Customer Reviews:
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.......2007-10-10
I suppose when you write 10 now 11 Repairman Jack Novels you have a
tendency to forget why everyone liked Jack. I liked him best when he was
helping to repair problems, I mean not the stuff relating to
powers that seems to go beyond natural laws. No, the everyday problems
that some ordinary person was confronted with and didn't know how to
handle it. Enter "Jack". Sooo, if Mr. Wilson continues to go the
supernatural route, then "Hasta la Vista Baby", I won't be back.
A bit of let down.......2007-10-05
Though still a pretty good read for the most part, I was somewhat dissapointed overall and, for the first time ever, I regret having spent the money for this particular issue. To me, this is not the Repairman Jack of past stories; it was kind of boring in places and drawn out. Jack is definitely NOT taking names and kicking butt as in previous issues. The main storyline and whole premise just wasn't that exciting/interesting and a real page turner as in Mr. Wilson's past work. Also, now that I think bit further on it, I wish I could get my money back.
Dan
Barrington, NH. PS. Was kind of nice though (for a change of pace) having a little less Gia & Vicky in this one.
"Not bad" isn't something I should be saying about Wilson.......2007-10-04
This book was O.K.
It does progress the Jack storyline somewhat and is a quick, decent enough read but it's got some definite problems.
First of all, two of the storylines have been done in Jack books before, in All the Rage and Crisscross and done much better there. Also, the whole thing feels a little too much like Legacies, the book that wasn't even supposed to be a Jack book to begin with. Nothing much feels new.
One reviewer mentioned that removing Gia and Vicky from much of the book helped things, I think it seriously hurt them. Also, the supernatural element is almost nonexistent. If I want a plain detective story there's a whole boring genre full of them thank you.
Please Mr. Wilson, put some more thought into the next one. Don't write it so fast, and do something a little different.
The Tomb, All the Rage, Conspiracies, Hosts and Gateways remain my favorites but I've liked them all. It's just that Legacies and this one aren't really that great. They're just "not bad."
Let It Bleed.......2007-09-26
F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack series is one of the most well-written and enjoyable of its type out there. For anyone who isn't familiar with it - though it is likely someone reading a review of the eleventh book in the series is - think Dashiell Hammet meets HP Lovecraft, with a lighter tone than either. (In this novel he even playfully includes a hack scifi writer named P. Frank Winslow as a minor character.) Wilson maintains his usual readable standards in Bloodline, with the basis for the next sequel, also as usual, laid out in the last chapter.
Jack, an urban mercenary of sorts, but one who is selective about his clients and methods, takes on an apparently simple case; once again, and not as a coincidence, it blows up into something involving unseen forces - not quite supernatural in the usual sense, but otherworldly nonetheless.
All in all, this is a solid addition to the series. However, though I have no wish to deprive Mr. Wilson of a future downpayment on a beach house on the Jersey shore (and Jack is his creation to do with as he likes), as a reader I am at the point similar to an hour into a monster movie when, as viewer, I am getting impatient for the big lizard to rise out of the sea and trash Tokyo already. A storm has been building in the last few Repairman Jack novels. I await the author's unleashing of it, even though that probably means wrapping up the series.
Excellant.......2007-09-26
I enjoyed this latest Repairman Jack novel more than the last few probably because Gia and Vicky play only minor roles. This gives Jack a chance to get back to business.
But if incest bothers you, you may want to think twice before reading this one.
I took off a star because of the P. Frank Winslow story arc. Was that a "wink-wink" to the fans or a conceit of the author? I could have lived without it.
Book Description
A new era of exciting adventures and shocking revelations continues to unfold, as the legendary Star Wars saga sweeps forward into astonishing new territory.
Civil war looms as the fledgling Galactic Alliance confronts a growing number of rebellious worlds–and the approaching war is tearing the Skywalker and Solo families apart. Han and Leia return to Han’s homeworld, Corellia, the heart of the resistance. Their children, Jacen and Jaina, are soldiers in the Galactic Alliance’s campaign to crush the insurgents.
Jacen, now a complete master of the Force, has his own plans to bring order to the galaxy. Guided by his Sith mentor, Lumiya, and with Luke’s young son Ben at his side, Jacen embarks on the same path that his grandfather Darth Vader once did. And while Han and Leia watch their only son become a stranger, a secret assassin entangles the couple with a dreaded name from Han’s past: Boba Fett. In the new galactic order, friends and enemies are no longer what they seem. . . .
Customer Reviews:
Still worth the read. .......2007-09-18
Even though the parts of the book where Fett is the narrator can at times read like bad fanfiction this is still a worthy addition to the series. The only thing that drags the book down for me are the parts where Fett has to talk about his feelings.
There is a confrontation one bad guy gets killed but in a nine book saga you know that this will not be enough to stop the war or the manipulations of Jacen's new Sith teacher. For as many problems as I have with the pacing I like when they write the books in cycles it makes for a stronger narration.
I am in fact liking this series better then the New Jedi Order. The books in that series too often focused on the brutality of the Vong for no other reason then to add shock value,
Interesting questions are still being raised about the nature of the light side v. dark side of the force maybe Jacen is beginning the downward slope to Sith and maybe he isn't. Untimely the only way to tell is to continue to read more of this series.
Moderately Entertaining.......2007-08-09
The primary focus of this book is on character development. Traviss does a nice job of continuing Jacen's progression towards the dark side. The continuity with Betrayal is very good in this regard. Everything that Jacen does is believable, given his arrogance, and I like the way the author explores Jacen's continuous rationalizations for his behavior. Ben's character development is also excellent. He is beginning to think on his own, and I have no doubt that he will become a central player in the SW saga by the end of this series.
