History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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Learn the traditions and lore of Christmas in Scandinavia

Christmas in Scandinavia
Corinne Ross , and Jadwiga Lopez
Manufacturer: World Book, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0716620030

Customer Reviews:

Learn the traditions and lore of Christmas in Scandinavia.......2007-04-05

"Christmas in Scandinavia" is part of a series developed by World Book Inc. several decades ago for young people. These 80-page books have evolved into a rich storehouse of information for anyone of any age who enjoys learning the Christmas history, stories, regional Christmas songs, Christmas crafts, and holiday recipes of many nations.

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland share many Christmas traditions so it's fitting that they are combined in this publication. Splendidly illustrated and vividly written, this book communicates the exuberance of the winter holidays in Scandinavia. Festivities begin on Lucia's Day, December 15th, when they crown the Queen of Light and continue through to 20 days after Christmas - St. Knut's Day when a huge bonfire consumes the Christmas trees that have been shorn of their decorations.

Christmas carols featured in the books with piano score and English translations are "O Christmas, With Gladness" from Norway, "The Happy Christmas" from Denmark, and "Now It Is Christmas Time" from Sweden.

Holiday recipes include Icelandic Christmas cake, Danish peppernuts, Christmas wine punch, Lucia buns, roast goose, and pickled herring.

Collect the whole series for your home library, re-read them every December, and share them with friends and family.

Christmas in Britain and Scandinavia (A Holiday book)

Average customer rating:

The best!

Christmas in Britain and Scandinavia (A Holiday book)
Lillie Patterson
Manufacturer: Garrard Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Customer Reviews:

The best!.......2000-01-27

This book is about Christmas in two different countries. It focuses on the different rituals of those countries and how they celebrate Christmas now and when the countries were young. I liked the book because it showed how some of the words we use for Christmas came into being. This is an interesting book. This book was very descriptive and it taught me that Christmas is celebrated all over the world in different ways and that no one way is wrong.

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Christmas in Scandinavia

Manufacturer: University of Nebraska Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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German | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0803239076

Book Description

Anyone aware of the magic in Christmas will recognize the inspiration in these stories. Readers will encounter robbers on a raid, a homeless stranger seeking kindness, excited children, and a talking Christmas tree, all under the spell of the season. Here and there appear Nissen, the capped and bearded imps of mischief familiar throughout Scandinavia.

Christmas in Scandinavia includes writers from Denmark, the Faroese Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Among the many masterpieces of the Christmas story are Hans Christian Andersen's "The Fir Tree" and stories by Nobel laureates Selma Lagerlöf and Johannes V. Jensen. Most of the seventeen pieces collected here have never before been available in English. Each is preceded by a brief headnote. In his introduction, Sven H. Rossel discusses the rich and fascinating Scandinavian Christmas traditions, the origins of this feast, and its celebration in contemporary Scandinavia.

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Christmas In Scandinavia -
Sven H. Rossel -
Manufacturer: University Of Nebraska Press -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PRWXNK

Christmas in Scandinavia : Being a Short, Unceremonious Account of the Scandinavians' Favourite Festival, Christmas, as it is Celebrated in the Three Nordic Kingdoms, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

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Christmas in Scandinavia : Being a Short, Unceremonious Account of the Scandinavians' Favourite Festival, Christmas, as it is Celebrated in the Three Nordic Kingdoms, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
Willy Brienholst
Manufacturer: Copenhagen : C. Hellstrom & Co. [1960?]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KHS8UM

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Christmas in Scandinavia: Being a short, unceremonious account of the Scandinavians' favourite festival, Christmas, as it is celebrated in the three Nordic kingdoms, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
Willy Breinholst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Christmas in Scandinavia: Recipes and Traditions from Norway, Sweden and Denmark

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Christmas in Scandinavia: Recipes and Traditions from Norway, Sweden and Denmark
Melody Favish
Manufacturer: Simon Favish
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0960989005

A December Tale (Niels Werner Collector Series 1)

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A delightful Christmas Story!

A December Tale (Niels Werner Collector Series 1)
Niels Werner
Manufacturer: Pocket of Sanity
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Steeped in the Christmas folklore and traditions of Scandinavia, "A December Tale" draws readers into a memorable Christmas adventure. It is perfect for nightly family story time around the fire during the week before Christmas, one chapter per night. The entire family, from toddlers to grandparents, will delight in Anne and Eric's discovery of Christmas. Taking "A December Tale" off the shelf for a reading is sure to become an annual tradition.

