Realms of the Arcane (Forgotten Realms)

Book Description

Candlekeep boasts one of the finest libraries in the Realms, where the privileged few may conduct their research. But what about its secret collections? Volumes and scrolls long forgotten or hidden from the inquiring eyes of browsers. Volumes dealing with matters that can only be described asarcane.

New tales of Torl past and present by favorite Realms authors, including:Ed Greenwood, Elaine Cunningham, Jeff Grubb, Mark Anthony, and others

Customer Reviews:

uneven quality.......1999-08-23

Like almost all multi-author speculative fiction story collections, this one has stories that run from the mediocre to the compelling. The best one by a long shot (but at some 35 pages more a "novelette" than a short story) is Tom Dupree's "Bread Storm Rising," a variation on the sorcerer's apprentice motif.

uneven quality.......1999-08-23

Sword Play (Forgotten Realms: Arcane Age series, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Good Read
Action packed sword and sorcery
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!!!
Not Bad
A Thrilling page turner!!

Sword Play (Forgotten Realms: Arcane Age series, Book 1)
Clayton Emery
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0786904925
Release Date: 1996-05-21

Book Description

Wizard's Wager

Thousands of years before the Age of Elminster, dragons rule the skies of Faerûn, and elves dominate the huge forests that cover the land. Only in the mighty, magical empire of Netheril are men a force to be reckoned with.

Bored and haughty in his midair castle, the Netherese mage Candlemas bets fellow wizard Sysquemalyn that a certain barbarian who has caught his eye can survive the most savage tests his friend -- and deadly rival -- can devise. The only rule: The tests must offer the subject some chance to survive, however slight.

Of course, "playing fair" is a concept as alien to the wizards of Netheril as "mercy."

But the subject of their wager, Sunbright Steelshanks of the Rengarth Tribe, has a mind -- and a will -- of his own. And Candlemas and Sysquemalyn are not the only players in this lethal game of swords and sorcery . . . .

Customer Reviews:

Good Read.......2004-03-25

This was an entertaining book that I would read again. I felt that the only real draw backs came in the lack of information about the land and people that the story takes place in. A little more background information would have been nice. Also, what kind of a name is "Sunbright Steelshanks" for a barbarian? Shouldn't the name be more gutteral? Sunbright sounds like the name of a preistess of sune or some such thing. If you can get passed the name of the hero, and the general feeling of not really being familiar with the land it takes place in, then you will enjoy this book.

Action packed sword and sorcery.......2002-02-27

Sword Play, the first volume in the Netheril Trilogy, is a fast-packed, hack and slash, sword and sorcery tale. The book immediately jumps into the action and continues almost non-stop throughout the book. There is an extended lull about a third of the way through the book which lasted a bit too long -- hence my rating of four stars instead of five.

After the lull ends, the action starts again with the meeting with the One King and his task to Sunbright, the barbarian main character. The basis for the story is two wizards placing a bet on the barbarian's survival. Eventually, the bet comes back to haunt them and they, in addition to Sunbright and his newfound companion Greenwillow, must try to right the wrongs caused by the bet.

Creatures abound in this one -- dragons, pit fiends, hordes of Nine Hells creatures, etc. It's a fun read, but don't look for much character development. Although the trilogy is now out-of-print, copies can still be found ...

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!!!.......2001-12-17

Clayton Emery is an author I had never heard of before reading this tale. The book is so enthralling and breathtaking I have read it more than five times now. Every single paragraph is well detailed and carefully worded. The characters seem to come to life as you read more and more. Reading about Sunbright as he adventures through the Nine Hells is more fun than one could imagine.

Not Bad.......2001-11-02

It was better than the novels of poor authors like Greenwood. In other words, every single female in the book didn't end up naked and the heros weren't invicible.

It was worse than the novels of great authors like Salvatore and Niles. That doesn't mean it was a bad novel. There were some enjoyable parts but overall Sword Play was mediocre.

