is a help to the intellectual life and it was Christianity, which brought him to philosophy. He shows that historically it has been commonplace for philosophers to base their philosophy on theistic belief. He seeks to return philosophy to its rightful place as being rooted in the Christian religion.

                        Given the diversity of contributors it makes for a mixed bag of essays. I believe the worst one (biblically speaking) was that of Marilyn McCord Adams. This significantly highlights the biblical injunction to be careful of hollow and deceptive philosophy (Colossians 2:8). Adams' essay is a negative warning to not acquiesce one's theology for the sake of philosophy. All too often as evidenced in this volume one has to give up key elements of the faith to be seen as respectable in the eyes of the university philosophy department (cf. Garcia giving up justification by faith alone and the doctrine of Scripture alone). For Adams emotion and feeling is often placed over God's divine revelation as disclosed in the Bible. She has faulted to the worldly wisdom, which God has made foolish (1 Corinthians 1:20).

                        One will be both encouraged and depressed as one reads through this volume. It is encouraging that many philosophers believe in God. Belief in God has become respectable and it is now seen as rational. Yet it is discouraging in that many are giving up central elements of the faith to make their beliefs respectable in the philosophy department. The God who is being believed in is not always the God of the Bible in his entire splendor and majesty. May we pray for more philosophers who are strongly committed to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. And may God be glorified in our philosophy.
                        God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.
                          Ed. THOMAS V.: MORRIS
                          Manufacturer: Oxford University Press
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000UCVYYY
                          God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.: An article from: The Review of Metaphysics
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.: An article from: The Review of Metaphysics
                            Paul Copan
                            Manufacturer: Philosophy Education Society, Inc.
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Digital

                            GeneralGeneral | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                            PhilosophyPhilosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                            GeneralGeneral | Nonfiction | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                            PhilosophyPhilosophy | Nonfiction | HTML | Formats | e-Docs | Formats | Books
                            ASIN: B00097PDPG
                            Release Date: 2005-07-28

                            Book Description

                            This digital document is an article from The Review of Metaphysics, published by Philosophy Education Society, Inc. on June 1, 1997. The length of the article is 593 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

                            Citation Details
                            Title: God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.
                            Author: Paul Copan
                            Publication: The Review of Metaphysics (Refereed)
                            Date: June 1, 1997
                            Publisher: Philosophy Education Society, Inc.
                            Volume: v50 Issue: n4 Page: p910(2)

                            Article Type: Book Review

                            Distributed by Thomson Gale
                            GOD AND THE PHILOSOPHERS: THE RECONCILIATION OF FAITH AND REASON
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              GOD AND THE PHILOSOPHERS: THE RECONCILIATION OF FAITH AND REASON
                              Thomas V. Morris
                              Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Paperback
                              ASIN: B000OKMOHS
                              God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.
                                Thomas V. Morris
                                Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Paperback
                                ASIN: B000OKLFR8
                                God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.
                                Average customer rating: Not rated
                                  God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason.

                                  ProductGroup: Book
                                  Binding: Paperback
                                  ASIN: B000ICRO7M

                                  Books:

                                  1. The Futurist: A Novel
                                  2. The Grass Harp and The Tree of Night
                                  3. The Grizzard Sampler: A Collection of the Early Writings of Lewis Grizzard
                                  4. The Gully Dwarves (Dragonlance Lost Histories, Vol. 5)
                                  5. The Handicap Principle: A Missing Piece of Darwin's Puzzle
                                  6. The Horse in Harry's Room (I Can Read Book 1)
                                  7. The Journey to the West, Volume 3
                                  8. The Knife Thrower: and Other Stories
                                  9. The Last Carousel
                                  10. The Last Puritan: A Memoir in the Form of a Novel

                                  Books Index

                                  Books Home

                                  Recommended Books

                                  1. The Way We Lived Then : Recollections of a Well-Known Name Dropper
                                  2. McDuff Saves the Day
                                  3. Family Resemblance
                                  4. History: Fiction or Science
                                  5. Including Students with Special Needs: A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers
                                  6. The Aeneid
                                  7. Night Sky: A Guide To Field Identification
                                  8. KELLOGG COMPANY: Labor Productivity Benchmarks and International Gap Analysis
                                  9. Excel Phenomenon: The Astonishing Success Story of the Fastest-Growing Communications Company -- and
                                  10. The Directory of Management Consultants in the Uk 1998