The book spends a lot of time focusing on Boba Fett. As with Jacen and Ben, Traviss does an excellent job of exploring the motivations of Fett, revealing him to be an almost pitiable characater. Personally, though, I have never found the Fett character especially interesting. Moreover, it isn't clear right now how Fett and the Mandalorians fit into the primary storyline. Fett seems more like a pet project of Traviss'. Hopefully, Fett will become a key actor at the conclusion of this series to justify the heavy attention given to him in this book.
The biggest downside of the book is that it is relatively low on the action scale. The action scenes are largely limited to Jacen and Ben rounding up the Correllians. The endless meetings and conversations slow down the pace considerably. Another HUGE point of objection for me is the incredible weakness of Luke's character. Instead of going with his gut and pulling Ben away from Jacen, he simply shies away from confrontation, even though he knows the direction that things are headed. For the Jedi Grandmaster, he sure seems impotent when he allows Jacen and even Ben to walk all over him. Luke is the wisest and most powerful man in the galaxy, and for him to appear so weak seems unbelievable. Hopefully, Luke will show some strength later in the series (the cover for Inferno seems to suggest as much).
Overall, this book deserves 3 stars. Despite the criticisms levelled at this series, I like the general direction of LoF. The first two installments are very polished; the level of prose is excellent for mass-market science fiction. I look forward to reading Tempest, which I hear has more action.
Disappointed.......2007-08-04
I really enjoyed the first book in the series but had a tough time with the 2nd. I just didn't feel the characters hit home at all. I ended up speeding thru the last half of the book so I would have the content but really didn't enjoy reading it. I hope the next ones better.
Inscrutable SW ethics strikes back.......2007-07-28
As other reviews have mentioned, the overall premise for this series is flawed to begin with, but the authors had before them the opportunity to explore the dark side of the Force in a nearly unique way in Jacen Solo. Jacen's exploration of the dark side could have been a reflection of the training that he received from non-Jedi force adepts, and we could have seen the dark side used by someone with both intelligence and a firm grasp of rational ethics and morality.
This does not happen in the book.
Instead we see a character who undertakes a series of rational and justifiable, if distasteful, political actions, who suddenly goes off the deep end by brutally killing a prisoner as a result of his interrogation methods, which consist of using the Force to bash the prisoner's head onto a table. Utterly confusing and irrational considering the character's telepathic and precognitive abilities, this scene serves to reinforce only the inanity of Star Wars ethics and character development.
One can always recognize a poor book by characters who act out of character. Character change is fine, when it follows a sensible progression, but when an ethical character suddenly turns psychopath, or a mass murderer suddenly learns compassion and empathy, suspension of disbelief shatters.
Unfortunately, Star Wars authors are constrained by the arbitrary and absolute decree that any dark side user *must* inevitably be not ally, but enemy and betrayer. Until a crack is put in that restriction, until it is conceivable for a dark sider to be moral or ethical (or even rational, in this case), Star Wars cannot be a vehicle for coherent exploration of human nature.
Bloodlines Reviews??.......2007-07-16
I see that the reviews for Bloodlines are STILL messed up!
Is anybody paying attention to this problem at AMAZON??
Book Description
From royal and suppressed archives comes documented proof of the heritage of Jesus in the West and the long awaited discovery of the Holy Grail. In fulfilling this time-honored quest, penetrating new light is cast upon the Grail Code of Service and the venerated feminine element, upheld in chivalry but forsaken by the Church in order to forge a male dominated society.
This unique work offers revelatory insight concerning the descendant heirs of Jesus and his brother James while, in documenting a hidden legacy of the Messiah, it unveils hitherto guarded facts about characters such as Mary Magdalene and Joseph of Arimathea. Tracing the sacred lineage through centuries of persecution and Inquisition,
Bloodline of the Holy Grail reveals a systematic suppression of authentic records and a strategic manipulation of the New Testament Gospels.
Featuring all the charm and adventure of Arthurial romance, coupled with enthralling Rosicrucian and Templar disclosures, this extraordinary work has a cutting edge of intrigue that removes the established blanket of enigma to expose one of the greatest conspiracies ever told.
Customer Reviews:
One-Trick Pony.......2006-03-28
Satan is a one-trick pony... he mixes lies with truth. The Bible calls him the Father of Lies. And if he really exists and has been around for as along as he has... he must be pretty darn good at it by now. Yes its true that Jesus is the Son of God, everything else in this fairy tale is a convenient "fact". Anyone can just throw "facts" out there but I challenge this author to provide as much fact as Lee Strobel does in "A Case for Christ". "But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their (Christians) simple trust, you'll soon wish you hadn't. You'd be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck." I'll give you three guesses who said that.
The Who's Who of the biblical world ...........2006-02-24
This book is not an easy read. It does take some brain thought or you will be lost. Although I did find it very interesting and factual. I would pass it onto those who take the bible as the 'only' word. This book shows that there is other documentation out there and the author has done his homework. A must read for those who want to know more about who's who in the bible.
Bloodline of the Holy Grail.......2006-01-18
Laurence Gardner has written a wonderful book which opens a whole new perspective on the Holy Grail and the bloodline. This book along with HRH Prince Michaels of Albany's work has sturred me to dig deeper into our family geneology. What I have discovered has certainly changed my perspectives on life.
I personally do not have opinions on what a person's religious beliefs are, that is for them to decide. What the revelations as well as the historical proof has rejuvenated my ancestral awareness and a new way of living life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has been seeking their very connection with their own spiritual and religious awareness.
How A Book Can Change Lives.......2005-12-16
I read "Bloodline of the Holy Grail" and found familiar family names published in the geneology charts. That awakened a deep curiosity that led to a lifelong quest for the truth about my own heritage, and this changed my life forever. My journey led me to Kashmir to do an in-depth study of "Jesus in India." Now, having read "The Magdalene Legacy" I still want to know more. Mr. Gardner is a powerful writer who does extensive research, and his books will alter many more lives well into the future. Few books can have such powerful impact on history and on changing lives. His may be the books that actually change yours too. What greater testament to an author's impact than this?