A Thrilling page turner!!.......1999-02-16

Sword Play starts good and ends better. The action, monsters, and close calls were so well described I'd brake out in sweat and start to shake as I read. If you read this book plan on reading it strait through, you WONT put it down.

Dangerous Games (Forgotten Realms: Arcane Age series, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Not as entertaining as Sword Play
A good second book
A very entertaining (and surprising) book.

Dangerous Games (Forgotten Realms: Arcane Age series, Book 2)
Clayton Emery
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0786905247
Release Date: 1996-11-19

Book Description

Mages' Games

Netheril, empire of magic, where wizards wield power far beyond the ken of mortal men.

Netheril, where citadels float, magic runs wild, and mages dabble in games better left for the gods.

Netheril, a place of dangerous games where the barbarian Sunbright Steelshanks soon finds himself an unwilling pawn in a lethal match of wits, wiles, and powers.

Customer Reviews:

Not as entertaining as Sword Play.......2002-03-02

Dangerous Games is the second book in the Netheril Trilogy by Clayton Emery. Two of the main charcters from the first book return and the story begins soon after the concluding events of the first book. While still entertaining, this one tended to drag through the middle third of the book.

The story opens with another excellent fight scene involving the main character of the series - Sunbright Steelshanks. His newfound ally from the first book, the sorceror Candlemas, also returns and aids Sunbright. After the initial discovery of a shooting star, the heroes are transferred to a different time. The book begins to drag when the heroes are separated.

New allies are found, there are plenty of sword fights, and the story starts to pick up again at the beginning of the final third of the book. There's a big buildup to the finale which is well-written (involves a character trying to achieve god status), but it is a bit short. The book is still recommended as long as you read the first book beforehand.

A good second book.......1999-01-28

This is a good second book for the trilogy. It brought in a new charicter that changes the whole story. If you would like to talk to me E-mail me.

A very entertaining (and surprising) book........1998-01-20

This book gets off to a good start right away by having an extemely detailed and action filled battle scene. The book also develops a thick plot and story line, while contiuing the saga from the prequel.

The Fall of Myth Drannor (AD&D/Forgotten Realms/Arcane Age Adventure)

Average customer rating:

An Elvish History Book
Incredible history
Solid sourcebook, but not quite an adventure
Intriguing idea falls short
okay reference, limited adventure

The Fall of Myth Drannor (AD&D/Forgotten Realms/Arcane Age Adventure)
Steven E. Schend
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786912359

Customer Reviews:

An Elvish History Book.......2000-10-21

The Fall of Myth Drannor tells the story of the destruction of the famous elven city in the ancient days of TSR's Forgotten Realms campaign. Labeled an "adventure," this accessory is more of a campaign resource to be used with Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves, another Arcane Age product for the Realms.

The Fall of Myth Drannor is largely an elvish history. Adventure possibilities for a variety of situations along the timeline given are provided for both Arcane Age campaigns and for time-hopping characters from the modern Realms. The Fall of Myth Drannor contains an overall discussion of the whys and hows of Myth Drannor's end, and a brief description of each campaign and battle of "the Weeping War" and of the battles of the N'Vaelahr secret agents. "Lost" magic items, oddities, and spells of the elves from this time are also detailed. There is also a glossary for unusual elvish terms from this product, and a brief list of heroes and villains and some of their characteristics to help in keeping the numerous creatures and elves sorted out.

Incredible history.......2000-06-22

I don't believe I've ever read a RPG product that read so much like a novel. The descriptions of the events leading to the fall and the battles themselves conveyed a great sense of the setting and the desperate battles that took place. It tells of a truly tragic story, something that is rarely (if ever) found in RPGs.

