Book Description
In 1943, General Thadeus Dreyer, a WWI hero who trains doubles for Nazi leaders, disappears. In 1960, Adolf Eichmann, a master chess player, is arrested in Buenos Aires, extradited to Israel, and hanged. Years later, a dying Polish count casts doubt on Eichmann's identity, leaving behind a manuscript with clues that tie the three men together. A gripping novel of imposture and identity, Shadow Without a Name is a harrowing parable of our century of chaos, where individual will is swamped by the cult of personality and destinies hang on a game of chess.
Customer Reviews:
Imagination, identification and . . . ?.......2005-08-01
With brilliant prose, Padilla enacts a complex scenario traversing several generations and nationalities. The theme is mixed identities and how we can delude ourselves as much as we can others. The complexity is enhanced by the use of chess-playing as an underlying aspect. Narrated by four men, Ukrainian, British and Austrian, we are led through the horrors of World War I to the bizarre loyalties engendered by the rise of Hitler in the post-war era. Chess becomes the means of identification and communication for men whose grasp of reality, no matter how forcefully it confronts them, seems to be slippery. Each character is haunted by dark memories and a bleak future. The futures, wholly Sophoclean, must be fulfilled. Only the ongoing confusion of identities offers any diversion from inevitability.
While Padilla's captivating prose maintains a riveting command of the reader's attention, closing the book results only in a terrible let-down. In the final analysis, the tale is pointless. Awareness of the rationale for the book comes late, as it should, but offers no solution for what Padilla poses as the essential issue. Who was the man stretching a rope in Tel Aviv in May, 1962? Was there a conspiracy by the Nazi leadership to distract pursuers at the war's end with doubles? Does it matter?
It is easy to be dazzled by Padilla's deft language ability. His sense of history is strong, exhibiting sound knowledge of places and events. He uses Sophocles as a model to deflect our attention from options and choices life offers. He manipulates the characters like a divinity. Even the swift changes of identity by the men don't appear as rational choices, but something imposed by Fate. These are caricatures of lives and not very good caricatures at that. These men are automatons, driven by dreams and memories, clumsy puppeteers at best. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Amphitryon.......2005-06-07
This outstanding novel was called "Amphitryon" when it was originally published in Spain. Amphitryon was a man whose identity was stolen by Zeus so that the god could sleep with his wife. As the original title implies, the book is about multiple identity thefts and switches. It is also a parable of the human condition ib the now dead 20th century. As such, it is a must read for the serious reader
Intriguing concept but mixed execution.......2004-06-24
At first, I was gripped by the idea behind the book -- exchanged identities, fate (or lack of it), being -- but I can't really give "Shadow without a name" a positive review. The novel in the end is too schematic. At the same time, Padilla's reflections on his chosen themes are too abstract, something which couldn't have been helped by a very indifferent translation, and don't come to life. This is a novel, after all, and not an essay. Ultimately unsuccessful.
Great Style.......2004-04-28
Shadow without a name is a novel very much in the frequency of contemporary Mexican literature. Padilla, along with other writers, are responding to the initial success of Post-Boom narrative by taking over the market seduced by the folkloric version of Mexico (leaded by the nasty Like Water for Chocolate) through the usage of resources and topics that have nothing to do with Mexico. In the case of Padilla's novel, the plot is centered on a story of suplantations, beneath which lies an obscure nazi project to create doubles for political figures. Even though this topic sounds like a Michael Crichton novel, Amphitryon is far from such literature, due to the formal and stylistic construction. The book is very readable and, with the award it got in its Spanish edition, is likely to occupy a central place in Mexican literature. Nonetheless, readers should not wait a deep usage of the nazi topic, since it is only a pretext to develop a narrative strategy. I think the novel will eventually raise the question on the validity to rely on such historical facts to create a story that does not express the horror of the nazis on its full extent. Even so, the novel is a great book for the casual reader. We are only left to expect that the amazing narrative abilities of Padilla will produce a masterpiece in the future.
