One Hundred One Easy Standard Solos for Trumpet

Amazon.com

Scientist and author Clifford Pickover poses the question, "Can creatures dream of things beyond their sensory capacity?" Clearly Pickover thinks humans can--to some extent, at least. To this end, he wrote The Science of Aliens, an intriguing book featuring chapters such as "What Aliens Look Like," "Origin of Alien Life," and "Alien Abduction." And, of course, "Alien Sex." (Don't say you weren't curious.) To stimulate the reader's imagination, Pickover focuses on the characteristics of the earth's creatures--their appearance, their senses, their environments, their sexual behaviors--and argues that this diversity pales in comparison to the far wider possibilities in alien worlds.

Whether or not you believe in life on other planets, the artist's renditions of creatures such as Cheelas, Mesklinites, and Radiates from SF novels, as well as mathematical "alien messages" to decipher, are a real treat. (Here's an easy one: "Aliens are waiting for humanity to replace the question mark with the next value in the sequence before they will consider us worthy for further communication: 77, 49, 36, 18, ?") He also raises interesting issues; for example, what form would art take for creatures sensitive to smells or heat rather than light? To top it off, Pickover includes examples of potential interplanetary humor taboos: "Don't make puns around Scolexes because it outrages their sense of linguistic symmetry, which they've fought holy wars over." SF fans will enjoy this entertaining and thought-provoking book. --C.B. Delaney

Book Description

Out-of-this-world speculation on extraterrestrial life that will fascinate fans of Star Trek, The X-Files, and sci-fi of all kinds.

"Run, leap, scurry and scoot to your nearest bookstore and get [Pickover's] books." -Byte

"Bucky Fuller thought big, Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover outdoes them both." -WIRED

"Pickover inspires a new generation of Da Vincis to build unknown flying machines and create new Mona Lisas." -Christian Science Monitor

If extraterrestrials ever landed on earth, they would find us extremely strange. Their first intimation of our existence might well be a presidential speech or the Olympic Games, a mud-wrestling match or Third Rock from the Sun.

What would aliens look like? An intelligent octopus-like creature is certainly plausible. What about odd numbers of limbs-a three-legged alien with three arms and three eyes? Could creatures live at extremely high pressures and temperatures? Would they have any interest in abducting us? Would they want to have sex with us?

In classic Pickover style, here is scientifically based speculation at the far edge of knowledge-and beyond.

Customer Reviews:

Never Mess with the Little Guy.......2006-09-13

About a third of the thickness of a standard novel (but still 276 pages of information before you get to the notes and index sections), Dr. Pickover has done a magnificent job. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this book. A lot of the stuff I had known about, but he brought science (or snippets of it and hints at more tantalizing information for me to research) to them I didn't quite have. Some stuff I knew about but forget to think about, such as the umwelt of other creatures compared to my own simian-centric views. And quite a lot of stuff I never heard about at all before. He covers enough to give you the drift and get you excited, then makes some proposals about where Terran examples might be extended to their alien analogs. Well written, humorous, and well worth the price. And on top of that, when I sent him an e-mail asking a question about how humans acquire proper stomach bacteria from their mothers (as we don't eat our parents' feces as some species do), he replied within a couple of hours and gave me links to the information as well as some storyline suggestions. A great book from a nice guy.

very interesting scientific speculation.......2005-08-04

The author gives an overview about many aproaches that our present science can foreseen about aliens, including aliens science, sociology, sex, civilization and existence. Wonderful small book in size but big in its content

Clever and entertaining while being informative.......2005-04-04

Clifford Pickover covers a lot of bases. He explores the different kinds of creatures on Earth and suggests that aliens might take similar routes. He also explores what senses an alien might have, problems with communication, even alien sex. He selects some fine examples of aliens from science fiction writers.

Pickover is not afraid to toot his own horn. He makes extensive references to his own work. There is also the standard ridicule of religious principles which no self respecting writer would leave out of his work. This is a good exploration of xenobiology and worth the read for anyone who speculates about the nature of extraterrestrials.

Read the book in one night..........2004-01-03

Of course it took all night and I called in sick the next day.