Solid sourcebook, but not quite an adventure.......2000-05-02

Ever wonder what really happened to the glorious ruined grandeur of Myth Drannor? This book describes it all - if you're a fan of Tolkien's Silmarillion, you'll quickly find yourself swept up in the tragic majesty of the elven kingdoms - swords and spells flash, heroes die, demons battle, and the world comes to an end... besides all the battle descriptions and maps, this compendium also includes adventure hooks galore, ultra-powerful elven magic, and more. Best of all, this is an Arcane Age supplement - there's enough information here that if you want to run a "back in time" scenario in which the PCs are swept up in these epic events, more power to you! A great addition to any Forgotten Realms campaign.

Intriguing idea falls short.......1999-07-30

It seems that the Fall of Myth Drannor fell further than anticipated. While this product has some fine work, most of the products falls far short of expectations.

Battle maps are detailed, but there isn't enough information on the battles themselves. Adventure hooks are laced throughout, but the hooks don't do Myth Drannor's fall any real justice.

Add to that some poor cover art, the occasional yet horrible typographic mistake, and a slightly confusing layout, and you've got yourself a fairly mediocre product.

The Fall of Myth Drannor does, however, compliment the Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves product, and if you've already bought the Cormanthyr Arcane Age campaign expansion, you really should spring the money for this product, if only to add more depth to the elven lore in your campaign.

okay reference, limited adventure.......1999-07-14

Less a module and more a description of the various battles surrounding the title event. If you are looking for an *adventure* to run or modify, you won't find it here, and I strongly recommend just cooking one up yourself. As a reference, it is okay, but isn't really detailed enough to justify buying it.

Forgotten Realms - Arcane Age - Netheril Trilogy- Sword Play, Dangerous Games, Mortal Consequences

Average customer rating:

Forgotten Realms - Arcane Age - Netheril Trilogy- Sword Play, Dangerous Games, Mortal Consequences
Clayton Emery
Manufacturer: TSR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QG2FPQ

Average customer rating:
DRAGONLANCE HEROES: Trilogy (1) (i) One: Volume (1) One: The Legend of Huma; Volume (2) Two: Stormblade; Volume (3) Three: Weasel's Luck (Dragon Lance Saga)
Richard A.; Berberick, Nancy Varian; Williams, Michael Knaak
Manufacturer: TSR Dragonlance
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NRVDHE

Average customer rating:
Set 3 Heroes Trilogy : Volume One The Legend of Huma Volume Two Stormblade Volume Three Weasel's Luck
Richard A. Knaak , Nancy Varian Berberick , and Michael Williams
Manufacturer: TSR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000JLF1DG

Product Description

Set 3 Heroes Trilogy : Volume One The Legend of Huma Volume Two Stormblade Volume Three Weasel's Luck

Average customer rating:

High Quality Homages to Jules Verne

The Mammoth Book of New Jules Verne Adventures: Return to the Center of the Earth and Other Extraordinary Voyages, New Tales by the Heirs of Jules Verne

Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ashley, Mike | ( A ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Martian War: A Thrilling Eyewitness Account of the Recent Invasion As Reported by Mr. H.G. Wells

Myths for the Modern Age: Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe

Adventure

Lighthouse at the End of the World: The First English Translation of Verne's Original Manuscript (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)

Shadowmen: Heroes and Villains of French Pulp Fiction

ASIN: 0786714956

Book Description

Jules Verne, one of the founding fathers of science fiction, was the author of such thrilling and perennial favorites as Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, as well as more than sixty other novels of adventure and exploration. One hundred years after his death, this magnificent new collection celebrates Verne’s amazing vision. A host of today’s top science fiction authors pay homage to Verne’s genius with a series of stories inspired by his groundbreaking imagination and original characters. In this anthology are extraordinary voyages of discovery and adventure from the four corners of the globe, and even within it. Following the tradition of Verne’s original tales, Ian Watson tells of a journey deep into the center of the Earth, where Verne himself does battle with occultist Nazis, and Adam Roberts takes us to latter-day California, where a descendant of Verne’s character Hector Servadac is preparing for the end of the world as we know it. These and many more compelling adventures add up to an anthology that will introduce a new generation to the wonder of Jules Verne and delight readers already familiar with the master.

