The Swoop! And Other Stories (A Continuum Book)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Swoop! And Other Stories (A Continuum Book)
    P. G Wodehouse
    Manufacturer: Seabury Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    BritishBritish | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 0816493502
    The Swoop! or How Clarence Saved England
    Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
    • Failed Parody
    • Swoop in
    The Swoop! or How Clarence Saved England
    P. G. Wodehouse
    Manufacturer: Paperbackshop.Co.UK Ltd - Echo Library
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ComicComic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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    Wodehouse, P.G.Wodehouse, P.G. | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 1846374480

    Book Description

    The attitude of the British public, too, was getting on their nerves. They had been prepared for fierce resistance. They had pictured the invasion as a series of brisk battles--painful perhaps, but exciting. They had anticipated that when they had conquered the country they might meet with the Glare of Hatred as they patrolled the streets. The Supercilious Stare unnerved them. There is nothing so terrible to the highly-strung foreigner as the cold, contemptuous, patronising gaze of the Englishman. It gave the invaders a perpetual feeling of doing the wrong thing.

    Download Description

    The attitude of the British public, too, was getting on their nerves. They had been prepared for fierce resistance. They had pictured the invasion as a series of brisk battles--painful perhaps, but exciting. They had anticipated that when they had conquered the country they might meet with the Glare of Hatred as they patrolled the streets. The Supercilious Stare unnerved them. There is nothing so terrible to the highly-strung foreigner as the cold, contemptuous, patronising gaze of the Englishman. It gave the invaders a perpetual feeling of doing the wrong thing.

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Failed Parody.......2006-08-25

    _The Swoop_ is a parody of invasion stories common in Britain at the turn of the twentieth century, but (like Wodehouse's earlier parody, _William Tell Told Again_) it fails completely. A parody is supposed to exaggerate some existing characteristic of its target to the point of absurdity; Wodehouse instead introduces a brand new absurdity, the peaceful but childish conduct of nine separate invading armies. Except for one brief joke about the London County Council which will resonate with modern residents of London, it fails completely to grip or to amuse. Wodehouse's very next book, _Mike_, was a turning point in his career, with its introduction of the character Psmith. The only interest in _The Swoop_ for modern readers is to accentuate the contrast with his vintage work.

    3 out of 5 stars Swoop in.......2004-09-20

    Legendary humorist P.G. Wodehouse was only embarking on his long, prestigious literary career when he wrote "The Swoop! Or, How Clarence Saved England." It's a very brief novel, lacking in Wodehouse's usual complexity, but it's still a quirky little read.

    A faithful Boy Scout, Clarence is one of those kids who worries a lot about their country -- almost too much. He belongs to a pleasantly staid family who think he's a little nuts, because of his constant moans about how England has deteriorated. But it seems that he might be at least partly right when German prince invades during tea.

    Nine other hostile armies invade England, much to the indignation of the populace. Unfortunately, the English don't put up much of a resistance, since "the Socialists had condemned the army system as unsocial." And suddenly Clarence and the Boy Scouts are the thing standing between Endland and total occupation.

    "At last I begin to realise the horrors of an invasion -- for the invaders." Wodehouse wrote this amusing little book before World War II -- during that war, the idea of Germans invading wouldn't have been as funny. But the ideas are still quite amusing: of a smallish invasion force being politely but firmly ejected from an Essex house, because they interrupted teatime.

    Plotwise, it's not very complex. In fact, compared to his usual tangles of love, blackmail and stolen policemen's helmets, it's simple. But it is amusing, the idea of a bunch of Boy Scouts overthrowing nine different invading forces. Wodehouse's entertaining dialogue is brilliantly absurd. ("An hour ago your camp was silently surrounded by patrols of Boy Scouts, armed with catapults and hockey-sticks").

