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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Blood Knight (The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 3)

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Typical Keyes
Getting better
Another solid addition to the series
Not Free SF Reader
Dark....so very dark

The Blood Knight (The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 3)
Greg Keyes
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345440684
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Book Description

Brimming with passion and adventure, Greg Keyes’s epic saga of a royal family’s fall from power through treachery and dark magic, set amid the return of ancient evils whose malevolence threatens to annihilate humanity, bids fair to become a classic of its kind. Now, in the eagerly awaited third installment, Keyes draws the threads of his tapestry ever tighter, illuminating old mysteries and introducing new ones as events build toward a shattering climax.

The legendary Briar King has awakened, spreading madness and destruction. Half-remembered, poorly understood prophecies seem to point to the young princess Anne Dare, rightful heir to the throne of Crotheny, as the world’s only hope. Yet Anne is hunted by the minions of the usurper Robert, whose return from the grave has opened a doorway through which sinister sorceries have poured into the world. Though Anne herself is the conduit of fearsome powers beyond her understanding and control, it is time for girl to become woman, princess to become queen. Anne must stop running and instead march at the head of an army to take back her kingdom . . . or die trying.

But a mysterious assassin stalks her, so skilled in the deadly fencing style of dessrata that even Anne’s friend and protector Cazio, a master of the form, cannot stand against him, nor can her sworn defender, the young knight Neil MeqVren.

As for Anne’s other companions–Aspar White, the royal holter who bears an enchanted arrow capable of felling the Briar King; and Stephen Darige, the monk who blew the horn that woke the Briar King from his slumber–they cannot help her, as their separate paths carry them ever deeper into a deadly maze of myth and magic from which return may be impossible.

Meanwhile, Queen Muriele is a prisoner of the false king. With no allies but a crippled musician, who is himself a prisoner, and a servingwoman who is both more and less than she seems, Muriele will find herself a pawn in Robert’s schemes for conquest–and a weapon to be used against her own daughter.

Customer Reviews:

Typical Keyes.......2007-10-02

Keyes is good at drawing parallels from real world history and anthropology and intertwining them into interesting novels. This book is another very readable installment of KoTaB series. If you do like these books, his Waterborn and Blackgod books (which are a two book series?) are along the same lines and interesting reads. Again in both books he places high importance on ruling women and the dynamic that plays in an otherwise man ruled setting.

Getting better.......2007-09-26

I started this series to bide my time waiting for George RR Martin to finish his latest, and at first I found it almost 'quaint'. Compared with the massive, world-spanning epics I had been reading, this just seemed like much lighter fare. But the series has improved steadily and I was pretty well captivated by the entirety of Blood Knight. I for some reason thought it was a trilogy as well, and realized about half way through that there was another volume to come. That's a little frustrating as now I am waiting on 2 authors, Keyes and Martin.

Another solid addition to the series.......2007-09-21

The Blood Knight by Greg Keyes is the third book in The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series. There appears to be an assumption on the internet that this is a trilogy, and that the ending of this book was really weak. People need to remember there is one more book to be released in this series, it is titled The Born Queen (Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, Book 4) and is scheduled for release in March, 2008. I am sure the big unanswered questions will be resolved there.

This book is a little different in terms of an overall plot. The book consists mostly of several smaller subplots woven together to create a larger tapestry. There are no less than four subplots in this book, each group of characters seems to have their own story in this novel, although, all those stories are loosely tied together in the grand scheme of things. There is one overarching plot that runs through most stories and that is of the return of the Briar King and just what that means to the region, and the world. There are also political subplots, as well as subplots that involve prophecy. Even though there seems to be a lack of an overall, novel wide, plot, the book never loses momentum based on that. The story flows through different points of view very well. Each chapter has a definite goal in mind and for the most part accomplishes those goals admirably.

Fans of the first two books will recognize the characters in this book right away. All of the favorite characters from the past two books return, Aspar White, Anne Dare, Cazio, Neil MeqVren et al. I really appreciate Mr. Keyes characters. He seems to have put a great deal of thought into them and they are solidly defined. It may seem trivial, but one thing I appreciate most, is that each characters acts as an individual. What I mean by that is that each characters acts due to their own motivations and experience. Mr. Keyes obviously wanted to send more time on the various plots in this novel then adding new characters, which in book 3 of a 4 book series, is perfectly understandable. With that said, there are a few characters that go through a great deal of character development. Most notably, Anne Dare, she experiences some things and grows tremendously as a character. In fact, I will even go so far as to say that in the first two books I did not really care for her character. However, with the developments of this book, she is much more interesting and I find myself wanting to read more about her.