Customer Reviews:

High Quality Homages to Jules Verne.......2005-03-15

I've decided to treat myself to only one of these a week after reading the first 4 this weekend. Who knows if we'll ever get new Verne stories again by authors of this caliber. (The editorial review doesn't do justice to the contributors. Check the table of contents scan.) Each story deserves to be savored fully. The first four are each very different - one's even a parody of Paris in the 20th Century - reflecting the various strengths and tastes of the authors; but, at the same time, you feel that you are reading Verne himself somehow. Even the parody!

Average customer rating:

Australian SF Reader
Great climax to a fantastic trilogy
A big let down
Fabulous finale
Thought provoking and fully engages your imagination

Heirs Of Earth
Sean Williams , and Shane Dix
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441011268
Release Date: 2003-12-30

Book Description

Earth has been destroyed, and with it the natural order of things. What little that remains of humanity is caught between the Spinners and the Starfish, unsure whether to run, hide, or fight back. None of the options is particularly attractive, and none offers much hope for survival.

Customer Reviews:

Australian SF Reader.......2007-08-01

The few remaining humans, in engram form or otherwise, are caught up in a conflict between two opposing forces of mostly incomprehensible aliens, and the ultimate decision about whether the destiny of the species is organic, or inorganic, or both.

Great climax to a fantastic trilogy .......2005-08-26

_Heirs of Earth_ by Sean Williams and Shane Dix is the excellent, exciting climax to the trilogy that began with _Echoes of Earth_. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it a satisfying end to the series, though there were some unanswered questions, perhaps unavoidable given the almost unfathomable and deeply alien nature of the Spinners and the Starfish.

In fact, if I had any complaint about the book, it was at the end one never really truly understood what it was the Spinners and the Starfish - collectively known as the Ambivalence to the Yuhl - were doing. Sure, lots of theories were put out by Peter Alander, Caryl Hatzis, and the various engrams, but even at the very end (sorry if this is a spoiler) the reader doesn't know for sure. As I wrote, perhaps that is unavoidable given how vastly alien the authors made the Starfish and Spinners.

That doesn't mean the story is not otherwise excellent. The bulk of the book centered around a desperate mission by Peter, several versions of Caryl (both the original, Sol, and two other engrams of her), and one of the Frank Axford engrams to seek out the Starfish, first to do battle with them with a fleet of hole ships and probes to gain intelligence, then to infiltrate one of their massive vessels and hitch a ride to the Starfish fleet, in hopes of communicating with them, passing information to them about a star system that they have reason to believe to be the Spinner base in hopes of ending their destructive path through the stars. Unsure if they can even get aboard, survive while there, find someone to talk to in the Starfish fleet (rather than be destroyed out of hand), and get the Starfish to believe them, it is a plan with a lot of "ifs," very bold to be sure, but their last, best hope for those engrams and Yuhl who were not fleeing the Starfish front, attempting what some among the Yuhl called the "Species Dream," of finding a permanent home on a planet, hopefully having successfully neutralized or avoided the Starfish threat.

As in the second book, there were a number of surprises, particularly with regards to the Starfish themselves, the true nature of the Yuhl, and to the ultimate abilities of Frank Axford. While there was definitely an ending, the authors did leave room to explore the setting again. If they did, I would be interested in revisiting this universe.

I really enjoyed the trilogy as a whole and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

A big let down.......2004-08-22

As with most trilogies, the first two books prime you with many unanswered questions and build up to a glorious finale. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. Well, the third installment in this series is a flop. It left me with a sense of despair in that it didn't answer many of the questions about the Starfish and the Spinners. It also created more (unanswered) questions. I get the feeling they're setting the scene for a fourth novel. I for one won't buy it.