Customer Reviews:

A delightful Christmas Story!.......1999-02-26

What a fun Christmas Story for the family to read together. We especially liked all of the wonderful Danish tradition. Another great book by Niels Werner.

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A gnome's Christmas
Bobbie Peterson
Manufacturer: Viking Woodcraft, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Another Day, Another Dungeon (Cups and Sorcery, Book 1)
Greg Costikyan
Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Assoc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K7BEQW

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Another Day Another Dungeon
Greg COSTIKYAN
Manufacturer: A TOM DOHERTY ASSOCIATES BOOK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

One Quest, Hold the Dragons (Cups and Sorcery, No 2)

ASIN: B000CS3EVW

Average customer rating:

Cult Classic for Fantasy Roleplayers

Greeps anyone?

Fabulous Book!!!!

Funny!

Great Fun
Another Day, Another Dungeon (Cups and Sorcery, Book 1)
Greg Costikyan
Manufacturer: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Costikyan, Greg | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

One Quest, Hold the Dragons (Cups and Sorcery, No 2)

By The Sword (Magic of the Plains)

First Contract

ASIN: 0812501403

Customer Reviews:

Cult Classic for Fantasy Roleplayers.......2007-08-21

If you've ever played Dungeons and Dragons, rolled a D20 in an alien land, or have enjoyed any sort of fantasy roleplaying game with other humaniods, you'll love this book. I did when I read it for the first time at fifteen, before I had firsthand experience with gaming. The second read at thirty showed me the magic had gone.

So why don't I love it anymore? I've lived the common roleplaying errors this book parodies. It reminded me not of hilarity, but of my own bad times with gamer stereotypes. The theme failed me. As far as humor in fantasy goes, Terry Pratchett does it a thousand times better. As far fantasy gamer humor, I find the comic books involving Kenzer and Co's 'Knights of the Dinner Table' superior.

The scene with two wizards playing historical army warhammer and arguing about the color of unit's buttons reminded me of frustrating pointless arguments that have ruined my gaming sessions. Such a scene is very illustrative of the dimensionality of the book -- all the characters are walking stereotypes of their classes -- sink like a stone dwarf, dumb barbarian, drunk cleric, idiot-savant mages, stupid orcs, cutesy elves, and so on. Even the original characters like the mycologist duke and polymage don't have anything to grab you emotionally, rather they are defined only by their quirks, under which no substance exists.

As a novel, this work isn't great. As gamer humor, it succeeds masterfully, provided you are the type of fantasy gamer who never cries when their character dies, and cheerfully rolls up a new pawn to play with. Your not supposed to care about these characters, they're there so you can laugh at them. I didn't like that, and it's part of the reason I'm not rolling dice in a campaign myself.

But hey, maybe I'm an old sourpuss. If you're a young gamer, you'll probably love this book like I once did. It can be a quick fun read if you don't have set expectations or bitter memories of old campaigns that went in the ashes over egos.

Greeps anyone?.......2004-07-22

Just finished the book and I loved the humor - I'm on my way to the book store for book 2

Fabulous Book!!!!.......2002-07-27

I had the pleasure of reading Another Day Another Dungeon when it first came out and I had such a hard time getting through it because I was laughing so hard. Well, it took me 2 weeks, but I finally reached the end of the book all I could do was scream, "NO!" I was heart broken. I wanted more and I wanted it now. Well, now I can FINALLY get the sequell (Way to take your sweet good lordy time there, Greg). I am so looking forward to this.

Funny!.......2001-08-24

Timaeus d'Asperge, a newly minted fire mage, is in need of building his fame and fortune. Sidney Stollitt and Nick Pratchitt, have a firm that deals in adventure (well, actually theft recently), and both need some money. Kraki, a barbarian warrior (think Arnold), needs adventures to spark epics sung in his honor. Garni the Dwarf likes adventure, and could use the money, while Father Thwaite merely needs another drink.