A Real Joy.......2005-09-07
as a seeker of truth on the meaning of life,I find this book confirms many of the things I found and gives a clearer picture of the "Christian Philosophy" I believe Jesus was a "Son of God" like many others. He was not the only one to achieve the "oneness". My "God" is the infinite creator of the cosmos, which is still being created. This creator does NOT
write books, sire children,answer prayers or speak to people, and does not need or heed our supplications. The soul is infinite and must through many incarnations reach that oneness. This book cleary supports that Jesus was a man created like the rest of us and achieved that oneness. thank you Mr Gardner
Average customer rating:
- Brilliant Writing
- Sidney's style of the movie "CRASH" is seen in BLOODLINE
- COMPULSIVE!
- Terrible prose
- Gripping, salacious, suspenseful, and, oddly, motivating
|
Bloodline
Sidney Sheldon
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0446357448 |
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant Writing.......2007-05-29
Another fantastic, mind-gripping read, holding its audience from page one. Bloodline spins the tale of a family-run pharmaceutical conglomerate. Roffe and Sons has been passed down to the heirs of Samuel Roffe's family, Sam Roffe, the only male descendant and holder of the controlling interest of the company, Anna Roffe married to Walther Gassner, Ivo Palazzi, married to Simonetta Roffe, Charles Martel married to Helene Roffe and Sir Alec Nichols' mother had been a Roffe. Samuel Roffe, founder of the company, had decided from the beginning that his company never go public. His theory, "Never let a friendly fox into your hen house. One day he's going to get hungry." When Sam Roffe (an experienced climber) dies in a mysterious mountain climbing accident, Elizabeth inherits his controlling interest in the company. Suddenly, life-threatening events begin to happen to her as she holds onto her great-great grandfather's wishes after finding a book telling the story of Samuel Roffe's life and the tense, emotional and physical struggle he endured to build the company from the ground up. In her great-great grandfather's memory and approach, she is determined to keep the company private and uncover the person responsible for the evil doings within the upper echelon (that being one of four of her cousins) or possibly her father's right-hand man, Rhys Williams. Rhys, not being a member of the family, was brought into the company by Elizabeth's father, however, unless he married a Roffe, in this case, Elizabeth (since she was the only female left), would be unable to sit on the Board of Directors. Williams was always kind to Liz (is it merely business or personal?) who grew up without a father's presence in her life (just the comforts of his money). Liz felt, even though she harbored strong feelings for Rhys, she could not afford to trust him or anyone until she uncovered the person out to destroy all that Samuel Roffe had built. Each cousin has their own issues; Anna Roffe's husband is out to destroy their children, Ivo Palazzi is leading a double life with two families, Charles is being lead around by Helene as a boy toy, Sir Alec has married Vivian, a wild, crazy party girl and Rhys has worked long and hard his adult life for Sam without the benefit of even a share of stock in the multimillion dollar business. Each one has their own agenda for forcing first Sam and now Elizabeth to have the company go public and thereby attaining the financial means to destroy the "fly in the ointment" of their respective lives. I could not put this book down until the last page was turned. Sheldon is the "master of storytelling."
Sidney's style of the movie "CRASH" is seen in BLOODLINE .......2006-07-11
The first book I ever read was "If Tomorrow Comes" and that will always be a landmark favorite in my favorites written by Sidney Sheldon. Having some time to recooperate this summer, I took upon myself to start reading - - that's when my mom offered "BLOODLINE." The book is written in such a fashion of the hit movie "CRASH" where he talks about every character and at the end, he brings them all together! I do agree with another reader that he took a long time talkin' about Elizabeth's roots within the family because she felt like she didn't belong or the plot took too long to develop the story in the beginning that would shy readers away. But now that I look back, ALL of that was necessary for the story to be the way that it was. Upon reading other reviews, I stumbled upon one that made sense: Sheldon never revealed to us who planted the microphone behind Samuel's picture in the office...Overall, I think this book was great...I found "If Tomorrow Comes" to beat it as far as quality. The book still had the page turners in the beginning telling the family history, but it wasn't until the very end that one twist after another comes rolling in, which is what Sheldon does best.
COMPULSIVE!.......2006-06-09
This is master storyteller SIDNEY SHELDON at his best! The plot is breath-taking. The characters are rich and well described. Unputdownable. Finished the book in 2 days
Terrible prose.......2005-12-14
This was the first novel I've read by Sydney Sheldon. The character development, plot development and prose is drivel compared to books by Greg Iles, Joseph Finder, Nelson DeMille, Richard Crais, Michael Connelly, Sheldon Siegel, and Richard North Patterson. Its so bad, I'm throwing the book out so I won't make the mistake of rereading it. Raise your standards people!
Gripping, salacious, suspenseful, and, oddly, motivating.......2005-06-01
Reading Sheldon's most recent book "Are You Afraid of the Dark" reminded me of this, the first book of his I read, "Bloodline." I still consider Bloodline to be his best work, definitely in the first order of all thrillers written. It has it all -- beautiful heroine, exotic locales, all sort of deviancy to satisfy my prurient and adolescent mind, great plot that keeps you guessing, great characters, great psychology, and interesting insights into lifestyles of the rich and famous.
Also, Bloodline was, strangely enough, my first great motivational book. I read it not long after it came out, in 1979 or 1980, when I was a young teenager. It had an effect on me as a 14-year-old that "Atlas Shrugged" or "The Fountainhead" might have on a 20-year old. The book made me think of what *my* future would be, and whether I would be up to the task of meeting that future head-on. That is the book's greatest strength: it describes people facing adversity and succeeding despite myriad obstacles.
