Ticket to Minto: Stories of India and America

Average customer rating:

Superb short stories

Sensibility in "Ticket to Minto"

Ticket to Minto: Stories of India and America
Sohrab Homi Tracis
Manufacturer: Indialog Publications Pvt Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Creative Writer's Handbook (3rd Edition)

ASIN: 8187981202

Book Description

This book, Sohrab Homi Fracis's premier fiction collection, offers readers a passage to an unfamiliar destination - a world in limbo between East and West, India and America, home and away. With piercing insight, Fracis expertly reveals the underlying differences between immersion in India's culture - Hindu, Muslim, or Parsi - and life as an Indian in America. The stories here, alternating between East and West, serve as companion pieces, interrelated across continents in both theme and content.

Customer Reviews:

Superb short stories.......2004-12-02

With "Ticket to Minto" Sohrab Homi Fracis has given the world twelve brilliantly written short stories and, beyond that, has set a new benchmark for the genre. Substantively different from mainstream narrative writing, his writing is a reminder of what finely crafted literature is able to accomplish. He has something to tell, and he spend ten years to render his thoughts and feelings into this excellent prose. The book is not an easy read through (superior literature never has been and never will be), it demands the reader to take his or her time to feel the beauty of every single sentence.

The stories are set in India and the United States, related by their protagonists - Indian people of different religious groups - Hindu, Muslim, or Parsi - who are condemned to live as outsiders and strangers, abroad in America or even at home in India. Fracis writes about his characters with knife-like insight, but not without humour and poignancy, to show their (inner) struggle. His protagonists fight for recognition, search for love, and try to live a decent live. The writing draws the reader into the stories and into the live of those people. The narrative voice is so startling and colourful and one that takes the reader along on an unforgettable journey between two continents.

I came across the book by chance - but this has been one of the luckiest coincidences ever. I translated the story "Keeping Time" into German and read it to friends and other audiences. The responses were great. It is the underlying universal validity of the stories that make the collection a rewarding read for people even outside India and the United States.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who likes valuable literature and is interested in Indian an American contemporary life and life in general. I can't wait to read more by Sohrab Homi Fracis.

Sensibility in "Ticket to Minto".......2004-11-18

Reviewer John Green errs blatantly in calling most of these stories "first-person accounts." Only four are told in first person. The other eight clearly show third-person. I also disagree with Green's view that "these stories often lack a clear and consistent narrative voice and tend to end with contrived imagery of closure."
Sohrab Fracis creates a rich variety of Indian characters, beginning with the Parsi schoolboy whose religious faith helps him defeat a bully in the first story, "Ancient Fire" and ending with an Indian-American whose artistic faith keeps him going as a talented author in the last story, "The Mark Twain Overlook."
I notice an underlying sensibility in this collection that appears almost like a character. This sensibility is upper class, cultured, dynamic. It thrives on nuance, at times challenges with ambiguity. It lives as an uneasy minority in India and in America. It values stability and family life but prefers mobility and single life. It searches for love less by convention and more on its own complex terms. It portrays promiscuity with serio-comic effect. It feels for the downtrodden and is painfully aware of class divisions that contribute to India's misery. It casts a keen eye at American provincialism and residual racism. It understands the dilemma of mainstream Americans who are identified with past wrongs to minorities and are trying to right the wrongs but in ways that bring the mainstream more condemnation. It empathizes with the elderly, especially with those who live their declining years with calm and dignity.
It often closes stories with images of remarkable subtlety like the broken tree branch in "Stray" and the drifting hairs of a pickled rabbit's paw in "Rabbit's Foot" (stories in which students from India feel the tug of their country's traditions and life in contemporary America). Arguably, the most skillful use of imagery occurs in the conclusion of "Keeping Time." Here music and writing interweave to underscore an aging piano teacher's alleviation of frustrations and sadness with stoic acceptance.

Book Description

A sexy new repackaging of the extremely popular anthology of vampire erotica, edited by acclaimed author Poppy Z. Brite.

The classic horror tale is about fear. But in the last few years a new literature of the macabre has arisen, one that goes deeper than horror, beyond fear, to explore our darkest, most intimate hungers. The ones even lovers are forbidden to share.