    "The Swoop! Or How Clarence Saved England" is a fun little novel by a master humorist, who was just starting to find his niche when he wrote it. It's not the best that P.G. Wodehouse wrote, but it's still amusing.
    The Swoop
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • How Wodehouse saved the Swoop
    The Swoop
    P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
    Manufacturer: Hard Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
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    5. My Man Jeeves (Collector's Wodehouse) My Man Jeeves (Collector's Wodehouse)

    ASIN: 1406934496
    Release Date: 2006-11-03

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars How Wodehouse saved the Swoop.......2005-11-25

    Legendary humorist P.G. Wodehouse is best known for his upper-crust, screwball comedies, especially those of aristocratic goof Bertie Wooster and his serene valet Jeeves.

    But Wodehouse was only embarking on his long, prestigious literary career when he wrote "The Swoop! Or, How Clarence Saved England." It's a very brief novel, lacking in Wodehouse's usual complexity, but it's still an amusing (if brief) read.

    A faithful Boy Scout, Clarence is one of those kids who worries a lot about their country -- almost too much. He belongs to a pleasantly staid family who think he's a little nuts, because of his constant moans about how England has deteriorated. But it seems that he might be at least partly right when German prince invades during tea.

    Nine other hostile armies invade England, much to the indignation of the populace. Unfortunately, the English don't put up much of a resistance, since "the Socialists had condemned the army system as unsocial." And suddenly Clarence and the Boy Scouts are the thing standing between Endland and total occupation.

    "At last I begin to realise the horrors of an invasion -- for the invaders." Wodehouse wrote this amusing little book before World War II -- during that war, the idea of Germans invading wouldn't have been as funny. But the ideas are still quite amusing: of a smallish invasion force being politely but firmly ejected from an Essex house, because they interrupted teatime.

    Plotwise, it's not very complex. In fact, compared to his usual tangles of love, blackmail and stolen policemen's helmets, it's simple. But it is amusing, the idea of a bunch of Boy Scouts overthrowing nine different invading forces. Wodehouse's entertaining dialogue is brilliantly absurd. ("An hour ago your camp was silently surrounded by patrols of Boy Scouts, armed with catapults and hockey-sticks").

    "The Swoop! Or How Clarence Saved England" is a fun little novel by a master humorist, who was just starting to find his niche when he wrote it. It's not the best that P.G. Wodehouse wrote, but it's still amusing.
    Fat Bat and Swoop (Early Chapter Books (Henry Holt & Company))
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Fat Bat and Swoop (Early Chapter Books (Henry Holt & Company))
      Leo Landry
      Manufacturer: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      FictionFiction | Birds | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      FictionFiction | General | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      FictionFiction | Friendship | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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      5. A Girl and Her Gator A Girl and Her Gator

      ASIN: 0805070036
      Release Date: 2005-09-15

      Book Description

      Fat Bat and Swoop the owl love to make mischief. When they fly through a clothesline and come out looking like ghosts, they know its time for some fun. And Emily is the perfect target for their prankshes quite a nice cow, except that she moos too much. But when their plan backfires, Fat Bat and Swoop find out that even very different people can become good friends. Sweet, silly humor and just the right amount of spookiness make this a perfect chapter book for young readers.
      Swoop's Book of Seasons (Pond Pals)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Swoop's Book of Seasons (Pond Pals)
        Lois Keefer
        Manufacturer: Faith Kidz
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Board book

        jp-unknown1jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: 0781437296

        Book Description

        No one can understand why Swoop, the blue jay, has so much respect for Mr. Potter, but he does! And from him, children will learn about praising God through the Psalms.
        Adivina Quien Baja En Picada/ Guess Who Swoops (Bookworms)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Adivina Quien Baja En Picada/ Guess Who Swoops (Bookworms)
          Sharon Gordon
          Manufacturer: Benchmark Books (NY)
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Library Binding

          NonfictionNonfiction | Birds | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
          No ficciónNo ficción | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
          9 a 12 años9 a 12 años | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books | General | Series
          GeneralGeneral | 4 a 8 años | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
          No-FicciónNo-Ficción | Pájaros | Animales | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Literatura | Infantil y juvenil | Libros en español | Formats | Books
          ASIN: 0761423877
          After Dark, the National Magazine of Entertainment, Vol 6, No 12 - Celebrating Cabaret - Wild West Wotan - Equus (April 1974)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            After Dark, the National Magazine of Entertainment, Vol 6, No 12 - Celebrating Cabaret - Wild West Wotan - Equus (April 1974)

