The Annotated Lost World

The Annotated Lost World
Average customer rating:

excellent notes on a dated but fascinating novel

A collector's item

Great Bloody Book

Exquisite Edition of the Classic Adventure Story

A labor of love in annotating this important work

The Annotated Lost World
Arthur Conan, Sir Doyle
Manufacturer: Wessex Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
jp-unknown2 | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Lost World (Restored Edition)

ASIN: 0938501232

Book Description

Annotated by Roy Pilot and Alvin Rodin, this is the definitive edition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic tale of dinosaurs and adventure. Heavily illustrated, with hardcover and dustjacket,and including hundreds of annotations and appendicies, The Annotated Lost world is a modern classic.

Customer Reviews:

excellent notes on a dated but fascinating novel.......2002-05-08

With the DVD remastering of the 1925 film of "The Lost World", this book makes a fascinating companion. I read the novel in my teens and it was fun to re-enter Doyle's world and remeet the fascinating Prof.

Get the book and the remastered DVD - making sure you get the restored version.

A collector's item.......2001-10-23

This handsome (Wessex = listed here as Gasogene) edition of an enthralling yet sadly neglected masterpiece by Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, is enhanced by dozens of insightful annotations, all the original illustrations, as well as a stockpile of in-depth, illuminating essays on the origins of the work itself, its adaptation to the silent screen, and more. Five- star rating both for content and presentation. A collector's item, well worth the price.

Great Bloody Book.......2000-07-23

A Classic. I have to agreee that I do not think Micheal read this book. One of Doyles best with out a doubt. Challenger is as good a hero as Holmes. Thank god for America releasing the 1925 film on DVD.

Exquisite Edition of the Classic Adventure Story.......2000-05-17

A classic in the tradition of the scientific romance, in which Sir Arthur introduces the irascible Professor Challenger, discoverer of a plateau of ancient flora and fauna, living fossils. Mr. Pilot and Mr. Rodin's splendid annotated edition enhance the pleasure of the read with bits of history and other background fabric. Especially delightful are the Harry Rountree and Joseph Clement Coll illustrations from early serialized versions of the story, reprinted throughout the book. In addition to the annotations, four appendices provide further history and commentary. You'll even find Conan Doyle and friends disquised as the book's characters in old photographs prepared for the first British edition. Although a little expensive, it's well worth the price for anyone interested in something more than the casual read of this popular novel.

A labor of love in annotating this important work.......1999-02-06

Roy Pilot and Al Rodin have obviously spent hundreds of hours researching and gathering together material which explains, informs, and illuminates this important work. The appendix on the silent film alone is worth the price! Wessex Press is to be commended on the care and attention which is evident in the production of this gem.

Book Description

Joe R. Lansdale compiles and introduces 26 of his own favorite and most violent dark horror tales in this review of his work. "God of the Razor" introduces the dark god behind serial killers. A martial arts fight to the death between a reluctant champion and a sadistic alpha male is featured in "Master of Misery." Human sacrifice to ensure prosperity and as a coming-of-age ritual, are themes of "On a Dark October" and "Duck Hunt." In "The Fat Man," young boys learn the hard way that some mysteries should not be investigated. Many of the tales are truly weird, such as "Chompers," a story of false teeth with an appetite. All of the stories are individually introduced by Lansdale, who explains the humorous, weird, and sometimes sad genesis for each.

Customer Reviews:

Workmanlike.......2006-07-19

I don't grade on a curve and give every book a 5 start rating.
The author says that Bumper Crop means the overage from a good crop. These stories basically did not make the author's cut for a previous collection. That explaination nails the collection right on. They are fine stories, with a bit of a low rent Lovecraft feel to more than a few of them. I used the book for bedside reading but it would work as travel reading just as well. I read and enjoyed one of the author's Texas buddy tales and decided to try his horror stories. As I say this isn't memorable but it's a good read.

Nice Companion Piece to High Cotton.......2006-03-03

While I haven't read "High Cotton" yet, I have read most of the stories in it. As had I read most of the stories in this anthology. "Bestsellers Guaranteed" and "By Bizarre Hands" collected the majority of Lansdale's fiction back in the day, and it is from these two books where the majority of these two books come. I think he focuses on novels now, and I'm not sure how much short fiction he has published in the last decade or so. Rather than simply reprinting them with a new introduction, Lansdale and editors put these two collections together.