A few minor criticisms about this novel:

The character of Neil MeqVren seems to get lost in the book at time. While reading it felt like when he was needed he `appeared' and then he quickly blended back into the background. The role that he has played in the first two books I was really expecting to see more from him in this book. Also, there are times when Mr. Keyes uses `different' languages and dialects. Most of those instances just didn't work for me. When I got to those parts I was literally jarred out of any pace I had reading and had to struggle through. One or two of those would have been sufficient in my opinion, but they were over used in this novel.

The things I really enjoyed. The pace of this book lends itself very well to causing late nights. It has a very easy flow to it, and just enough action that entices the reader to read one more page. Mr. Keyes is definitely a wordsmith in those regards and shows it off. I also enjoyed the `realness' of the characters as mentioned above.

Overall, this is a solid addition to the series and Keyes proves he is perfectly capable of writing an epic fantasy story with solid characters and an equally solid plot. I believe most fantasy fans will enjoy this series, and will certainly continue to recommend it.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-04

The start of this book was very poor, extremely choppy. I suspect editorial butchery, and given that it ended how it did, there would seem to be pretty clearly more to come.

So this could be a case of hacking and slashing to fit it into the amount of books that the publisher wanted. Almost a rush at the end, as well, it seems.

A bit disappointing.

Anne has to grow up fast to deal with her small war, and noble relatives that appear to be on her side, as well as deal with the supernatural Faiths, Kept, Sefry and others, as well as keep her group of friends together and alive.

Aspar and Stephen have their own quests and monsters to deal with, big worms, evil priests and Sefry, that sort of thing.

Dark....so very dark.......2007-08-23

The third installment in the series reaches new heights (depths?) of darkness. Some books in the fantasy sub-genre are so compelling in their exploration of human weakness and capacity for evil that they cannot be put down. This is one of those works. It is equivalent to watching the news story on the horrific crime, alternatively cringeing and wallowing in the latest gory details. I recommend it highly for those who question belief and the sources for our deep need for a god, a religion, and for 'something to believe in.'

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Prince Valiant, Vol. 39: Knights Blood
Harold Foster
Manufacturer: Fantagraphics Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560973889

Tournament of Blood (Knights Templar series)

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"Good God, not another death!"
Anything by Micahael Jecks
Jecks is Always a Good Read
Fine tension against a solid historical backdrop
a gripping read

Tournament of Blood (Knights Templar series)
Michael Jecks
Manufacturer: Headline Book Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0747266123

Book Description

It is 1322, and Lord Hugh de Courtenay's plan to host a tournament is a fantastic opportunity for the money-lenders of Oakhampton. When the defeated knights find themselves unable to pay the traditional ransoms to their captors, they will have only one course open to them—accruing interest by the hour. But when the most prominent money-lender, Benjamin Dudenay, is found brutally murdered a month before the festivities, Sir Baldwin Furnshill and Bailiff Simon Puttock find themselves on the trail of a most sinister killer. The Tournament of Blood is the eleventh tale in this superbly plotted medieval mystery series.

Customer Reviews:

"Good God, not another death!".......2007-09-17

At one point in this book, toward the end, protagonist Sir Baldwin exclaims "Good God, not another death! Will there never be an end to this."

I know just how he felt. One death is heaped upon another in this overly complicated tale and the resolution to them all, while no doubt in keeping with historical reality, was unsatisfactory to me.

I have read all of Jecks' prior books in the series, and own all the rest, to be read in turn. Yet, while I finish all of them (an indication of their merit, considering I don't waste time on books I consider poorly written or plotted) I never am completely happy with them.

As I've mentioned in my review of another Jecks book, one problem to me is that he needs a far better editor and proofreader. Misspellings and inconsistent spellings abound. One glaring example: in his Author's Note, he explains why he chooses to use the old spelling for the town of Okehampton (rather than the new version, Oakhampton). Yet, throughout the book, the new spelling is used! A small but niggling detail.