            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback
            ASIN: B000VB20I8

            Product Description

            104 pages. After Dark was an entertainment magazine that covered theatre, cinema, stage plays, ballet, performance art, and various artists, including singers, actors and actresses, and dancers, among others. One of the great things about the publication, at least today, is the almost "time capsule" like richness of advertising, photos, and the many great names who are not here today. Of course it also true that although not a "gay" magazine, its approach and treatment of style and sensibility was anything but. This issue features: Equus: Peter Shaffer's Thoroughbred - in photo essay format by Michael T Leach on England's National Theatre presentation; Dans L'Espace Cardin: Men's spring and summer fashions from Pierre Cardin by John David Richardson; Celebrating Cabaret by Norma McLain Swoop of New York's resurgence of fabulous floor shows; Michel Legrand Getting Grander by Didier Delaunoy on the discrete charm of France's music man; On the Town Reviews: in London, in New York, in Boston, in DC, in Los Angeles, in Hollywood, ... more.
            At One Fell Swoop
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              At One Fell Swoop
              Osmington Mills
              Manufacturer: Roy
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Unknown Binding
              ASIN: B0000CLNZE
              At One Fell Swoop
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                At One Fell Swoop

                Manufacturer: Geoffrey Bles
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Hardcover
                ASIN: B000EAC7A2
                Dino Dudes:swoop Flie (Dino Dudes)
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Dino Dudes:swoop Flie (Dino Dudes)
                  Keith Faulkner
                  Manufacturer: Price Stern Sloan
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Pop-Up & Movable | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
                  ASIN: 0843136510

                  Wonder Woman: Down to Earth
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • Wonder Woman at her best
                  • Comics and Graphic Novels for Girls
                  • Impressive.
                  • Excellent Foundation For A New Wonder Woman Run!
                  Wonder Woman: Down to Earth
                  Greg Rucka
                  Manufacturer: DC Comics
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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                  GeneralGeneral | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
                  SuperheroesSuperheroes | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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                  ASIN: 1401202268

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Wonder Woman at her best.......2005-08-22

                  Wonder Woman: Down to Earth is Wonder Woman at her best, and Greg Rucka at his best. The characterization is excellent. Wonder Woman is strong and accessible, understanding and firm in her beliefs. The supporting characters are all well written, with individual but sympathetic personalities. This story introduces Veronica Cale, Wonder Woman's own Lex Luthor, a business woman out to topple the living legend that is Wonder Woman. The artist Drew Johnson is able to depict women (and men for that matter) who are both beautiful and strong. The story is an interesting take, with Wonder Woman reaching out to people by publishing a book, a collection of essays and opinions, in the hopes of inspiring others. The book becomes controversial, and the controversy builds, resulting in a superhero/supervillain showdown. The subplot following the Greek gods is brilliant, showing petty bickeries which have devastating results. This is an excellent graphic novel and I highly recommend it and the other Wonder Woman books that follow.

                  5 out of 5 stars Comics and Graphic Novels for Girls.......2004-12-29

                  I'm one of the few girls I know who actually collect comic books or read books about superheroes. That's because my parents, who were Wonder Woman fans of the TV series, gave me a Wonder Woman doll. I was hooked. Now I'm glad to see a new series of books and comic books cropping up on Wonder Woman. She has always been an inspiration, and girls need superheroes, too. If you know of any girl/woman who enjoy reading about female heroes, here are a few of my favorites: Wonder Woman (of course), Queen B Superheroine (newest superheroine on the block), Elektra (from the Daredevil fame), and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

