Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Tony Hillerman, whom the New York Times Book Review calls "a wonderful storyteller" is back with another blockbuster novel featuring the legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn.
Since his retirement from the Navajo Tribal Police, Joe Leaphorn has been called on occasionally by his former colleagues to help them solve a puzzling crime. And Leaphorn, aided by Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, always delivers.
But this time, the problem is with an old case of Joe's –– his "last case," unsolved and haunting him. And with Chee and Bernie on their honeymoon, Leaphorn is on his own. The case involved a priceless Navajo rug gone missing. Now, years later, Leaphorn is picking up the threads of a crime he'd thought impossible to solve. Hillerman is at the top of his form in this atmospheric and stunning novel.
Customer Reviews:
Hillerman is the best.......2007-09-03
Didn't think it possible for Hillerman to get any better but he just did, what a fantastic book, wonderful read.
Shape Shifter is a Mess.......2007-07-30
I've been a big fan of Hillerman for about 20 years and have read and enjoyed all of his Chee/Leaphorn novels, but this is a disaster. It's not that Leaphorn isn't true to character, or even that the plot or overall writing is bad, but continuity and chronology keep shifting shape in this book. There's one long scene featuring Leaphorn and Tommy Vang in a pick-up. I say "a pick-up" because whose pick-up it is changes from page to page. It starts out they're in Leaphorn's, then without changing vehicles we find they're in Vang's, then as they're driving down the road, Leaphorn's cell phone rings in the glove compartment? Of Vang's pick-up truck? Whatever.
The chronology is worse. There are two crimes, committed in 1961 and 1965, referred to throughout the book. The man who committed these crimes had returned from Vietnam by the time he commmitted them and lived in San Francisco for some years. He had also taken part in the Assassination of Ngo Din Diem (which happened in 1963)and been involved in the recruitment of the Hmong tribesmen of Laos, which also happened in the 1960s. So the things he'd supposedly done in Southeast Asia happened after he'd returned to the states. These things keep popping up and breaking into your appreciation of the story. What I wonder is, how do mistakes like this ever make it past an editor?
Good Read!.......2007-07-12
I thought the book was good. There were some dicy parts related to things Leaphorn did I thought were out of character...but I am so delighted when a Hillerman comes out, it is just hard to resist. His insight into Native-American culture and portryal of setting are so wonderful.
Another interesting book form Hillerman.......2007-06-20
My husband and I were introduced to Tony Hillerman's books a number of years ago by his now deceased administrative assistant and we are always looking for new ones. What I like about them is reading about some aspects of Indian life both in the present and some of the historical material that pops up in the books.
We got this book to give to my husband's boss as she and her family are on a train trip from western Pennsylvania to and from the Flagstaff, Arizona area.
Even the Great Ones Sometimes Falter.......2007-06-02
Hillerman--as usual--had a good premise. But, he dropped the ball this time.
Maybe Tony is tired. If that's the case, take a rest. Loyal fans will understand and there's a superb repertoire of previous books for new readers to choose from or admirers to read again.
Leaphorn's relationship with Louisa hasn't progressed beyond sharing a house. Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito are married now, a situation fans have long anticipated and approve. Unfortunately, they have little to do in this book but serve as a sounding board for Leaphorn. Retirement, a condition he hasn't adjusted to, doesn't keep Leaphorn from jumping into a cold case from the past.
The case itself is unbelievable and the denouement just isn't up to the old Hillerman.
Because I love the Leaphorn/Chee series I couldn't not finish the book, though it was a struggle at times. What made it worse was the evident lack of editing by the publisher.
People are critical of certain "printers" that pass themselves off as publishers. In defense, I would note they stress their books are NOT edited. It seems HarperCollins and many of the other big name publishers are fast becoming "printers" as well, as can be seen in the number of spelling, grammar and other errors to be found in this book. I must say this is not the worst example I've seen out of New York. Authors, don't you complain? Don't let your publishers tell you spell check is a substitute for a hands-on editor.
Meanwhile, I'm going back and re-read one of the vintage Hillerman's.
Book Description
An estimated one in 20 Americans has a natural talent for perceptiveness. Could you be one of them? Usually they are unskilled empaths, which means they suffer from such problems as emotional instability, apparent co-dependence, low self-esteem, or hypochondria. Rose Rosetree's seventh book, Empowered by Empathy, explains how to improve the quality of life by turning off unwanted empathy.