Chilling, ingenious........2004-01-15
The novel is a progression of stories, each told by a different narrator, and written at a different time, but each casting light on the events and characters in the previous stories. The title, as well as the story names, seem to suggest that this is a philosophical novel about loss of identity. I don't quite take it away. It is a chilling, almost soulless evocation of the dislocations of 20th century central Europe, a time when nihilism seems most in tune with the world. Identities are not lost so much as stolen. It is written in a simple, effective style, and the plotting is ingenious and highly original. One of the characters, Richard Schley, battles for the remnant of his soul, and I enjoyed most the story narrated by him. Conversely, I found little to like or admire in the first story of the novel, so my advice to readers put off by that material is to stick with it, the rest of the novel is 5 star.
Customer Reviews:
Intriguing!.......2006-03-25
Rarely have I seen a product that can stand as both a gaming aid and good (if pulpy) read, but Life of Sigmar does both.
Written in the style of a `modern' scholar who has compiled legend and artifact into a coherent story, Life of Sigmar tells of the young prince of a bronze-age Teutonic tribe in the Warhammer world. In this capacity the book is a somewhat clinical (or appropriately scholarly) telling of a coming of age story. Sigmar makes mistakes, learns lessons of wisdom and leadership from his archetypal father, and performs impetuous feats of strength and valor. Although fairly banal, it's evocative of a religious parable or Renaissance-era recording of an oral mythic tradition. Sigmar himself comes across as an Elric or Jesus-like character, vaguely familiar in his brooding seriousness and not defined as much more than an icon. All of this reinforces the `in-character' nature of the book. Nothing revolutionary here, but it's an easy and decently entertaining read, with plenty of orc smashing and epic warfare.
Where Life of Sigmar really comes into its own is in the presentation. Even the necessary copyright information is hidden away in the back, creating an immersive feel and look. The pocket-sized hardbound cover, gold-leaf comet and lettering on the front, and a wide array of woodcuts and simple line drawings give one the impression it was pulled right off of a table in Altdorf and into the real world. It's really quite cool to see woodcuts depicting particular Warhammer style orcs, or oft-mentioned events like the birth of Sigmar under a twin-tailed comet or his mysterious departure to dwarfish lands. I could see this book being utilized in a Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay campaign as a player handout, perhaps as a reference work in an investigative campaign. It would be great for GMs trying to get a feel for texts in the Empire, or flesh out devout NPCs and their beliefs about Sigmar as a man, before he was patron deity of that land. For fans of the Warhammer world in general, it's an atmospheric and thought-provoking view into the output and beliefs of Imperial citizens.
Overall, the book was a decently entertaining read and unique `inside-out' view of the Warhammer world and its history.
Average customer rating:
- Star Split
- A Miss
- What?? I dont get it!!
- Actual Science Fiction that doesn't creep you out
- Stop The Cloning!
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Star Split
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Hyperion
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Binding: Paperback
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Double Helix (Puffin Sleuth Novels)
ASIN: 078681568X |
Amazon.com
Thirteen-year-old Darci lives in a future of near genetic perfection. In the year 3028, gene research has reached such heights that terminal diseases no longer exist and celebrated scientists and artists are chosen for "umbellation," or cloning, so that their great brains can live on forever. In Darci's society, genetic laws are made by the Bio Union, a governmental agency that closely tracks all genetic research and severely punishes those who dare to commit the worst crime of all: illegal umbellation. Despite all this, Darci's life is a normal one, if not somewhat boring. After all, she knows all of her traits intimately--she has extensively studied her own DNA and that of her family. What fascinates her is the past, when life wasn't so predictable, "a time of cripples and geniuses ... a time of grace and mystery when not all could be controlled and not all known." Darci soon discovers that she herself has been cloned. Not knowing if or when she will be found out, Darci fears for her life and wonders for the first time about the meaning behind a long-extinct word: soul.
