Horse's Neck

Book Description

Townshend explores life's "razor-edged pathways" in this bold, impressionistic work of autobiographical fiction, with "intriguing experimental writing packed with vivid imagery" (Library Journal) that strikingly mirrors the musical compositions Tommy and Quadrophenia. As he recalls his childhood, the decadent indulgences of success, and a new discovery of life itself, Townshend re-creates in fiction a powerful personal odyssey from the inside out.

Customer Reviews:

Quite interesting.......2002-11-12

A very good read, lots of creative imagery. I think you should know a bit about Pete before you read the book or you might be a little shocked! I used to be very confused by Pete Townshend, but this clears it all up for me. Really fun stories that compare to nothing I have every read before! Get it now...

Pete Should Always Have his Guitar with his Pen.......2000-10-03

Having been a fan of Pete Townshend and The Who since I was old enough to rebel, I came into reading Horse's Neck with high hopes. After all, Townshend was the brain of The Who, its impassioned writer who made generations of teens to WANT to experience angst, and who made battling personal demons fashionable. But unfortunately, this collection of vignettes illustrates why Pete made it as writer of lyrics rather than prose. Horse's Neck, like James Joyce's Dubliners, is a sort of a chronological hodgepodge of character studies, rather than a set of short stories. Only unlike Joyce, Townshend is really only studying one character--his own. While traces of humor and poignancy present themselves in these semi-autobiographical tales, the writing is often clunky and pointless, particularly in one unnecessarily long detective drama. The true fan will, however, benefit from the book if only to see oft-used Townshend themes and phrases used in a different format. Take the lyrics of "Who By Numbers," have a dime-store novelist with a penchant for the perverted translate the lyrics, and you get the idea of what Horse's Neck is like.

Perhaps if Townshend had been a prose writer from the beginning, his work would have blossomed like his music writing did. After all, amazingly well-written gems like "The Song is Over" and "The Sea Refuses No River" were proceeded by deservedly less known songs like "I Can't Reach You" and "Faith in Something Bigger." That being said, the feeling here is that Pete would have been better off taking a shot at another concept album rather than writing Horse's Neck.

More insight into Pete Townshend's tremendous writing........1999-08-05

I've long been very appreciative of Pete's literate writing for the Who, and his impressive, more personal solo work. No one in rock's history had been able to express the highs and lows of growing up, becoming an adult, and existing in modern society quite like Pete Townshend. In "Horse's Neck", you receive even more of a literate expression - this time without the restraints of music. The literature forms music of its own. It's a joy to read and read again. If you're a fan of the Who, rock, modern culture or great modern literature, this is a "must read"!

Very desperate.......1998-11-17

You wish Pete would cut through the crap on his records. Here, he finally does. Very courageous writing. Filled with vivid sexual fantasies, somewhat funny somewhat skewed, filled with pain and passion of unrequitted love. He doesn't justify his actions in these stories. He simply expresses what he's feeling and tells it like it is. You can take him or leave him. He's in too much torment to care. A very gutsy set of stories. Well worth the read. I wish the big time novelists would have even half the guts.

Excellent.......1998-07-16

Whether you are a fan of Townshend or not, it would be hard to ignore the talent that lies within the pages of this book. The stories unfold just as his music does...enigmatic and full of genuine emotion. From the sorrows of being a misunderstood superstar to early memories of a child searching for love, Pete weaves master tales interlaced with biological threads. I highly recommend this book to all readers, and to fans of Townshend this is definitely a must-read.

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Horse's Neck
Pete Townsend
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GPNWMW

Jina's Pain-In-the-neck Pony (Riding Academy)

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Jina's Pain-In-the-neck Pony (Riding Academy)
Alison Hart
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679871195
Release Date: 1995-01-24

Diagnostic Radiology of the Horse: Diseases of the Head, Neck & Thorax

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Diagnostic Radiology of the Horse: Diseases of the Head, Neck & Thorax
Dik , and Gunsser
Manufacturer: W.B. Saunders Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Frontier Boys in Colorado Or Captured By Indians in RARE Vintage Color DustJacket of 2 Boys on Horses in Blue Shirts & Neck Scarfs in Mountains Riding, SERIES #2, Tells Adventures of Jim, Joe, & Tom Darlington