Her how-to techniques also demonstrate how to turn empathy on. At will. Bigger than ever before. Interspersed with her teaching, Rosetree describes elusive spiritual travels that are sometimes humorous, sometimes moving, and consistently mind-boggling. The cover, for instance, demonstrates “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” an outrageously simple method to move an empath's conscious awareness into the physical body of a consenting partner. An example of one of Rosetree's wild but true anecdotes? Read how she inadvertently outed a spy--see page 134. Yes, you can learn to experience vividly, from the inside, what it is like to be another person. The author, a teacher of personal development since 1971, has tested these techniques. Use them and they will alter your reality (for the better).
Rosetree's pioneering discoveries will also revolutionize how you understand empathy. You'll learn why it happens and how it goes far beyond “Emotional Intelligence” or “sympathy.” True empathy, you'll discover, comes in many varieties, including physical, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional gifts. Although an increasing number of authors today discuss empathy, Rosetree is the one who will satisfy you if you're really an empath. The depth and scope of her work will bring you relief. Yes, relief is not too strong a word for the rare chance to meet a skilled empath who understands your gifts and can teach you how to make them work for you.
Could you be an empath? Three tests near the start of the book will help you find out. Then you'll learn Rosetree's 25 ways to Fly in Spirit. Plus a great deal more. Pay special attention to the chapter on “Grounding,” with its insights into smoking, weight-loss, and more—counter-culture but absolutely on target.
And, as always with any book by Rosetree, you're in for a treat just because the writing is so good. Between the covers of Empowered by Empathy you'll find powerful words, directed with caring intent, and sparkling with Rosetree's honesty, insight, surprises, and irrepressible humor. America's first book ever for empaths can empower you to be of greater service to others. With less suffering and more skill. Consider yourself invited.
Customer Reviews:
One of the most helpful books I have ever read.......2007-07-20
There are few books out there that both inspire and inform at the same time. With each sentence, I kept nodding my head in approval because it all applied to me. As I read the part on emotional onneness and emotional intuition, I could not help getting teary eyed because for the first time I had an explanation for what I had. I was not abnormal, or an emotional wreck. I had a gift all along and I did not even know it. Also the fact that it is written by one who has actually been there is a a sigh of relief because you are not alone. I recommend this book to anyone who believes that empathy might be a part of their every day life, and I hope it is as much a blessing to you as it was to me.
Great book for understand your empathy.......2007-05-26
Some of things are long winded and not all that well explained, such as some of the exercises. I got the impression that you sort of had to understand things a bit more to really get use out of some of the exercises. Unfortunately, shutting it off and turning it back on isn't quite as simple as she'd have you believe. My empathy is very ingrained in me and I still have trouble doing it without the aid of my guides, and I'm far more advanced now. BUT... it is a wonderful book for beginning to understand more about a latent gift I didn't realize I had.
Hogwash.......2007-04-10
I was so disappointed with this book. I expected something more concrete, complex and helpful. The author used to read faces at parties as a paid party entertainer, for godssake. I read it and tried all of the exercises, and to get anything out of it you have to be one of those New-Age-suspension-of-reason types. It is simplistic and unhelpful. Someone with a more serious background in psychology is better equipped to truly help people who have a problem with feeling too much empathy.
Wonderfully helpful!.......2007-01-05
After being clued into the fact that I was an empath by my minister, I checked around for books to help me. This one by Rosetree was really helpful. I particularly liked the sections that helped me to 'shield' myself from other people's vibes. I recommend this book!!
Excellent, Most Helpful Book I've Read!.......2005-12-23
If you have lived your life thinking you are a mess, a basket case, then you owe it to yourself to READ THIS BOOK! I am very grateful to Rose for her GENUINE caring nature and her crystal clear intentions. Rose has been there and done that and is here to assist the rest of us!
Thank you Rose!
Book Description
Since his retirement from the Navajo Tribal Police, Joe Leaphorn has been called on occasionally by his former colleagues to help them solve a puzzling crime. And Leaphorn, aided by Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, always delivers.
But this time, the problem is with an old case of Joe's ––his "last case", unsolved and haunting him. And with Chee and Bernie on their honeymoon, Leaphorn is on his own. The case involved a priceless Navajo rug gone missing. Now, years later, Leaphorn is picking up the threads of a crime he'd thought impossible to solve. Hillerman is at the top of his form in this atmospheric and stunning novel.
Customer Reviews:
A swiss Cheese plot but A great listen just the same........2007-04-06
George Guidall is such a wonderful reader that many a book that was less than well plotted has been a joy to hear and this is no exception. The holes in the plot do not really spoil the story but it is not one of Tony Hillermans best. Several times Joe refers to being "newly retired" and "in my first Month of retirement" He has been retired in the last 4 books at least so this was a little annoying. Also that Joe would cover up even a justified killing and as sloppliy as it is done that he would get away with it are a little much. But Joe is aways a treat and between him and George Guidall this was a good listen.