In addition, there are times when I feel Jecks goes overboard to parade all the research and facts he's learned, including all the terminology he can cram into the book. Yet, he uses other words and phrases which, while possibly having their roots in medieval Europe, sound false and anachronistic.

SPOILER AHEAD ...

My biggest complaint about this book is that Jecks fails to provide key information that allows us to play detective and solve the mystery. The killer is "Mr. X" but "Mr. X" is in actuality "Mr. Z" Yet, throughout the book, he switches perspective to both characters and there is never any thought or action to betray the latter. I'm probably not making too much sense, but if you read the book, you'll understand. I don't want to give away the whole thing. Suffice it to say, I felt the ending was a bit of a cheat.

Yet, despite my complaints, I finished the book in just a few evenings and will go on to read more of Jecks. They're not perfect. In fact, they're not among the best historical mysteries I've read, but they have decent, evolving characters that make for an enjoyable read.

If you like this type of book, try the Chapman mysteries by Kate Sedley. Not as hard edged as Jecks' but engaging and historically accurate.

Anything by Micahael Jecks.......2006-12-20

I confess to be an avid Jecks fan. Although, I do a great deal of academic reading, I got caught up in reading something just for my personal enjoyment yet that is quite well written and well researched. I was only introduced to Jecks' work recently, I have read every available book by him in or out of print in the US in a few months. I bought the recently released "The Death Ship of Dartmouth" and faithfully promised myself that I would put it on the shelf and wait a reasonable period of time to begin it and read it very slowly. Well, so much for a half a day and taking a few hours out for much needed sleep.

Jecks is Always a Good Read.......2004-11-20

Michael Jecks writes some of the best medieval novels around. This one is no exception.
The book takes place in the spring of 1322, the setting a tournament held by Lord Hugh de Courtenay. The money lenders of Oakhampton see this as a great opportunity to fill their coffers. When the knights who are defeated find themselves unable to pay the ransoms to their opponents they will require the services of the money lenders, but one of the money lenders will not get the opportunity to do business. Benjamin Dudenay is found beaten to death before the tournament begins.
Sir Baldwin and his friend Simon have the task of completing the preparations for the tournament before Lord Hugh arrives but when the man commissioned to build the stands is found dead in an identical way to Benjamin, Sir Baldwin and Simon Puttock find themselves embroiled in the search for a killer

Fine tension against a solid historical backdrop.......2002-10-07

This medieval mystery tells of a planned tournament to be hosted by Lord Hugh in 1322. A month before the planned event a man who whom knights are indebted is found murdered, and it's up to Sir Baldwin and his friend Bailiff Simon to complete preparations and investigate a possibly widereaching, sinister plan. Fine tension against a solid historical backdrop.

a gripping read.......2002-01-24

"The Tournament of Blood" is slightly different from previous West Country mysteries by Michael Jecks in that it does not focus so much on a rather chilling series of horrific murders and that there are a a lot more characters in this mystery novel than usual. So be forewarned: there are several knights and squires with similar names that a slightly less attentive reader could get quite confused over!

"The Tournament of Blood" opens with the murder of the money lender, Benjamin Dudenay, by Philip Tyrel (information given in the first chapter.) Many years ago, Tyrel lost his wife and children because of Dudenay; and seeing Dudenay again all these many years later, even more prosperous than before and apparently feeling no remorse for his crimes, pushes Tyrel to execute Dudenay quite brutally. Tyrel thinks that his rage is spent; however the authour let's us in on one piece of important information: that Tyrel will soon meet the other men who were responsible for his family's untimely death, and that he will kill again (again info from the first chapter).

It's 1322, and Hugh de Courtenay has decided to host a tournament to take his mind off his current political problems with King Edward II. Many knights have been invited, and Bailiff Simon Puttock has been asked to see to the preparations for the tournament. And while Puttock is thrilled to have been asked to undertake so important a task, having to deal with the sniveling and quarrelsome Hal Sachevyll and Wymond Carpenter, is more than he can bear! Sachevyll and Carpenter have been commissioned to design and construct the stands and have been complaining about shoddy materials and predicting accidents if the stands are constructed with such bad wood. They have demanded that better material be provided for them to work with. This Puttock is loathe to do because the pair have already been paid to buy the materials that they need. Puttock suspects that they have pocketed the money that should have gone towards buying good wood, buying shoddy wood instead. And he's not about to reward the duplicitous pair by paying for more wood to be bought. The quarrel between Sachevyll, Carpenter and Puttock becomes quite acrimonious and things look bad indeed for Puttock when Carpenter is found beaten to death in his tent, and he becomes a suspect of the murder.