The solution to all of their problems seems simple, an adventure in the Caverns of Cytorax. Along the way, they encounter trolls, orcs, a basilisk, a rather large monster named Rog, and evil bureaucrats. Their find of a large, valuable and magical treasure seems to put the stamp of success on their adventure. However, a return home isn't the end of the adventure; you see, their find is more important than they realize, and quite a few people are out to acquire it for themselves. Soon, marching in the direction of our heroes is an army of zombies, a shadow mage, a bunch of demons, a shipload of elves, a vampire, a lich, a crime lord, and quite a few do-gooders. It's going to take a lot to get our heroes out of this one.

This book is quite funny! The book starts out making fun of over-zealous RPGers, such as when one of the characters carves up the legs of a table, in case there is a wand hidden therein! However, after these, the story quickly becomes a wonderful, and very funny, story. The action is non-stop, and the comedy clean and well written. I highly recommend this book, especially to those who like D&D-style games!

Oh, by the way, the book contains numerous references to "greep." The references seem a little muddled, but I must admit to being intrigued....

Great Fun.......2000-09-14

If you've ever roleplayed, think back on your first couple of adventures. Remember all the mistakes you and your friends made? Well, in _Another Day, Another Dungeon_, Greg Costikyan incorporates all the silliness and stupidity of an introductory session of D&D into a hilarious novel.

The characters (quite appropriately) make this novel shine. In the adventuring party, you have a couple of quarrelling rogues, a dwarf who hauls around more equipment than loot, an extremely inexperienced mage, a drunken cleric, and (my favorite) a towering barbarian with more muscle than wit. Throw in a treacherous lizard man scout, a seductive necromancer, a slew of stuffy semi-retired adventurers who all seem to be based on Major-General Stanley of the _Pirates of Penzance_, and a few orcs, and you have the makings of a really funny read. Oh, did I forget to mention the centuries old all-powerful wizard (what adventure campaign would be complete without one of those)? Not to be missed is the evil elven crime lord (aww, isn't he CUTE?).

The plot is straightforward enough. Timaeus D'Asperge, newly graduated from the local magic university, assembles a group of adventurers to tackle the nearby dreaded Caverns of Cytorax. Isn't it odd that in nearly every beginning adventure, there is a conveniently located dungeon filled with evil nasties, but close enough to town that the adventurers can be home by dinner? Anyway, the adventurers soon find that the treasure they bring home will cause them much more trouble than the Caverns. The whole town erupts as nearly everyone tries to steal the treasure from D'Asperge and his comrades.

The book is great fun, and will be a favorite of anyone who has ever played D&D or the like. If you've never played D&D, or don't even have a clue as to what it is, the book will still keep you rolling. I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't take their roleplaying too seriously.

If you do take your roleplaying too seriously, might I suggest the 1982 made for TV movie "Mazes and Monsters" starring a very young Tom Hanks.

Book Description

This guide to travels in Middle-Earth includes an original chapter by Tolkien himself, explaining the meaning and origin of the names in Lord of the Rings. Can hobbits be psychoanalyzed? Does Tolkien’s Christianity shine through his imitations of pagan legends? Do his books offer a useful guide to everyday life? These and many more questions are addressed in the eleven chapters of this book. Contributors analyze Gollum’s character transformation, the psychological journey of Bilbo, the regime set up by Saruman at the end of Lord of the Rings and its parallels to fascism, the books’ narrative technique, and Tolkien’s rich use of myth and symbol. This is an insightful book that will appeal to both old and new Tolkien fans.

Customer Reviews:

Not impressed.......2003-05-31

I glanced through "...Compass" just today. I was particularly interested in the chapter on "The Scouring of the Shire." To make it short, that particular author's arguments went in a totally different direction as my own thoughts on the significance and meaning of The Scouring. To me, Tolkien was making a general, overarching slam of industrialism and technology, to be sure, from an angle rarely heard today. In my opinion, Tolkien blended the oppressive methods of both capitalism and communism in fairly equal parts, although on the surface it would seem he meant only communism. I consider myself a "neo-Luddite" similar to Tolkien, and as I back up to view the issue, I do not see but superficial differences between the "big C's" in the Scouring chapter. The true issue is industrialism itself, in contrast to the cottage industry-based Shire. The issue was industrialism, not the brand of syringe with which it was being injected. In fact the Shire was being colonized and cold-dunked into industrialism just as in real life the entire world has been, and the methods used by the imperialist, Stalinist or "free market," differ little in the long run. I believe the "...Compass" author missed this angle entirely.