Acclaimed dark fantasy author Poppy Z. Brite has brought together this genre's most powerful and seductive authors in an original collection of vampiric erotica, a shameless celebration of unspeakable intimacies. It is not for everyone.

But neither is the night.

Customer Reviews:

OH MY GOD.......2007-03-15

Okay, this book LOOKED good from the description. That's about all I've got. Once I started reading it, I realized that it was a collection of icky horror stories that were really more disturbing and likely to cause a nightmare than I'm comfortable with. If that's the kind of thing that you're into, then...would you like my copy?? ;-)

Misleading and Incredibly dull..........2005-03-04

I picked up this short-story collection because the cover said it was a collection of vampire erotica and because the book was edited by Poppy Z. Brite. I feel like I've been ripped off. First of all, to say that this book is a collection of vampire erotica is misleading. Aside from some rough language here and there, there is almost no erotica in this collection. This is a collection of horror stories, period. And the stories are quite dull at that. The only ones I liked were "In this Soul of a Woman," by Charles de Lint; "The Alchemy of the Throat," by Brian Hodge; and "Café Endless: Spring Rain," by Nancy Holder. The aforementioned stories are thought provoking and horrific at the same time. The other stories simply failed to spark my interest. Poppy Z. Brite has let me down. I have the second part of the collection and am considering returning it to the bookstore. If you are in the bargain for vampire erotica, try the Ellora's Cave books.

Godly Book, Great Writers.......2004-12-27

This book showcases some new budding talent in a topic that has been widly writen about over time. These writers offer a wide arrray of different types of Vampires in several different settings. These stories were well written and supported but one of the greatest authors in Modern Vampire theorys. Many of these stories made me keep reading. I have read and re-read this book over and over. I loved this book and I suggest it to any vampires enthusiasts and those who are open to new ideas about the vampire myths and traditions.

Not For The "Timid".......2004-10-24

If your looking for "Darker" vampire erotica then Love In Vein is your book. Some of the stories such as "White Chapel" are a bit graphic, and border on B movie gore, but overall it's a worthwhile read. It is certainly not a book for the "Timid."

Not Erotic, but sorta disturbing.......2004-07-14

Okay Now I have to say, I bought this book under the premise that this would be al sorts of sordid sexy erotic vampire stories. Instead I got a really nice anthology of all things vampires. Some sexy, others not so much. It covers your range of vampires from emotional feeding vamps, to blood suckers, to fetus eaters, to face eaters. See I don't technically count all of the characters within to be traditional vampires, but they do live off of the lives of others so I guess it works. Some of the stories are excellent, others are an authors attempt at cramming too much information into too few pages. I expected more of stories chosen by Poppy. Overall I was disappointed in this book. The stories are okay, but nothing really stuck with me except Nancy Holder's vision of Japan it's worth the price of the book. I'm getting around to the second edition and I'm hoping it's a bit more satisfying.

Love in Vein II : Eighteen More Tales of Vampiric Erotica

Average customer rating:

Twice the fool...
Ok, but could have been much better.
Eh.
Stronger collection than the first Love in Vein anthology
An okay vampire anthology

Love in Vein II : Eighteen More Tales of Vampiric Erotica

Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 006105657X

Book Description

A second helping of blood and passion ...

Acclaimed dark fantasist Poppy Z. Brite's previous excursion into the nightmare realm of terrifying sensuality offered readers a sumptuous blood feast of unspeakable pleasures. Now she has done it again, serving up more provocative tales from some of the most inventive and accomplished writers in the field -- an unabashed exploration of shadow places and terrible hungers that's more dangerously seductive, more boldly erotic than the first.

If you found Love in Vein disturbingly dark, unsettlingly seductive, and deliciously carnal -- you're going to adore Twice Bitten: Love in Vein II. But be warned. It may be more than you can handle. It may open doors into the darkest corners of your unspoken fears. And it may be exactly what you've been secretly lusting for.