That's fine with me... There are some new attractions. Lansdale includes a new introduction to each story. His introductions are often so funny I wish he would compile a collection of intros and other nonfiction. "A Fistfull of Stories" collected a good bit of his nonfiction, for those who are interested. I enjoyed this collection, as it had been so long since I'd read most of the stories I had forgotten many of them. I look forward to the next mainstream Lansdale story collection which, hopefully, will contain a majority of new material.

Glimpses at greatness........2005-03-01

If High Cotton could have been titled The Best of Joe R. Lansdale, then Bumper Crop's revised one would be The Early Stories of Joe R. Lansdale. I have been a fan of Lansdale since 1982 or so, back when he was beginning to see regular print in the pages of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone Magazine -and it is nice to have those short shorts that I remember so clearly (The Dump, Chompers, etc.) finally collected into a book format. Most of the stories in this collection were written fast, or before Lansdale had discovered, refined, and polished his blackly comic and ruggedly vulgar writing style, so those expecting the artistic heights found in High Cotton will be confused or disappointed. These are the stories that contained the flickers and hints of the greatness that was growing within Lansdale's writing. Highly recommended.

Joe Gets Weird.......2005-02-22

The stories contained in this collection are, in a word, weird. I love Lansdale's stuff and originally got into his work as a horror fan, enjoying "The Night They Missed The Horror Show" so much that I quickly snatched up all of his "horror" stuff. After reading the excellent short story collection "High Cotton" I moved on to "Bumper Crop" expecting more of the same.

While "Bumper Crop" has its fair share of horror tales, the stories are more along the lines of weird Twilight Zone-esque yarns, with the strangest twists and turns you'll ever read. There are also a few fantasy-type pieces, and some rather intensely violent pieces that play out only as Lansdale can do. Absolutely worth reading, but if you're more of horror fan, I recommend "High Cotton" as the quintesential Joe R. Lansdale short story collection.

Disappointed.......2005-01-08

After reading some of the glowing reviews for this books I was somewhat amazed at the low quality of the writing. The stories are, for the most part, poorly crafted and sophmoric. A few shine feebly but mostly I'de like my money and time back. The author introduces each tale with a story about its genesis. From reading most of the introiductions I have gotten the sense that a) he is his own biggest fan, b) he wants to remind everyone every 10 pages that he has met T.E.D. Klein and c) he has read some Bradybury in his day.

As no novice in the field of literature (horror, mystery and fantasy) I can assure you that, as a whole, this rates as one of the poorest anthologies I have ever picked up. Run away, and quickly, and buy yourself some M.R. James, Kim Newman or Lovecraft.

Average customer rating:

A decent read for Buckeye fans

Buckeye Bumper Crops
Bill Conley , and J.C. Philips
Manufacturer: Conley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Football | Biographies | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books

College & University | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Buckeye Madness: The Glorious, Tumultuous, Behind-the-Scenes Story of Ohio State Football
The Ten Year War: Ten Classic Games Between Bo and Woody
Game Day Ohio State Football: The Greatest Games, Players, Coaches, And Teams in the Glorious Tradition of Buckeye Football (Game Day)
A Fire to Win: The Life and Times of Woody Hayes

ASIN: 0977399109

Book Description

Celebrated recruiter, respected coach, and acclaimed motivational speaker Bill Conley was a commanding force in Division I college football as an assistant to successful Ohio State Buckeye head coaches Earle Bruce, John Cooper, and Jim Tressel. Buckeye Bumper Crops follows Conley's storybook 17-year career at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. His honest and personal tales of triumph and turmoil will captivate fans and observers of the athletic, economic, and social phenomenon that is modern-day college football.

Customer Reviews:

A decent read for Buckeye fans.......2007-01-17

The book was a good quick read with some nice stories about some of the star recruits Bill Conley helped bring into The Ohio State University. I was a bit disappointed in that there wasn't more inside scoop than there was but...oh well. You won't find any earthshattering news here about the program but it will be a nice read for Buckeye fans on a lazy afternoon.