Fortunately for Puttock, his good friend Sir Baldwin Furnshill, Keeper of the King's Peace, and the coroner, Sir Roger de Gidleigh, do not believe that he had anything to do with Carpenter's death, and they begin to look more closely into the murder. They discover that Carpenter was murdered in a manner similar to the moneylender Dudenay, and that Dudenay, Carpenter and Sahevyll were partners in quite a few enterprises. They also discover that quite a few people detested all three men -- from knights who blame them for the deaths incurred when their shoddy stands fell apart, to knights and squires who disliked Dubenay because they owed him money. In the meantime, Puttock is discovering that it is not easy to keep his attention focused on preparations for the tournament with a murder charge hanging over his head, his teenage daughter's sudden rebellious behaviour (and her sudden infatuation with a dislikable squire), and the Royal Herald's petty snipping! If only he could solve the murder before the tournament starts! But what Puttock, Sir Baldwin and Sir Roger don't realise is that Tyrel is in their midst under an assumed name, and that he is resolved to execute the third man he holds responsible for the loss of his family.

With this latest mystery novel, Michael Jecks again brings to life colourful 14th century England. The novel is peppered with enough historical fact, so that we understand the political reality of the time; but what I especially liked was his realistic portrayal of what a tournament entailed -- the brutality involved as well as the greed for ransoms (knights who loose the joust and who yield are then held for ransom by the victor). And I thought that Jecks did a wonderful job in depicting all the different hates that the knights and squires had for each other, as well as Puttock's daughter's sudden into bratty teenage behaviour. The mystery itself is a little more straight forward than usual, with very few twists and turns in plot development (except for how Jecks keeps us guessing as to which one of the suspects is Tyrel), however the tension and tight pacing was always there, and contributed a lot towards making this novel a gripping read. I enjoyed this novel immensely, and would heartily recommend to all mediaeval mystery fans.

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Hitman: Blood Money (Prima Official Game Guide)
Michael Knight
Manufacturer: Prima Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Hitman: Contracts (Prima's Official Strategy Guide)

Hitman Blood Money

Hitman: Blood Money

Hitman 2: Silent Assassin (Prima's Official Strategy Guide)

Splinter Cell: Double Agent (Prima Official Game Guide)

ASIN: 0761553274
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Book Description

There is more than one way to make a hit.
The best assassin is the one that's never noticed.

·Weapon and equipment locations for each mission revealed
·Basic strategies for a hit, with tips on how to keep your notoriety low
·Detailed maps for every mission
·Complete walkthroughs for all assignments, including alternative ways to complete a mission
Information on all weapons and upgrades

Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood (Prima Official Game Guide)

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brothers in arms: earned in blood

Brothers In Arms: Earned In Blood (Prima Official Game Guide)
Michael Knight
Manufacturer: Prima Games
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0761552014
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Book Description

Respect isn't given, it's earned

· Complete walkthroughs of all story missions
· Detailed maps showing the location of objectives and enemies
· Tactics for completing the Skirmish missions
· Multiplayer strategies and maps
· Information on all weapons
· Learn the four "F"s--Find, Fix, Flank, and Finish the Enemy

Customer Reviews:

brothers in arms: earned in blood.......2006-03-15

recive very fast and in good condition like brand new

Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture

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A brilliant study by a brilliant man!
Paradigm shifting achievement that revalidates Afrocentrism
The Most Brilliant Anthropological Study Ever Written
A tour-de-force
Compelling work on evolution of human society

Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture
Chris Knight
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0300063083

Book Description

This original and ingenious book presents a new theory of the origins of human culture. Integrating perspectives of evolutionary biology and social anthropology within a Marxist framework, Chris Knight rejects the common assumption that human culture was a modified extension of primate behavior and argues instead that it was the product of an immense social, sexual, and political revolution initiated by women.