Customer Reviews:

Twice the fool..........2005-08-03

Once a fool, shame on you. Twice a fool, shame on me. Twice Bitten, like the first part of Love in Vein, is a major disappointment with a collection of insipid, uninteresting stories. The stories weren't dark, sensual, erotic, thought-provoking in the slightest -- well, not all of them. There are some good stories here that have the aforementioned ingredients that critics made such a big hype about. The ones I liked were "Dusting the Flowers," by David J. Schow; "Ceilings and Sky," by Lucy Taylor; and "When Memory Falls," by Roberta Lannes. I gave Twice Bitten a try because almost everyone told me that this one's so much better than the first Love in Vein offering. Nope. The subtitle "Tales of Vampiric Erotica" is a complete misnomer. Yes, there are vampires in the stories, but the erotica aspect of this book is debatable. I don't need in-your-face sex scenes to make a story erotic. I like subtle, sensual erotica, or sublime stories with erotic undertones, but said aspects in this story are few and far in between. The only thing I did like about this collection is that the stories are definitely creepy and scary. Other than that, this collection series is completely forgettable.

Ok, but could have been much better........2005-07-06

"S. Fackler 'littlebootz'" could not have said it better. The only reason why I feel I need to add my bit is to reiterate the misnomer of "Vampire" Erotica. There are only three stories or so that I felt could qualify. So if you're looking for the stereotype stuff, look elsewhere. Try "Time of The Vampires" by P.N. Elrod. You can read my review there. Brite's book is interesting and strange, so for that matter it is a decent read. I'd have to agree once again with S. Fackler regarding the stories I liked and disliked. Read this one with an open mind.

Eh........2005-03-01

To being with, it's very important that we pay attention to the exact subtitle of this book-this is "vampiric" erotica, not "vampire" erotica. While all of the stories revolve in some way around parasitic characters, only a few of them are the classic warm-thick-blood-sex vampire erotica. Most of the stories are at least creepy, and a few are quite scary.
As wth any collection of short stories, not every story will be to every person's taste, as you can see from the reviews here. In particular, the story "The Dripping of Sundered Wineskins" seems to elicit a love-it-or-hate-it opinion. Personally I loved it. I enjoyed all of the straight vampire tales, especially, of course, Neil Gaiman's excellent opening tale, "Snow, Glass, Apples". Other notable vampire stories were "Ceilings and Sky", Whispers in Walled Tombs", "First Date", and "Bloodlight."
Unfortunately, though, there are several stories I hated, too. "Armies of the Heart" was one, and I really, really hated "When Memory Fails" and "The Fly Room." Eyeball-sucking? Little mouths hanging around where they shouldn't be? Yeuch, no thank you! And "Bela's Plot" I unfortunately just did not understand. Were there actual vampires, or just sadists?
All in all, the book is worth it if you like spooky stories, and many of them are written in a slow-moving and descriptive style that gives them an erotic feel, but if you're looking for Vampire Erotica, you won't find much of it here.

Stronger collection than the first Love in Vein anthology.......2004-04-18

After reading Love in Vein, I approached Love in Vein II with trepidation. I was pleased to find that this was a collection of strong, imaginative stories. A few of the stories weren't really my taste, but they were all well written.

I do have to say that while the stories were almost always about sex in one way or another, I only found a couple slightly erotic. In fact several of the stories are not suited for the squemish -- or the less open-minded.

Ignoring the lack of erotica, the collection was quite strong. The opening story, in particular, was brilliant. I won't give the plot away, but it was a clever re-telling of a classic story.

If you like vampire stories and you are willing to stretch your definition of 'vampire' you'll probably enjoy these short stories, but don't expect a 'can't put it down' read.

An okay vampire anthology.......2003-12-09

Firstly, the book wasn't bad, but it wasn't exceptional either. Its claim of being "erotic" are a little premature. Sure, some of the stories are sexy, but not too many are erotic, and some are just borderline crude (as in bad sex crude, not stimulating crude). I even had to skip over one story (but I came back to it eventually) because it was just that bad.

Book Description

He's a doctor, of course I trust him. Or at least I did, once. I haven't eaten since yesterday. He had scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. The smell seeps at me from beneath the locked door. The gnawing in my stomach never goes away but it's not from lack of food. Up until yesterday, I've been able to eat. Until yesterday, I was able to do almost anything I wanted within the two thousand square feet of this place. Things are different now.