Average customer rating:

BENNETT CERF'S BUMPER CROP

Manufacturer: New York: Garden City Books, 1956
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HYLXZK

Bennett Cerf's bumper crop of anecdotes and stories

Average customer rating:

Bennett Cerf's bumper crop of anecdotes and stories
Bennett Cerf
Manufacturer: Garden City Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007DL4EQ

Bennett Cerf's Bumper Crop of Anecdotes and Stories (Vol I)

Average customer rating:

Bennett Cerf's Bumper Crop of Anecdotes and Stories (Vol I)

Manufacturer: Garden City Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H5LVM4

BENNETT CERF'S BUMPER CROP of anecdotes and stories, mostly humorous, about the Famous and Near Famous Volume 2

Average customer rating:

BENNETT CERF'S BUMPER CROP of anecdotes and stories, mostly humorous, about the Famous and Near Famous Volume 2

Manufacturer: Garden City Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HH4EK8

Bennett Cerf's Bumper Crop of Antecdotes and Stories..., Volume1.

Average customer rating:

Bennett Cerf's Bumper Crop of Antecdotes and Stories..., Volume1.
Bennett. Cerf
Manufacturer: Garden City Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0KZZG

Average customer rating:

Bennett Cerf's Bumper Crop, Volume 2
Bennett Cerf
Manufacturer: Garden City Books, Garden City, NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O6JZB0

Bennett Cerf's BUMPER CROP. The Life of the party, Good for a Laugh, Try and Stop Me, etc. Volume 2

Average customer rating:

Bennett Cerf's BUMPER CROP. The Life of the party, Good for a Laugh, Try and Stop Me, etc. Volume 2
Bennett, Illustrated by Anderson, Doug Cerf
Manufacturer: Garden City
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ND2WQO

Average customer rating:

Bennett Cerf's Bumper Crop: Vol 2
Bennett Cerf
Manufacturer: Garden City Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NOYK6I

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
Average customer rating:

Good Book

The title says it all: the *best*

Mostly good.

Internet savvy or trying to be.

Where are the women?

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection

Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Dozois, Gardner | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Anthologies | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Short Stories | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Year's Best Science Fiction, Thirteenth Annual Collection

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Ninth Annual Collection

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Eleventh Annual Collection (Year's Best Science Fiction)

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fourteenth Annual Collection (Year's Best Science Fiction)

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Nineteenth Annual Collection (Year's Best Science Fiction)

ASIN: 0312190336

Amazon.com

Each year science fiction's premiere short fiction editor, Gardner Dozois, collects dozens of excellent stories in a chunky volume that is eagerly anticipated by readers and writers alike. The 15th annual collection includes 28 stories in all, culled from the pages of Dozois's magazine Asimov's Science Fiction, as well as from competing publications, anthologies, and even a few online fiction zines. The names read like a Who's Who of the sci-fi field: Robert Silverberg, Nancy Kress, Greg Egan, Peter F. Hamilton, Gregory Benford, Walter Jon Williams, and more. The stories are the best of the best, selected with Dozois's always keen eye for excellence. The anthology also includes an invaluable summation about the state of the science fiction publishing field, and a list of honorable mentions (think of them as almost-made-its) for 1997. --Craig Engler

Book Description

Gardner Dozois, science fiction's foremost editor, consistently selects the field's best work each year with this showcase anthology. This year's collection presents sterling work from veterans and newcomers alike, including Stephen Baxter, Alan Brennert, Carolyn Ives Gilman, James Patrick Kelly, Geoffrey A. Landis, Paul J. McAuley, Robert Reed, William Sanders, Howard Waldrop, and many others. Rounded out with Dozois's insightful Summation of the Year in SF and a long list of Honorable Mentions, this anthology is the book for every science fiction fan.

Customer Reviews:

Good Book.......2002-02-17

Best ear ever. Some years have had stories better then the ones that are in this book, but quantity of good stories was better then any other year. If you've read any of Dozois' yearly collections then you need to read this one!