Customer Reviews:

A brilliant study by a brilliant man!.......2003-09-10

Dr.Chris Knight was one of my lecturers at university and without fail I would come away from my Anthropology lectures with my head blown away by all the amazing knowledge transfer that occurred. It was all fantastic stuff and all totally confusing until one of those "aha" moments, when all of Chris's and the other anthropologists theories suddenly all fell into place and began to make real sense.

The book itself was a key text during our studies with various chapters needing to be read at various times. For that reason I shall not break down the book, rather I shall say that it will be one of the most illuminating and eye-opening books that you will ever read. Maybe not the easiest to read but definitely one of the best. Oh, and you can always impress your friends in the pub of an evening with your knowledge of Marxist paleo-anthropological theories pertaining to the emergence of human culture!

Paradigm shifting achievement that revalidates Afrocentrism.......2002-10-19

"The notion of tabu as connoting both 'danger' and 'power' belongs in fact to a venerable tradition. One source of this is the work of Durkheim...a pioneering article on menstrual symbolism published in 1898...Durkheim argued that women established the exogamy rule by periodically BLEEDING so as to repulse the opposite sex...[women] were the immediate agents of religious ideology's segregating action."

"...But of course, the model of cultural origins advocated in this book would lead us to trace the underlying abstract logic of the Rainbow Snake...much further back into the Aborigines past--indeed, right back to their first entry into Australia [from central Africa]..."

"It would be interesting to study the ideological and political factors which led to Durkheim's insights being virtually ignored for a hundred years."

Chris Knight, BLOOD RELATIONS
Chapter 11: "The Raw and The Cooked" and
Chapter 14: "The Dragon Within"

" At Yirkalla, in...north-east Arnhem Land [aboriginal Australia]...women's solidarity is still very strong, menstrual blood is regarded as 'sacred'... It is only when this snake power of the women themselves has been established that the conditions are felt appropriate for the climax of the ceremony...

'...really we have been stealing what belongs to them (the women) for it is mostly women's business... Women can't see what men are doing...This is because all the Dreaming business came out of women--everything...In the beginning we had nothing...we took these things from women.'

"It is one of the severest indictments of 20th Century anti-evolutionist anthropology that its models have led ethnographers to dismiss such profound Aboriginal insights as scientifically valueless."

Chris Knight, BLOOD RELATIONS
Chapter 13: "The Rainbow Snake"

This is a five star, paradigm-shifting treatise on human cultural origins if there ever was one. Chris Knight's rendering of the four plus million years of primate and proto-human history in BLOOD RELATIONS, right up to the latest 200,000 years that begin true humankind and human culture in central Africa and along the Nile, through to the psychic/motivational bedrock of our conflicted modern society, becomes more impressive, more inclusive--and more impregnable with every chapter and every turn of the page.

My test for the far-reaching influence and power of any theorist--particularly of the wannabe revolutionary kind--is three-fold. One, their theory must be completely plausible; i.e. not needing simple revolt from detractors and complimentary but poorly explained aspects of ITSELF to proclaim and rationalize its essential relevance. Two, they must have the ability to completely encapsulate the foundational principles, concepts and findings of the other historical and competitive theories within its discipline as an integral part of its own new perspective; showing their ideas to be the great quantum leap beyond our sense of reality and the all inclusive step toward truth. And third, perhaps most important of all, it has to excite me. There may be things my mind will not be specifically educated enough, multi-lingual enough or quick enough to pick up, but you cannot fool my heart. All these three are BLOOD RELATIONS's great achievement and great contribution.

Chris Knight, the brilliant and controversial London anthropologist, does this all in BLOOD RELATIONS with such remarkable clarity and erudition, in fact, attempts to disagree with his findings becomes pointless. His unified field-theory of the prehistoric African woman's role in the formation of human culture is so incredibly well done, and so profoundly earth shattering in its implications, that I read the book twice to fully soak in all the sacred pre-verbal intuitions I have had that it reveals to be historical fact and obvious science.