                  4 out of 5 stars Impressive........2004-12-25

                  I have always been a fan of Wonder Woman, but i find it difficult to remain interested enough to purchase her monthly magazine. After Phil Jimenez departure i decided to take a break. After browsing DOWN TO EARTH in a store i quickly purchased it. Greg Rucka does a great job in providing the ground work for where his run on Wonder Woman is headed. Personally i find that WW has a lot more "BLAH BLAH BLAH" and less action than other comic books but when Rucka does it it doesn't bore me. Overall great storytelling and great art make this a satisfying read. EP

                  4 out of 5 stars Excellent Foundation For A New Wonder Woman Run!.......2004-08-09

                  Having read the excellent "Wonder Woman: Hiketeia" by Greg Rucka, I was feverishly anticipating the beginning of his run on the regular "Wonder Woman" comics. This volume collects the first six issues (195-200) of his monthly WW comics and while very different in tone and scope from "Hiketeia", it certainly does not disappoint.

                  Greg Rucka is what I'd call a very "serious" and "focused" writer. Reading this volume, one can see that he's setting up for some big things here. In fact, my only complaint about the man's writing is that he's seriously lacking a sense of humor - something that can be quite detrimental to a "comic" book writer! But then, that also means that we are spared the many self-deferential humor that is dominating many other books at the moment. In fact, one can easily see the seriousness and passion Rucka brings to Wonder Woman in just these short issues. Wondy becomes a woman of intelligence and heart - you tend to overlook the skimpy costume when she starts talking about "real-world" issues like equality, tolerance, sexuality, religion, etc. Rucka is also building a new group of supporting characters with this volume - mostly people who work with Wondy at the Themyscriran Embassy (including the kitchen-help!).

                  As for the story, I feel that Rucka is being deliberately "political". This is very apt for a character like Wonder Woman, who was originally meant to represent socio-political ideas in the 1940s by her original creators (William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peters). What we see here, however, is an update on the "political issues" that Wonder Woman is representing today. The story begins with Wondy publising a book of essays and speeches called "Reflections" and all of a sudden, she becomes the new Bertrand Russell. In other words, she starts getting followings and cult groups - and also offending quite a lot of other people who disagrees with her ideas on sexuality (Themysciracn lesbianism), religion (Greek paganism) and capital punishment. Here, we see the supporting characters really getting to work as her P.R. agents, as her public defenders, etc. The whole things comes off feeling like "The West Wing" meets Classical Greek mythology. But it works!

                  Speaking of the Greek myths, this volume also sees an "update" on the Greek pantheon. We live in a post-modern world where ancient gods either learn to keep up with the times or they grow obsolete and are forgotten. The most interesting of the updates here is, of course, the War God Ares (Mars), who comes off as very post-modern and devious - somewhat like Mike Carey's "Lucifer". As for other villains, we have Zeus (at least, I think Rucka is setting him up to be a problem to the Amazons), Doctor Psycho, some women (Veronica Cale and Leslie Anderson) and the return of the Silver Swan.

                  Finally, the art. The art is what makes this work a gem. Even if you don't like Rucka's take on this book, you'll love it for the art. Everything from the gorgeous covers by Adam Hughes, Greg Land and J.G. Jones to the interior art by new-comer Drew Johnson simply shines. Johnson gives us a lovely Diana who comes off as beautiful and intelligent - thus, perfectly complementing Rucka's envisionng of the character. However, my favourite piece of art inside is the "Norman Rockwell" painting of Diana in the park by Steve Rude. Lastly, Eric Shanower (who is doing excellent work with Greek stuff in his own "Age of Bronze" series) contributes some pieces at the back of the book as "press releases" covering the release of Diana's book of essays.

                  There's so much to like and enjoy in this package. What are you waiting for? Get this book today!