The title says it all: the *best*.......1999-10-21

Most of the best science fiction being written today comes in the form of short stories, and this enormous anthology collects them. It's a must-buy for anybody who wants to read the best new SF of the year

Mostly good........1999-01-11

There were some stories that ,although good, made me ask "Is that really one of the best?". "Escape Route" & "Agamemnon" for example & I wish he'd chosen Landis's "Eciopesis" instead of his "Winter Fire". Regardless there is a great variety in this anthology. Two stories each about spies on moons & alternate Elizabethan times. Far future tales about earth & generation starships. A fair amount on genetics & even an alien invasion story. As for women well the sad truth is only about 30 percent of science fiction stories are written by women. True this still makes this issue (& the previous one) an underrepresentation of them, but it means the thirteenth & several others were accurate. Best not to make too much of such statistical fluctuations. The intro seemed even more internet involved then in recent years. I bring that up because in previous years some of my favorite stories were from the Internet & this year that wasn't quite true. Although I liked "Open Veins" & "Masque of Agamemnon" they weren't as good as previous online stories like "Feigenbaum Number" for example. Oh well probably just another statistical anomaly. The strongest stories have pretty much been covered so I'l wrap up there.

Internet savvy or trying to be........1999-01-03

Since the stories have been thoroughly covered I'll talk a bit about the intro & other things. It is his main advantage over Hartwell & I think it's worth discussing. It seemed more hopeful than in recent years which have been somewhat doomsaying. The figures he brought up seemed to contradict this optimism, but I hope he's right in any case. He also covered the Internet quite a bit maybe too much. I hope he doesn't turn Asimov's into an e-zine or anything. I did notice that unlike the first one I got (the thirteenth) women authors were not well represented. Sadly I did not think most of the women authored stories he chose were that great either. If that makes me sound sexist let me just say some of my favorite stories from the thirteenth were by women. Furthermore I wish he'd included "Soul Selects her Own Society..." by Willis in the 14th. Whom am I to criticize since I can't think of any women authored stories he should've chosen this year. Anyway I don't think he's gone too hard sfish either like some have said. Waldrop's story was certaintly out there & McDonald's almost read like mainstream fiction. Ironically he's traditionally been criticized for not picking enough hard sf. You can't please everyone. I actually liked "We Will Drink a Fish Together", but I do find it's popularity puzzling. Surely the average sf reader didn't come from a small eccentric mountain town like I did. Also I've never heard of Bill Johnson. I am peculiarily pleased that Dozois' chose some stories that don't work from a literary perspective since much great sf doesn't.

Where are the women?.......1998-12-18

This is the second anthology I've read edited by Dozois and I am sorely disappointed in the paucity of women writers. Four out of 28 is hardly representative of the women writing in sf today. Just look at the honorable mentions in the back and one can see that they are writing and well represented in the field. His other anthology failed in this respect, also. Though many of the stories were strong there were a few I thought mediocre. Bill Johnson's "We will drink a fish together..." was tedious and the characters poorly developed. The story line was not all that original either. Greg Egan's "Reasons to be cheerful" was a unique look at the drawbacks and advances in modern medicine. Nancy Kress's story was, as always, exceptional. I would like to see more women writers in the next anthology. I may not buy another otherwise.

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Fifteenth Annual Collection

Average customer rating:

Another Satisfying Entry In The Series
Snnorrrrre Snnnorrrreeeee
Tedious, Overblown, Pretentious, Overwritten......
Another Year, Another Snooze-Fest....
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 15

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Fifteenth Annual Collection

Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Seventeenth Annual Collection (Year's Best Fantasy and Horror)
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Sixteenth Edition
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Eighth Annual Collection (Year's Best Fantasy and Horror)
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Eighteenth Annual Collection (Year's Best Fantasy and Horror)

ASIN: 0312290675

Amazon.com

The collaborative efforts of Ellen Datlow (horror) and Terri Windling (fantasy) are becoming something of a legend, as year after year they deliver the best horror and fantasy short fiction in a fat (500 double-length pages) anthology that avoids pigeonholes with its mingled, unlabeled sample of the two genres. As in previous years, this volume includes more than 100 pages of summaries about the year 1997 in horror and fantasy publishing, horror and fantasy in the media, and comics. The fiction includes 18 stories and 8 poems with just Terri Windling's initials, and 18 stories and 1 poem with Ellen Datlow's initials, with some (presumably dark fantasy) that are tagged by both.