So far the only complaint of BLOOD RELATIONS I could have is the only one possible: he seemingly focuses too much on the Marxist avatar of revolutionary cultural ideas while using it as the lens via which the origins of culture could be best understood. This at times seems to ironically minimize the revolutionary spirit of humankind that produced them. None less than the great Picasso was once quoted in saying "today's artists are tomorrow's politicians;" focusing more on the *artistic* power of the creative human spirit (my bias) may have put his new paradigm in an even more inclusive perspective. Yet even there he establishes, to my knowledge, the first credible dialectic between the devolved, political diseases of 20th century Stalinism/Maoism and the philosophical/scientific postulates of the 19th century Marxism upon which their regimes were originally based. So powerfully, in fact, that the Marxist perspective he examines and explains driving his reevaluation of 20th century anthropology--and, in turn, our entire view of human culture--need not (and in his book does not) come with the kind of intellectual apologies that would otherwise signify an inherent lack of validity.

Chris Knight with BLOOD RELATIONS shows unquestionably that women, via sex and the rhythm of menstruation, nurtured the primal creative impulse of civilization and they essentially created human culture. And he shows it to be made up of communal solidarity against oppressors and oppressive situations (be it prehistoric animals or alpha males), symbol-driven creativity, and achieving a certain oneness with the rhythms of nature. This primal social movement that is the womb of human culture, told in every ancient culture's foundational myths, could naturally just as easily explain the birth of democracy and/or capitalism in the historical ages of feudalism as it does the advent of Marxism in the age of capitalism...and what is next for human kind.

This is another of the great books of our time whose far-reaching influence in modern culture has not even begun to be felt. One can only imagine what anthropological works throughout history that have been ignored because of intellectual biases will now be reexamined and redeemed through his paradigm shifting work. I would combine this with Barbara Ehrenreich's 1995 work BLOOD RITES, and the 19th Century Gerald Massey's ANCIENT EGYPT, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD as an anthropological trinity of monumental, paradigm shifting proportions that will change your view of humankind-our true past, present and potential-forever.

BLOOD RELATIONS is beautiful.

The Most Brilliant Anthropological Study Ever Written.......2000-12-25

The many words used to describe Chris Knight's "Blood Relations" include, monumental, encyclopedic, brilliant, original, ingenious, and a tour-de-force. It is all of these and more! This work is simply the most brilliant and imaginative book about human cultural development ever written. Its range is astonishing. Its arguments are cogently made with great detail. Its synthesis of primatology, socio-biology, and anthroplogy are compelling. Where others have depicted women as the victims of a dominant male hierarchy, Knight reveals how the sex roles and behavior of both men and women developed together in a dialectic relationship. Where others have stressed the loss of oestrus and continuous sexual receptivity in the female, Knight spotlights menstruation and its associated marital and other cultural taboos. Where others stress man the hunter and woman the gatherer, Knight envisions paleo-women as evolving an increasing solidarity to shape the structure of both hunting and gathering. Women are not the passive creatures that are so often depicted by the radical feminists who have an interest in portraying women as the victims of dominant males. Females have been active participants in shaping culture, behavior, and human destiny. As Knight says, "symbolic culture involves very widespread levels of synchronized co-operative action."

Somewhere between 40,000 and 100,000 years ago, Knight believes, a massive social, sexual, and cultural explosion occurred and he does an ingenious job of providing us with insight into how this may have happened. A major change in reproductive strategy had to take place before males could take off as hunters and leave their women behind. Women synchronized their ovulatory cycles with one another; the concept of the "sex-strike" is the heart of the book. Blood as a symbol of menstruation provides a key to much of human culture and Knight uses it to explain the inner logic of many of mankind's myths and taboos. Because the disruptive effects of sex can be enormous, these controls have played an important role in the development of human culture.

The riches of this deeply learned book cannot simply be conveyed in a brief review. It is a work to be read over and over and contemplated. The many insights into human culture and the relationships among the sexes will surely provide any open minded person with a new perspective as to why we are the way we are.

A tour-de-force.......2000-09-15

This book was a revelation for me. Having struggled through numerous turgid anthropological works by the likes of Levi-Strauss, Roheim, etc., it was thrilling to read such an ambitious clear-sighted and compelling account of the origins of human culture, together with an excellent critique of much current anthropological thinking.