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-02-16

John, a sixteen-year-old high school graduate, has a great life ahead of him. He has already been accepted into the pre-med program at USC and looks forward to beginning his prestigious career. One of his favorite people in the world, Kane, a long-time family friend, has invited him to spend the summer in New York City. Excitement fills John's heart as he sets off for a summer of independence.

Once in New York, Kane and John take in the sites, go out to eat, and start settling into a routine. While helping Kane unpack one evening, John comes across some information that leads to a deep family secret. He sees a birth certificate that lists Kane as his father. When confronted, Kane admits that he is indeed John's father and goes about telling the story of how he has always loved John's mother and had a romantic interlude with her only a few days prior to her wedding to another man, the man John has always assumed was his father. John's world turns upside down.

His world becomes even more confusing when Kane walks in the door after working at the hospital one day and tells John that he received an anonymous letter that threatens John's safety. Kane says he has informed the police and they are attempting to locate the person who sent the letter, but until then, John will have to remain in the apartment and stay hidden. John is shocked and nervous about the threats. He does all he can to occupy himself during the day, including work that will prepare him for his college classes that Kane ordered for him. The only bright spot in his day was if Kane made it home for lunch. John would sit, staring at the door, hoping to hear the sound of keys jingling as they entered the lock on the front door. John would listen to stories about Kane's day, living vicariously through him.

One day, John can't stand it anymore. He feels like he is going crazy cooped up in the apartment all day, only being able to watch others walking freely outside. He decides to slip down into the courtyard of the apartment building and get some fresh air. Everything works out fine. No one sees him. He breathes in the fresh air and basks in the sunshine, even taking off his shirt so he can feel the heat on his body. He makes it back upstairs without any incident and feels satisfied that he got away with his adventure. Until Kane comes home that evening. John didn't take into account that the sun might burn his skin. Kane can see the severe sunburn and explodes in anger over John's carelessness. This event leads to even more confinement for John.

Eventually, John is locked in his room at all times without clothes and other necessities. For a time, he is even nude, having to beg Kane for clothes and food. Kane explains that this is an opportunity for them to bond as father and son because John must rely on Kane for everything, like a baby does from his parents.

Finally, after having enough, John confronts Kane, which leads him to several realizations about himself, the situation he is in, and about Kane. AN OPEN VEIN is a psychological thriller that forces the reader to ask why. Why does John allow himself to be completely dominated by Kane? Why is Kane treating John so badly? Is it possible to forgive an abuser? The author does a fantastic job of putting the reader into the story. We feel what John feels and celebrate when he is finally released from the prison he is forced to live in with Kane.

Reviewed by: Karin Perry

An Edgy Tale for Young Readers.......2006-11-29

J.M. Warwick's story reminds me of reading Bram Stoker's Dracula when I was young. Indeed, the paralells exist between the original and this modern story. Kane invites John into his apartment in modern Manhattan, a gothic castle-like fortress, where he eventually imprisons the adoptive son in the confines of Kane's obsessive desire to be seen as John's real father. As a practicing physician, Kane treats John's illness with an intrevenous tap, and restricts his movements in the apartment by day, making his appearances when he comes home at night.

With touches of control drama, interwoven with trust issues and reviving feelings for a lost father-son relationship, Warwick gives a solid story of suspense that keeps the reader on edge.

How far would a son go to prove his affection to the authority figure he had always admired and respected? How far would a man go to reclaim feelings deemed lost over a lifetime? You have to keep reading to find out.

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The Vein of Love
Dedra Morgan
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1424123801
Release Date: 2007-07-23

Book Description

The Vein of Love is a paranormal romantic-suspense thriller. It is about a thirty-five-year-old druid, Alexandre Baptiste, cursed to live as a vampire. Once transformed, Alexandre began his quest for vengeance, only to find his thirst for blood and slaughter his morbid fixation. At his estate in Brunswick County, North Carolina, he searched for new prey. He then met Heather his next victim, an angelic sixteen-year-old Catholic girl. Her innocent blood summoned him, her flawless splendor captivating, but Alexandre hesitated to take her life. He was fascinated, intrigued. He craved to satiate his thirst for blood, yet her wholesomeness left him mystified. Alexandre did not know that Heather was more than just a naïve girl. She was on assignment from her God to save him and her people from his wicked intentions. Will Heather have the courage to end Alexandre's bloody mission to slaughter the town, or will she become his next victim? From impassioned physical encounters to unthinkable bloodshed and depravity, The Vein of Love is a saga about the hideous nature of depravity and the providence of deliverance and redemption. Within these pages unfolds a powerful love story where two people go beyond heaven and hell to find a way to be together.

