Bangs and Whimpers: Stories About the End of the World (Roxbury Park Books)

Customer Reviews:

Its the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine..........2003-10-23

This book was a magical find, first of all because it is so hard to get your hands on a copy and second because there are so many shorts from the All Time Masters of Sci-Fi. Plus, who doesnt love a good old end of the world story? Great midnight reading!

The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C. Clarke - What if someone really discovered the key to the end of the world and how to unlock it?

Killing the Morrow by Robert Reed - bizarre family tale of strangers forced together to nurture delivered embryos in their bathtubs.

You Can Get Them Wholesale by Neil Gaimen - be careful what you ask for...

Fire Catcher by Richard Kadrey - Whose finger is really on the button?

Not with a Bang by Howard Fast - What if you knew for a fact the sun would never rise again?

Lost and Found by Connie Willis - bizarre twist on the search for the Holy Grail

The Wind and the Rain by Robert Silverberg - Long after pollution suffocates and kills off earth, people from other planets will take tours of the destruction left behind.

The Year of the Jackpot by Robert A Heinlein - Potiphar Breen has been studying the cycles of the earth, not the seasons but more the human lemming cycles as the earth strives to cleanse itself. Can you plot against the end of the world? Will you be able to escape it or hide from it?

Expendable by Philip K. Dick - If insects could talk and you could hear them, would you really want to know what their plots were?

Finis by Frank L. Pollack - A new sun is born and its warming light reaches the earth. Is it too warm?

A Guide to Virtual Death by J.G. Ballard - Futuristic TV Guide

Emissary from a Green and Yellow World by Robert Sheckley - If another race from another planet really did want to help us earthlings out, would we believe them?

The Portable Phonograph by Walter Van Tilburg Clark - When the only comfort left is doled out from a battery operated phonograph.

Fermi and Frost by Frederik Pohl - As the bombs fall a prestigious doctor is offered a seat on an escape flight, and takes a sick, orphaned young boy with him.

Ultimate Construction by C.C. Shackleton - Who will the last man on earth be?

The Manhattan Phone Book (Abridged) by John Varley - Were you in New York City when the bombs fell?

The Man Who Walked Home by James Tiptree, Jr. - An accident at a Particle Acceleration Facility causes a man to start walking home, but in what dimension does he walk and how long will it really take him?

Interview With A Lemming by James Thurber - What would these furry creatures have to say?

The Last Question by Isaac Asimov - Can entropy be reversed? Mans best computer evolves as it contemplates this question for over 100 billion years.

"The End Is Near!".......2003-08-09

Published just before the turn of the century--when quite a few people were contemplating the Apocalypse (I wasn't one of them)--"Bangs & Whimpers" does a great job of offering 19 various scenarios about the end of the world, as summarized below:

"The Nine Billion Names of God" by Arthur C. Clarke -- A Tibetan monastery uses a computer to find "all the possible names of God", in order to discover His purpose. >> "Killing the Morrow" by Robert Reed -- An omnipresent voice instructs people to hatch human-like embryos in their homes--but for what purpose? >> "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale" by Neil Gaiman -- A man hires a hit man to kill his fiancee's lover, but being unable to pass up a bargain, he gets a little in over his head. Without a doubt, my favorite story here. Love the ending. >> "Fire Catcher" by Richard Kadrey -- A military assassin plays his part in the Apocalyptic third World War. >> "Not with a Bang" by Howard Fast -- One evening, a man sees the sun get snuffed out, proclaiming to "The Hollow Men" quote: "This is the way the world ends / not with a bang but a whimper." >> "Lost and Found" by Connie Willis -- The search for a church school teacher's missing cup turns up a far more important utensil.

"The Wind and the Rain" by Robert Silverberg -- A group of futuristic scientists visits a destroyed Earth in order to restore it. >> "The Year of the Jackpot" by Robert A. Heinlein -- A statistician tries to prove his point that the incidents in our world occur in cycles. Feels more like a novella than a short story, but it does pick up at the end. >> "Expendable" by Philip K. Dick -- A man, unlucky enough to learn the truth about an army of ants, becomes their next prime target. Quite amusing in a surreal sort of way. >> "Finis" by Frank L. Pollack -- With the arrival of a new star in the Earth's galaxy comes the unexpected, fiery end for this world, which was a nice change of pace, since most of the authors in here rely on the freezing factor. >> "A Guide to Virtual Death" by J. G. Ballard -- A brief, 3-paged TV itinerary proves that television is one of man's most destructive tools. >> "Emissary from a Green and Yellow World" by Robert Sheckley -- An alien from a distant planet comes to the President of the U.S. with a warning--that the sun is going to nova in 150 years and all the people of Earth must prepare for escape.