It was terrific. A refreshingly scientific approach --by a real scientist no less -- to the big "What if?" without requiring the reader to have a desk reference handy. Pickover manages to get the point across in a logical yet entertaining style that should keep most people glued to the pages. Sure, he makes a couple of leaps, but hey, we're talking about ALIENS.

This was my first exposure to Pickover. It will definately not be my last.

If you like the subject matter but are tired of all the self-published kooks out there then this is your book.

test is too simple.......2003-12-23

? = 8
The product of the two digits equals the next number.
7 x 7 = 49; 4 x 9 = 36; 3 x 6 = 18; 1 x 8 = 8.

Arrival of the Gods: Revealing the Alien Landing Sites of Nazca

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Readable
Bunk.
Fascinating Book !!!
Beautiful photos -- possibly flawed reasoning
Enthralling and compelling new evidence

Arrival of the Gods: Revealing the Alien Landing Sites of Nazca
Erich von Daniken , and Erich von D¿niken
Manufacturer: Vega
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

UFOs | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1843330539

Amazon.com

In the 1970s, Erich von Däniken sparked a wave of public and scientific debate with Chariots of the Gods?, which postulated that certain archaeological sites pointed to earthly visits by extraterrestrials in the predawn of human history. Since then his ideas have been both attacked as ludicrous and praised as genius, but Däniken himself steers a middle course and simply maintains that his theory is the logical conclusion to be drawn from the evidence. In his latest book, Arrival of the Gods, Däniken returns to South America in search of further proof supporting his ideas, but instead of regurgitating photos and measurements of the familiar scratch drawings on the Nazca plain, he flies to the Palpa mountains, where he finds his evidence, among other things, in the form of giant mandalas and an enormous grid of lines that closely resembles the landing aids found in modern airports. Color photographs of Däniken's discoveries burst from the pages of Arrival of the Gods, accompanied by prose that barely contains his contagious excitement over these striking earthworks. Anyone who has previously dismissed Däniken's work out of hand should beware: there is much more going on here than the odd prattlings of a single subversive author. --Brian Patterson

Book Description

With his 1970's blockbuster Chariots of the Gods, Erich von Däniken challenged the scientific community to open their minds to new possibilities: "Suppose the ancient supernatural beings of traditional religions are no mere figments of mythological imagination, but are arrivals from outside our planet. Now, the world-famous author continues his controversial research into extraterrestrial visitation. Von Däniken's latest offering draws on mountains of new evidence of unexplained phenomena, from UFO sightings and alleged abductions to archaeological discoveries of unearthly-looking beings, as well as research on human genetics that casts light on our origins outside the solar system. Armed with a collection of color photos, charts, and illustrations, Von Däniken re-examines ancient texts and cave drawings of strange beasts with no known counterparts of the times, to support his theory that they could have been created by aliens, and to form an audacious conclusion: "We are much on the minds of other life-forms in the universe."

Customer Reviews:

Readable.......2002-01-04

If you like Von Daniken then you want to read what his views are on the Nazca lines and their extaraterrestrial origins.

Bunk........2002-01-01

I can hardly believe this man is still up to it or that there are enough readers to keep him at it. ......would be a nice start for you.

Fascinating Book !!!.......2001-04-05

This book was the first english book of Erich Von Daniken I read. I really enjoyed it either because of its big amount of beautiful pictures and because of Daniken's writing that really fascinated me!

This is an exellent book and i recommend it!!!

Beautiful photos -- possibly flawed reasoning.......2001-03-31

Von Daniken has always been an interesting author, and this book is no exception. It is filled with beautiful color photos of Nazca and figures from the Cabrera collection. And, as will all of this author's books, it will make you stop and think.

BUT (you knew there was a BUT coming, didn't you?), there are flaws in his reasoning. After arguing that footprints of workers would still be visible if the lines were made to celebrate religious festivals, or for giant weavings (two theories of his detractors), he then states unequivocably that the lines and drawings were made by the ancient people to attract back "gods" which they had seen land there earlier. Excuse me -- doesn't the same argument that footprints would still be visible (and aren't) apply???????