You Won't Believe What Joe Does.......2007-03-09
I enjoyed listening to this while driving. The reader is skilled at creating voices for each character.
Hillerman keeps Joe Leaphorn busy in retirement. As expected, Navajo history is imparted as part of the story line. Hillerman throws in a twist that made me back up and listen again to make sure I'd heard it correctly. Sat outside work for a few extra minutes waiting for a good stopping place.
I'll listen to this one several times before I pass it on.
Classic Hillerman.......2007-02-20
Reading Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman is like visiting old friends that you've missed for far too long. You're back in the Four Corners region with all his famous characters there to greet you. Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is back out of retirement to work on another case, or rather to solve an old unsolved one from his early days on the force. You are there to hear him tell the tale to Jim and Bernie Chee who have just returned from their honeymoon.
Hillerman is one of those authors you can count on to deliver a great story, great characters, and a great sense of place. He never lets you down. But even though I have read all of the Leaphorn series, this one has an ending where the Legendary Lieutenant even surprised me. Be prepared for an ending with a twist...and a great read!
Joe Leaphorn - Still the Best.......2007-02-07
A very fine entry in the Leaphorn series. where the pieces of the puzzle are like the vignettes depicted on a stroy teller's rug, which happens to be the centerpiece of the mystery. Elements of the plot weave back and forth in time. As awlawys, the characters we meet along the way are people we would like to sit and have a cup of coffee with, as Leaphorn does. I listened to this on CD and loved it all. The narrator has a laconic way with the dialogue that brings Leaphorn to life. If you haven't listened to a Tony Hillerman book on CD you should give it a try. Ypu'll soon hear the fire crackling and the coffee cups clinking in the background.
Not the Best Hillerman But Guidall Superb.......2007-01-10
My husband and I could hardly wait to listen the latest Tony Hillerman Joe Leaphorn episode. As always, George Guidall's oral interpretation was superb. He sounds exactly like the lengendary lieutenant and does all the narration and other voices just as perfectly. Unfortunately, the story was not up to the best of the Hillerman's work. The plot was especially creaky, too much time spent telling what happened in the past. Plus there were too many improbable plot points. Would Joe really go off with the suspected killer and not tell any other law enforcement buddies or cover-up a death no matter how justified? Colorful locals and Navaho traditions abounded along with some of our favorite characters so the book was still a great way to spend time with some special friends. Long-live Tony Hillerman, Joe Leaphorn and George Guidall!
Book Description
Shape-shifters threaten more than a woman's sanity, when she mates the leader of the pack. Timbers life was always a series of foster homes. She was a freak with her ability to shapeshift into an animal. She never knew there were people like her, so when she learns she has a family, she rushes to embrace them with her open heart. Only she soon discovers they had thrown her away and still dont want her. Kane is overwhelmingly attracted to the beautiful, green-eyed, young woman. However, he sees her as an upset to his life and to his emotions, and he wants her gone as much as everyone else. Except, after tasting the sweetness of her in his bed, he cant let her go. The animal in him likes the way she sates his lust. While they struggle with their relationship, the sinister plots of someone in the family threaten to destroy the love and trust they work to buildbut then, they knew, all along, that evil lurks in Wolverton Blood. Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and violence.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT Premise Falls Short of Expectations.......2007-08-28
I read the first chapter of this book and tossed it into my trade-in pile. If this pitiful excuse for a novel can get published, I have no worries about mine making its way past a publisher when the time comes.
Ms. Williamson fails miserably in character development. Her quirky writing style is dissatisfying at best and her underdeveloped scenes miss the mark she sets for herself. Unless you're a speed reader, reading this book isn't worth your time. A pity really, because Ms. Williamson could have done so much with this very promising premise and its characters.
A Poorly written, a waste of money.......2007-02-07
I love a good werewolf/shifter story. Unfortunately this was a terrible offering in the genre. Poor characterisation, and poorly written. The main characters have sex within minutes of meeting even though the male character treats the female character Timber really badly as soon as they meet. The characters names alone, smacks of the author's poor writing skills. I have made a note of the authors name so I can avoid her work in the future. I can't imagine why an publishers would print this rubbish.
Nothing left to imagine.......2007-01-26
I thought that this would be an interesting story about werewolves and how they cope with their condition and of course how they found their mates. What I wasn't expecting was all the sex. It's basically a good story, but I thought that there should have been more to the story then Timber and Kane getting hot and heavy all the time.