It's worth mentioning that Chris Knight is a marxist, and by that I don't mean vaguely left-wing in the manner of, say, Eric Hobsbawm. He's a real believer...dialectic materialism, the whole works. Clearly Knight believes his marxism is essential to his thesis. I would argue that although this maybe enabled him to see through other anthropological schools - structuralism, functionalism, what-have-you - and to develop his own theories, in the end it's irrelevant to his conclusions. So, wade through the marxist stuff, you can ignore it, it's not to my mind necessary to agree with his ideological beliefs (I don't) to appreciate his arguments, and to agree with much of what he says - or at least to find this a wonderfully stimulating book.

Compelling work on evolution of human society.......1999-03-24

This book may be the most important book ever written on the evolution of human social organization. It brings together observation and theory from social anthropology, primatology, and paleoanthropology in a manner never before equalled. The author, Chris Knight, who teaches social anthropology at the University of London is up to date on all these fields and has achieved an extraordinary synthesis. His critiques of Claude Levi-Strauss on totemism and myth are a sheer tour de force. The basic premise can be summarized, though only in an extremely cursory fashion, as follows. The basis of primate social organization is predicated on the distribution of food resources and how females array themselves around these. Males array themselves around females. Over the course of human evolution, the acquisition of animal protein came to be of critical significance. Proto-human females acquired this valuable resource from males via a collective bargaining agreement which formed the basis of human kinship organization and social exchanges. This accomplished through a systematic "sex-strike" cycle which ran according to a lunar based schedule of menstruation/hunting following by ovulation/feasting. Human females evolved concealed ovulation and a cultural system of sexual advertisement based on menstruation that guided this cycle. Females could now say 'yes', but they could also say 'no', depending on the success of the hunting venture. The author explores evidence for this thesis both in the ethnography of currently existing non-industrial societies as well as in the paleolithic in the use that anatomically modern humans' made of red ochre and other pigments to signify and exploit the menstrual event. A number of previously incomprehensible myths, such as the 'Rainbow Snake' of the Australian Aborigines, receive a new and revealing interpretation in this light.

BRAVE MEN'S BLOOD: The Epic of the Zulu War 1879 (Pen & Sword Military Classics)

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Best Coffee Table Book on the Subject
Best account yet written by the most knowledgeable author

BRAVE MEN'S BLOOD: The Epic of the Zulu War 1879 (Pen & Sword Military Classics)
Ian Knight
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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19th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 184415212X

Book Description

The Zulu kingdom, created by Shaka kaSenzangakhona, lasted just over six decades before meeting the imperial might of the British Empire. Within six months the kingdom lay in pieces. A full military campaign, known as the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 was required to ensure its demise. The British High Commissioner in South Africa, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, believed that the robust and economically self-reliant Zulu kingdom was a threat to this policy. In December 1878 he picked a quarrel with the Zulu king, Cetshwayo kaMpande, in the belief that the Zulu army - armed primarily with shields and spears - would soon collapse in the face of British Imperial might. The war began in January 1879. Three columns of British troops under the command of Lt. Gen. Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand. Almost immediately, the war went badly wrong for the British.

On 22 January, the Centre Column, under Lord Chelmsford's personal command, was defeated at Isandlwana mountain. In one of the worst disasters of the Colonial era, over 1300 British troops and their African allies were killed. In the aftermath of Isandlwana, the Zulu reserves mounted a raid on the British border post at Rorke's Drift, which was held by just 145 men. After ten hours of ferocious fighting, the Zulu were driven off. Eleven of the defenders of Rorke's Drift were awarded the Victoria Cross.

These are the best-known episodes of the war, and Rorke's Drift inspired the classic film Zulu, which established Michael Caine as a star. However, the author delves deeply into the causes of the war, the conditions during it and the aftermath. Completely re-set, this is one of the most highly-regarded books on the period.

Customer Reviews:

Best Coffee Table Book on the Subject.......2006-11-10

The Anglo-Zulu War is a subject often obscured from history and put under the broader picture of colonialism. But this book proves that the Anglo-Zulu War is something that requires in depth study; not only for its social and military implications but for its unique place in history. It has plenty of pictures, the most I have ever seen of the Anglo-Zulu War, and is well written with clear and concise information that historians and non-historians can enjoy alike.

Best account yet written by the most knowledgeable author.......1998-09-04

Ian Knight was inspired to study the Anglo-Zulu conflict in the same way I was: by watching Micahel Caine in the movie "Zulu". Readers may be surprised at just how accurate the movie was. And that's just one of several fascinating battles between two mighty warrior nations. There is no better author on the subject and this may well be the best of his work. READ IT!