Fabulous finale.......2004-05-19

What a fitting end! Although I felt the trilogy got off to bit of a rocky start with the first book, I loved the second book because it was filled with characters who you could relate to instead of the usual angst filled ones that you just want to knock some sense into. To this end, Dix and Williams were faithful to not falling into that trap.

This last book dealt with some pretty mind boggling issues fairly satisfactorily as far as I was concerned - although all humans but one wiped out and just engrams surviving of a few select humans seems a bit weird. But, as was pointed out - it was starting to come down to those who like their organic form and those that like the inorganic, so its entirely possible in this scenario that the human race was going to diverge down these avenues anyway! Loved the way that was put in the book. I also felt the bizarreness of the aliens they were dealing with was dealth with very very very well. This isn't a book that leaves you feeling cheated!

For really good hard core science fiction with a genuine plot and believable (but not necessarily loveable) characters, this is one of the best SF trilogies to come out in years. The only other author who is even remotely on par with this right now is Peter F Hamilton's Nights Dawn trilogy. Space opera at its best!

Thought provoking and fully engages your imagination.......2004-05-07

If you are looking for a nice neatly packaged story that lays out all the answers for you, then this may not be the series for you. If, however, you are like me and love to have your mind challenged with an engaging story then you are in for another great ride from Dix and Williams.

While the story is packed full of wonderous alien culture and advanced technology, that is really not the focus of the story. Rather it serves as the backdrop for the characters. The real story lies, as most great stories do, with THE CHARACTERS. I found them all to be full of life and have very believable merits and flaws. For me, the story was about how these people were dealing with their identities as engrams and questioning if they are actually human or not while trying to stay alive long enough for it to matter. I absolutely LOVED the conversations between the human engrams and all the various alien cultures.

Like the Evergence trilogy and the first two books in this series, I could not put this book down. More than one morning came too soon because I had lost track of time and read far too late into the evening. To me, that is the sign of a truly GREAT story.

The concepts are presented in a Carl Sagenish format that engages your mind and places a huge sense of wonder. The conversations should send your mind reeling with the possibilities. I found myself wishing that I could be in the room discussing those possiblities with the characters.

I will concede that all the answers are not plainly given but when dealing with concepts so immense and beyond our scope of knowledge to do so would be an injustice. If you look closely though, Dix and Williams have given enough hints at what PROBABLY was happening. Perhaps we have not seen the last of this group of characters.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good sci fi character story or likes pondering the possibilities of other life in the universe. Dix and Williams do not present stories with typical endings and I find that refreshing.

Average customer rating:

A Sci-fi Must Read!

Heirs of the New Earth
David Lee Summers
Manufacturer: LBF Books, Imprint of Lachesis Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1885093497
Release Date: 2007-02-05

Book Description

The Earth has gone silent. John Mark Ellis and the crew of the Sanson are sent to investigate. When they arrive, they find vast alien machines known as Clusters in orbit. Fearing the worst, they land and discover that the once over-crowded, polluted Earth has become a paradise of sorts. The problem is over half the population is dead or missing and the planet's leaders don't seem to care. As Ellis works to unravel the mystery, sudden gravitational shifts from the galaxy's center indicate something even worse is in the offing. Can Ellis save the galaxy from the heirs of the new Earth?

Customer Reviews:

A Sci-fi Must Read!.......2007-09-07

In the beginning there were anomalies known as Clusters that considered themselves the intelligence, but felt they were lacking somehow so they merged with the Titans also known as the appendages to experience a new way of living. One day the appendages were torn from the Clusters leaving them feeling empty once again, they began a new search for a species that could intensify the emotions they craved; humans.

John Mark Ellis and his crew aboard the Nicholas Sanson set out to discover the home of the Clusters and stop the new breed of humans, the Heirs of the new Earth from taking over. After the doomsday phenomenon leaving most of Earth's population dead or comatose it would seem the Clusters have won. The humans left were instructed by the Clusters to rebuild and make Earth a whole new planet.