I would have liked to have learned more about the others that were part of the experiment. Instead they were all killed off before we could really learn anything about them or how they had coped with their animal natures. The only ones left were Timber and those malformed. Was Brenda planning on having a second book to go along with Wolverton Blood? If so it will be interesting to see what she comes up with since there are no more like Tmber alive to tell about.
In all good consciousness I could not fully recommend this book for it's over all story, but the love scenes really get your attention. They were really HHHOOOTTT.
Wolverton Blood-Joyfully Recommended.......2007-01-07
Timber Wolverton has been summoned to a town that bears her name and to a family she never knew she had. Timber is special and she hopes that this is finally the place that she truly belongs.
Kane Wolverton enjoys being in control; he controls his family, his Grandfather's misfits, and everything that he comes in contact with. Kane and his family are special, just like Timber, and he will not let anyone or anything ruin his family - especially the people his Grandfather has called to Wolverton.
Timber has high hopes for what she will find in Wolverton, but her visit is not off to a very good start. She gets attacked by a man from the bus she came into town on, and then she almost gets run over by a sexy but overbearing man. Kane cannot resist the beauty that he almost runs over, but when he finds out that she is one of his Grandfather's projects, he sees her as a "half-breed". Kane tries to resist her and is not successful; instead he feels an overwhelming urge to claim her as his. Kane and Timber find themselves right in the middle of chaos after Kane's Grandfather's will is read. The stipulations of the will are shocking and put a haze over all the emotions that Timber and Kane are feeling. To complicate matters further, the "half-breeds" are being killed and things just keep getting more and more out of control. Will Kane and Timber be able to put their differences aside to explore the feelings they have and will that be enough?
Wolverton Blood was an excellent read!! Timber is a strong, sexy woman who just wants to find somewhere to call home and be accepted for who she is...differences and all. Kane is all Alpha-male and he has a hard time dealing with the feelings that Timber inspires in him. I positively enjoyed watching these two circle each other and come to grips with their volatile relationship. Brenda Williamson knows how to write with incredible emotion and her love scenes are hot, hot and hot!! Wolverton Blood is definitely going on my keeper shelf!!
Gracie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
5 Klovers! Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques.......2006-11-05
Timber was raised in a series of foster homes, with no family of her own, and never knew another shape-shifter. When an anonymous invitation from her biological family arrives out of the blue, she jumps at the chance to finally learn of her heritage and strange abilities and to find a real home.
Arriving at Wolverton Manor looking for a family, Timber quickly learns that the one person who seemed to want her there died, having issued the invitation from his deathbed! Fighting for not only a family, but now her very life, she races to uncover the terrible secrets the late Wolverton patriarch worked so hard to bury.
Kane was raised in the Wolverton pack, with a loathing of half-breeds. When he meets Timber, everything he thinks he knows and believes is turned on its ear. Finding himself inexplicably drawn to the half-breed, Timber, Kane fights to protect her from his own family while everything he thought he knew shatters around him.
Will the menace that threatens the Wolverton half-breeds destroy them all?
I had no idea it was possible to have so many sexy scenes in one book and still have a plot - especially a good one - but Brenda Williamson has done exactly that! The characters are absolutely captivating, and I can tell you I blushed a few times while reading this one. Having purchased two of Williamson's books at once, I immediately launched into the other book upon finishing Wolverton Blood!
Williamson creates a suspenseful romance rife with secrets and danger that threaten the Wolverton clan. From the start, Williamson sucks the reader into her world with plenty of action and adventure. Timber runs into adversity at each step from the get-go, tuning the reader into how her life as an isolated shape-shifter must have been. With words, Williamson easily engenders empathetic feelings in the reader for the main characters.
While there are an abundance of spicy scenes, their placement in the story make sense. Of course, with a shape-shifter story, the writer is afforded much leeway in this area, due to the primal nature of the shape-shifter.
This was an exciting, fun read, with several twists in the plot to excite the reader. If a sequel is released for Wolverton Blood, I won't hesitate to purchase it.
Book Description
Since the first edition of the acclaimed Constructing Democratic Governance was published in 1996, the democracies of Latin America and the Caribbean have undergone significant change. This new, one-volume edition, edited by Jorge I. Domínguez and Michael Shifter, offers a concise update to current scholarship in this important area of international studies.
The book is divided into two parts: Themes and Issues, and Country Studies. Countries not covered by individual studies are discussed in the introduction, conclusion, and thematic chapters. In the introduction, Michael Shifter provides an overview of new developments in Latin America and the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on civil society and problems of governance. The conclusion, by Jorge I. Domínguez, ties together the themes of the various chapters and discusses the role of parties and electoral politics.