There is one part of the plot that I must comment on, however. A good capital markets attorney, even in the 1970s, could have resolved the Roffe family's cash flow problems quite easily. Further bank loans would have been entirely unnecessary. All that was required was to make an offering of common stock to the general public to raise the needed money, simultaneously giving the Roffe family shares of preferred stock, with the preferred stock tradeable only within the Roffe family. The preferred stock would give the collective holders thereof majority control over the board of directors of the company, say four out of seven seats, and preference rights to receive dividends. Presto -- the Roffe family remains in control, cash flow problems are solved, and the Roffe family taps into some big bucks. The New York Times Company actually has something similar to this, allowing the Sulzbergers to retain control while holding only a small proportion of the outstanding stock. See Note 15 of the financial statements to the New York Times Company's most recent Form 10-K. Simple, no? Sir Alec could get the money to pay off the gangsters, Ivo could pay off Donatella, Walther could afford a nice cushy asylum for Anna, and Helene could...well, do something mean and nasty I guess, and everyone would be happy, no murder or mayhem necessary. But I digress. Read and enjoy the book. It amply deserves a five-star rating.
Product Description
Editorial ReviewsBook DescriptionA new era of exciting adventures and shocking revelations continues to unfold, as the legendary Star Wars saga sweeps forward into astonishing new territory.Civil war looms as the fledgling Galactic Alliance confronts a growing number of rebellious worldsand the approaching war is tearing the Skywalker and Solo families apart. Han and Leia return to Hans homeworld, Corellia, the heart of the resistance. Their children, Jacen and Jaina, are soldiers in the Galactic Alliances campaign to crush the insurgents.
Customer Reviews:
Star Wars, the choice of the next generation.......2007-08-05
Fett has Always been a favorite of mine. He's also woven into each of the characters backstories so that you'll inevietably run across him. He's old now. Heck, Han and Luke are OLD. I enjoy how this series seems to be headed, which would be aptly named Legacy of the Force, in the direction I'm hoping. A changing of the guard. With heirs to many characters being well developed, and I liked Traviss' development of Ben in this, as well as references to 'older' characters, this book is a great story. You do have to have some background, though, as not having read the Dark Nest Trilogy, I've found myself googling alot. That's in both Betrayal and Bloodlines. Anakin Skywalker still plays an active role in the galaxy, and Han/Luke/Leia and even Mara will pass their Legacies on...so, old fans like me will still dream about the golden years...but a new generation of fans can grow with their characters, like we did ours. I hope the series is seen in THAT light, as I've found many readers seem confused.
Customer Reviews:
True facts. But a little unorganized........2006-11-10
If I didn't know about the Illuminati beforehand, I would have been lost reading this book. It is very detailed with a lot of very interesting facts, but the author goes off on many unexplained tangents. He has much research that deserves a little bit of merit, but I feel that he could have brought them into perspective a little better. But overall, it is an interesting read.
If you know nothing of the existance of the Illuminati, then I would suggest reading something else, first, then come back and use this book as a good reference.
Basically, the book is an exhauative history of the 13 "royal" bloodlines, a.k.a the illuminati. Some of the bloodlines include: The Bundy's, the Astor's, the Rockefeller's, the Kennedy's, the Reynold's, and more.
Foolishness for the gullible believers.......2006-10-13
This book ignores actual history to build its conspiracies. For example, Carnegie did become a wealthy man but he also spent his wealth putting libraries in thousands of towns in America. And, he was from very humble beginnings. The idea that he was somehow also a bloodline satanist is completely ridiculous given his strong Scottish Protestantism that gave him his strong work ethic and his generous practice of paying his workers far more than the going rate so they could raise their families decently. And, he is only one of many that this book falsely maligns. Go read a few biographies instead of this nonsense.
As to the "evil Illuminati", do some reading and you'll find out they were rebelling against brutal tyrannies to establish democracies. And, that they tended to get caught and put to death by those tyrannies. No magic, no covens, nothing like that -- just brave European men and women who thought human beings should be free and were willing to die for the cause.
Read real history, think, and work steadily toward your goals instead of allowing yourself to be drawn into another's paranoid fantasy.
It also appears that F.S. (not his real name) was arrested and convicted for participating in a bank robbery. Not my idea of a role model!
Great book, but.......2005-12-22
I can't say I fully agree with Fritz Springmeier on the existence of Satan nor his (seeming) belief that anything except fundamentalist Christianity is some spawn of Satan.
For example, he once told of a trip to Thailand where he spotted "demon houses" - basically the little Buddhist shrines that Thais put in front of their homes and businesses. Demon houses? Fritz is a bit narrow minded - albeit a good researcher.
I agree that the Catholic church has gone to hell in a handbasket - all one needs to do is read what Malachi Martin had to say about it. However, just because the power elite finance some religion does not mean it is bad, evil or untrue. The power elite are pro what they term "the opiate of the masses" just because they think it has a stupefying effect on the common man. Some forms of religion, Eastern or Western, are in fact spiritually uplifting, a fact which they are not developed enough to see.
Satanism on the other hand, is grossly materialistic, and certainly not uplifting, except on a very base, egotistical level. Therefore, it tends to attract base egotistical minds. However, from what I understand, the "Illumined Ones" don't necessarily believe in Satanism, but use it to recruit the lower level chumps - who then become compromised (i.e. blackmail-able) - well, they need SOMEONE to do their bidding - don't want to get those lilywhite, elitist hands dirty, at least not directly.
According to a little blurb I read somewhere (it may be in this book, but it was written by F.S.) the Reynolds family is on the outs with the other Illuminati families. This may explain why the tobacco industry has been under seige for so long - does it make sense that beer ads and ads for pharmaceuticals are in our faces these days, more than ever, and tobacco is a big no-no?