What on earth am I talking about? Tolkien was a genius at keeping his hand out of philosophical discussions; hence, the ferocity of all of us latter-day "Besserwisser." Still, some of his quotes make clear at least a significant part of his underlying belief system. Here's my favorite:

"Our myths may be misguided, but they steer however shakily towards the true harbour, while materialistic 'progress' leads only to a yawning abyss and the Iron Crown of the power of evil."

This is my Tolkien speaking. And if you can fully grasp what he is saying here, scales of immeasurable weight and opacity will fall from your eyes. In this day and age it is all but impossible to fathom such topsy-turvy Ludditism, yet as extreme as the quote may sound, it affords a very peculiar philosophical angle.

Don't believe me? That's your right. I've scanned a few books which purport to perform "deep analysis" on Tolkien, and I find most of a few, if not even more, lightweight and pseudo-intellectual. Perhaps "...Compass" is worth a read, but after its Scouring analysis, sorry, I won't be reading anymore of it.

A literary analysis excellent in its scope.......2003-05-16

Fans of Tolkien and his fantasy will thrill to A Tolkien Compass, a handbook which provides reflections on his political, religious, and psychological principles. Ten writers explore these concepts, offering very different backgrounds of expertise and approaches to Tolkien's art. The result is a literary analysis excellent in its scope.

The Missing Appendix.......2003-03-20

Reviewer la solinas complains that the new edition fails to include Tolkien's "Notes on Nomenclature," which the 1975 edition offered. A glance at page 157 would have explained why. The Tolkien Estate would not permit its reprinting, because the Estate plans to republish it another book. "A Tolkien Compass" is a splendid book. Jared Lobdell appreciated the depth of Tolkien's genius long before most Americans.

Good collection, but incomplete.......2003-03-12

"Tolkien Compass" was long out of print, along with a lot of other good books on and by J.R.R. Tolkien. Now with the release of the live-action movie trilogy, virtually all the Tolkien-related books are being pulled off the shelves and rereleased -- this among them. It's a good, insightful collection of essays, but there's something vital missing...

It's a compilation of essays, by various people. Among them are Bonniejean Christensen's
study of Gollum in "The Hobbit" -- there were two versions of the "Riddles in the Dark"
chapter; Walter Scheps's "Fairy-Tale Morality of Lord of the Rings," which studies the ethics
of Tolkien's trilogy as well as traditional fairy-tales; Agnes Perkins and Helen Hill's essay on
power, corruption, the lust for power, and the One Ring; Deborah C. Rogers's study of
humanity both in the "everyman" hobbits and in the noble Aragorn; Robert Plank's study of
the Scouring of the Shire and how it reflects fascism; and several others. On the downside, Dorothy Matthews' "The Psychological Journey of Bilbo Baggins" is okay, but rather off-balance because it explains a hobbit's mind in complex jargon -- those don't go together.

But there is a major problem. I was fortunate enough to find a first-edition paperback of this book, from the 1970s, and the last part of it is a special meaning and pronunciation guide by J.R.R. Tolkien himself. It's a wonderful bonus, and worth the price of the book alone. But for some reason, the chapter has been removed from the reprinted "Tolkien Compass." It's just essays, no Tolkien -- I'm not sure why it was removed, but it was.

"Tolkien Compass" is a good collection of scholarly essays on various facets of Tolkien's
work, which aren't dumbed down but also aren't too hard to understand. If the extra guide chapter had been included, this would have been a reissued treasure. As it is, it seems very incomplete.

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A Tolkien Compass
Jared (Editor) (Tolkien, J.R.R. and Tolkien, Christopher) Lobdell
Manufacturer: Ballantine/Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W8X138

Average customer rating:

A valuable book of essays. . .

A decent collection of essays about Tolkien

An excellent collection of essays.

A Tolkien Compass: Including J. R. R. Tolkien's Guide to the Names in the Lord of the Rings

Manufacturer: Open Court Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

20th Century | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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History & Criticism | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 087548316X

Customer Reviews:

A valuable book of essays. . ........2002-02-15

. . .including the first version of Bilbo's finding of the Ring!