Contributors: Felipe Agüero, University of Miami; John M. Carey, Washington University in St. Louis; Fernando Cepeda Ulloa, Universidad de los Andes; Michael Coppedge; University of Notre Dame; Javier Corrales, Amherst College; Carlos Iván Degregori, Instituto de Estudios Peruanos; Rut Diamint, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella; Denise Dresser, University of Southern California; Mala N. Htun, New School University; Marta Lagos, Latinobarómetro; Bolívar Lamounier, Augurium: Análise; Steven Levitsky, Harvard University; M. Victoria Murillo, Yale University
Average customer rating:
- Tropical waltz
- No Werewolves
|
Shape Shifter
Pauline Melville
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Contemporary
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
British
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0679404384
Release Date: 1991-08-27 |
Customer Reviews:
Tropical waltz.......2006-04-29
Brightly colored cartoons dropped from the skies,
with rude boys and girls dancing their daily daze.
No Werewolves.......2000-11-14
Nope, it's not a book on lycanthropes if you're grazing for the more straight forward mystical transformations. But if you glance at the cover, a montage of carribean blue and sun-baked sand in a fun-funky font, you know that. It is indeed a book of transformations. In pieces. A whole novel following any of the sometimes troubled, always hard luck characters would be too heavy. I'd pass over it. Yet these are digestable slices of life, catching different characters in a moment of realization, transition, change, even before they process it, is precious; see "the Quarrelsome Man". Don't let the cool cover fool you; some of it's quite oppressive; it's not a vacation novel as the cover might hint. It's about living in the slums outside disneyland. Heavily endowed with an awareness of everyday racism and poverty, the book still comes out feeling like a warm sunset. This book does not criticize; it describes and accepts. It's exciting to have this prospective on controversial subject matter without hand-wringing. It makes it more real to the reader because you're not in the shoes of some outraged observer keyed up and trying to tune in to the human condition from leather shoes and air-conditioning. You're in the midst of the day-to-day, where there is nothing to contrast; "The Conversion of Millicent Vernon." There is even a little suspense/horror (more frightening upon rereading) - "You Left the Door Open." And quite poetically, a little bit of science fiction in "The Girl with the Celestial Limb." This collection transmits the reader from the everyday up into the unreal. It's accomplished with such meta ease, that the reader doesn't feel the floor drop out from under.
Average customer rating:
- An intelligent Edward Lee novel
- Shifters, by Ed Lee and John Pelan
- This will make you sick, if you are not already.
|
Shifters
Edward Lee , and
John Pelan
Manufacturer: Necro Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Lee, Edward
| ( L )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Pelan, John
| ( P )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Coven
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Incubi
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Succubi
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Goon
-
Slither
ASIN: 1889186554
Release Date: 2005-05-01 |
Product Description
Sciftan: a proper noun of ultimately unknown origin, taking from the Old Frisian alt. transitive: sciff: to mutate, and tannin: one who. Modern English translation:
Shifter
Richard Locke is a poet. He hasn't written much since Clare, the woman he was going to propose to, told him she wasn't in love with him anymore.
Captain Jack Cordesman is investigating a series of murders in which the victims appear to have been partially eaten. So far the only evidence linking these murders are the red, female hairs found at the crime scenes and a bar napkin with one of Locke's poems scribbled on it.
With a rundown mansion, priceless automobiles, and guest houses filled with brutalities the likes of which you'll never forget, Shifters is full of fun time goreĀ
and monsters.
Customer Reviews:
An intelligent Edward Lee novel.......2005-09-05
Yes, there is the patented Lee gore, sex and Hellish qualities, but this book also has a certain sophistication. The writing is much denser and the plot issues are many times philosophically expounded upon. The characters are developed very well. The ending is perfect and thoughtful.
If you like Lee, poetry and philosophy, you will adore this book.
Shifters, by Ed Lee and John Pelan.......2005-02-08
"SCIFTAN: a proper noun of ultimately unknown origin, taking from the Old Frisian alt. transitive: sciff-to mutate, and tannin-one who. It is a very rare reference indeed, only identified once in the history of modern archaeological discovery . . . namely the subterranean accident which occurred in Gatwick, England in 1971, a water-main rupture. The repair diggings uncovered a well-preserved collection of stemmae from the Archives of the Registry of Publius Aelius Hadrianus, a.k.a.Hadrian, the Emperor of Rome from A.D. 117-38. These archives uniquely elucidated upon the local mythologies exacted from conquered communities before Hadrian terminated Roman Expansionism . . .