On the other hand, he does make some interesting points. I had never before heard the theory that the flattening of infant's skulls, done by some Native Americans, may have been in imitation of the heads of the alien "gods". It's something to think about.

Bottom line: buy it for the pictures, and read it -- but keep a grain of salt available at all times.

Enthralling and compelling new evidence.......2001-01-21

Erich Von Daniken has done it again with his new and exciting book on Nazca. Through times of rebuttal of things said about him in the past, Von Daniken keen intellect and perceptions of the Nazca keep the reader riveted to his astounding new evidence.ARRIVAL OF THE GODS presents even more evidence that you must view Nazca from the air. But why, Erich Von Daniken proves that the latest theories about the line are astoundingly outrageous. Nazca lines have to be seen from the air, but who was able to see them, so many years ago, is really the question.

Aliens, Ghosts, and Cults: Legends We Live

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Aliens, Ghosts, and Cults: Legends We Live
Intriguing Legends and a Timely Analysis
Relationships between myths and legends and everyday life

Aliens, Ghosts, and Cults: Legends We Live
Bill Ellis
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Unexplained Mysteries | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1578066484

Book Description

Written for both the cultural studies expert and the reader fascinated with reactions to extraordinary phenomena, Aliens, Ghosts, and Cults pursues motivations for why people tell these "true stories, heard from a friend of a friend."

Ellis shows legends creating a sense of community in a multi-ethnic institutional camp. He traces some contemporary scares to such old tales as the vanishing hitchhiker and murderous gang initiations. In analyzing some newly emerging legend types, such as alien abductions and computer virus warnings, Ellis discovers connections between earlier types of religious experience and supposed witchcraft. Finally, the book reveals how legends can inspire people to actions, ranging from playful visits to haunted spots to horrifying threats of violence.

Legends rely on active discussion to spread and mutate. This book considers them to be a social process, not a kind of narrative with a fixed form. People worldwide may tell a legend or one person to whom the event allegedly occurred may "own" the story. Individuals may relate an event as something strongly believed, or as something laughable. Legends may be very new, or have roots in old folklore. But when high schools, law enforcement agencies, city governments, and individuals take action, the story becomes one of the legends we live.

Customer Reviews:

Aliens, Ghosts, and Cults: Legends We Live.......2006-03-18

I purchased this book because it was a required text for a class I'm taking. The class is a Folklore class and I had no idea what to expect from a book like this. (Not to mention I got some weird stares from people who thought I was trying to break in to a cult or something)Anyway, the class has taught me a lot about our culture and beliefs but I have had troubles with the book. To begin with, the book is mostly about folklore so the title is misleading. The reference section is not easy to use and it makes it difficult for the reader to go back and reference what they just read. Anyway, if you're looking for a good folklore book this is good, if you're trying to break into a cult this book is not what you think.

Intriguing Legends and a Timely Analysis.......2001-10-02

Bill Ellis' book focuses upon a genre fascinating both to the scholar and to the layperson--the contemporary (or more commonly "urban") legend. Ellis' extensive discussion of legends and their ostention (in a sense, when narrative becomes action) is particularly pertinent given the current political climate and surge of legends since 9/11/01. He points out "traditional narratives exist not simply as verbal texts . . . they are also maps for action, often drastic action" (235) and calls strongly for the timely collection, documentation, and interpretation of legends for through inaction "we risk condoning by our silence actions that perpetuate intolerance and even age-old bigotry ( 243). Ellis' volume not only examines our cultural history through narrative, it gives insight into how to continue to examine the role of legend in society. While it is possible a non-academic reader might at first be deterred by the scholarly analyses, there is no need to be; the data itself is fascinating enough to engage any reader, and the analyses of the texts are direct and thoughtful. The volume is excellent for use as a classroom text (as I have) or as simply intriguing everyday reading. The topics range from legends of "Aids Mary" to UFO abductions, ghosts, and supposed Satanic murders.

Relationships between myths and legends and everyday life.......2001-08-16

From rumors of a ghost in a Pizza Hut to a writer who claims abduction by aliens, Aliens, Ghosts And Cults gathers the relationships between myths and legends and everyday life, considering how these legends become a part of common culture. Often revolving around spiritual and social issues are tales which have become imbedded in our culture, Bill Ellis' Aliens, Ghosts And Cults provides an excellent, highly readable cultural analysis.