Also, Fritz mentions how the powers that be have a great admiration of the Chinese and Japanese, and have basically "allowed" them to take center space on the world stage. If you think there isn't a conspiracy going on, consider that we hear very little of what goes on or has gone on in China, a totalitarian dictatorship, that is negative. The fact that Chinese leaders have threatened to nuke our major cities should have right wing "patriot" talk show mouths flapping, but they are strangely silent. Could it be that it's because Clear Channel, with strong Bush and Kissinger connections, runs most of these radio stations? "Patriots" my a** - they're trained monkeys of the Illuminists. I'd quit worrying about Muslim terrorists, if I were you, and start keeping an eye on China.
This is a well-researched book and should have a broad audience - it needs to be proofread before it goes into print because of errors - for ex. Joe Kennedy is referred to a couple of times as Jack.
Hardcore Paranoia + Facts + Hearsay = Very Mixed Bag.......2005-09-24
On the back cover it says the author has been involved in Christian ministries. He says the ruler of the illuminati is Satan. He uses language like: "The ruler of this sinister empire is Satan. The Illuminati is his brainchild and the Lord of Corruption directs his kingdom with an iron fist." His definition of Satanism, which seems to be absolutely everywhere except in Christianity, is so broad as to be useless. For example, positive thinking=witchcraft (p 116) and anyone advertising something to people to "Expand Their Potential" is really saying "Worship Lucifer" (p392). Seemingly without irony he states on page 160: "There are not many critical thinkers in this nation".
The good bits I thought were the chapters covering the history of Jehovah's Witness and Mormon movements, which appear to have been well researched. Much of the book is unreferenced however and on various occasions I wanted to just chuck this book in the trash for its sheer stupidity. Some lowlights: "MJ12 runs the USA" (p159), "Saturn in the occult means Satan" (p34), the environmental movement is "being used to push an Illuminati agenda to strip the people of their freedoms and provide a basis for the Illuminati families to own the entire world" (p221) (ok, there might be an element of truth in this), "Money naturally attracts itself to evil" (p242), so that means if anyone is a success in business they presumably are in league with "the Devil".
As the author is a Christian, it is not surprising that he absolves Christianity of any blame for the world's problems. In a small section on the Holocaust (in which he says that you can't believe anything you read on that subject) he mentions, "The truth is that many Christians died in the Holocaust". The reader is then directed to footnote number 99, which states, "This is widely known". No mention then of Adolf Hitler's declaration that he was a Christian, and no mention of how the bible refers to the Jews as being "vipers". According to him, religion is entirely blameless: "Unfortunately, many have been fooled into thinking that being devout and faithful to God is the source of religious fighting" (p291). Well, having read the Koran, I know that it contains the instruction for "believers" to fight until Islam reigns supreme (Sura 2:190). And of course Christianity gave the world the Inquisition and Christian forces wiped out peaceful civilizations in the Americas. On page 391 Mr Springmeier notes, "Even Justin Martyr noted that the Christian Christ was a parallel to the sons of Jupiter of the pagan Mystery Religions" and on page 397 he announces, "Lucifer is the authority of the Mystery Religions", so maybe he is wondering himself about the nature of Christianity.
For a more balanced investigation along these lines I would recommend Rule by Secrecy by Jim Marrs, Them by Jon Ronson and Conspirators' Heirarchy by John Coleman.
Requiring much prerequiste research.......2005-06-15
No person who hasn't already done extensive research could possibly accept the conclusions in this book, that being said, this book will blow the mind of the most seasoned researcher multiple times per chapter, this must be the greatest body of research in the last century.
Book Description
'A Bloodline of Kings' is a historical novel set in Macedonia between 383 and 356 b.c. The protagonist is Philippos (Philip of Macedon) who achieves security for Macedonia, which his father, King Amuntas, and his brothers failed to do. The family saga is complicated by the mother who was the lover and later the wife of a rival for the kingdom. Philippos is the father of Alexander the Great. He surpassed his son in his ability to rule the land he conquered, and set the stage for his son's conquests.
Customer Reviews:
Stunning !.......2005-09-02
An absolutely stunning book, extremely well written and researched about a man who's fame would be obscured by his more famous son.
The detail is impressive but never bogs the story down:the characters are well developed and the whole story is like an amazingly well woven and rich tapestry.
If you like historical fiction and/or ancient history, you'll love this book.
I really hope Mr. Sundell will someday continue the story with another book !
magnificent.......2003-04-07
So rare to see in historical fiction a work that gets the things right: the historical facts, the social atmosphere, and the characters. But this book achieved in all three...
My original decision to buy the hardcover copy of a previously unknown author was mainly because I am fascinated by Philip and Alexander of Macedon, while there are so many books about the son; the father has been relatively ignored by fiction writers.
This book turned out to be one of the best historical novels I have read (if not THE best). Because of the author's expertise in ancient warfare, I am not surprised to find the vivid account of battles and the military genius of Philip of Macedon. Beyond the military stuff, the book gives excellent description of the geological, religious, economical, and social realities of that era. This book brings me back in time more than 2,000 years ago, among the Macedonians and Greeks, I can feel and understand their environment, their beliefs, their everyday life, and their struggles; each men and women are creatures of their own time but have meanings for eternity. Among them the most vivid character of all is Philip of Macedon. This is the way a historical fiction should be: as accurate as historical textbook while at the same time vivid and fascinating as telling a great story. You feel you are there, as the history unfolds itself...
...The only problem? The book stopped at Alexander's birth. There are twenty more years of great battle and conquering that follows before Philip's death; I really hope this book has a sequel.
Absorbs the reader into the clash of culture past.......2002-04-12
Thomas Sundell's A Bloodline Of Kings is a superbly crafted historical fiction novel set in the fourth century B.C., and is the story of Philip of Macedon, who in many ways forever altered the world of the Greeks and set the stage for his legendary son Alexander. A riveting book of rivalry and kingship vs. Athenian democracy, A Bloodline Of Kings is filled with conflict from between two men to between disparate ways of life. A fascinating and involving novel that absorbs the reader into the clash of culture past, A Bloodline Of Kings is highly recommended reading from beginning to end!