Even more than usual, Ellen Datlow's horror selections introduce a remarkable variety of types of stories. One of the best tales is Molly Brown's "The Psychomantium," about a mirror that allows alternative time lines to intersect, creating double fates for the characters. "The Skull of Charlotte Corday" (photos included) by Leslie Dick takes an essayistic approach to a famous female assassin and some creepy details in the history of sexual surgery. Douglas Clegg's "I Am Infinite, I Contain Multitudes" is a striking body-horror tale that was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. Christopher Harman, P.D. Cacek, Joyce Carol Oates, and Vikram Chandra contribute old-fashioned ghost stories. Gary Braunbeck's "Safe" is reminiscent of the best of Stephen King in its portrayal of realistic horror in a small town. Michael Chabon's "In the Black Mill" more than proves that Lovecraftian horror can transcend shallow pastiche. And other horror notables--such as Michael Cadnum, Christopher Fowler, Caitlín Kiernan, Stephen Laws, Kim Newman, Norman Partridge, and Nicholas Royle--make appearances.

Terri Windling's selections include familiar fantasy names such as Peter Beagle, Charles de Lint, Karen Joy Fowler, and Jane Yolen, and famous genre-crossers such as Ray Bradbury, Howard Waldrop, and Jack Womack. She also provides welcome space for fantasy poetry--charming pieces with images of the Trickster Coyote, Sheela Na Gig, and a mermaid, and titles like "Coffee Jerk at the Gates of Hell." The Pulitzer Prize-winning Steven Millhauser contributes an enchanting tale that originally appeared in the New Yorker. Other tales are inspired by an intriguing range of sources: Gulliver's Travels, Marilyn Monroe, the Scottish legend of the Sineater, the art of glass blowing, Aztec myth, and ancient Jewish lore.

There's no better way to take in the best of these two genres, both for the great selections and the ample pointers to 1997's novels, magazines, art, movies, and comics that you may not have heard about. --Fiona Webster

Book Description

For more than a decade, readers have turned to The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror to find the most rewarding fantastic short stories. Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling continue their critically acclaimed and award-winning tradition with another stunning collection of stories. The fiction and poetry here is culled from an exhaustive survey of the field, nearly four dozen stories ranging from fairy tales to gothic horror, from magical realism to dark tales in the Grand Guignol style. Rounding out the volume are the editors' invaluable overviews of the year in fantasy and horror, a new Year's Best section, on comics, by Charles Vess, and on anime and manga, by Joan D. Vinge, and a long list of Honorable Mentions, making this an indispensable reference as well as the best reading available in fantasy and horror.

Customer Reviews:

Another Satisfying Entry In The Series.......2006-02-07

I collect this series hungrily. There are always at least 10 stories that excite and amaze me, and I do feel they can honestly be called "the best" of each year. I also buy stacks of other genre anthologies, none of which demonstrate such consistent quality. How there came to be a gap on my shelf where this volume ought to be I'm not sure, but I did find out while shopping for its replacement what others have discovered: it is frustratingly difficult to get an accurate report of the contents of each of these volumes. Of the several well-written and helpful reader reviews, one refers to the 11th edition, another, while begging Amazon to represent it faithfully, nevertheless is clearly misfiled, describing the contents of the 14th. To be sure, even as I snarl and curse my way through the tangle of confusion I salute each reviewer's insights; I only wish their efforts could be properly represented. To help other benighted seekers, I'm suggesting a visit to this site, an extremely valuable and meticulously maintained resource.
locusmag.com/index/2002

Snnorrrrre Snnnorrrreeeee.......2003-05-07

For some reason, the folks at Amazon keep posting my reviews for this series in the wrong place, so expecting that to happen again this time, let me clarify: The review is covering the FOURTEENTH edition.

Years ago, I made the mistake of taking "The Year's Best" title seriously, and rushed out and bought all the books in the series I could get my hands on. That turned out to be a BIG mistake, as Editors Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling seem to have very different ideas from me about what makes a good story. Luckily, this is the last volume I was unfortunate enough to purchase.