Odyssey of the Gods: The Alien History of Ancient Greece

Average customer rating:

Yo "Yo" is overly, simplistically judgemental
Part of the Addicting von Daniken Series
The Greek Gods as aliens? Could be.
Just a little disappointed
Legends usually are rooted in truth

Odyssey of the Gods: The Alien History of Ancient Greece
Erich von Daniken , and Erich von D¿niken
Manufacturer: Vega
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1843335581

Book Description

Legendary UFO expert von Däniken stirs up another controversy with an imaginative supposition: What if the myths of ancient Greece were attempts to describe events that really happened? What if ancient peoples were visited, not by imaginary gods and goddesses, but by extraterrestrial beings who arrived on earth thousands of years ago? The author's research into both ancient mythology and current archaeological discoveries leads him to some explosive hypotheses. He suggests that the best explanation of such creatures as centaurs and Cyclops, as well as stories about the lost continent of Atlantis and wars among the deities, may be efforts by artists of the times to record never-before-seen phenomena. Dozens of color photos depicting ancient sculptures and temple decorations document a variety of hitherto unexplained objects which, von Däniken points out, look surprisingly similar to equipment used by today's astronauts. Could these be long-lost secrets, being rediscovered by scientists today?

Customer Reviews:

Yo "Yo" is overly, simplistically judgemental.......2005-05-06

Judging from his/her very shallow review, Yo "Yo" does not seem to possess much ability to use intelligence him/herself.

"Stupid people piss me off" - his/her statement. But honestly on what basis is the observation stupid? Erik has done years of research and the evidence is presented piece by piece, with comprehensive research material, in the many books written by him. Isn't it totally unfair to discredit years of intelligent industry with childish judgements like Yo "Yo"'s? It strikes me as very immature.

I am not saying this just because I am a fan of Erik, but because it was exactly this kind of adolescent narrow-mindedness that got many thinkers tortured and killed by the Inquisition etc. One states with conviction what one gathers from evidence. If I were to tell you that a piece of unfolded, pristine light paper will fall to the ground as fast as hot iron rod, you'd laugh me right off my face - but that is exactly what would happen in the absence of atmosphere.

To call someone retarded because they are willing to cast an open-minded look into enquiry - that judgement itself is retarded.

All in all, I'd say Erik's books have at least opened a chapter into investigating the strange similarities that exist among different human groups. I may not agree with all of his conclusions, but his methods I find without flaw.

Regards

Subra V S

Part of the Addicting von Daniken Series.......2003-01-15

Erich von Daniken's books are entertaining, informative, and controversial. With over 2 dozen books now, each one adds a piece to the unraveling puzzle of ancient man's myths, legends, and sites. This book specifically uses Greek mythology as a guide on von Daniken's search for Ancient Astronauts. Fans of his works may also be interested in visiting his website [ URL] for current news events from many other websites.

The Greek Gods as aliens? Could be........2002-10-22

This book deals with reconciling Greek mythology with Von Daniken's research of extraterrestrials visiting our planet in ancient times and influencing man's development. That was a recurring theme in Dr. Who, (q.v. The Daemons.)

The aliens who came down to Earth were worshipped as gods, as they flew in their craft. These gods intermixed with the natives, who became demigods, but possessing the same technological knowhow.

Von Daniken's book opens with an account of the Argonautica, the voyage of Jason, and straight off, there are aspects that bely alien origins--a ship that talks, specialists hired for the voyage, Talos, who was probably a giant robot, and the Golden Fleece as some form of advanced technology that enabled one to fly.

What about giants? Gilgamesh and Enkidu encountered the giant Humbaba, David and Goliath, and the offspring of Cain's daughters? Isn't it possible that these giants were aliens or descended from them? There is more, including the possibility that the head of the Medusa was some sort of superweapon.