                  Battletech 43: Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII (Battletech)
                  Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
                  • Left Hanging...
                  • Poor Writing - Check out other Battletech Novels First
                  • Not a bad read...
                  • didn't read it yet
                  • Pure Jade Falcon goodness
                  Battletech 43: Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII (Battletech)
                  Robert Thurston
                  Manufacturer: Roc
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                  High TechHigh Tech | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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                  ASIN: 0451457382

                  Product Description

                  A WARRIOR NEEDS A WAR As the Khans of the Clans gather on Strana Mechty to plan a new invasion of the Inner Sphere, Jade Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde strives to rebuild her Clan to its former glory. She bloods new warriors and wins others in Trials from other Clans, but she cannot waste any fine warrior - even those who are freeborn. She gives a Trinary composed entirely of freeborns to a freeborn Star Captain and allows Diana, the freeborn daughter of a Jade Falcon hero, to compete for a bloodname. The Khans of the Steel Vipers -- long-standing rivals of the Falcons -- use these radical moves against Marthe, attacking her in the Grand Council. In the midst of this war of intimidation, the Inner Sphere accomplishes the unthinkable -- an invasion of Clan space. But even that cannot stop Marthe Pryde or the Steel Vipers as their ripening conflict explodes into war...

                  Customer Reviews:

                  4 out of 5 stars Left Hanging..........2002-02-13

                  OK... I admidt. I am new to the Battletech books. The Twilight series was the first I ever read. Over all, they were great. It's hard getting used to the different writers doing each book in the series. I share them with my young son, and, some he was allowed to read, some not. (The jury's still out on this one... Too Much "Coupling")

                  The Previous book, The Prince of Havoc was, I agree with other reviewers, a bit rushed -could have been two books easy. The ending was great, leaving me drooling for more -would Victor's love get killed. Would his sister finally get her's.

                  Then came Falcon rising, the last of the 8. I read it. It was great in and of itself. But it was a poor ending to long hours of reading 8 books only to find out that I don't get to even read a word about Victor and his sis.

                  So... Now where do I go. The final point is. I loved this book. But I need to know what happens with all the dangeling's that were left in No. 7. Even Star Wars, Ep 6 ended the story line enough such that, if they never do make movie 7, I will not feel like I'm missing much ...(Sorry about the contractions).

                  2 out of 5 stars Poor Writing - Check out other Battletech Novels First.......2001-08-27

                  The writing meandered, jumping forward, rambling, then jumping forward again. It totally lacked energy, zing, excitement, anything. It is dead. For someone that has twenty-one novel credits, it was a... poor perfomance. If it weren't for wanting to read the ending of the Twilight of the Clans series, I would've scrapped the book after twenty pages. The characters were cookie cutter stale. They relied on allusions to past stories to carry the novel rather than on demonstrated actions, dialogue, or internal monologue. It tried, but failed, again and again, to capture the basics of good characterization. The action, usually a good trademark of Battletech novels, was laughable. Pardoe, Stackpole, and Coleman, other Battletech authors, make you smell the sizzling circuits, hear the explosions of autocannon fire, and see the dazzling PPC shots. When this novel tried action, it left me bored. It was similar to saying, "Bang bang, you got shot. Now, you shoot back. Bang zap, you missed." It was that bad. The battles that could have been interesting, like Victor Davion's Trial of Refusal to the Invader Clans and the battles between the Steel Vipers and Jade Falcons were barely touched. If you are a fan of the Battletech novels and a follower of the Twilight of the Clans series, I would try to find a plot summary and spare yourself the pain.

                  4 out of 5 stars Not a bad read..........2001-04-12

                  This was an interesting Battletech novel. I like it because it isn't an Inner Sphere novel and has nothing (well, almost nothing) to do with the 'Sphere: it is only Clan verses Clan; the Jade Falcons verses the Steel Vipers. I am a Wolf Clan Fan, but Falcon Rising was pretty good. When I don't root for the Wolves (since there are only what, 2 novels about them?) I root for the Jade Falcons. I really like the espionage involved in the Scientist Caste and all of the Grand Council Politics. This made me laugh too. If this is your first time reading Battletech, this wouldn't be a bad one to start off with, even though it is a later book in a series. You will like it. Read it. It's worth your 5 bucks.