12 Titles By Mortimer - Ice in His Veins - Romance of a Lifetime - Elusive Lover - Forbidden Surrender - Undying Love - Sensual Encounter - Point of No Return - Devil Lover - Pagan Enchantment - Passion From the Past - Saving Grace - Gracious Lady

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12 Titles By Mortimer - Ice in His Veins - Romance of a Lifetime - Elusive Lover - Forbidden Surrender - Undying Love - Sensual Encounter - Point of No Return - Devil Lover - Pagan Enchantment - Passion From the Past - Saving Grace - Gracious Lady
Carole Mortimer
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Product Description

12 massmarket paperback Titles By Mortimer - Ice in His Veins - Romance of a Lifetime - Elusive Lover - Forbidden Surrender - Undying Love - Sensual Encounter - Point of No Return - Devil Lover - Pagan Enchantment - Passion From the Past - Saving Grace - Gracious Lady

Average customer rating:

Not for everyone, but good short dark fantasy.

Love In Vein II
Poppy Z. (ed) Brite
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEN860

Customer Reviews:

Not for everyone, but good short dark fantasy........2007-06-12

It's hard to find good dark fantasy in short stories, but Poppy Z Brite has done it again. Not all of the stories work, but enough that make this book worth reading. If you are a Neil Gaiman completist, you'll want it just for his short story,Snow, Glass Apples, which is an interesting take on Snow White.

Average customer rating:

LOVE IN VEIN: TALES OF VAMPIRE EROTICA

Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GOTSSA

Love in Vein: Twenty Original Tales of Vampiric Erotica

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Love in Vein: Twenty Original Tales of Vampiric Erotica
Poppy Z. Brite
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEUETO

Book Description

The tales featured in Strange New Worlds rocket readers across the length and breadth of Federation time and space, from Captain Jonathan Archer's first exploration of the galaxy on board the very first Starship Enterprise through to Captain Picard's tenure on the USS Enterprise 1701-D -- and beyond. Here you can read a fresh and original take on Captain Benjamin Sisko's role on Deep Space Nine, Captain Kathryn Janeway's homeward journey with the crew of the Starship Voyager, Captain Archer's encounters with the Xindi -- and many more ports of call along the way.

Strange New Worlds 9 includes stories from all five Star Trek incarnations:

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Voyager

and Star Trek: Enterprise.

Customer Reviews:

Continuing saga.......2007-10-03

I have always loved the Star Trek universe. These stories are good, sometimes great, stories that continue Roddenberry's vision.

Another great book of short stories!.......2007-05-09

If you are already a Star Trek fan, you will love this book! If you're not, you probably shouldn't bother. Knowledge of the "Star Trek" universe is definitely a plus when reading this book, or any of the others in the Strange New Worlds series. These books are compilations of short stories written by non-professional writers who have won an annual contest to have their stories published in this book. (Instructions & rules to enter for next year's book are included. It's a requirement that all contestants not have more than 3 published works, including their current submission.) I've read all the books in this series & have enjoyed and can recommend them all. And, since they're all short stories unrelated to each other, you don't have to have read the previous books to read this one, nor have read any other Star Trek fiction. It's a great way to get your "feet wet" in the world of Star Trek fiction. The fact that these are short stories means you can read a whole story or two in a smaller amount of time than you would need to read a whole book.