There is a section where he explains the difficulties involving where Atlantis was. It's tied to the fact that from Atlantis is derived the Atlantic Ocean, Mount Atlas, and even Aztlan, which in turns is the derivation of Aztec. This discounts Troy, Malta, Santorini, and Crete, because they are in the Mediterranean. And if Troy was Atlantis, surely there'd be some record of it? No, Troy was called Tros and Ilion, but not Atlantis. That in turn is also explored in the section on Heinrich Schliemann and the different Troys found. There are also excerpts from Plato's Dialogues where Critias tells the story of Solon and how Solon learned of Atlantis.

Included in this text are colour photos of the places mentioned, such as the Acropolis, Delphi, and Troy. Getting this book makes me want to check out his earliest book on the subject, Chariot Of The Gods, and this is certainly an interesting twist on Greek mythology.

Just a little disappointed.......2002-01-05

This book is about Greek myths connected to E.T's. Greek mythology probably came from an older source, but you still learn something new in each of his books.

Legends usually are rooted in truth.......2001-09-05

In Odyssey of the Gods, Mr. Daniken talks about Greek mythology and the legend of Atlantis. He explains how Troy could not have been Atlantis, since (a) it isn't an island, (b) it never sank beneath the ocean, (c) it's too small, and (d) it doesn't have canals. He suggests that Atlantis might've been an American civilization instead. He also shows how the sacred sites of Greece are actually built on top of earlier sites, presumably from when Gods existed. All of this points back to a golden age when aliens or Gods inhabited the earth.

Aliens: An Anthropology of Science Fiction (Alternatives)

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Aliens: An Anthropology of Science Fiction (Alternatives)

Manufacturer: Southern Illinois University
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0809313758

Book Description

How and when does there come to be an “anthropology of the alien?” This set of essays, written for the eighth J. Lloyd Eaton Conference on Fantasy and Science Fiction, is concerned with the significance of that question. “[Anthropology] is the science that must designate the alien if it is to redefine a place for itself in the universe,” according to the Introduction.

The idea of the alien is not new. In the Renaissance, Montaigne’s purpose in describing an alien encounter was excorporation—mankind was the “savage” because the artificial devices of nature controlled him. Shakespeare’s version of the alien encounter was incorporation; his character of Caliban is brought to the artificial, political world of man and incorporated into the body politic

“The essays in this volume . . . show, in their general orientation, that the tribe of

Shakespeare still, in literary studies at least, outnumbers that of Montaigne.” These essays show the interrelation of the excorporating possibilities to the internal soundings of the alien encounter within the human mind and form.

This book is divided into three parts: “Searchings: The Quest for the Alien” includes “The Aliens in Our Mind,” by Larry Niven; “Effing the Ineffable,” by Gregory Benford; “Border Patrols,” by Michael Beehler; “Alien Aliens,” by Pascal Ducommun; and “Metamorphoses of the Dragon,” by George E. Slusser.

“Sightings: The Aliens among Us” includes “Discriminating among Friends,” by John Huntington; “Sex, Superman, Sociobiology,” by Joseph D. Miller; “Cowboys and Telepaths,” by Eric S. Rabkin; “Robots,” by Noel Perrin; “Aliens in the Supermarket,” by George R. Guffey; and “Aliens ‘R’ U.S.,” by Zoe Sofia.

“Soundings: Man as the Alien” includes “H. G. Wells’ Familiar Aliens,” by John R. Reed; “Inspiration and Possession,” by Clayton Koelb; “Cybernauts in Cyberspace,” by David Porush; “The Human Alien,” by Leighton Brett Cooke; “From Astarte to Barbie,” by Frank McConnell; and “An Indication of Monsters;” by Colin Greenland.

Average customer rating:

Delightful accompaniment to the DVD/Video

A Perfect Companion Book with Stunning Photographs and Great Commentary

Informative for a TV Buff and an Austin Fan.

The making of pride and prejudice.