History Comes Alive!.......2002-02-21
While Alexander the Great is widely known as a general and conqueror, his father, Philip, has remained a footnote. This novel takes that footnote and brings him to life. Philip is presented to us as an intelligent, thoughtful boy who grows to young manhood. But, more importantly, the entire spectrum of life in ancient Greece, the world of Macedonia and the tribulations and ambitions of those who ruled or wished to rule, are brought vividly to life.
These are more than history book characters. That's why I liked the book so much. They spoke and acted like real people. They loved and hated with an intensity that stayed with me.
Historical novels such as this one take history and present it with all the relevance of today, the panaromic view of a movie, and the incisiveness of cafe table gossip.
I highly recommend Bloodlines to anyone who likes history and wants to know more about what came before Alexander's greatness.
Book Description
From the best-selling author of The Bloodline of the Holy Grail and Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark comes an explosive historical detective story presenting secret archives on the mysterious life of Mary Magdalene, the hidden lineage of Jesus and Mary, and the real two-thousand-year-old conspiracy involving the entire history of Christianity.
Mary Magdalene is described in the New Testament as Jesus' close companion--a woman he loved and his financial sponsor. And yet, in contrast, the Church teaches that she was a prostitute who became repentant. Why the discrepancy between scripture and dogma?
Why does Mary appeal so romantically to artists who have painted her throughout the centuries as something much more significant than the Church traditionally portrays?
What is the secret of Mary Magdalene and how much do we really know about her relationship with Jesus? Were they married? Did they have children, and if so, who makes up the messianic lineage?
Laurence Gardner takes us on a detective trail to piece together the true controversial significance of the Magdalene story and its astonishing implications. These include the real da Vinci connection--the true meaning behind Leonardo da Vinci's paintings and why the Renaissance Church censored portrayals of the Magdalene--and information on the sacred marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Plus the truth about the enigmatic Templar society called the Priory of Scion and the underground stream that protected the sacred heritage of the messianic descendents. And much more!
* From the best-selling author of Bloodline of the Holy Grail.
* Dan Brown's smash hit The DaVinci Code has sparked a huge interest in Mary Magdalene, and Lawrence Gardner reveals the truth behind the Mary Magdalene mystery.
* Includes 50 color illustrations
Customer Reviews:
Then - what - is the legacy of Jesus?..........2007-08-19
I found this a very eye-opening book, one that I had really waited all my life to read. Basically I agree with most of the other reviewers: Dr. Gardner is a shrewd detective but leaves a number of questions unresolved (which is understandable and - in my opinion - also the most honest thing to do...) however, the paramount question arising after reading The Magdalene Legacy is the very one I auspicate someone should soon bend upon and write an equally enthralling book about.
If Jesus was the heir in a lineage of orthodox priests, and far from being a mystic figure with supernatural powers he was instead a religious/monarchic heir, designated to unite Israel against the roman invader, if he was a prince of great riches* etc. etc.
then WHAT have we been believing in all our lives? What is the heritage of Christ?
Then give me Che Guevara, Gandhi, Garibaldi, even Napoleon: for the same money we know more about them and their teachings.
I urge anyone, but in particular catholics, to read this authoritative book. And to consider how Christianity is really not at all what we thought it was (but we had hints...)
*one of the aspects that I really miss in Gardner's analysis is the financial power of Jesus family. After all, according to Gardner's findings, they should have been surrounded by servants, maids and perhaps even slaves, as well as by accountants, superintendents and other administrators. In order to set up a reign in exile Maria Magdalena and her following should have brought along a conspicuous, stately fortune with which to thrive for years...
And the Templars?...
How many royals have rusted away unseen and forgotten for lack of money? This is obvious, if we consider that lineage, power and money are the elements not of any form of mysticism or spiritual research but of worldly power.
The Magdalene Legacy.......2007-07-03
A real eye opener. Its refreshing to read another point of view, which for all we know could be speculation, but it rings more factual than the other religious books available. I called refreshing because for centuries organized religion has been sowing the seed of deceit, and hiding the truth from people. Once again it proves that religion is no more than a private club thatgets away with all sorts of discrimination, sexual abuses, and murder.
Good writing but too many errors.......2007-04-12
Laurence Gardner is an excellent writer, and who doesn't like a good story, especially a conspiracy. The problem is that his latest book, The Magdalene Legacy isn't meant to be a novel, but an historical text. As such, it falls way short of even the most minimal standards. There are two main problems with Gardner's text: the plethora of errors and the theories that he presents as facts. Here's some examples:
* "In the NT Gospels, various female companions of Jesus are cited on seven occasions (p. 1)". Not true. The lists occur at Mark 15:40, 15:47, and 16:1, Matthew 27:55, 27:59, and 28:1, Luke 8:1 and 24:10, and John 19:25. That's 9 lists, not 7.
* "Magdala was a fishing town on the Sea of Galilee (p. 9)." By all accounts, there never was a city called Magdala. The city Gardner refers to had many names, including Magadan, Dalmanutha, Taricheae, and Migdal Nunaiya, but never Magdala.
* "She [Mary] anointed him with spikenard oil on two separate occasions (p. 16)." In fact there is only one anointing, described differently in all four gospels, but nonetheless only one.
* "They [the Hebrews] also objected strongly to the fact that Jesus wanted to share access to the Jewish God with Gentiles (p. 29)." Of course we can't be sure where Gardner gets this information, but his comment flies in the face of Matthew 10:5 ("Go not in the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not"), Galatians 4:4 ("God sent forth his son...to redeem those who were under the law"), Matthew 15:24 ("...I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel"), etc.