"1) DEFINITION OF SEARCH WORD: SCIFTAN: Denotatively, Sciftan, from the early Brythic, pre-Druidic, and original interpretations of the Old Frisian subjunctive verb lists, can be translated into Modern English to this: SHIFTER."
Richard Locke is a poet the likes of which the world rarely sees anymore. He lives off interest from money left to him by his parents, works one day a week in a bookstore, and occasionally fills in as a substitute teacher. He makes "slightly less than enough to get by." Yet when magazines send him payment for the poems they publish--and he seems to get published a lot, "[h]e may even have been an acclaimed poet in some vast local sense"--he sends it back. Because Locke doesn't write poetry for the money, he's an artist and the poems are a part of him, he does this out of love for the work. But lately he hasn't been doing much writing, not since Clare, the woman he was going to propose to, told him she wasn't in love with him anymore. Since then, Locke's doing good to make it through each day. He does so mostly with the help of alcohol and his best friend Richard Lehrling, a popular novelist who usually picks up Locke's tab at the local bar.
Meanwhile, Captain Jack Cordesman (possibly the same Jack Cordesman from an earlier Ed Lee novel, Incubi), has a problem on his hands. There have been a number of murders lately and in some of them the victims appear to have been partially eaten. So far the only evidence linking these murders are red hairs found at the scenes, all coming from a female.
One night Locke is leaving the bar when he's called over to a car by a man he'd only met inside a few hours earlier. The man starts talking to him about transposition, metamorphosis, and how he and Locke are the same. And then the man shoots himself in the head. Captain Cordesman investigates the death and he meets Locke.
"Parity," Cordesman said. "Do you know what parity means?"
Locke eyed him. "It's a connotative noun that means equivalence or resemblance, in status, nature, amounts, things like that."
"Exactly. Similitude, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, there's a parity here, Mr. Locke, a similitude. There often is when a violent death is involved. And I think you're aware of this parity, but you're not mentioning it for some reason."
"I don't know what the f**k you're talking about, Captain," Locke said.
"Byers was a poet."
He and Locke had something else in common as well. Byers' girlfriend had just left him. The man's death was obviously a suicide, so that should be the end of it. But when the next murder is Locke's best friend Lehrling, the two meet again. The evidence is there, however, and Locke, once again, his simply questioned and let go.
At this point, we're about halfway through the novel and I was beginning to wonder what the whole point was. What's the main thread I'm supposed to be following here? Because Locke was obviously the main character, but there was Cordesman, and then there was the unnamed red-haired woman who's POV we always see in first person italics. She seems to be sort of a spirit who's on the run from someone. We assume it's Lethe, the other character we encounter most often.
Lethe is a mystery for most of the novel. He hires a boat to carry a large crate up the coast for him and when the captain looks inside he sees a large coffin. Then Lethe meets Locke in the bar and offers to pay him $10,000 to write a book for him, something Lethe can have published in a very limited edition, specifically for himself, after which Locke can have the rights and do with it as he pleases. Locke, still struggling with his block, accepts, thinking this is just the thing he needs to get himself back into the groove. After all, he never had a problem writing when he was with Clare, and this new state of mind is one he doesn't know how to handle. He's a poet, he should be WRITING. So he accepts and a few days later travels to Lethe's house, a run down shabby looking dump out in the middle of nowhere. Outside are parked two priceless automobiles, while inside the house Locke gazes around, stunned at the pieces Lethe has collected over the years, including an original Picasso, signed to Lethe from the artist. It's not until this point in the novel where things really begin to kick in and happen, but they seem to happen very fast. Too fast, maybe. With all this build-up we've had, the climax should have been a little more complex, but a good portion of it deals with Locke standing outside the windows of the guest houses on Lethe's estate watching the brutalities going on inside (these scenes go on WAY too long, in my opinion), then there's a drawn-out vision quest or spirit journey or whatever you want to call it Locke goes on. When he comes back, everything else happens, again, way too fast and the climax between the characters is over in a flash (complete with cliched "Nooooooooooo" from the villain when our hero triumphs).
The secret--as we know novels of this type are built on "the secret", also known as backstory. Where does this main character, or this villain, come from? What's his story, what's the spark of his origin that makes all the rest of the novel happen?--is a very good one, original, and I wish I'd thought of it. So I think the basis of the novel is solid. But the structure was a little messy. I mean, just look at how long it took me to summarize the plot. And this book's only 280-some pages. But there's just so much going on, seemingly separate from everything else until in the last quarter of the book it all seems to tie together (SEEMS, there are still some unanswered questions), that it's hard to decide what parts of the plot to include in a summary. There was LOTS of stuff that went on I didn't even come close to covering because I just don't know if it's relevant. Even now, a day after finishing the book, I'm still trying to work out how to straighten out the plot in my head so I can adequately summarize it for this review.