Re: The Making of Pride & Prejudice

The Making of Pride and Prejudice (BBC)
Susie Conklin , and Sue Birtwistle
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Direction & Production | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Direction & Production | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Pride and Prejudice: The Original Soundtrack from the A&E Special Presentation

Pride and Prejudice - The Special Edition (A&E, 1996)

An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman)

These Three Remain: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman

Duty and Desire: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman (Fitzwilliam Darcy Gentleman)

ASIN: 014025157X
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Book Description

The Making of Pride and Prejudice reveals in compelling detail how Jane Austen's classic novel was transformed into the stunning television drama starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. It vividly brings to life every stage of production of this sumptuous series.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful accompaniment to the DVD/Video.......2006-08-15

This delightful book telling of the making of the 1995 mini-series of Pride and Prejudice gives real insight into the preparation of what must be considered the definitive version on film of this beloved novel. Like the featurette on the DVD, it explains a great deal about the costumes, the choreography, the musical score and determing locations for the various well known places that the audience visits during the program. What is not on the featurette and is in the book is insight into what the performers were feeling during this major film event, expecially the primary characters of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy portrayed by Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. It is very interesting to hear their thoughts as they approached their roles. And it is also very apparent as you go through this book that everyone responsible for actually getting this on film loved the book and are fans of Jane Austen. Very nice indeed.

A Perfect Companion Book with Stunning Photographs and Great Commentary.......2006-04-23

For the first time, I recently watch the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. This adaptation created a desire to know more about the filming and the cast & crew. I was pleasantly suprised to discover this wonderful book of trivia.

The photographs of the cast out of character gave a truly amazing picture of the quality of the makeup artists and costumers. Some of these actors, you'd NEVER recognize on the street!

I genuinely enjoyed the insights into casting the miniseries and the search for the perfect locations.

For me though, the best part of the book was the interview with Colin Firth, what a joy! He is such a gentleman.

The book while short is jam-packed with trivia from where specific scenes were shot, what scenes were shot first/last and how the actors costumes developed over time!

Truly a purchase that I'm glad that I made

Informative for a TV Buff and an Austin Fan........2006-03-01

An interesting inside look at how the series Pride and Prejudice was made. As always accuracy and attention to detail showed in this excellent production. Even the fabric chosen for dresses was in keeping with the time period. Great theatre, great TV, great book!

The making of pride and prejudice........2006-02-28

I loved the contents, but the font was an eight, which is impossible to read confortably. The book needs to be bigger or better formated. Not the problem of the author but the publisher needs to readdress this for the future. I enjoyed reading about the making of this great series but send a magnified glass with it.

Re: The Making of Pride & Prejudice.......2006-01-29

Excellent. Well detailed and quite interesting

Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park: A Casebook (Making of the Twentieth Century)

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Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park: A Casebook (Making of the Twentieth Century)

Manufacturer: MacMillan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

THE MAKING OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
BIRTWISTLE
Manufacturer: PENGUIN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S6F0DI

Average customer rating:

Pride and Prejudice
Amazing novel
Great seller!
A good classic
Romance etched in time

Pride and Prejudice (Making & Meaning)
Jane Austen
Manufacturer: Everyman's Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1857150015

Amazon.com

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

Next to the exhortation at the beginning of Moby-Dick, "Call me Ishmael," the first sentence of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice must be among the most quoted in literature. And certainly what Melville did for whaling Austen does for marriage--tracing the intricacies (not to mention the economics) of 19th-century British mating rituals with a sure hand and an unblinking eye. As usual, Austen trains her sights on a country village and a few families--in this case, the Bennets, the Philips, and the Lucases. Into their midst comes Mr. Bingley, a single man of good fortune, and his friend, Mr. Darcy, who is even richer. Mrs. Bennet, who married above her station, sees their arrival as an opportunity to marry off at least one of her five daughters. Bingley is complaisant and easily charmed by the eldest Bennet girl, Jane; Darcy, however, is harder to please. Put off by Mrs. Bennet's vulgarity and the untoward behavior of the three younger daughters, he is unable to see the true worth of the older girls, Jane and Elizabeth. His excessive pride offends Lizzy, who is more than willing to believe the worst that other people have to say of him; when George Wickham, a soldier stationed in the village, does indeed have a discreditable tale to tell, his words fall on fertile ground.