                  5 out of 5 stars didn't read it yet.......2000-03-24

                  from all your reviews i think this a good book.i hope it is.:)

                  5 out of 5 stars Pure Jade Falcon goodness.......1999-11-12

                  I've been into BattleTech for some time, but have only recently started up on the novels. I've read a few other Twilight of the Clans books and liked them, but this one was the cream of the crop. Sure, the 'Mech battles are a bit boring, but it was a good book. It is not ridiculous for one warrior to defeat three 'Mechs or the Black Widow, and the Clan culture is very interesting, if a bit alien. Of course, I'm a bit biased, being a Jade Falcon lover in a crowd of Inner Sphere book reviewers. To summarize my thoughts, if you like the Falcons or are neutral, but this book. If you hate them (you freak), stay away.
                  Falcon Rising
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    Falcon Rising

                    Manufacturer: Popular Library
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                    ASIN: B000CRG0ZK
                    Falcon Rising (The Falcon Saga - 8)
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      Falcon Rising (The Falcon Saga - 8)

                      Manufacturer: Popular Library
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                      ASIN: B000HKV8RM
                      A Falcon Rising (Ulverscroft Large Print)
                      Average customer rating: Not rated
                        A Falcon Rising (Ulverscroft Large Print)
                        Catherine Hay
                        Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Hardcover

                        GeneralGeneral | Romance | Subjects | Books
                        RomanceRomance | Large Print | Formats | Books
                        ASIN: 0708916112
                        Battletech - 8 Random Titles (Decision at Thunder Rift, 44-Threads of Ambition, 3-Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII, 34-Grave Covenant: Twilight of the Clans 2, 30-Impetus of War.  46-Dagger Point, 37-Warrior en Garde, 45-Killing Fields: Book II of the Capellan Solution)
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          Battletech - 8 Random Titles (Decision at Thunder Rift, 44-Threads of Ambition, 3-Falcon Rising: Twilight of the Clans VIII, 34-Grave Covenant: Twilight of the Clans 2, 30-Impetus of War. 46-Dagger Point, 37-Warrior en Garde, 45-Killing Fields: Book II of the Capellan Solution)
                          Loren L. Coleman, Thomas S. Grossman, Blaine Lee Pardoe, Robert Thurston, William H. Keith Jr Michael A. Stackpole
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Paperback
                          ASIN: B000RJPBVM

                          Product Description

                          Science Fiction
                          Falcon Rising (The Falcon Saga #8)
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Falcon Rising (The Falcon Saga #8)
                            Catherine Darby
                            Manufacturer: Popular Library
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                            ASIN: B000TZ9CJ6
                            Golden Treasury of Romance: Nest of Falcons / Star Rising / A Scarlet Dawn
                            Average customer rating: Not rated
                              Golden Treasury of Romance: Nest of Falcons / Star Rising / A Scarlet Dawn
                              Stella Ross , Julia Richardson , and Amber Dana
                              Manufacturer: Robert Hale Ltd
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Hardcover

                              AnthologiesAnthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
                              GeneralGeneral | Romance | Subjects | Books
                              ASIN: 0709052103
                              "The rising of a village": A historical-progress story: Amelia-Bayou Boeuf area
                              Average customer rating: Not rated
                                "The rising of a village": A historical-progress story: Amelia-Bayou Boeuf area
                                Joyce Falcon Cooley
                                Manufacturer: s.n
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Unknown Binding
                                ASIN: B0007B9WII

                                The Devil's Picnic: Around the World in Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit
                                Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                                • Losing Weight With the Devil's Diet
                                • Good book, but not what I expected
                                • A mind-opening look at protecting us from ourselves
                                • Excellent Libertarian Travelogue
                                • Great Book
                                The Devil's Picnic: Around the World in Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit
                                Taras Grescoe
                                Manufacturer: Bloomsbury USA
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Hardcover

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                                ASIN: B000MV8HIO
                                Release Date: 2005-09-01

                                Customer Reviews:

                                4 out of 5 stars Losing Weight With the Devil's Diet.......2007-07-26

                                If it's banned, Grescoe wants it. This means he has to bend rules and break laws. These are risks he's prepared to take, purely in the name of journalism, you understand.