With Star Split, author Kathryn Lasky makes a dramatic departure from her usual historical-fiction fare. Though the story has a few unexplained holes--mostly due to the complicated scientific nature of the setting--Lasky's plot is so thought-provoking that teens won't be able to put it down until Darci's fate is decided. This is an excellent book for teens dealing with the implications of a new millennium. (Ages 12 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
"Lasky provocatively explores the ethics of genetic engineering in this well-plotted novel set in the year 3038. Like everyone she knows, 13-year-old Darci Murlowe is a Genhant, or Genetically Enhanced Human, implanted with a 48th chromosome. But Darci is fascinated by 'Originals,' people whose ancestors could not afford extra genetic material, and she unhappily wonders if her DNA, so carefully chosen by her parents, has compromised her ability to determine her own future. These concerns shrink in the face of a shocker - Darci runs into a clone of herself, living evidence that her parents must have committed the capital crime of 'duplication.'" - Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews:
Star Split.......2007-05-18
"I'm not just your copy, Darci. I'm more than just that... I know I am ME and that is different from you." Darci went to a rock climbing camp and while she was at the top of the Greybeards, she was amazed to see an exact copy of her. Vivian is Darci's umbulae, clone of the future, and was created when Darci was young because she was expected to die at the age of six weeks due to stronichylimia. Darci, Vivian, Darci's mother, and Darci's father were going to be killed for being part of an umbulation process, but the Prima and the Prima Matri decided to kill themselves instead of the four ubulation processors. I highly recommend this book to people who like science fiction.
Star Split was challenging to read and kept you thinking. The vocabulary was difficult at first, but got easier as you continued reading. The word umbulae meant clone, but I though it meant baby. In the book, there was a museum for dead language. In the museum, there were words like Godor Lord and poetry.
Star Split had a great sequence of events. Everything seemed to happen in order instead of jumping around a little bit, like some books. Every event led up to another unexpected event, which kept me interested. If the sequence of events jumped around, I think it would have been hard to read.
Star Split had an amazing ending. I believed that Darci and Vivian were going to be burned to death for their crime, but ended up escaping. They moved west to the federation lands where cloning was not illegal. Her parents also escaped and lived together as a family with Vivian's uncle.
Star Split is filled with amazing events. For example, when Darci climbed to the top of Greybeards and met Vivian; also, when Vivian figured out her uncle was dating the Prima and the Prima Matri gave their lives for Darci, Vivian, and Darci's parents. This was a great book that I strongly recommend.
A Miss.......2005-05-28
I read this book for a book club in school and although the other members of the club and I are really different (like ham and stone), we agreed in unison that this book isn't really worth reading unless you're trying to see what *not* to do in a book.
Star Split is basically set in a futuristic world where cloning (to a degree) is possible following the life of a typical girl named Darcy.
Since the book is mostly about Darcy, I'll start by talking about her. Ugh, I can't stand her. I thnk Ms Kathryn Lasky was trying to make her likeable and "normal", but it was a compleeeeeeete miss and she just seemed like a bit of a brat. I knew enough from her dialogue and action that she's a bit of a brat, though she still seemed distant and stiff character. I think I can say that all of the characters of Star Split are shallow, but I guess it's not easy to go in depth on a character with a limited number of pages.
The futuristic world the story was set in was extremely flawed and vague, and there were so many obvious holes in the world that my bookclubbers and I started looking for them for fun. The plot was very half baked and though there was a certain amount of work leading up to it, it all leads to a big ol' nothing, like opening a present and finding a rock.
Despite its "involvement" with cloning, the book really didn't provide much information on cloning or raise any new thinking, which is what I expected it to do. If you're looking for a good cloning/sci-fi fiction book, I highly recommend "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer instead. Ovearll, the book was shallow, the plot was uninteresting and without climax, and it was just way too rushed.
I gave it two stars for the effort, and because chances are most kids aren't as picky as I and some might even find this book fabulous.
What?? I dont get it!!.......2005-04-12
Oh wow!! This book was assigned to me by my fifth grade teacher.
When I started to read this i thought hey!! This sounds good so I read it and as soon as I got to the end wow the charecters coming to fast I dont even know what a chimera was and also what in the name of pearl is an umbulae??
Now we have to write a book report.
Thank you all for writing reviews because now I understand it. Because I read 10 reviews online and printed 5!!