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Frontier Boys in Colorado Or Captured By Indians in RARE Vintage Color DustJacket of 2 Boys on Horses in Blue Shirts & Neck Scarfs in Mountains Riding, SERIES #2, Tells Adventures of Jim, Joe, & Tom Darlington
b/W Sepia GloSsy Frontispiece of 3 Men with Hats in Woods At Campfire Cooking One Using His Big Jack Knife to Turn Fish. Inner Hinges Starting Slightly Cracked. PREText Lists Thru in South Seas, Inner FLaP DJ priceClippe Capt. Wyn Roosevelt ( Captain )
Manufacturer: Platt & Peck NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JD69YY

Frontier Boys in the Rockies Or a Winter in Big Canyon in RARE Vintage Color DustJacket of 2 Boys on Horses in Blue Shirts & Neck Scarfs iN MountaINS Riding, SERIES #3, teLLS Adventures of Jim, Joe, & Tom Darlington

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Frontier Boys in the Rockies Or a Winter in Big Canyon in RARE Vintage Color DustJacket of 2 Boys on Horses in Blue Shirts & Neck Scarfs iN MountaINS Riding, SERIES #3, teLLS Adventures of Jim, Joe, & Tom Darlington
B/W Glossy FrOntispiece of Boy on Horse As he Watches a Huge Bolder Coming at Him Down MountaiN Trail. Inner Hinges Starting Slightly Cracked. PREText Lists Thru in South Seas, Inner Flap DJ PriceClipped, BLANK Endpapers Capt. Wyn Roosevelt ( Captain )
Manufacturer: Platt & Peck NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JDA06C

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HORSE'S NECK
Pete Townsend
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NWW4U4

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Horse's Neck
Pete Townshend
Manufacturer: Houghton, Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQGXXO

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The Horse's Neck
Pete Townshend
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUKJ26

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Horses Neck
Pete Townshend
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Amazon.com

Rhapsody is high fantasy, descended from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings through Eddings's Belgariad and Malloreon series, complete with an elf-like people, cannibalistic giants, fire-born demons, and dragons. Inquiring fantasy readers will wonder whether it can live up to such distinguished predecessors. The answer is yes. Haydon's first fantasy is a palpable hit. The three protagonists are well-realized characters whose adventures are by turns hilarious, horrific, and breathtaking. Best of all, though elements are drawn from familiar sources ranging from Norse myth to Mozart's The Magic Flute, Haydon's magic worldbuilding is convincing, consistent, and interesting.

Rhapsody, a young woman trained as a Namer, can attune herself to the vibrations of all things, tap the power of true names, and rename people, changing their basic identities. Her magic lies in music: "Music is nothing more than the maps through the vibrations that make up all the world. If you have the right map, it will take you wherever you want to go," she tells her adoptive brothers. They are "the Brother," a professional assassin able to sense and track the heartbeats of all natives of the doomed Island of Seren, their homeland, and his giant sidekick Grunthor, a green-skinned Sergeant Major who enjoys making jokes, using edged weapons, and honing his cannibalistic palate. Inadvertently, Rhapsody has renamed the Brother Achmed the Snake, breaking his enslavement to Tsoltan the F'dor (a fire-born demon). Tsoltan sends minions in pursuit to rebind Achmed. The three escape into the roots of a World Tree, Sagia, emerging transformed into another country and century. But have they truly escaped the F'dor's evil? And how does all this relate to the prologue's story of Gwydion and Emily, two young lovers brought together across history and then separated by the mysterious Meridion?

Like most first volumes, Rhapsody contains a lot of background information and foreshadowing, though Haydon ties up numerous plot lines at the end. The dislocations in time can be confusing, and some readers may find that the very 1990s dialogue clashes with the epic storytelling of the descriptive passages. Overall, however, Rhapsody is a smashing debut that delivers hours of great reading and will have you impatient to read the rest of the series. --Nona Vero

Book Description

Elizabeth Haydon is an important new force in fantasy. Equipped with a quick wit, Haydon has a sharp ear for dialogue, panache with characters, and that essential ability to transport her readers into her own fantastical worlda world so real you can hear the sweet music of Rhapsodys aubade and smell the smoldering forges deep within the Cauldron. Rhapsody marks the beginning of an important new series from Tor, a series with all the magic, all the beauty, and all the power youve come to expect from our bestselling fantasy. In the tradition of Robert Jordans Wheel of Time and Terry Goodkinds Sword of Truth, we bring you Rhapsody. An extraordinary adventure has begun. Join us in discovering where it will lead. Movingly written epic fantasy that works on many levels. I read this book with a growing sense of pleasure, impressed not only with the authors deft plotting but also with her use of language. Haydon is a writer. Morgan LlywelynA powerful novel, lucid, interesting, well paced, adventurous, magical, and with characters who are original. This author will surely go far. I am amazed by the growing number of strong new voices that are appearing these days in fantasy, hitherto mostly male. Elizabeth Haydon is sure to change that. Piers Anthony

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Fantasy.......2007-06-03

I got this book at a bookstore a few years ago, not thinking much of it, just that i wanted 'something' to read. This is without doubt, my favorite book in the entire world! Its a little bit of all my favorite genres: Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction... so i was really impressed and hooked right away. The tie between the three main characters is inseperable and the humor of this book is practically tangible. I loved this book! I couldnt put it down and as soon as i finished it i ran to the bookstore to get the other two of the first trilogy! I highly recommend it!