John Mark Ellis and his team must do all in their power to find a way to destroy the seductive hold the Cluster has on the new "heirs of the Earth." Does he succeed in saving what is left of the human population or has the Cluster been deemed indestructible leaving Earth in dangerous hands?

Mr. Summers' futuristic science fiction book, Heirs Of The New Earth is mind blowing. The attention to detail makes you feel one with the characters, it seems you experience the events firsthand. This book is a part of a series but can easily be read as a stand alone, I however wish I could have read the series to heighten the experience a little more.

Mr. Summers has a very vivid imagination, he is a wonderful storyteller. The prologue was a little hard to follow for me but once I started reading further into the story it all became clear. There are many characters in this book, but Mr. Summers has made each one so unique it is impossible to forget them. Heirs Of The New Earth is a book Sci-fi lovers will enjoy and love. 4 Hearts

AMAZING STORIES - Volume 62, number 1 - May 1987: Freezeframe; Fear the Light; A Bomb in the Head; Messiah; The Flying Mountain; The Man I'll Never Be; The Homework Horror; The Heirs of Earth; The Right Shuttle

Average customer rating:

AMAZING STORIES - Volume 62, number 1 - May 1987: Freezeframe; Fear the Light; A Bomb in the Head; Messiah; The Flying Mountain; The Man I'll Never Be; The Homework Horror; The Heirs of Earth; The Right Shuttle
Patrick Lucien (editor) (Gregory Benford; Edward F. Shaver; David E. Cortesi; John Gregory Betancourt; R. Garcia y Robertson; Doug Beason; Greg Cox; Paul J. McAuley; Alan Dean Foster; Robert Coulson; Tom Disch; Richard Wilson; Robert Silverberg) Price
Manufacturer: TSR - Birthright
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Heirs of Earth : The Orphans Trilogy Bk 3.

Average customer rating:

Heirs of Earth : The Orphans Trilogy Bk 3.
Sean Williams and Shane Dix
Manufacturer: Voyager
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0732275253

Average customer rating:

Lord of Earth and Heaven's Heir
Human Fortress Cdrd 234179
Manufacturer: RYKO DISTRIBUTION
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 630670731X

Average customer rating:

Good for familes but not babies

not for me

Very comprehensive

Yummy for Your Lactobacilli

Delicious!

Feeding the Whole Family: Whole Foods Recipes for Babies, Young Children and Their Parents
Cynthia Lair
Manufacturer: Moon Smile Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Super Baby Food

Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook (Organic)

Accessories:

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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

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ASIN: 0966034619

Book Description

Are you concerned about the freshness of commercial baby food? Are you frustrated with making separate meals for your picky eater? Would you like move toward a plant-based, whole foods diet? Families all over the country have found satisfying, delicious answers to these questions and more in Cynthia Lair's Feeding the Whole Family.

There are over 150 family-tested recipes using whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit. Each recipe contains suggestions on how to transform dishes parents will love into food for babies and young children. Plus the book contains valuable insights on breastfeeding, starting solids and how to attract children to healthy eating.

Feeding the Whole Family also features an extremely handy "Identifying, Shopping, & Storing Whole Foods" glossary, a complete index and delightful stories and illustrations. The book is bound with a special binding that lies flat.

This is the perfect gift for new parents.