By now, all hobbits know that the original story which Bilbo told his friends (and set down in the Red Book) about the finding of the One Ring was, shall we say, a unusual departure from the truth on the part of a very honest hobbit. What most hobbits probably don't realize, however, is that Bilbo's original story is once again available. Bonniejean Christenson presents an excellent essay detailing the original story of the Riddle Game -- and the subsequent changes over the years.

This essay is one of several in this worthy volume, written by lovers of Middle Earth and compiled by Professor Jared Lobdel. Of further note is an excellent guide to names from "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings". Considering the hobbitish interest in geneaologies, nomenclature and familiy trees, this index is indispensible.

This hobbit highly endorses this book.

A decent collection of essays about Tolkien.......2001-09-22

Published in 1975, this is a good collection of essays about Tolkien's fiction given that the essays are ostensibly written by "fans" rather than scholars. A few of the essays are, it must be conceded, naive in style and scope-- like the one which makes the rather obvious claim that the main theme of the Lord of the Rings is that "power corrupts". Quite a few others, however, are quite insightful, particular Charles Huttar's article on "Hell and the City", Robert Plink's analysis of the "Scouring of the Shire" chapter, and Richard West's analysis of the 'interlace' structure of The Lord of the Rings. Also Bonniejean Christiansen's article on the characterological differences between Gollum that were produced by the *major* revisions of the "Riddles in the Dark" chapter of the Hobbit is extremely valuable-- both for what she has to say about Gollum and for the fact that she offers side-by-side quotations from both the first and second editions of that chapter so the reader can see what has changed from one to the other.

Quite surprisingly, these essays aren't nearly as dated as a lot of other Tolkien criticism that came out at the same time or earlier. (The publication of Carpenter's biography of Tolkien in 1977, as well as the posthumous publication of the _Silmarillion_ and then later of Tolkien's letters has rendered a lot of older Tolkien criticism out-of-date or irrelevant). In fact, these essays are just as good and insightful as a lot of Tolkien criticism being written now (in fact, they're better than a lot of it!). The main reason for their continued relevance, I think, is tha they are clearly focused on Tolkien's fictional *texts* as texts that can be analyzed on their own terms. Rather than delving into lots of biographical details, into questions of authorial intention, trying to place The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in the context of _The Silmarillion_, or connecting them to Tolkien's alleged goal of creating a 'mythology for England', these articles focus on specific chapters, images, themes, and structures from The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, this gives them a kind of 'permanence' that other earlier Tolkien criticism has lacked. (Also, I think the emphasis upon Tolkien's texts themselves leads to more insightful analysis than the biographically-oriented authorial-intention-minded criticism that's still dominant among Tolkien criticism). It's a real shame this has gone out of print...

An excellent collection of essays........2000-10-17

Professor Jared Lobdell has, in this volume, collected a number of excellent critical essays relating to the writing of JRR Tolkien, one of the most interesting being Bonniejean Christenson's excellent work "Gollum's Character Transformation in 'The Hobbit'" (Note: not every essay is necessarily worthy of 5 stars!).

Professor Lobdell has also provided an informative introduction, and a Guide to Names which will prove helpful to Tolkien scholars.

It's a shame that this volume is out of print. Serious Tolkien scholars will wish to find a used copy.

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A Tolkien Compass
Jared Lobdell
Manufacturer: Open Court
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ME0NVK

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The best Damn Homebrewing book ever.

This is THE book

The standard intro for those starting out

The bible of homebrewing

All you ever wanted to know about home brewing.

The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing
Charlie Papazian
Manufacturer: HarperResource
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0380763664

Amazon.com

"Relax. Don't Worry. Have a home-brew." It's the mantra of home-brewing, a phrase that nods to the technical aspects of brewing only as it dismisses all stress with a sip and a smile. Home-brewing is fun, after all. Charlie Papazian didn't just coin the term, he virtually spearheaded the home-brewing revival in America. Figurehead for the American Homebrewers Association and its membership magazine, Zymurgy, Papazian is one of the founding fathers of the modern home-brewing scene.

Often touted as the home-brewer's bible, The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing charts a beginning brewer's course, keeping the focus on enjoying the process as well as the results of home-brewing. An easy-to-use table of ingredients helps the newly initiated design their own recipes, although many home-brewers happily spend years sampling those Papazian provides. Dozens of recipes for all levels of experience are here, christened with the most improbable (and irresistible?) names in home-brewing literature ("Toad Spit Stout," "Cheeks to the Wind Mild," and "Goat Scrotum Ale" among them).