Imaginative & Very Entertaining.......2006-12-27

Refreshingly creative. I was given this book and I ended up buying all the other books in the series because the author is creative, witty, descriptive, and has a superb vocabulary. I had to reach for the dictionary more than once. When I want to escape reality, I delve into Haydon's fantasy world. Very entertaining. I can't think of better fantasy books.

Good Read.......2006-12-26

If you a looking for a good story, I recommend it. If you are looking for high literature, like some of the reviews seem to be looking for, then read War and Peace.

This story is interestingly different from the beginning. Yes it stretches the imagination in places, but it's FANTASY, duh! My acid test is: Do I identify with the characters, and this has a big YES for as an answer.

A good start for the trilogy.......2006-09-27

I liked this book. Yes, it did start out with a romance novel twist. I think this book will sit better with female readers, such as myself, but who is to say men don't enjoy a good bit of romance? It just is not your usual sci-fi/fantasy start. Other reviewers have felt that this romance beginning does not connect with the rest of the story. However, you must read the trilogy to realize that it indeed is laying the framework for a vital part of the story to come. This first book is like so many other first books... it is laying down the foundations for bigger things to come.

I connected with the characters, caring about what happened to them next. Rhapsody, while far from innocent in some ways, provides the soft heart of the group, the truth teller, the namer. She is in direct contrast to Achmed, who has lived the life of the assassin and is in no way innocent to the evils that exist. Then there is Gunthor, the big hearted, giant bolg who despite his tough exterior has a disposition that lies somewhere between Achmed's dry, pesimistic attitude and Rhapsody's sometime's syrupy demeanor.

All in all, I found the action to go along at a suitable speed, but the time in the root was a little long-winded for my taste. I did at times find Rhapsody's behavior quite exasperating. She continues to exude an naivity that one would expect to improve with the perils she has faced and I did find her love of children to go a bit overboard at times. But as a whole, a good first book in this trilogy.

A beautiful letdown, to steal a phrase........2006-09-14

Haydon has the surprising ability to describe scenes both breathatkingly beautiful and nightmarishly terrible like nobody's business. Her word usage is great, and she paints a vivid picture for the mind's eye. Achmed is a wonderful character, and so is Grunthor, both of whom play sidekicks of sorts to the main character, Rhapsody.

That, however, is the end of the positives. For those of you familiar with the net term "Mary Sue", the main character, although starting out well enough, quickly degenerates into one of these mindless, perky and perfect drones who spread love and defecate fairy dust. For those of you unaccustomed to the above terminology, I shall define it for you. A Mary Sue, and her male counter part, the Gary Stu, is a term coined for characters whom the author has made flawless. They can do no wrong, or if they do there's always a way to fix it, they are always attractive, alluring and yet somehow innocent in some way. Everyone loves them or lusts after them, usually even the villain in a sort of twisted way, and they are usually some long-lost royalty or become royalty later on. Often there is a tragic past to overcome, but it leaves them scarred only in their wee little hearts and is to be mended by their one true love with tears and the kind of love-making ONLY found in fiction. You know, the perfect kind. The sort that somehow goes from tender and tearful to lustful and ravaging and back again, and one might expect a fluffy bunny to hop across the bed or a wispy cloud to form a heart over the love-at-first-f*** couple. That aside, they have abilities that not only defy logic, but quite often just manifest out of the author's brain when he or she has written themselves into a corner that the character's other abilities and the author's waning wits do not have the capacity to escape from.

Such is the case with Rhapsody. Her beauty puts a bulge into the pants of evry man who happens to glance her way, and he instantly falls into love and lust for her. That same beauty brings a tear to every lesser female's eye and a sigh from every comparably imperfect breast. This is not just in the first book, no. It happens in at least the first three, which is as far as I got before I became so sick of it I could take no more. Only Achmed and Grunthor, who play second fiddle to the perfect demi-goddess, kept me going that far. If I ever pick up the series again, it will be for them alone. Sadly doubtful. Oh, and I should mention that if one perfect maiden (whom, at the risk of a small spoiler, was once a prostitute but is now made a VIRGIN again) isn't enough, her leading man is the Gary Stu to end all. Though he is less glaring than she, primarily because you are forced to read more about her than him.