Customer Reviews:

Good for familes but not babies.......2007-01-12

This is a good book if you are looking for recipes for a family, however, I thought that it was lacking in recipes and information as first solids for babies (which is what I expected). I think it's it great for families with children 2 years and older. The recipes are focused on adults first, then younger children, then babies. So, if you are looking for recipes exclusively or primarily for babies-- this is not the right book.

not for me.......2006-09-23

I was hoping for something with easy recipes that the whole family could enjoy together, but this is not it. A lot of the recipes are really unsuited for babies, and they instead give "baby" versions at the end that consist of reserving one of the ingredients (e.g., brown rice) and pureeing it plain--not exactly nutritious. (These are often followed by "children's" versions that necessitate picking out selected ingredients that may--or may not--appeal to kids.) There are too many grain-based recipes for my taste (deep-fried millet croquettes...red bean quinoa chili) and a lot of nuts (bad for babies), sea vegetables and permutations of soy (tofu, tempeh, tamari) which I personally am not interested in serving due to all the recent scrutiny of soy products as hormone disruptors (also a possible allergen for babies). It is really sort of an Asian-inspired/macrobiotic vegetarian cookbook (Tempeh Bacon is one of the recipes). "Whole Foods," in my mind, should feature fresh, minimally processed, natural, localized ingredients, but this seems to require endless trips to the health food store to purchase products such as seitan and kudzu. There is a lot of great nutritional information at the beginning of the book discussing babies and breastfeeding mothers, and some seemingly good sugar-free desserts, but I am sort of disappointed that the majority of the recipes are not palatable for the whole family (or easily modifed so that older babies can enjoy what everyone else gets).

Very comprehensive.......2006-08-11

"Feeding the Whole Family" by Cynthia Lair really is for the WHOLE family - and that includes infants and young children. Lair, a certified Health and Nutrition Counselor, devotes a whole chapter on starting your baby on solid foods. From there, she gives practical tips and advice on how to attract your children to healthy food. Lair also discusses the importance of whole, organic foods and well-balanced meals.

And then it's on to the recipes. A cool feature is that almost all of the recipes give suggestions for how it can be prepared for a baby. Many also include variations to make the dish more appealing to children. The cookbook includes the following sections:

Basic Grain and Bean Cookery: A good reference for basic cooking of whole grains, pastas, and beans.

Bustling Breakfasts: Recipes include Whole Grain Baby Cereal, 5-Grain Morning Cereal, Nut and Seed Granola, Buttermilk Banana Pancakes, Tofu Vegetable Breakfast Burrito, and Tempeh Bacon - no eggs here!

Lively Lunchboxes: This section has great ideas for kids lunches. We loved the Sesame Noodles and I am looking foward to trying the Tempeh Avocado Sushi Rolls, Mad Dog Rice Salad, Quick Lemon and Garlic Quinoa Salad, and Apple Miso Almond Butter Sandwich.

Soothing Soups: We loved the Red Lentil Soup with East Indian Spices, Split Pea Soup with Fresh Peas and Potatoes, Creamy Broccoli Soup. I still want to try the Thick Potato Cauliflower and Dulse Soup.

Substantial Suppers: The Pan-Fried Tofu and Greesn with Almond Ginger Drizzle was a huge hit with my family. Still on my list to try is Polenta Pizza, Black Bean Tostados, Nut Burgers, Seitan and Shiitake Mushrooms in Cashew Mirin Sauce. This section does contain some non-vegetarian recipes for salmon, shrimp, rainbow trout, and chicken.

Vital Vegetables: There are lots of recipes for greens as well as many salads. Our favorite so far is Susan's Succulent Supper Salad. The dressing is so good - actually it has become my staple dressing.

Fresh Breads and Muffins: I just made the Homemade Whole Grain Bread yesterday and that's when I knew I had to get this review written. It was probably the best bread I have ever made - soft, light but still hearty. It rose perfectly and tasted great. There are also some recipes for muffins and pizza dough.

Sauces and Stuff: Recipes for sauces, gravy, dressing, marinade, ghee and curry paste.

Wholesome Desserts: Lair gives an explanation of alternative sweeteners, plus tips for replace eggs and white flour in baked goods. The Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies were great - crispy and delicious. I'm dying to try the Blueberry-Strawberry Tart but the kids keep eating the berries before I get around to making this. There are lots of cookie and cake recipes. The frostings are kind of unusual - I haven't tried any yet.