"The Portable Phonograph" by Walter Van Tilburg Clark -- Set in a post-holocaustic winter, four men connect with the past via a portable phonograph. Very flowery writing, almost too much so. >> "Fermi and Frost" by Frederik Pohl -- A nuclear attack leaves the world scrambling for shelter. >> "Ultimate Construction" by C. C. Shackleton -- A 2-paged story in which sand covers the face of the Earth. >> "The Manhattan Phone Book (Abridged)" by John Varley -- Several paragraph-long bios of people in the Manhattan phone book, just before a bomb kills them all. Strange, morbidly humorous story. I liked it. >> "The Man who Walked Home" by James Tiptree, Jr. -- A "monster" in a crater makes his annual appearances as the world changes around him. Confusing. >> "Interview with a Lemming" by James Thurber -- The title explains it all: a scientist's 3-page conversation with a lemming. >> "The Last Question" by Isaac Asimov -- Over time, a computer is asked the same question of how to reverse entropy. An appropriate ending to this book.

I've never been very interested in science fiction, or end-of-the-world stuff for that matter, but I do like a few of the writers in "Bangs & Whimpers" (Neil Gaiman, for instance), so I had to give it a try. Overall, the book was pretty good. It became a little heavy and dismal at times (but what do you expect from a book about "the end?")--though there are a few humorous exceptions, like "We Can Get Them for You Wholesale," "Expendable," and "The Manhattan Phone Book (Abridged)" (all favorites of mine).

What a great collection.......2002-09-25

At turns funny, sad, triumphant, poignant and everywhere in between, this anthology is probably the best I've ever read. Just great stuff.

Highlights are Nine Billion Names of God, Manhattan Phone Book (abridged) and We Can Get Them For You Wholesale.

All of the best authors are here.......2002-08-18

This is an anthology of some of the best apocalyptic short stories, by the best authors around. If "the end of the world (as we know it)" is your bag, you'll certainly want to read this one.

Beginning with Arthur C. Clarke (The Nine Billion Names of God) and ending with Isaac Asimov (The Last question), all the great ones are here--yes, Heinlein, too (The Year of the Jackpot). Even James Thurber (Interview With a Lemming.)

Nineteen of the best apolcalyptic short stories ever to appear in print.

Of course I recommend it.

Joseph Pierre

Best SCI FI Collection of the Century!.......2000-01-27

I was amazed at the quality of writing in this book. Each story was as brilliantly constructed as anything Hemingway, Roth, or Faulkner has done. And, since I review over 200 books a year for various publications, that, I think, says a lot. I especially liked this collection because the theme, shall we say, is timeless, and to see 50 years of perspectives on what our problems are and the potential solutions we have is somwhat sobering though enlightening. A must read for any fiction short story lover.

Bangs and Whimpers: Stories About the End of the World

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Bangs and Whimpers: Stories About the End of the World
Isaac Asimov , Arthur C. Clarke , Philip K. Dick , Neil Gaiman , Robert A. Heinlein , Frederik Phol , Robert Silverberg , James Thurber , and James Tiptree
Manufacturer: Lowell House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739411470

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bangs and whimpers: STORIES ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD
JAMES FRENKEL
Manufacturer: Lowell House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JTHUZU

Book Description

Hail Caesar, we who are about to die salute you!" And die the gladiators did. In a vast marble Colosseum larger than Yankee Stadium, the people of Rome, patrician and commoner, flocked to see gladiators mangled beneath the hoofs and wheels of horses and chariots, slaughtered by half-starved wild beasts, and butchered by well-armed and armored professionals. With the Empire in decline, death and torture became the only spectacles that satisfied the decadent Romans' longing. The Emperor Trajan gave one set of games that lasted 122 days; at its end, 11,000 people and 10,000 animals had been killed. The people of Rome loved it-and they wanted more.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating but disturbing read.......2005-06-03

I didn't know the gladiator games had spectator shows of animals (from drunken chimpanzees, zebras, baboons to wild boars) raping condemned women as part of their entertainment in the arena, until I read this book. There were actually men (the bestiarii) who trained wild beast to not only kill and eat people, but sexually violate them too! Author Daniel P. Mannix offers up a lot of shocking events in this absorbing read, which you probably never learned about in ancient history class. Example: condemned men were put on seesaws in the arena and then hungry lions & other wild beast were let loose. The men seesawed desperately back and forth trying to stay on the up-side so they wouldn't be eaten. Can you imagine? - must have been the fastest seesawing ever seen. This provided great amusement for the arena crowd as did other countless sadistic pre-game shows.