Better than I expected!.......2006-09-13

For some reason, I find SNW 9 to be much better than last year's anthology. The stories, on the whole, read much better and are beginning to add in small details from certain series like the DS9 relaunch and The Lost Era. Although, I am at a loss to explain this year's tribble motif. Here is a story-by-story review by grouping:

Star Trek: The Original Series
"Gone Native" by John Coffren: A short, humorous follow-up to the episode "By Any Other Name" - if anyone was curious. It's always interesting to see what people come up with for characters that only appear once in a series.
"A Bad Day for Koloth" by David DeLee: Tribble story #1. So, what happens after the tribbles show up on Koloth's ship after "The Trouble With Tribbles"? Well, first of all, they can't go back home because they are carrying "dangerous contaminants," for starters... A fun read that bridges the Koloth in TOS and the one we meet in DS9 later.
"Book of Fulfillment" by Steven Costa: This was one of my favorites in the book. While I don't think it corresponds to any specific episode, it is a fantastic story with a great twist at the end.
"The Smallest Choices" by Jeremy Yoder: I thought this one should have been a prizewinner. It is definitely my favorite in TOS section. It is a great follow-up to "Amok Time" and brings back the original Star Trek ice queen, T'Pring.

Star Trek: The Next Generation
"Staying the Course" by Paul C. Tseng: I'm not quite sure why this didn't end up in the "Speculations" category, but I liked the story a lot. Worf's last line leaves nothing to the imagination as to what will happen next, which satisfies the reader immensely.
"Home Soil" by Jim Johnson: Data on Earth during the Breen attack. This wasn't my favorite; it was a little too reminiscent of the Dominion War anthology story "Eleven Hours Out" which had Picard and Troi on Earth during the Breen attack.
"Terra Tonight" by Scott Pearson: I liked the TNG-era Scotty portrayal, which ran very true to form, right down to Scotty thinking that a xenopaleontologist should consider an engineering career.
"Solace in Bloom" by Jeff D. Jacques: The Breen and Vorta portrayals were dead-on, as was the weaving in of the small story of Picard's old friend and his science project. Easily my favorite of TNG stories.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
"Shadowed Allies" by Emily P. Bloch: Kira has to confront someone who wants to test her commitment to Odo. A good read, and a believable story, too.
"Living on the Edge of Existence" by Gerri Leen: Or, Curzon Dax crashes the afterlife in the Celestial Temple. A really amusing, yet poignant story that shows what Sisko has been up to since the end of the series (and before he gets back to Bajor, if you've read the relaunch).
The Last Tree on Ferenginar: A Ferengi Fable From the Future" by Mike McDevitt: This was my favorite story in the whole anthology! Why didn't this one win a prize? A future Ferengi tells the story of how Leeta tried to save the last tree while Rom dithered, Zek grumbled, Ishka looked at the bottom line, Quark plotted, and Ro kept Quark in line. It was the only story that had me laughing out loud, right down to the money-meld.
"The Tribbles' Pagh" by Ryan M. Williams: Tribble story #2. It takes place right after "Trials and Tribble-ations," with Kira trying to figure out how to keep Bajor from being overrun with the furry pests. A cute story.

Star Trek: Voyager
"Choices" (second-prize winner) by Susan S. McCrackin: A combination first-contact story with a medical drama. I liked this story, but it was a bit too formulaic to be a prizewinner, in my opinion.
"Unconventional Cures" by Russ Crossley: Tribble story #3. Told from the perspective of The Doctor, very short and though promising, didn't really translate into a gripping story.
"Maturation" by Catherine E. Pike: My favorite Voyager story. Another take on the assimilation of Annika Hansen, and how her identity is systematically torn apart until she becomes Seven of Nine. I thought this one definitely could have been a prizewinner.

Star Trek: Enterprise
"Rounding a Corner Already Turned" by Allison Cain: An ironic twist to the minds-switching-bodies phenomena. Funny, but predictable.
"Mother Nature's Little Reminders" by A. Rhea King: A traumatic experience from Trip's childhood saves the crew. A lot less formulaic than the author's last story in SNW 8, which is a nice change.
"Mestral" (third-prize winner) by Ben Guilfoy: I liked this story, but how many times can the same one be re-told? A clever weaving-in of Mestral into a portion of the "First Contact" story, but it directly contradicts events depicted in "The Sundered."