* Talking about the Talpoit ossuaries, Gardner claims that "the ossuaries were individually inscribed...Mary...Joseph...and Mary (p. 33)." In fact these ossuaries were inscribed Marya, Yose, and MariamnekaiMara, and there is considerable opinion that none of the females refer to family members of Jesus, since they are not written in Aramaic, but instead in Latin and Greek.
* "Herod was an Idumaean Arab (p. 56)." Herod was a Jew from Idumea, not an Arab.
* "...the Essenes evolved from their Hasidic base to become a monastic, Egyptian-style healing community known as the Therapeutate (p. 57)." The Therapeuts were a completely separate sect, as Philo and Josephus both indicate. It's true that they had many similarities with the Essenes, but they were different.
Beyond these obvious errors, Gardner seeks to rewrite history to his own curriculum. For example:
* "...Nero, who had executed Peter and Paul (p. 22)." Of course it's possible, but it surely isn't history. We have no idea how Peter and Paul died, and while it is commonly believed that Peter perished in Rome, Paul is said to have died in Spain. Apparently Gardner has access to facts no one else has.
* "...in Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus refers to Jesus again...(p. 31)." Virtually every Josephus scholar agrees this is a later addition by Christians and not original to Josephus.
* "The Nazarenes were a sub-sect of the Essenes (p. 53)." That's certainly possible, but many scholars consider these two groups are separate groups.
* "...when the priestly caste of Hasmonaean Maccabees (Mary Magdalene's ancestors)...(p. 56)." No one knows who Mary Magdalene's ancestors were. This is Gardner's theory, but he presents it as fact, with no documentation.
* "The Essene community was referred to as Nazrie ha Brit and it was from this name that the term Nazarene derived (p. 53)." That's also possible, but there are a half dozen other theories about the origins of the term.
You get the idea. All these errors and the re-writing of history should not suggest that Gardner's book is completely worthless. There's lots of interesting information about ancestral lineage and artwork, and occasionally he gets it right about Mary Magdalene.
The book has excellent illustrations, many of them in full color. It has a long list of footnotes and a good reference list. In addition there is an appendix with lots of good material, although mostly about Jesus. And, of course, there is a genealogical chart.
Beginning students should steer clear of this book. It's too difficult for them to distinguish between the errors and the facts. But anyone with a good knowledge of the life and times of Mary Magdalene will be able to sort through the nonsense to get to some of the useful contributions that Gardner offers.
Deep Reasoning...........2006-05-30
What makes this a top notch exploration of Mary Magdalene's role in the ministry of Jesus and her life and its impact is how well the author has researched the material.
The sheer linquistic analysis alone is worth the read, as well as the logic applied to discussing complex sequences of events involving cultures and traditions totally foreign to us who live today.
I have to admit, I was stunned in several places but totally convinced, and not because the book told me to believe something but because it laid out the facts and let me reason it out for myself.
The only thing which saddens me is the unwritten but probable end of the line of David when the Merovingians finally ceased to exist. Which is not to say a bloodline didn't go foward, but the line of King David can only go through the father to the son, and that failed at the end of the Merovingian dynasty.
This book is worth its weight in monatomic gold.
It's A Matter of Perspective .......2006-04-13
Having read all of Gardener's books, and having heard him speak a number of times, I admire him for his ability to put together a book such as this in such a short time. Gardener was originally hired by the Council (perhaps that is not quite the term) of Princes in Europe to trace their genealogy. Since he was paid to do this, I am suspect as to the validity of this research and especially since they opened their archives to him. However, Gardener writes well and presents a believable story. For those wanting to know more about Mary Magdalene, I suggest reading Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls.
Book Description
BradyGames'
Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines Official Strategy Guide includes the following:
The World of Darkness is a dangerous place, and not one to enter without preparation. Learn about the vampire CLANS and their ATTIRBUTES, ABILITIES, FEATS and DISCIPLINES so you can create a Kindred capable of more then just survival.
Even the most powerful vampire may need some additional help. Inside this guide is a listing of ITEMS and WEAPONS to help you through dangerous late night encounters.
Don't walk the dangerous streets of Los Angeles in the dark! The WALKTHROUGH is augmented with DETAILED MAPS, showing the key points of interest. From the streets of Santa Monica to the encounters in Chinatown, every step of your adventure is covered.
Platform: PC
Genre: RPG
This product is available for sale worldwide.
Customer Reviews:
Good, but out of date.......2007-01-09
The guide hands well for version 1, but with the unofficial updates, is a little superfical, and irrelevant.
Vamp Strategy guide very useful.......2006-03-04
I trhink that the guide is a neccesary item to go along with the game because not only does it give you all the information on clan choices and blood powers, but sometimes in gameplay they don't adequately give you the control information, and without the guide you'd just be guessing and possibly get killed.
Good companion if you like back-and-forth flipping.......2006-02-19
This is a very attractive and comprehensive guide to the game, and very cheap considering the quality of the paper & images.
My only complaint is that the order of the "missions" inside, which tend to be in no particular order concerning their placement. Missions that I encountered early on in the game I had to dig around into the back of the guide to find; and oftentimes the book would break up the mission depending on how many parts it entailed, rather than listing out the full specs of the mission in one convenient place.
Other than that, I would recommend this book to anyone who owns the game. The price alone is an amazing bargain, and the helpful information - as well as directions towards hidden quests/items - is not only useful, but fun!
A Great Guide.......2005-08-28
The guide is easy to use, imformative and extremely helpful on the later levels, like the Warrens. Their maps are right on, a must have for anyone that wants to do more than the main quests.
Good to have.......2005-04-09
This is a prette decent book. Especially the initial part is helpful in getting started in the game and finding your way around. It provides a good overview of the different types of characters you can play and provides some guidance in possible ways of developing these characters and how to use the character's skills.
The second part of the book is a plain walk through. This becomes a cheat-sheet more than anything else. You can probably find this on the Internet. I would have wished for more overall strategy.