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Great read
A Decent Sequel
This book is great!
Knights or the blood
A bit too much needless gore.

At Sword's Point (Knights of Blood)
Katherine Kurtz , and Scott MacMillan
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0451454073

Book Description

A group of Knights Templar and a cadre of Nazis have been affected with the same affliction-vampirism-and have fought one another since the closing days of World War II. Now, LAPD detective John Drummond knows about their secret war and will stop at nothing to end it...

Customer Reviews:

Great read.......2003-01-17

Fantasy, intrigue, gruesome - well what else do you expect from Vampires! Codes of honnor across the centuaries, great imagination and I want to know what happens next.
Where can I get the next book from??

A Decent Sequel.......2001-08-03

I'll admit, this book was not as good as the first, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit.
The only complaint I would have is that book 3 is so long in coming... because the end of this book left me hanging.
To the guy who whined that the characters are unpredictable... would you prefer they WERE predictable?

This book is great!.......1998-07-14

I read this book the first time two years ago, and I have read it three more times since. Although some of the plot is not believable (it is called FICTION for a reason), it is interesting because of that fact. I have read some of the other reviews, and I have to say that if you had problems following the plot twists, or were unable to understand what was going on, I recommend you read a different style of material.

Yes, some of the little details do tend to get boring, but without the details, you loose the sense of the characters. I had no problem with the amount of gore. In fact, compared to the usual books I read, this is quite tame. The only problem I had was trying to find a copy of the first book. I have to rate this as one of the better books I have read. And I have read thousands.

The character of Drummond is well played, although their are some inconsistencies. The authors did an excellent job of writing the scenes at the old casle with the Knights. The ! ! opening with the first deaths was very well done. The descriptions of the way in which the two lovers died is eerie. The ending is not overly surprizing, but it still manages to get your attention.

All in all, I found the book a very good read. I recommond it to anyone who has a good idea of what is reality and what is not. Also, if you just enjoy reading a book without having to worry about it being believable or not. Thank you.

Knights or the blood.......1998-01-16

Fast paced,fun story line. Ok so it's not war and peace, who cares! the first book is about adventure. Like watching a great flick on tv.

A bit too much needless gore........1998-01-07

I have read many books in the vampire genre, including the first book of this series "Knights of the Blood". This particular novel is, unfortunately, not one of the better stories out there. The basic layout isn't bad, albeit a bit unbelievable, with 700 year old knights, Nazis, Cossacks and whatnot. However the plot is so thickened that it becomes very difficult to follow -- too many sharp turns. And then there is the totally unnessecary gore. The prologue opens with one camper being beheaded while "relieving himself" . And, by the way, there does seem to be some obsession with this type of bodily function -- several victims lose their lives during this process and there is a lot of "execrement and urine" used as descriptives. There follows several other very bloody, gory deaths -- a couple more beheadings, a few twisted stabbings, poking holes in corpses, etc. While it is understandable that blood plays a major role in a vampire novel, the detailed, violent descriptions detract from what plot there is. Gore may have its place in some novels, but here it just seems to be added for effect rather than necessity. It would have been more acceptable if all that blood 'n guts helped fill in or make comprehensible the mish-mash plot. But, alas, it doesn't help. I ended up confused anyway!

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Knight's Blood
Julianne Lee
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0441014852

Book Description

U.S. Navy Pilot Lt. Alex MacNeil and his wife Lindsay have returned from their adventure in fourteenth century Scotland-and given birth to a son. But the magic realm is not through with them yet...

The MacNeils' child has been kidnapped-presumably by Nemed, the elfin king and the couple's sworn enemy-and brought back into the past. Feeling responsible, Lindsay ventures to medieval Scotland on her own, in pursuit of Nemed. Once again in the guise of Sir Lindsay Pawlowski, she joins a company of rogue knights, led by a man who calls himself "An Reubair"...

It isn't long before her true identity is discovered, but Lindsay proves her worth among the bandits. As time passes, she finds herself drawn to their lifestyle-and to Reubair-and is torn between reuniting with her family and embracing her warrior's life.

And soon she will confront Alex, who has also returned to Scotland and resumed his place as laird. And her son, now a fully grown man and resentful of his parents' abandonment...

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