Having set up the central misunderstanding of the novel, Austen then brings in her cast of fascinating secondary characters: Mr. Collins, the sycophantic clergyman who aspires to Lizzy's hand but settles for her best friend, Charlotte, instead; Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy's insufferably snobbish aunt; and the Gardiners, Jane and Elizabeth's low-born but noble-hearted aunt and uncle. Some of Austen's best comedy comes from mixing and matching these representatives of different classes and economic strata, demonstrating the hypocrisy at the heart of so many social interactions. And though the novel is rife with romantic misunderstandings, rejected proposals, disastrous elopements, and a requisite happy ending for those who deserve one, Austen never gets so carried away with the romance that she loses sight of the hard economic realities of 19th-century matrimonial maneuvering. Good marriages for penniless girls such as the Bennets are hard to come by, and even Lizzy, who comes to sincerely value Mr. Darcy, remarks when asked when she first began to love him: "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." She may be joking, but there's more than a little truth to her sentiment, as well. Jane Austen considered Elizabeth Bennet "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print". Readers of Pride and Prejudice would be hard-pressed to disagree. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

A perennial favorite in the Norton Critical Editions series, Pride and Prejudice is based on the 1813 first edition text, which has been thoroughly annotated for undergraduate readers.

"Backgrounds and Sources" includes biographical portraits of Austen by members of her family and by acclaimed biographers Claire Tomalin and David Nokes. Seventeen of Austen's letters—eight of them new to the Third Edition—allow readers to glimpse the close-knit society that was Austen's world, both in life and in her writing. Samples of Austen's early writing—from the epistolary Love and FriendshipA Collection of Letters—allow readers to trace her growth as a writer as well as to read her fiction comparatively.

"Criticism" features eighteen assessments of the novel by nineteenth- and twentieth-century commentators, six of them new to the Third Edition. Among them is an interview with Colin Firth on the recent BBC television adaptation of the novel. Also included are pieces by Richard Whately, Margaret Oliphant, Richard Simpson, D. W. Harding, Dorothy Van Ghent, Alistair Duckworth, Stuart Tave, Marilyn Butler, Nina Auerbach, Susan Morgan, Claudia L. Johnson, Susan Fraiman, Deborah Kaplan, Tara Goshal Wallace, Cheryl L. Nixon, David Spring, Edward Ahearn, and Donald Gray.

Also included are a Note on Money, a Chronology of Austen's life and work—new to the Third Edition—and an updated Selected Bibliography.

About the Series: No other series of classic texts equals the caliber of the Norton Critical Editions. Each volume combines the most authoritative text available with the comprehenive pedagogical apparatus necessary to appreciate the work fully. Careful editing, first-rate translation, and thorough explanatory annotations allow each text to meet the highest literary standards while remaining accessible to students. Each edition is printed on acid-free paper and every text in the series remains in print. Norton Critical Editions are the choice for excellence in scholarship for students at more than 2,000 universities worldwide.

Download Description

Jane Austen's perfect comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues. "Pride and Prejudice seems as vital today as ever," writes Anna Quindlen in her introduction to this Modern Library edition. "It is a pure joy to read." Eudora Welty agrees: "The gaiety is unextinguished, the irony has kept its bite, the reasoning is still sweet, the sparkle undiminished. [It is] irresistible and as nearly flawless as any fiction could be."

Customer Reviews:

Pride and Prejudice.......2007-09-10

Not as good a quality of book as I had expected, but it is very nice.

Amazing novel.......2007-08-20

I decided to go to the library and take out the book after seeing the movie a few weeks ago. The movie was good but the book is so much better. It was well written, funny and everything you can expect from a good novel. Definitely a must read even if it is not required for class.

Great seller!.......2007-08-12

I ordered from them after another seller failed to send the books I wanted. They had my order to my mailbox before the other seller even replied about their mistake. Efficient, accurate, fast & great prices.