Actual Science Fiction that doesn't creep you out.......2005-03-13
The plot, truth be told, is kinda sad, kinda interesting, but very good. And yes, there is more than just genetic enhancement involved in the book. there is also medicine and technology enhancement,too. they both add in colorfully into the plot of illegal cloning and different-ness(that's not actually a word, you know. In fact, Kaththryn Lasky is just as good in sci-fi as in any other genre she may have done.
Stop The Cloning!.......2005-02-23
Star Split by Kathryn Lasky is science fiction. It takes place in 3013 (in the fourth millennium). The Characters live in a society called the Bio Union. One of the main characters, Darci, goes to a rock climbing camp and meets her illegal clone, Vivian. In the rest of the book, Darci and Vivian are struggling with themselves over the facts that one is a clone of the other, that the Bio Union is evil, and their parents are part of an association trying to change the Bio Union.
In Star Split, the main point is " just be yourself or something bad is sure to follow." I think that the author also doesn't like cloning. One example from the text is, Darci and her friend are in a cafe and her friend tells her that their word for cloning comes from the reproducing of flowers, and Darci tells him,"figures, it's all part of a lie,a very big lie, it probably started in the time that they called the black time. I mean flowers - who can object to flowers? If you want to do something kinda weird of risky, call it a nice sweet name. Another message of the book is that we are all different and that's okay. At the end of the book Darci and Vivian find that even though they are clones, their minds work differently and they realize that should accept that no one is the same. Finally, the author tells us that you must stand up for your self no matter what the oods are. Darci parents are part of an underground society that stood up agenst itself agenst The GOVERNMENT even though there was a slim chance of success!
I think that the book is well written. There is diversity in sentence length, the sentences flow together, and the author isn't saying the same thing over and over and over. the author was really descriptive. She really brought the story to life, the predicaments seem clear, and the setting, man, you could almost see it! "This quite place, this soundless place, this wordless place with just the clink of plates and cups,and shadows of fingers on the wall.
The author hid her personality behind the curtain. She seems more interested in ideas, sentence fluency, word choice, and the other traits.
I like the fact that Star Spit only 1000 years from now because I can really relate to the characters. Hey look at Star Wars, that's AFTER sun blown up the earth! I personally like that, as the characters feel like the world is falling down around them, they keep their cool . As Max Lasvaetch said (he's a character from the book) "Pour Darci, she met her clone no wonder she's dyed her hair red and cropped it short! This shows Darci can just disguise herself and get on with her life. Unfortunately there is one con. Yes a con!("Gasp") In this story the author doesn't tell us what some places are. When the author says "This was the greatest honor in the Bio Union," she doesn't tell us what the Bio Union is. I would recommend this book to any old body, except people who think that science fiction is really bad, really bad, or people that need everything spelled out.
Average customer rating:
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Star Split
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: SCHOLASTIC INC. @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SEMDZS |
Average customer rating:
|
Native All-Stars split games in Czech Republic.: An article from: Wind Speaker
Heather Faulkner
Manufacturer: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
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ASIN: B00098DG72
Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Wind Speaker, published by Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) on April 1, 1998. The length of the article is 1050 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: Native All-Stars split games in Czech Republic.
Author: Heather Faulkner
Publication:
Wind Speaker (Newsletter)
Date: April 1, 1998
Publisher: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA)
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Page: 20
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
15 Minutes Alone with God is designed to help women develop consistent devotional habits. At the same time it does more than teach women how to organize their quiet times. It’s also filled with warm, open meditations Emilie has written especially for busy women, providing encouragement and direction for the day from someone who’s been there.
These meditations
- take 15 minutes or less
- contain a Scripture lesson, a key verse, an uplifting meditation, and additional Scripture readings
- suggest several “Thoughts for Action”—practical ways women can put God’s Word into work in their lives
Readers will experience God’s touch as never before as Emilie includes thoughts about loved ones, encouragement, worry, grace, and other subjects close to heart and home.
Customer Reviews:
15 Minutes Alone With God.......2005-07-30
Book is in like new, great condition. This is a well written book, excellent for reading during individual quiet time or time of prayer.