Of course the main focus is about the gladiators. A lot of fascinating information about the day to day lives of the gladiators, Romans, and the political power house behind the scenes - but some of the other spectacles going on during the games was just as interesting, if not more interesting. I couldn't put the book down.

The Roman Games: Spectacles of Carnage.......2003-01-22

Daniel P. Mannix's historically fictionalized book (The Way of the Gladiator) weaves a tapestry of engaging and often horrific images of the arena games that came to be a dominant element in Roman civilization. Rome, at this time, was steadily expanding her influence over the various regions of the west, and as the Empire grew, so did dissolution and corruption within its infrastructure. The Games ignited an excited rhythm in the mundane lives of the mob, and as the games evolved from events of competition and skill to pointless spectacles of sadistic murder, their excitement turned into a frenzied obsession that all but consumed their lives.Mannix's graphic accounts of the brutal history and evolution of the Roman Games provides a revealing glimpse into the Roman mob's obsession with violence and how the emperors used the games as a means of maintaining social stability and control of their crumbling Empire. Mannix delivers all the drama and violence that has come to symbolize the Roman Games through his poignant portrayals of the savage brutality of its many participants, and the unfortunate outcome of its countless victims. And while Mannix's prose tends to stray from historical accuracy, he nontheless achieves the goal of painting a uniquely vivid portrayal of Roman civilization,thus providing the reader with a clearer perspective of the developement and evolution of the Gladitorial Games. I personally enjoyed reading this book and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in ancient world history and Roman society.

Exciting!!.......2002-03-14

This book is written in such an exciting style that one feels rather disappointed to have already finished reading it; much like the Roman mob gaping at the activities in the arena, the reader craves for more. The Roman games are vividly brought to life through the author's particularly gripping writing style. All types of games and their evolution throughout the Roman era are discussed. Since gladiatorial combats are only a subset of these so-called games, the title of the book may be somewhat misleading. All that is missing: a variety of illustrations to complement the descriptions that are given. Otherwise, an excellent book!

Fictionalized History.......2001-10-22

This book is a reprint of "Those About to Die," which was published back in the late 50's, when Mannix was in his heyday as a writer. I came to know Daniel P. Mannix through his many articles for the 50's publication "True: The Man's Magazine." He was a competent writer on many subjects, and his stories were always entertaining. "The Way of the Gladiator" is nothing if it is not entertaining. But it is NOT a piece of sober history.

The book is not so much historical fiction as it is fictionalized history. Historical fiction is a make believe story told against the backdrop of historical events. Mannix takes historical events and relates them in "documentary" fashion, but unabashedly invents details and descriptions which, if they are accurate, are accurate only by accident.

If you understand from the outset what you are dealing with, "The Way of the Gladiator" can be great reading. If you're looking for a well researched, scholarly study of gladiators, check out Michael Grant's "Gladiators."

A solid read but not fantastic.......2001-10-09

If I'm reading the inside cover properly this is a pretty old book (1958) which I guess has been re-released to cash in on the "Gladiator" movie phenomenon. I found it engaging in parts and slow in others but like other reviewers I found it hard to come to terms with either poorly described or non-existent reference to the historical sources these events were supposedly based on. Only in the last chapter did I get a feeling from the sources quoted that "yes, this sounds like it did actually happen". Unfortunately I walk away from much of the rest of the book thinking that at best it is speculation and possibly just fiction. I quite enjoy historical fiction but I prefer to know that's what it is when I sit down to read it. On a positive note it moves fairly quickly and is an enjoyable, easy read.

The Way People Live - Life of a Roman Gladiator (The Way People Live)

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Terrific!!

The Way People Live - Life of a Roman Gladiator (The Way People Live)
Don Nardo
Manufacturer: Lucent Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

Europe | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1590182537

Book Description

Today, gladiators-warriors who fought to death to entertain the masses-are among the chief enduring symbols of ancient Rome. In stunning detail, a noted historian presents a carefully documented narrative of the recruitment, training, social status, living conditions, weapons, and combat of these men and women who, ironically, were treated both as sports heroes and social outcasts.