I think the main problem was Cordesman. He's a cool character, and with Ed Lee's background as a cop, the police procedural aspects have a truth the readers believe it completely. But I just don't think Cordesman's character was needed in this story. Sure, with all the murders around, you've got to have the police involved somewhere in there, but not necessarily to the extent Cordesman was involved. For one, there's never a doubt in the reader's mind that Locke is at all responsible, so it's not like the inclusion of police is used as a red herring to throw us off--hell, even after a bar napkin with one of Locke`s poems scribbled on it along with Locke`s fingerprints is found at one of the scenes, Cordesman never considers Locke a suspect. And in the end, Cordesman doesn't arrive in the nick of time to save Locke, so he wasn't needed for heroic value. The only thing Cordesman really contributes to this story is word count, to be honest. Lose him and everything gets a little smoother. Maybe swap out some of Cordesman's word count and add some more about Lethe because that's one backstory that deserved a little more attention.
SHIFTERS was written by Ed Lee and John Pelan. Unfortunately I've not read enough of Pelan's work to comment (although there were passages I read and thought "That must have been Pelan, cuz that don't sound like Lee at all", and I very much want to read more), but I have read PLENTY of Ed Lee over the last few years, probably more than I've read from any other single author aside from King and SHIFTERS is a decent addition to the Ed Lee bibliography. It's not spectacular, but it delivers pretty good, falling right in there with novels like INCUBI and COVEN (both better books, in my opinion, though). It's definitely an older novel as his more recent work, MESSENGER and FLESH GOTHIC for instance, have a slightly different feel than this one, more cohesive, maybe. But for a good time horror read with its fair share of fun time gore and monsters, SHIFTERS has just what you're looking for (better gore than FLESH GOTHIC and a cooler backstory than MESSENGER). Tangled plot aside, SHIFTERS reaffirms one thing in my mind: I really like reading Ed Lee's work.
This will make you sick, if you are not already........2002-11-05
I give this four stars for being good at what it is: a horror story with more gore and interpersonal depravity than genuine scariness. Yes, there's good old chills-up-the-spine creepiness, but the impression that sticks is of the sadism and brutality.
Readers who like the splatterpunk horror style will enjoy this. Readers who don't know what the splatterpunk is should probably think long and hard about finding out. Anybody with a normal human sense of empathy should go read some James Herriot or something like that, with kitties and sunshine. There is none of that here.
Average customer rating:
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Design of Linear RF Outphasing Power Amplifiers
Xuejun Zhang ,
Lawrence E. Larson , and
Peter Asbeck
Manufacturer: Artech House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1580533744 |
Book Description
This is the first book devoted exclusively to the outphasing power amplifier, covering the most recent research results on important aspects in practical design and applications. A compilation of all the proposed outphasing approaches, this is an important resource for engineers designing base station and mobile handset amplifiers, engineering managers and program managers supervising power amplifier designs, and R&D personnel in industry. The work enables you to: design microwave power amplifiers with higher efficiency and improved linearity at a lower cost; understand linearity and performance tradeoffs in microwave power amplifiers; and understand the effect of new modulation techniques on microwave power amplifiers.
The book opens with an introduction to wireless communication standards and the requirements they impose on power amplifiers, together with a historical review of the outphasing power amplifier. Plus, this unique resource investigates various factors that contribute to outphasing system linearity degradation, reviews and compares various approaches for path mismatch reduction and linearity performance improvement. What's more, the book raises the issue of efficiency-isolation trade-off on power combining, discusses combining methods and choices of power amplifiers, and analyzes efficiency enhancement techniques.
Customer Reviews:
Nothing New, Plenty Bad.......2003-05-07
As a former systems engineer in a company that actually built wideband RF LINC amplifiers, I can state this book is an utter disappointment. It is badly written, riddled with mathematical inaccuracies, and needlessly complicated. Please do not buy it: you will not learn to design or understand LINC amplifiers.
1) Much of what has been covered in the book can be summarized in [1] [2] [3], and [4]. Several sections and figures have been lifted in its entirety from these references making the writing inconsistent and incoherent.
2) Zhang's analysis on the phase/gain calibration in LINC is needlessly complicated. This is, after all, a very elementary problem in adaptive filter theory. For a much simpler and practical solution see [3] and apply it with a single-tap FIR. The I/Q imbalance problem is well understood and does not require an advanced level text to explain it.