I'll skip the usual complaints this time out. I won't rant about the overlong year-in-review segments. I won't mention the fact that Windling's Fantasy selections monopolixe the book. I won't utter a word about Windling's bizarre penchant for poetry and rehashed versions of older-than-dirt fairy-tales. I'll concentrate on the stories that were actually readable.

Charles de Lint contributes another Newford story, "Granny Weather"; As usual, it's a good read.
Ramsey Campbell offers up two creepy little gems, "No Strings", and "No Story In It".
Jack Dann's "Marilyn" turns a young boy's sexual fantasy into a waking nightmare.
Glen Hirschberg's "Mr. Dark's Carnival" is a great haunted house tale.
Ian Rodwell & Steve Duffy's "The Penny Drops" is waaayyy too long, but the knockout ending makes the suffering worthwhile.
Bret Lott's "The Train, The Lake, The Bridge" could almost be a true story, and it's all the creepier for that.
Jonathan Carroll's "The Heidelberg Cylinder" is a hilariously bizarre tale that needs to be read to be appreciated.
Jack Ketchum contributes "Gone", a short but excellent halloween tale.
Paul J. McAuley's "Bone Orchards" is a follow up to his tale from the previous Year's collection, "Naming The Dead"; It's a real treat, and I'd love to see more with the main character.

Search out the aforementioned Authors, by all means; Just don't waste your money on this stankass series....unless you have MUCH more patience than me.

Tedious, Overblown, Pretentious, Overwritten.............2003-04-23

I really can't be bothered doing my usual story-by-story review, since most of the stories stunk. I'm not a big Fantasy fan, so my distaste for the Fantasy side of the book shouldn't be a big surprise. I'll just reiterate my usual complaint about Fantasy Editor Terri Windling's half (More like 2/3rd's..) of the book: Waaaaayyy too much Fantasy, to the point where the Horror stories get short shrift. Ellen Datlow's Horror selections also leave a lot to be desired, as the truly distinctive voices of modern Horror fiction, like Bentley Little, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, Richard Laymon, et al, continue to not be represented, while told-by-rote Victorian-era wannabes dominate the book.

(My original review was much longer, and I did single out particular stories/Authors for praise, and recommended some of the individual anthologies, but the review-censorship gang at Amazon saw fit to chop off four whole paragraphs of my review! Thanks, @ssholes!)

Another Year, Another Snooze-Fest...........2003-01-07

Made it through another one!!! Once again, Fantasy Editor Terri Windling runs roughshod over Horror Editor Ellen Datlow- Windling weighs in with 26 stories, Datlow with 19. (Datlow continues to beat the drum for awful-poetry lovers everywhere, with no less than EIGHT poems...Yuck.)

As usual, the book opens with Windling's interminably long overview on The Year in Fantasy, which is really no more than a list of every book that's come out that year, along with her rambling on and on about "Magical Realism" for what seems like 5000 pages. I read one page, skimmed the rest, didn't miss a thing.

On to Datlow's Year in Horror- Slightly more interesting, but still WAAY too long. Skimmed once again...

Edward Bryant's Horror and Fantasy in the Media overview is interesting reading, but it seems as if Bryant just throws every movie he's seen into the mix. Does "In the Company of Men" really qualify as Fantasy or Horror...? Seth Johnson's Year in Comic Books overview is very interesting, and considering how much Windling drones on, I don't think it would kill them to let Johnson have a few more pages than he does.

On to the stories themselves....There are a LOT of stories that are bad, if not downright AWFUL, in this book, and most of them go on MUCH too long. Among the Awful/Overlong are: The meandering, pointless "The Skull of Charlotte Corday", "It Had To Be You", which would have been cute if had been 20 pages shorter; Charles Grant's head-scratching yawn-a-thon "Riding the Black", ... "In the Fields" was so bad I actually had to skip to the next story; I also couldn't finish Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Song of Sirit Byar"- It seemed like the song had no end.....