Customer Reviews:

Terrific!!.......2003-07-08

This is by far the best book about Roman gladiators on the market for young readers. Nardo, the leading historian of ancient Rome in juvenile publishing, has done a remarable job explaining all known aspects of the fighters who fought and died in Roman arenas like the Colosseum. He begins with a thorough, up-to-date explanation of the origins of gladiators, pointing out that scholars now think they evolved from Roman, rather than Etruscan, funeral rituals. Then he covers recruitment, training, gladiator types, weapons, preparations for fighting, and the actual fighting (in marvelous detail). Especially valuable and riveting is a chapter on the rebellion of the gladiator Spartacus, with many details never included in other books for young people, and another chapter devoted entirely to the psychological and moral aspects of gladiators within the context of Roman society and the Roman world view. Most of the pictures are good too and the many maps in the Spartacus chapter are very helpful. In addition, Nardo includes numerous quotes by ancient authors about gladiators and an excellent bibliography. I highly recommend the book to all.

Gladiators: Battling in the Arena (High Interest Books: Way of the Warrior)

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Gladiators: Battling in the Arena (High Interest Books: Way of the Warrior)
Katherine Frew
Manufacturer: Turtleback Books Distributed by Demco Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0606335021

Those About To Die The Way of the Gladiator

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Those About To Die The Way of the Gladiator
Mannix Daniel P.
Manufacturer: ibooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDT6NE

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Those About to Die: The Way of the Gladiator
Daniel P. Mannix
Manufacturer: IBOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000WSG1BW

Customer Reviews:

ONE STRANGE RIDE.......2003-09-17

"Land of Unreason" first saw the light of day in 1941, in a shorter form, in "Unknown" magazine; it was later expanded to novel length. Just as there is a genre of science fiction known as "hard" sci-fi, as typified by the works of Hal Clement and Larry Niven, this novel impresses me as a "hard" fantasy novel. Not only do authors deCamp and Pratt usher us into Fairyland, and show us the court of Oberon and Titania, but we are also shown all manner of elves, sprites, nymphs, fairies, ogres, kobolds and the like; even a leprechaun and a unicorn are thrown into the mix.
This journey into the fantastic begins when Fred Barber--an American vice-consul in Spain who has been injured during World War II and who is convalescing on the Yorkshire moors--impulsively drinks the milk that his hostess has superstitiously left for the fairies on St. John's Eve. He is kidnapped by a fairy named Sneckett and brought to Oberon's palace, where he is given the task of going to the Kobold Hills and preventing the kobolds from making metallic swords (a substance that no fairy can touch). Thus, Barber begins his picaresque wanderings, and the reader is propelled into a very strange world indeed. Fairyland has been going through a series of so-called "shapings"; even the normally bizarre physical laws of the realm don't apply anymore. In his travels, Barber encounters a talking whirlwind, an apple-tree sprite, a monster from a plum tree, and two-headed eagles. He resides for a while with a marooned, 19th century farmer from New England, and is transformed into a frog and, later, a batlike creature, all leading to his ultimate transformation. The reader will never be able to guess where the story is going next; it's one darn thing after another for poor Fred Barber, as he tries to find his way back home.
Perhaps I have not adequately suggested, in this capsule description, what a very strange book "Land of Unreason" is. At times I was reminded of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland"; at others, of David Lindsay's weird-in-the-extreme "A Voyage to Arcturus." All feature crazy worlds where the physical laws of our reality are in abeyance; all feature strange characters and even stranger events. "Land of Unreason" even pays homage to Carroll's work, in making Titania's footmen liveried frogs. This is one very bizarre book indeed.
I should also point out to prospective readers of "Land of Unreason" that both deCamp and Pratt were history buffs, and that perhaps the most impressive single aspect of this novel is the seemingly authentic medieval manner in which the characters converse. The authors have obviously done their homework, to say the least. Readers of this book will run into many obscure Scottish words and archaic language, as well as loads of unusual English. This reader is a professional copy editor, and even I had to resort to an UNabridged dictionary repeatedly to look up words such as "nympholept," "strappado," "rounce," "jobbernowl," "equerry," "yataghan," "lambrequin," "armet," "thill," "armigerous," "anlace," "cousin-german," "alate," "oriflamme," "crapulous," "catenary," "pule," "thrip," "gramercy," "widdershins," "adossed," "barry-wavy," "stirk," "wight," "springald," "bedad" and "metic," among others. The book is a challenge in this respect, but, as always, a little research on the part of the reader will be repaid with a deeper appreciation. On the down side, "Land of Unreason" contains many plot points that lead nowhere, and the denouement--for me, anyway--is something of a letdown. This reader was thoroughly entertained while reading the book, but was ultimately left with the feeling that he'd read a piece of well-crafted piffle. I should perhaps also mention that this novel has been included in James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock's overview volume "Fantasy: The 100 Best Books." I'm not sure that it deserves inclusion, but it certainly does make for one strange ride.