While Papazian's classic does cover a broad sweep of home-brewing techniques (including more advanced procedures like grain mashing and yeast culturing), it's more than just a home-brewer's guidebook. Papazian's personal take on the history of American brewing is an entertaining read for any beer enthusiast, and his laid-back, humor-driven style engages readers whether or not they've ever boiled up a brew. This book makes home-brewers almost as often as it helps them. If enthusiastic friends haven't convinced you to start home-brewing, The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing undoubtedly will. --Todd Gehman

Book Description

Stouts, ales, lagers, porters, bitters, pilseners, specialtybeers, and meads. . .they're all remarkably easy to make! WithThe New Complete Joy of Home Brewing -- acclaimed by criticsand amateur brewmeisters alike as the best and most authoritative guide on the market -- you can learn to make beer just the way you like it! And it's fun! Whether you prefer a richer, creamier head, a more flavorsome, full-bodied brew, or a sparkling, sweeter ale -- from the lightest lager to the darkest stout -- as a home brewer you can make them all and even keg your own like the beer masters of old!

Simple, Easy-to-Follow Sections on:

Getting your home brewery together: the basics -- malt, hops, yeast and water
10 easy lessons to making your first bubbling batch of beer
Brewing exciting world-class styles of beer that will impress and delight your friends
Using fruit, honey and herbs for a spicier, feistier brew
Brewing with malt extracts for an unlimited range of strengths and flavors. . .and much, much more!

Plus: A complete home brewer's glossary; a fascinating look at the history of beer; details about the advanced world of all-grain and mash extract brewing; growing your own hops; more than 50 fantastic recipes-from Cherry Fever Stout to Monkey's Paw Brown Ale.

Over 80 Illustrations -- Contains New Up-to-Date Information!

Customer Reviews:

The best Damn Homebrewing book ever........2007-09-28

The title speaks for itself.

I have been brewing beer, making wine and beer for over 20 years. I still pull this book out as a referance, on a regular basis. Don't brew without this book.

Dave

This is THE book.......2007-08-31

If you homebrew, you need this book-period. Papazian coveres just about every situation a homebrewer could come across and gives a great understanding of beer making. I have used it for over 10 years now and still need to refer back from time to time when I need help.

The standard intro for those starting out.......2006-06-12

This book is the standard for those starting out. It is often included in brewing kits and covers brewing in a broad manor. Charlie's motto is to relax, don't worry, have a home brew. This is very good advice. Most of what we do while brewing can be done in many ways and the processes have a high tolerance for variations.

The Complete Joy of Home Brewing is like three books in one. After some introductory material, history and such, there is a beginners guide, and intermediate guide and and advanced guide. The beginners guide gives you everything you need to brew your first beer. There is no reason to read the entire book before getting started. This is really nice because once you get the equipment you need you want to get started as soon as you can. The beginners section is only about 30 pages.

In each section Charlie covers ingredients and equipment as well as how to use them in a more and more complete fashion as he moves from beginner to advanced coverage.

Parts of this book seem a little dated but it is a good starting point.

The bible of homebrewing.......2005-09-20

If your interested in homebrewing, this book is the place to start. I've read it cover to cover several times over the years and have used it as reference many times. It's easy to understand for a beginner and is where i learned the most important phrase of homebrewing, "relax and have a homebrew".

All you ever wanted to know about home brewing........2004-06-11

I got interested in home brewing last fall ('03) and went to a shop that specializes in equipment and kits. From there, I wanted to get into learning more about the process and devining my own concoctions. This book is a recommended upgrade to their beginners kit and I purchased it later after brewing a kit or two. After reading this book, I am very confident that I know what to do to get the tastes out of the different breeds of hops and grain mixtures. This book actually goes a little further than I needed it to, as it goes into the chemical processes with the different ions in the water, and such as that. However, if you are a beginner brewer and want to delve into your own creations, this is where to go. It's a great work to set you on the right track. It has everything you WANT to know and some that you could probably care less about, but worth adding to the shelf if you enjoy the hobby.

The New Complete Joy Of Home Brewing, Revised and Updated

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The New Complete Joy Of Home Brewing, Revised and Updated
Charlie Papazian
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K1N6FU

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