Natural Drinks and Brews: Teas, nut milks, cold and hot drinks.

As you can see, this a very comprehensive cookbook- full of helpful information and delicious recipes. Though it is mostly vegetarian, there are a few meat recipes - so this cookbook is great for anyone wanting to eat a whole foods diet.

Yummy for Your Lactobacilli.......2006-07-25

In the foreword by Annemarie Colbin, CHES, of The Natural Gourmet Cookery School in NYC, there is the suggestion that shifts in customs around eating have contributed to the breakdown of our society, "could it be that by our dietary customs- consumption of unnatural foods and large amounts of meat and milk from animals raised on antibiotics and hormones- we are building a new kind of human being, one that has little connection with the healthier ways of the past?" I'd have to say... No. I don't see that as being a simple cause and effect, but I'm with her in spirit. I'd see both our diets and our lifestyles as being downstream effects of animals living in a very different kind of environment than the one we spent the overwhelming majority of our species-span evolving in. It doesn't matter whether she overstates the case or not, the bottom-line is still correct, we are Paleolithic hominids with Paleolithic-tuned bodies stranded without our tribes, alone in our urban institutions. By finding ways to recreate customs that resonate with a deeper part of our evolutionary past, we stand to not only enrich our lives but also improve our physical and mental health.

What do you know, it does take a village. But the villages are gone (and the old ones had their down sides, they weren't as kind to ostracized outliers as the anonymous urban mesh). Still, we can recreate the best of The Village without holding on clumsily to the parts that don't fit just out of fretful superstition. So, live in co-ops, teach your children and your neighbor's children in co-ops schools, plant a garden with friends (oops, I've gone outside the scope of a review again, thanks for all your lovely email reminders. Don't worry, I'll get us back on track, watch.) And lovingly prepare homemade meals from whole foods for your whole family. (ah, nicely done)

That's where Cynthia Lair's wonderful recipes come in. While this book does do some educating on whole foods and some philosophizing on the importance of healthy eating, the strength of this book are great and simple recipes, conveyed with love and enthusiasm.

If I had to say how this book has changed my life in two words, I'd have to say "Quinoa" and "safflower oil." Oops, does that count as three words? I'm cooking with new ingredients, eating lower on the gylcemic index, and I've given up bacon. Okay, that last one is a lie. I can't seem to give up bacon. Our little secret. Don't tell my vegan friends and don't tell my rabbi. But I feel bad when I eat it, and that's a start.

Cynthia Lair includes a nice little chapter on reducing flatulence. Beans are high in Oligosaccharides that pass all the way to the colon undigested. They sit in your colon with your colonic flora and ferment, produce that famous vegetarian flatulence. Personally, I'm not sure why you would want to reduce that, that seems to me to be at least half the fun of being a vegetarian. My buddy, Greg, in college could release a deluge of potent raffinose and stachyose byproducts in such a forecful way that the couch would shake. And not just the couch he was sitting on, but our other couch, which had to be at least a yard away. He had another trick, too distasteful for this format but remind me to tell you later.

I do have a personal connection, I had the pleasure of taking a cooking class with Ms. Lair when I rotated through Bastyr University. She was great, taught me the proper way to chop cilantro. She coaches with all positive reinforcement, and has an infectious smile. You can see it on display in photos on the back cover. Bright countenance. Mild exopthalmous, but captivating. And the recipes are really inventive and very tasty. Buy this book.

Delicious!.......2006-03-24

I met Cynthia Lair while I was a student at Bastyr University. I was fortunate enough to take her semester long, whole foods cooking class. Boy was she difficult! She took her whole foods cooking VERY seriously. I'm grateful now for the experience as it started me on a wonderful journey of whole foods preparation. I loved the book then and I love it even more now because it's given me lots of ideas to feed my little one wholesome foods. I've tried about 90% of the recipes through the years and can honestly say I've never made one I did not like! Thanks Cynthia for all you've taught me!

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