                                Canadian journalist Taras Grescoe's risks allow us to experience second-hand such exotic and forbidden delicacies as unpasteurized cheese from France and tea made from coca leaves in Bolivia. Actually, those delicacies aren't illegal in the countries where he samples them. So it's a bit odd when he goes to Singapore to eat poppy seed crackers. They're illegal in Singapore but not in Canada or anywhere else. Aside from that out-of-place chapter, The Devils' Picnic is a lot of fun. Grescoe has his hobby horse, which is that none of these forbidden items should be illegal and he makes a good case for that argument. But the best part of The Devil's Picnic is Grescoe hunting down the forbidden items and then sampling them. Sometimes it's worth the trouble, as with the epoisse (stinky cheese), but usually the forbidden fruit is a let-down (absinthe). And sometimes, he doesn't quite find what he's looking for, as when he inadvertently samples pig's testicles rather than the bull's testicles he was searching for.

                                Along the way, Grescoe tells us the history of the comestible in question and interviews experts and it's all very informative in a magazine article manner. Grescoe tries to keep it light, but he seems inclined toward the dark side of things, so he ends with another slightly out-of-place chapter, in which he visits a clinic in Switzerland where you can end your own life with pentobarbital sodium. So be warned.

                                4 out of 5 stars Good book, but not what I expected.......2007-01-31

                                The reviews for this book (including the one on the cover) compare the author to Anthony Bourdain, so I was expecting detailed descriptions of exotic food experiences. Instead, like Michael Pollan, the author uses his own experiences and explorations as a jumping off point for extensive research and discussion of public policies and how they affect our food and drink -- especially drink. The substances discussed are primarily intoxicants; only a few are foods. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating exploration of the effects of prohibitions in many countries.

                                5 out of 5 stars A mind-opening look at protecting us from ourselves.......2006-09-05

                                The Devil's Picnic is a fascinating, engaging collection of stories about what we put into our body and why governments try to stop us. It is a joy of a romp, one man's tireless pursuit of the history of prohibitions and their failure around the world. The author looks at the big question of why we must be protected from ourselves, while showing how individual prohibitions reflect the history or society where they are in force--and who can make a buck by keeping something off the shelves.

                                It's a lively and fun adventure, with more questions than answers in the end. There's the philosophical dilemma of how a banned substance becomes more desirable, except when maybe when you're talking about cigarettes or something else that will obviously kill you. There's the question of why countries like Norway would rather have distillers making their own booze for home use than make it easier to purchase the legal stuff at a reasonable price.

                                The extensive pure research is presented in a compelling way, but is enlivened by an impressive number of interviews with key players in a variety of countries, from important government figures to people on the street. A strong dose of self-effacement helps also, as the author gamely drinks Norwegian moonshine, gets tanked on absinthe, and starts chain-smoking again to see life from the perspective of a smoker in the city. He ingests plates of offal that would make even the most hungry carnivores retch.

                                Along the way he touches on nearly every prohibition and its consequences throughout the ages, from the Opium Wars to the banning of absinthe to the current debate over assisted suicide. The issues are always a bit gray of course. "As a species, Homo sapiens has always been in need of some restraint," he notes and in modern-day New York City, "maintaining a pack-a-day habit would cost a New Yorker the same as a round-the-world plane ticket." But then again, "What a society ends up stigmatizing is often more revealing of its own phobias and prejudices than the inherent nefariousness of the substance in question." In other words, we ban what we're afraid of--and often we're just afraid of each other.

                                5 out of 5 stars Excellent Libertarian Travelogue.......2006-04-26

                                The unapologetic underlying message in this travelogue of forbidden fruits is a resounding libertarian one: don't ban stuff, instead, let intelligent adults make up their own minds about what they put in their bodies. And it has to be said that the book makes a fairly convincing case for the notion that free will should trump governmental decree (at least when it comes to what we ingest). Each of the nine chapters takes Canadian journalist Grescoe to a foreign land in search of a forbidden experience (only some of which are food-based), and his wonderfully assured writing takes the reader along for the ride.