It's not ALL bad, though. Standout stories include "Gulliver at Home", which tells of Lemuel Gulliver's time at home between voyages; "I Am Infinite; I Contain Multitudes" has one of the nastiest scenes I've ever read, and packs a hell of a punch; Nicholas Royle's "Mbo" delivers a nasty spin on the Dracula legend; Gary A. Braunbeck's "Safe" is a moving tale of the aftermath of a gruesome mass-murder; "El Castillo De La Perseverancia" is THE weirdest story I've ever read...Mexican Wrestlers vs. Aztec monsters! It's like a Santos movie in print! "Residuals" tells the hidden history of Alien-abduction in America, and Michael Chabon delivers a ripping good H. P. Lovecraft pastiche "In the Black Mill". Christopher Fowler's "Spanky's Back!" is good sick fun, and Stephen Laws' "The Crawl" presents a far-fetched tale of road-rage that still manages to evoke a chill.

While there ARE some worthwhile reads here, the book is more pain than pleasure to read. Proceed at your own risk!

Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 15.......2002-10-19

This latest edition contains useful discussions of fantasy and horror publications over the last year (2000-1). I've noticed that increasing attention is given to small press items which most readers will have trouble getting their hands on, as well as media, anime, etc. which are of less interest to me. It was disappointing to see that horror novels were just listed, not discussed. Still, the fantasy section described several works that I'll be seeking out.

Stories in this anthology have over the years become increasingly literary and perhaps are not the most accessible examples of the genre. Imagery and style take precedence over plot and character in most of the works reprinted here. Perhaps the best story in the volume was one about a boy who "swallows a faerie", an elegant metaphor for creativity and its repression--I regrettably forget the author but recommend the piece. Also, Norman Partridge contributed a strong work of historical fantasy.

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
Average customer rating:
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
Gardner (Editor) Dozois
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTKLK6

The Years' Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
Average customer rating:
The Years' Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
Gardner (editor) Dozois
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S9N0TG

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
Average customer rating:
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifteenth Annual Collection
No Author
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTIDQU

Book Description

Black Church Beginnings provides an intimate look at the struggles of African Americans to establish spiritual communities in the harsh world of slavery in the American colonies. Written by one of today's foremost experts on African American religion, this book traces the growth of the black church from its start in the mid-1700s to the end of the nineteenth century.

As Henry Mitchell shows, the first African American churches didn't just organize; they labored hard, long, and sacrificially to form a meaningful, independent faith. Mitchell insightfully takes readers inside this process of development. He candidly examines the challenge of finding adequately trained pastors for new local congregations, confrontations resulting from internal class structure in big city churches, and obstacles posed by emerging denominationalism.

Original in its subject matter and singular in its analysis, Mitchell's Black Church Beginnings makes a major contribution to the study of American church history.

Customer Reviews:

A Family Portrait.......2005-08-03

Henry Mitchell writes and teaches history as a family portrait worthy of sharing not only with the family (African Americans) but with the neighbors (all Americans). In the first half of "Black Church Beginnings," Mitchell documents the interplay between African religion, African American Christianity, and European Christianity. This is fascinating material presented with insight and passion. He puts to rest the notion that slaves were simply passive recipients of their masters' religion, teaching instead that the spiritual impact went both ways.

The second half of the book contains a detailed and helpful historical outline of important dates with brief comments about some key figures.

Reviewer: Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," and of "Soul Physicians," and "Spiritual Friends."

Successes and failures alike are profiled .......2005-04-07

Henry H. Mitchell is a retired professor of history and black church studies: his Black Church Beginnings: The Long-Hidden Realities Of The First Years fills a gap in history in considering the struggles of African Americans to establish churches within the boundaries of slavery in the American colonies. The black church phenomenon began in the mid-1700s and its history is followed in a coverage which ends in the 19th century. Successes and failures alike are profiled in this strongly recommended and highly valued contribution to Black Studies, American History, and Christian Religious Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Black Church Beginnings: The Long-Hidden Realities of the First Years.(Book Review) : An article from: Church History

Average customer rating:

Black Church Beginnings: The Long-Hidden Realities of the First Years.(Book Review) : An article from: Church History

Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Church History, published by Thomson Gale on December 1, 2005. The length of the article is 634 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: Black Church Beginnings: The Long-Hidden Realities of the First Years.(Book Review)
Publication: Church History (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 74 Issue: 4 Page: 879(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books