15 min alone with God.......2002-01-06
This book was very uplifting and I really enjoyed it. I felt that my walk with God deepened. I liked that you can skip around and do which ever one you want to do. I did alot of journaling with the thoughts for action. I also liked that it had additional scripture that deals with the same topic.
15 Minutes Alone with God.......2000-10-08
Many devotionals are too brief, being only a few paragraphs long. These daily readings are a few pages each, so they have more meat to them. Each devotion begins with a scripture reference followed by Emilie's application of the scripture, some suggested action steps, and a brief prayer. In the scripture applications, Emilie focuses on her personal experiences and experiences in the daily lives of most women. She encourages readers to apply God's principles in their roles as wives, mothers, friends, and professionals. I have recommended this book to many women, and I passed my copy along to a friend. I wish more devotionals followed this format.
Uses real life situations to show us God's love.......1999-07-29
This book has revived my quite time with the Lord. God has used her writings to bring me back to a desire to be with Him everyday for time alone. She uses real life, down to earth situations to show us where God is working and how we can better follow His ways. Excellent book!
This is a wonderful Devotional!.......1998-12-31
Not only is this a wonderful devotional but it is so inspiring! Emilie includes wonderful tips and ideas for making family times special times! It really does only take 15 minutes "Alone with God" each day to make a difference in your life! Once again to Emilie Barnes I say, Thank you!
Book Description
Updated and with a handsome new cover, this popular guide (170,000 copies sold) provides men with everything they need for daily spiritual refreshment and renewal. Like an older brother, Bob Barnes encourages men to develop their character as they enjoy intimate, life–changing encounters with God.
Each day’s offering includes a short Scripture reading (and a key verse to focus on throughout the day), a simple but thought–provoking devotion based on everyday life, a prayer, and action points that help guys apply what they read. These dynamic 15–minute devotions will inspire, challenge, and equip men to grow closer to God and more effectively love and lead the people God has placed in their lives.
Customer Reviews:
Buy it NOW! You won't be dissapointed........2002-04-23
I was given this book as a gift from my father-in-law after a retreat. I have read many religious and philophical books over the years, and find that finishing them (or making time to read them consistently) is a big problem. This book is perfect!
It literally only takes 15 minutes (sometimes less, sometimes slightly more) to revitalize your faith, listen to God's word and its application to you (without being preachy), and see what actual grace God is trying to share with you.
I highly recommend this both to the "novice" religious reader, as well as the "well-read" Christian. Either way, there is a lot God has to tell you through His own words and through the words of Bob Barnes.
A great book for men.......2001-05-15
A good book to use as your daily devotion. Each section has a short scripture reading, a page or two of comments, then a section suggesting actions you can take relating to the topic. This is a great way to see what the bible has to say about the promises and expectations that God has for men.
A book for all men.......1998-11-23
When teaching Bible studies on prayer, I have often looked for a tool to help those new to prayer answer the question of "Where do I begin"? This book is a wonderful starting point in that no matter what page you start on, you will always find an inspirational message and a place to begin your prayer time. I often find myself studying 3 or 4 sections at one time.
What a WONDERFUL BOOK for our husbands.......1998-02-25
Bob really knows and understands how to reach our husbands. The way the book is laid out, it really seems to reach every man who reads it. It is wonderful the way Bob has written this book. It helps the men in our lives to open up and start sharing. I highly recommend this book for all the special men in our lives.
Average customer rating:
- Best 15 Minute Daily Devotional Book for Women!
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Quiet Moments for the Heart and Soul (15 Minutes Alone With God / 15 Minutes Of Peace With God)
Emilie Barnes
Manufacturer: Inspirational Press (NY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Christian Living
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| Worship & Devotion
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ASIN: 0884862526 |
Customer Reviews:
Best 15 Minute Daily Devotional Book for Women!.......2000-01-23
Scriptures are cited, followed by a contemporary story. Further readings and suggestions for self-guided activities are given. So many people think they just don't have time to read the Bible daily until they read this book. A friend gave me a copy as a gift, and I love it!
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- The Best American Erotica 2002 (Best American Erotica)
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Antipodes: Stories