Speculations
"Remembering the Future" by Randy Tatano: Kirk gets to go back and save Edith Keeler after he dies, thus creating the "correct" timeline. But if you don't like this post-death Kirk story, you may like...
"Rocket Man" by Kenneth E. Carper: In this story, Kirk is resurrected by Gary Seven and his group, and given a second chance to make a difference.
"The Rules of War" by Kevin Lauderdale: An ancestor of Archer's tries to strike a deal with Augments during the Eugenics Wars, with an officer named Green asking, what if the ideas are not all wrong? Hmmm...
"The Immortality Blues" by Marc Carlson: The man we eventually know as Flint tries his best to go along with the flow of Earth's history, taking a few matters into his own hands every now and then. It has nice touches of the Lost Era and other material woven in, which makes it a pleasant read for the hard-core Trekkie.
"Orphans" (grand prize winner) by R.S. Belcher: It has all the right elements - Section 31, the Guardian of Forever, and just the right protagonist from TNG series to make it clear why this one was the grand prize winner.

Here's to next year!

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Stange Mysteries From Around The World
Huge disappointment
A great book that all should read!
THIS BOOK IS GREAT!

Strange Mysteries from Around the World
Seymour Simon
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mystery & Wonders | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Curiosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0688146376

Book Description

How do people walk barefoot over hot coals? Why do fish and frogs sometimes rain down from the sky? Why have millions of people heard sudden booms that left no trace of a bang? These are a few of the puzzles the award-winning author explores in this newly revised edition of his popular introduction to unsolved mysteries.

Customer Reviews:

Stange Mysteries From Around The World.......2002-10-24

I read Strange Mysteries From Around The World, by Seymour Simon.
I would only recommend this book for non-frequent readers. It has 9 stories which can be read separtly.You should only read this book for a couple minutes a day, whenever you have time. I don't think that this is a good book to read continusly.

Some of the stories were very good, but others I was stuggling to get through. My favorite story in the book was "Oak Island". It takes place on , you guessed it, Oak Island in 1795. A boy named Dan Mc Ginns, paddled over to Oak Island, which was then deserted.
While he was there, he saw a pulley and under that pulley the groung was all sunken in.Dan grabs some friends and starts to dig. Will they ever find treasure?
This book has 9 fun unsolved mysteries about factual stuff. So get ready to think hard!

Huge disappointment.......2001-06-27

My nephew was not at all interested in this book as it didn't shed any light on the mysteries so it was too open ended. I would not recommend it.

A great book that all should read!.......1999-02-02

Strange Mysteries from Around the World is a great book for anyone. It has 9 unsolved mysteries that make you really think. It is reading that is fun while you are learning. Imagine photographing things that are invisible, or a crystal skull that is said to have magic powers. Also people walking on fire and how they do it. You hear why scientists think why these things happen. Most of these myseries will never be solved, and that is what makes you think. This is a great book for all ages and very fun. If you like reading that really makes you think then you'll love this book!

THIS BOOK IS GREAT!.......1998-11-17

9 Interesting stories of strange mysteries that can not be solved by science. At all costs, GET THIS BOOK!It is fantastic!

Average customer rating:

Mark and the Secret Caverns
John Freeman
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

The story of two friends who explore a cavern that one of them fell into by accident. But as they travel further into the tunnels that lead off the cavern they find a way through a small gap to a much bigger and better cavern. As they are climbing in they also find a package on ledges above the exit from the gap, which is high in the cavern roof.
They are soon discovered by local warriors who live nearby. At first they think they are outcasts who's leader has stolen a ceremonial dagger. When Donald tells Mark that the package that they found contains the stolen dagger he has to convince Kale the warrior leader that they found the dagger and will return it. However this turns out to be more difficult than they thought as the local bully Neil has found the dagger after he saw Donald hide it. After a great deal of trouble they manage to retrieve the dagger and return it. But later when they try to return to visit again they find the outcasts have taken over the village and the warriors have had to escape.
Mark and Donald along with Donald's sister Lyndsey (Who threatened to stop them going if she was not allowed to go with them) help some warriors left behind in the hills. Mark helps them as they re-join the rest of the villagers and attempt to re-take their village from the outcasts. Mark also finds out from Kale information that helps him work out where he and his friends are and how they got there.
Mark also finds a way to make future visits easier but of course there are always drawbacks.