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Land of Unreason
L. Sprague and Pratt, Fletcher de Camp
Manufacturer: Dell Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8WCQ8

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Land of Unreason
L. Sprague de Camp , and Fletcher Pratt
Manufacturer: Dell Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000O3K8X2

Product Description

"A bizarre odyssey through a realm of enchantment, whimsy - and occult peril." One of the many brilliant stories that made "Unknown" the outstanding fantasy magazine of its time, "Land of Unreason" is a classic novel of enchantment and eerie destiny.

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Land of Unreason
Fletcher and DeCamp, L. Sprague Pratt
Manufacturer: London Tom Stacey 1972.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Land of Unreason
Illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff Pratt Fletcher and L. Sprague De Camp
Manufacturer: Henry Holt,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JIXK2S

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Land of Unreason
Fletcher and De Camp, L. Sprague Pratt
Manufacturer: Ballantine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UELY1U

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Land of Unreason
Fletcher Pratt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000R30J1U

Product Description

UK edition. Nice reprint of the fantasy classic from 1942.

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Land of Unreason
Sprague L. and Fletcher Pratt De Camp
Manufacturer: NY Dell 1979.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000LTPQB8

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Land of Unreason
Fletcher & De Camp, L Sprague Pratt
Manufacturer: Ballantine Adult Fantasy #01814
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KK5YPG

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LAND OF UNREASON - BALLANTINE 01814-095
Fletcher & De Camp, L. Sprague Pratt
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RAEF4U

Average customer rating:

Horrible!

Awesome crockpot cook book

Quick and packaged

Love this cookbook!

disappointing

The Busy Mom's Slow Cooker Cookbook
Jyl Steinback
Manufacturer: Meredith Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Quick & Easy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Low-Fat Diet | Special Conditions | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Busy Mom's Make It Quick Cookbook

The One-Armed Cook: Quick and Easy Recipes, Smart Meal Plans, and Savvy Advice for New (and Not-So-New) Moms

Cook Once, Eat for a Week

Southern Living Slow-Cooker Cookbook (Southern Living (Hardcover Oxmoor))

5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes (Better Homes & Gardens)

ASIN: 0696223252
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Book Description

Family-friendly, easy-prep slow cooker main dishes, sides, and appetizers.

The inside scoop for slow cooker success: plenty of meaty hints, tips, and bright ideas.

A bonus chapter of simple side dishes and delicious desserts that can be prepared outside of the slow cooker while the main dish is cooking.

Level of difficulty and shopping lists with every recipe.

Complete nutrition information, including carb counts and diabetic exchanges.

Inspiring photos that showcase the variety of recipes.

Customer Reviews:

Horrible!.......2007-03-16

I bought this cookbook because it sounded like just what I needed: healthy meals that I could make while I was out all day. However, this book is a huge disappointment. Besides having almost no photographs, most of these also have no taste! Many do not even have vegetables added, which is one of the great pros of using the slow cooker. I was hoping there would be more all-in-one type dinner recipes. Also, many of these recipies are disturbingly similar, just having different names in order to fill out the book. Flipping through this book does not even inspire me to try anything at all. I wish I'd seen it before I ordered it. The Pillsbury book is the best out there, just tweak them a little to make them healthier.

Awesome crockpot cook book.......2007-02-06

We're a busy couple w/long daily commutes to work. With the recipes in this book and a crockpot all you have to do is buy the ingredients, put them in before going to work and dinner's served when you get home after a long day at the office.

Quick and packaged.......2007-01-29

It seems like most of the recipes contain a can of cream of mushroom soup or something like that; frozen vegetables including onions. I wanted quick but also real food. I was disapointed but will try a few of the recipes.

Love this cookbook!.......2007-01-21

I saw this cookbook recently while out and about and decided to order w/Amazon and give it a whirl. I like the fact that most of these recipes are easy and quick to throw together and let's the slow cooker do the rest! I've tried several recipes already (beef barley soup, pasta sauce and pork chops w/stuffing) and loved them all - the family, too! The "shopping" list on each page is also helpful to allow me to quickly look and see what I need for each recipe. They are indeed low fat, healthy and tasty and I will continue to use this book and recommend to friends and family.

disappointing.......2007-01-04

Based on the reviews and author's slogan - "America's Healthiest Mom" - I was expecting something different, and far better, than run of the mill crock pot recipes. Sadly, this book is not it. The recipes are healthier only because they call for low-fat canned soup and low-fat bottled salad dressing. Many of the recipes are very similar, too similar to be included in the same cookbook. "Fix It and Forget It" has more variety, and if you use low-fat prepared ingredients, the same health quotient..."How To Make Love and Dinner" gives more interesting and varied recipes. Bummer.

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