Book Description
Did Jesus marry and have children? If so, what happened to his family? Are descendants of his still alive today?
Seventeen years ago the world-wide best-seller, The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail made a number of controversial speculations about a "Messianic lineage." Yet the authors could offer no real proof since their access to relevant source material was restricted. At last the truth can be told!
This extraordinary and controversial book, packed with intrigue, begins where others have ended. Sir Laurence Gardner has been granted privileged access to European Sovereign and Nobel archives, along with favored insight into chivalric and Church repositories. He proves for the first time that there is a royal heritage of the Messiah in the West, and documents the systematic and continuing suppression of records tracing the descendent of the sacred lineage by regimes down the centuries.
This unique book, lavishly illustrated in full-color throughout, gives detailed genealogical account of the authentic line of succession of the Blood Royal from the sons of Jesus and his brother James down to the present day.
Customer Reviews:
Definitive Text.......2004-03-31
Firstly I consider this book to the definitive text on the topic of the bloodline of Jesus. Having read other books on the topic I have found them wanting either in information or clarity. The last book I read was Holy Blood Holy grail by Baigent which I found to be satisfactory but frequently annoying in its repetition of the same rhetoric. Also the information was all there but so difficult to read which takes alot of the fun out of the topic.
Gardner's book however is the ideal resource for this topic. The dogma is clearly articulated and the style of writing begs your attention. After reading, you get a clear picture of what the gnostic gospels offer and why they were omitted from cannonisation. The secrets of the templar Knights is also exposed but most importantly is the appocryphical portrayal of the true relation of Jesus with his disciples and especially Mary Magdalene with its resultant outcome. Interstingly ita lso goes in depth into the myths surrounding the crucifixion and the miracles of the historical jesus.
THE DESPOSYNI vindicated, Rome indicted.......2003-11-07
A most special thanks goes out to Sir Laurence Gardner for making
known to the public the suppressed history of THE DESPOSYNI
which is the HOLY GRAIL who pose a threat to both the legitimacy
of Imperial Rome & the legitimacy of the Church of Rome and has
been deliberately selectively excluded from church & school. Again, Sir Laurence, thank you for making known this suppressed
history of THE DESPOSYNI/THE HOLY GRAIL. Through your research
and making public what you discovered vindicates THE DESPOSYNI/
THE HOLY GRAIL and indictes Rome. --Gregory Thompson (MacTavish)
A fascinating jigsaw puzzle of a book..........2003-09-18
Given the centuries of death, misery & suffering brought about by the various petty squabbles over who's guess at what the gospels really mean, it is truly refreshing to see a book that uses the gospels (ALL of the gospels, particularly the Apocrypha and the Dead Sea Scrolls), related historical records, and established timelines to mesh these tales together in a way that makes FAR more sense than what so many have been indoctrinated with for hundreds and hundreds of years.
If you are a Christian, and you're comfortable understanding your particular sect's interpretation, then I would recommend that you NOT read this book; however, if you're Christian and a lot of what you've been taught just never seemed to make much sense, then you NEED to read this book.
It contains some truly amazing revelations; many based on facts and lineages, but other conjecturized based on cross-referencing other historical documents.
- Who was Moses, and why are there no records of Hebrew slaves in the Egyptian records?
- Could there have been less than miraculous explanations behind the virgin birth, turning water to wine, the loaves & fishes, walking on water and the ressurection itself?
- How important is the divinity of Jesus, compared to his teachings, actions and influence?
You won't find THE answers in here, but there are very PLAUSIBLE answers; far more than a simple "and God made it so" (the literary equivalent of 'we'll figure this out later').
Welcome to the truth, at last revealed from centuries of deliberate church suppression. Based partly on actual writings from the days of Jesus Christ himself; you can be appalled or you can be astonished, but it will make you think either way. Unlike "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", which covers similar concepts, but focuses on the validation of a specific modern-day claim to the 'throne' by using some very questionable sources, "Bloodline..." approaches the subject matter with far less bias.
It's truly a marvelous jigsaw puzzle that ends up looking very little like the picture on the box, or at least what you thought the picture looked like when you started... which is only a problem if you wanted everything to look like you expected it to when you started. In fact, if that's the case, what's the point of reading at all? *****/*****
Gal. 1 :6-10 " false gospel".......2002-07-12
The Bible teaches that in the later days men will be "lovers of themselves" ... They will be "seduced" and "deceived" into "another Gospel".
They will have itching ears ...
Why? Because man is rebellious; and man doesn't want a Creator who is above them. If GOD is real, then they have to worship HIM. And they only want to worship the false gods of their own making ... and celebrities ...
The other Gospel is one that ursurps Jesus ... It makes HIM fully human; and not God-Man ...
These grail books and Morogvian dynasty books all are gnostic in origin ... and had better be read with much care. GOD says in the last days HE WILL let fall on man a delusion that if it were posible the VERY elect would be deceived ... I believe that we are in the time of the delusion.
I believe that an 'angel of light' IS preaching a gospel that man likes.
Jesus is GOD; and if you don't worship HIM now ... someday you will fall before HIM .... and it may be too late for you!
Lets bring back the House of Stuart ... Not!.......2002-01-03
While Gardiner's theories on Jesus' life are nothing new (see Schonfield, Maccoby, etc.), he falls down on the substantiation of his own theories and geneologies. Basically this book seems to be a vehicle for the reinstatement of the House of Stuart to the throne, either of England, Scotland, or both. British history seems to have been glossed over somewhat in favour of the Stuarts, 100 years of history integral to this book seem to have been condensed to 6 pages. Sorry, but Gardiner doesn't seem to recognise the irony in lamenting the deposition of the Stuart monarchs by "undemocratic" governments and abhoring the Act of Settlement which restricts the religion of the monarch of Great Britain, but all the while supporting the reinstatement of an undemocratically elected head of state.
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