Average customer rating:

Strange New Worlds 9 Star Trek
Dean Wesley Smith
Manufacturer: SIMON & SCHUSTER @ TRADE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

Not another cook book this...

What you always wanted to know about meats.

Good Eats

Great Book

Soppressata

Charcuterie: The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing
Michael Ruhlman , and Brian Polcyn
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Canning & Preserving | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Meats | Meat, Poultry & Seafood | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating

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Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring the Science of Flavor (Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspectives on Culinary History)

The River Cottage Meat Book

ASIN: 0393058298

Book Description

The only book for home cooks offering a complete introduction to the craft.

Charcuterie—a culinary specialty that originally referred to the creation of pork products such as salami, sausages, and prosciutto—is true food craftsmanship, the art of turning preserved food into items of beauty and taste. Today the term encompasses a vast range of preparations, most of which involve salting, cooking, smoking, and drying. In addition to providing classic recipes for sausages, terrines, and pâtés, Michael Ruhlman and Brian Polcyn expand the definition to include anything preserved or prepared ahead such as Mediterranean olive and vegetable rillettes, duck confit, and pickles and sauerkraut.

Ruhlman, co-author of The French Laundry Cookbook, and Polcyn, an expert charcuterie instructor at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan, present 125 recipes that are both intriguing to professionals and accessible to home cooks, including salted, air-dried ham; Maryland crab, scallop, and saffron terrine; Da Bomb breakfast sausage; mortadella and soppressata; and even spicy smoked almonds. 50 line drawings.

Customer Reviews:

Not another cook book this..........2007-10-06

I think this book is about having fun with your food. You can experiment and come up with your own recipes as long as you follow a few simple guidlines.

My first smoked salmon was a bit too salty. I was anxious and did not read the part about the firmness change when the fish was cured. I ended up crumbling a bit on my egg and toast in the morning and talk about wonderfull. Yes, I hot smoked the salmon.

The authors make a readable and enjoyable path through a subject that is not mainstream. The tricks you can learn in this book can carry over into all your cooking, at least it has mine. This is not just another cook book, it goes into why you do what you do. This is a lesson in cooking.

For example I was looking at some recipes on the internet the other night, and one person did not know why her rub did not flavor the chicken she was doing. She got a recipe from a chef down in Africa and it tasted nothing like her meal there. She was only using 1/2 tp of salt on the entire chicken. According to 'Charcuterie' salt is the vehicle of transportation for your spices.

Wealth of information here folks. 5 stars from this amateur.

Thanks authors, I was getting a little bored with cooking. You jump started me again. I could go on, but you get the idea. I have had this book since last Christmas (gift from wife) and just recently discovered what it really was. To bad I'm on a restricted diet, but as you say moderation is key, and we have friends who like this kind of thing.

Tip: If you go to the Bradley smoker web site, and get on the forums there, go into the cold smoke forum and you will find a simple and inexpensive way to cold smoke using an old bullet smoker, a hot plate, some aluminum dryer hosing, and a box of your own design. I will say I'm interested in getting the Bradley smoker.

What you always wanted to know about meats........2007-09-27

This book has all the information I will ever need about meat and the wonderful things we can do with the various cuts. Recipes have very thorough and clear explation. They are dooable and very good.

Good Eats.......2007-09-01

We've tried the bacon recipe and it's awesome. We never want to go back to store bought variety.

Great Book.......2007-08-29

I'm a home cook that just likes to "play" with food. Hadn't done much with sausage, etc. until this book. We even purchased a copy as a gift to a friend. We are both cooking our way thru the book. The best part isn't the recipes (they are good) but all the knowledge that is in those covers. We are learning as we go and that's important to us.

Soppressata.......2007-07-13

I have been making fresh and smoked sausages for many years. My recipes have been limited to Venison, Polish, Italian, Mexican (Chorizo), Breakfast, and sometimes jerky. My brother-in-law is Italian. As a chef and a caterer, he has encouraged me to research dry sausages. We intend to persue this endeavor in the fall. I purchased numerous books at one time. Most pertained to barbeque and grilling. It's July. It's hot outside, and it's perfect weather for grilling.What can I say?

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