                                First we visit Norway in search of hjemmebrent, which is essentially moonshine. There he finds a government willing to let junkies literally die in the streets while filling state coffers with massive liquor taxes. Naturally, this means there's a booming smuggling industry and as a corollary, many people who indulge in distilling their own spirits. It's a very curious dichotomy, the country has the world's 2nd highest GNP per capita and the most restrictive alcohol laws outside the Islamic world. This affords Grescoe the license to examine the history of prohibitionist movements and alcohol consumption trends around the world. Next up is Singapore, where he tests the prohibition on poppy seeds, chewing gum, being naked with his window open, downloading porn, and other such activities. This chapter doesn't really fit so well into the book's framework, as he's not actually seeking any particular item out, so much as he is testing the concept of prohibition in general. It's also rather irksome because although his behavior is essentially "research" for the book, he is fulfilling the stereotype of the Western tourist who ignores local laws and customs because he feels like it. Fortunately, we are soon whisked back to the world of gourmandry in the next chapter, which visits small French villages in search of "Epoisse"s cheese, a raw milk cheese banned for import into the U.S. by the FDA. Grescoe's investigation pretty much demolishes any scientific basis for this ban, and provides a wonderful example of how perception can trump fact in policymaking.

                                Madrid is the next venue, where Grescoe tramps from tapas bar to tapas bar in an attempt to scare up a plate of bull testicles. This provides the chance to delve into the politics of meat safety and the European Union, not to mention sampling other Spanish oddities of fare such as baby eels (at $10 a forkful). Then it's back to North America, where he hits San Francisco and New York in an examination of public smoking bans. While I'm a huge fan of smoking bans in general, it's hard to argue with his proposition that bars could choose to choose to be non-smoking or not, and letting the market decide. The notorious liquor absinthe is next on the list, and Grescoe's historical review of the drink is somewhat surprising. Around the start of WWI an alliance of wine merchants and temperance advocates combined to ban the drink in most European countries based on little more than hype. The symptoms of the "madness" it supposedly induced can more readily be attributed to high alcohol consumption than any active agent in absinthe. Here, his quest for "authentic" absinthe takes him through into small towns along the French/Swiss border where arguments rage over what "true" absinthe is.

                                The subsequent chapter opens with a history of caffeine and discussion of what constitutes addiction before ending up in the Basque town of Bayonne. Here Grescoe briefly samples the town's famous chocolate and points out how the chocolate trade was hijacked by the town elders from the Jews who had made it famous. In Bolivia, Grescoe checks out the coca leaf, in both its brewed and chewable forms. This allows for a scathing discussion of America's so-called "War on Drugs", highlighting its simultaneous futility and hypocrisy. The globe-trotting ends with the ultimate nightcap, a trip to Switzerland to meet with a firm which offers assisted suicide services to those living in other countries where this is not permitted (aka suicide tourists).

                                The topics are covered in Grecoe's trademark engaging blend of personal experience, reportage, interviews with social science researchers, scientists, and government officials, all well-laced with statistics from authoritative sources such as the World Health Organization. He's a very good writer, able to switch smoothly from travel magazine style descriptions of place and customs to interviews with stuffed shirts, all spiced with bursts of indignation, bemusement, and wit. While armchair travels and gourmands will find much to enjoy, libertarians will love the message that governmental restrictions are usually based on either bad data, hypocritical morals, money, or a combination of all three. A fun and thoughtful book.

                                5 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2005-10-25

                                This is a very informative and interesting book about prohibited substances. I was really surprised by how much this book captivated me. The facts, history and current status of these substances are cleverly woven together with wonderful writing, colorful interviews and great travels. Well done, Taras!
                                The Devil's Picnic: Around the World in Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit
                                Average customer rating: Not rated
                                  The Devil's Picnic: Around the World in Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit

                                  Manufacturer: MACMILLAN
                                  ProductGroup: Book
                                  Binding: Paperback
                                  ASIN: B000H0A526

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