A good classic.......2007-08-10

This is probably my favorite classics. I don't devote too much time to reading classics but I've read some good ones before. They are not really my style but I do like the ones I have read. The different style is refreshing.
The book is written much differently than books are written these days. I was reading the begining of the book while I was tiered. I realized that I hadn't understood anything I'd read. I had to go and read again when I was completely awake.
It was enjoyable. I loved the characters; they were smarter than so many characters in other books and were very well spoken. That may, however, been how most people were in the 19th century.
It was fun to watch Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy go on with their love hate relationship. Until the end it was a lot of hate.
I thought it was a good classic but having not read many classics I'm not sure how it compares. Better than Wuthering Heights and not as good or as good as Great Expectations.
-cdm

Romance etched in time.......2007-08-10

It's Jane Austen -- the name alone should render a good read. I have to admit that when I first read this book in high school, I skipped through with some cliff notes. However, after reading it in college, then writing a multitude of papers on it, and reading every modern day spinoff of Pride and Prejudice (i.e. Bridget Jones, Clueless), you can say this book ranks at the top of my list. Just the new age concept of a strong leading women that is exemplified by Elizabeth Bennet and to read the unconventional love and respect between her and Mr. Darcy just warms the heart. Elizabeth's mother is a stew of comedy (and embarrassment) and is stuck in the traditional gender roles of what a wife is supposed to be, and Elizabeth continually defies her mother. It is a light-hearted read filled with eloquent dialogue (ah, even romance in the 19th century can warm your heart), ridiculous encounters, and unforgettable moments.

Hope you enjoy it!

Average customer rating:

Making of Pride and Prejudice
Sue Birtwhistle
Manufacturer: Penguin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K3L88K

Average customer rating:

The Making of Pride and Prejudice
Sue Birtwistle
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7C0US

Book Description

This book is for anyone working with today's mainstream XML technologies. It was specifically designed to serve as a handy but thorough quick reference that answers the most common XML-related technical questions. It goes beyond the traditional pocket reference design by providing complete coverage of each topic along with plenty of meaningful examples. Each chapter provides a brief introduction, which is followed by the detailed reference information. This approach assumes the reader has a basic understanding of the given topic. The detailed outline (at the beginning), index (in the back), bleeding tabs (along the side), and the page headers/footers were designed to help readers quickly find answers to their questions.

Customer Reviews:

just excellent.......2007-06-23

Not only explains very clearly all the complex stuff of xml schema when u're a beginner, but also well organized so that it's easy to come back to it when u have a precise questionning.
For me it's THE reference book about xsd, like stroustrup for c++ and kerningam for c.

Broad but Shallow.......2007-03-27

This is a reference book. It's not intended to read, but rather provide quick reference to just about any XML related topic. Unfortunately, the examples are very short and don't provide a great deal of insite. My next task is to look for a reference book that does provide useful examples -- I hope one exists.

a great book to have at your side while coding.......2005-01-11

Who can remember all the little details surrounding XML? This book is a great summery of the most important XML technologies. It isn't a tutorial, it isn't for beginners, it's for "What's the name of that XPath function that removes excess spaces?" (normalize-space). Highly recommended for finding answers fast.

easy to use and very useful.......2004-05-05

Keeping in mind that this is a "quick" reference, this book is organised well and very easy to use. When learning XML I had it by my side many times and almost always found what I was looking for. My only comment for improvement would be a more comprehensive index and maybe some a more suitable cover design (I am constantly pointing people to the text on the cover in order to convice them this is a book about XML).

The single most essential xml book I own.......2004-01-01

This isn't a "textbook" of xml -- if you want a guided introductory tutorial, look elsewhere. But if you're anything like me, once you've got past the intro stage, you need a good memory-jogger and "explain-that-to-me-quick-just-one-more-time" resource at your side while you're working on a project. That's what this book provides, and it does it brilliantly, insightfully, and without the endless, distracting and generally useless drivel of many xml books. The explanations unfailingly come right to the point, and it's rich with short, helpful examples. It's obvious the authors have really developed in the real world! There is no book on my xml shelf that gets more use (and collects less dust) than this one. Buy it and you'll be glad you did. (I'm on my second copy!)

Essential Xml Quick Reference (A Programmer's Reference to Xml, Xpath, Xslt, Xml Schema, Soap, and More)

Average customer rating:

Essential Xml Quick Reference (A Programmer's Reference to Xml, Xpath, Xslt, Xml Schema, Soap, and More)
Aaron/ Gudgin, Martin Skonnard
Manufacturer: Addison-Wesley Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OOUSBS

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