If you loved R.A. Salvatore's tired series about recycled plotlines, races and ideas stolen from Tolkien, and re-re-revived dwarves, barbarians and an unfortunate Drow who transforms from great character into the perfect Stu (although admittedly still far better than many of the other characters) the farther he goes, then this series is for you. Particularly if you are female and the hormones are driving you toward romance novels with just enough swords and sorcery to be called "fantasy". May Rhapsody's heartbreaking beauty bring a tear to your eye and a stirring in your breast. I know it did this for me, although the tears were over my wasted dollars, may they forgive me, and the stirring was a mild case of nausea.

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Rhapsody: Child of Blood
Elizabeth Haydon
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NW9PP6

SYMPHONY OF AGES TRILOGY: Book (1) One: Rhapsody: Child of Blood; Book (2) Two: Prophecy: Child of Earth; Book (3) Three: Destiny: Child of the Sky

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SYMPHONY OF AGES TRILOGY: Book (1) One: Rhapsody: Child of Blood; Book (2) Two: Prophecy: Child of Earth; Book (3) Three: Destiny: Child of the Sky
Elizabeth Haydon
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N20PT6

SYMPHONY OF AGES: Book (1) One: Rhapsody: Child of Blood; Book (2) Two: Prophecy: Child of Earth; Book (3) Three: Destiny: Child of the Sky; Book (4) Four: Requiem for the Sun

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SYMPHONY OF AGES: Book (1) One: Rhapsody: Child of Blood; Book (2) Two: Prophecy: Child of Earth; Book (3) Three: Destiny: Child of the Sky; Book (4) Four: Requiem for the Sun
Elizabeth Haydon
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NRXRBY

Customer Reviews:

My thoughts.......2007-08-06

It's a good read , But Spawn is better and the wittings is a bit off , it needs a bit more of the spawn influence in it , Bat man makes Spawn look like a weenie in this book and Batman is too bossy .

what happened.......2004-03-16

I want to know what happened here. You've got two of the coolest comic book characters (outside of Marvel): Batman and Spawn. This should have been great. But it was hampered with a weak story and minimal contact between our two superheros. Even the artwork wasn't that great. Come on guys--you could have done better.

WORST GRAPHIC NOVEL EVER!.......2000-03-25

nevermind the plot here. this novel is oh so poorly poorly drawn! the action too hard to follow. looks like kids drew this!

Horrible, one of the worst comic books out there.......1998-01-30

This is a book that should have never come out. If you want to read a Batman story look into his many trade paperbacks and spawn has several too, just do not read this book, you will regret it if you do.

Batman and Spawn #1 : War Devil (Image - DC Comics)

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Batman and Spawn #1 : War Devil (Image - DC Comics)
Doug Moench , Chuck Dixon , and Alan Grant
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Great book on Barth's theology from a Catholic perspective.......2007-08-02

This is a well written book which provides a succinct overview of Karl Barth's theology and development of thought over his career as a theologian. It will provide the reader with a road map for further studies into the vast work of this prolific thinker from another great theologian who is always respectful of Barth while careful to delineate
the many similarities and contrasts within the light of Catholic theology. Balthasar does write in such a way that Barth can and does speak for himself and this alone makes this book worthwhile. This is a book that Protestants and Catholics alike can find rewarding.

Still Worth Reading.......2005-10-29

Though now superceded by Bruce McCormack's book on Barth (Karl Barth's Critically Realistic Dialectial Theology) Von Balthasar's book still contains a beautiful interpretation of Barth's theology. The book is very well written, understandable, and appreciative. For those looking for a good introduction into Barth's theology this is one book to have on the shelf.

A classic interpretive and ecumenical study.......2000-04-13

An excellent book! Not only is this a significant work by one of the past century's most important Roman Catholic theologians, but it has set a paradigm for Barth interpretation for 40 years since its publication - even among Protestant scholars. Balthasar's study focuses on the issue of nature and grace (naturally) and the promise of Christological ways of theologizing for ecumenical dialogue. Balthasar's reading of Barth's theological development has been challenged of late (Bruce McCormack), but his 'magisterial work' contains so much promise and insight that it is not likely to be outdated anytime soon. I definately recomend this book to anyone interested in Barth, Balthasar, or in Catholic-Protestant dialogue.

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