3) It is obvious that the authors have not built a LINC amplifier with a lossless combiner. Many of the complexities and problems encountered in that design are conveniently neglected. Instead, we are presented a regurgitation of the material in [3] and [4]. For a much more elegant explanation read Cripps's book.
4) The mathematical analysis of the two-tone imbalance in LINC channel is such a needless exercise; the authors offer no new insight and worse still, the analysis is replete with inaccurate assumptions and conclusions.
5) The work on power recovery by the authors is new. It is debatable, however, if the method is practical or offers any significant advantages over the lossless combining method.
6) Also, will the authors please note that we do not need to pay nearly $100 for an advanced level text that explains digital modulation and pulse shaping? There are much better undergraduate texts for these.
For a much better understanding of RF amplifiers, LINC or otherwise, stick with [4]. It is by far the best work we have seen in this field.
[1] "Efficiency of Outphasing RF Power-Amplifier Systems", F. Raab, IEEE Transactions on Communications, 1985, Vol. 33.
[2] "Amplification using amplitude reconstruction of amplitude and/or angle modulated carrier", Kolanek et. al., US-PTO number 6,147,553.
[3] "Adaptive algorithms for calibrating a LINC amplifier", Chandrasekaran R. et. al., RAWCON 2001
[4] "RF power amplifiers for wireless communication", S. Cripps, Chapter 8, Artech House
Book Description
With the Royal Scepter in hand, Princess Arianna and her unicorn, Sunchaser, are now armed with the powerful Royal Magic. They are ready to reclaim the throne and plan to battle the evil Shifter during the Shifter's moon.
Customer Reviews:
A Good Book.......2006-06-24
Thought that this book was great. I think a lot of people would enjoy it. It is full of adventure and I couldn't put the whole series down! If you read this book, you will definatly think it is great!
I WOULD GIVE IT A 100 IF I COULD!!!.......2004-11-25
I have read all of the Unicorns of Balinor books and I ABSOULUTELY LOVE THEM! Although, this is probably the best! If you like fantasy, horses, and magic , you MUST read this book, and all of the other books in the series too! I hope they make a 9th book and a 10th... untill theres 100! That would be a dream come true. I'm now 12, which kind of stinks, that I'm starting to get a bit old for them, but, I still read them over and over again. the series can be a little bit confusing, and so you might have to read things more than once, but it's great once you know whats going on!The detail in this series is unbeleivable. You feel like your in the book! Now, back to "The Night of the Shifters Moon"! Lets see...what happens in this one? I'm sorry, Iv'e read so many of them that I don't remember which is which.........Oh, yeah! Princess Arianna must fight the evil Shifter to reclaim her throne! Shifter can transform himself into anything he likes! Which is very tricky! she rides into battle with her majestic unicorn, sunchaser! I don't want to spoil the story for you, so I better stop here. If you haven't read any of these books, you should know that Princess Arianna can read her animal's thoughts! Yes, it's true! My second fav. book is "Search for the star" Is really, really, really good too! Well, anyway, these books are fantastic! These are my favorite book series! Im' even writting a Balinor book of my own! Maybe, someday it will be published and you could read it! My advice: GET THIS BOOK AND THE REST OF THE SERIES!!!!
P.S:GET THIS BOOK AND THE REST OF THE SERIES!
P.P.S:GET THIS BOOK AND THE REST OF THE SERIES!
Great book!.......2004-09-11
I loved this book!My friend and I are crazy about unicorns.I reccomend this book to any person.The characters were vibrant.Read it!
Excellant.......2002-11-11
This book is an amazing book in an amazing series. Princess Arianna is now in control of her personal magic, and is almost ready to battle the Shifter, the evil being who has stolen her family and taken over her kingdom. Arianna has slowly been regaining it all back. Before she can battle the Shifter, however, she and her bonded unicorn Sunchaser must go through the Celestrial Bonding in the Celestrial Valley, home of the Celestrial Unicorns. It is a once in a lifetime experiance. While they are there, Ari and Chase learn from Atalanta, a violet unicorn who is also the Dreamspeaker, that the Shifter is expected to attack on the first night of the new moon. There is just enough time for Ari and Chase to find the Royal unicorns, who were lost on the Day the Shifter took over. The Royals could help greatly in the battle. Ari and Chase make their way home with their friends, only to leave once more along with Ari's dog, Lincoln. It is up to them to find the Royal Unicorns and return in time to overthrow the Shifter. Can he be driven away, or will Arianna and her friends be captured as her family was? Find out for yourself in Night of the Shifter's Moon!
Are you looking for a book full of adventure and fun?.......2002-05-28
The Unicorns of Balinor is a great book! I'm sure all of you who know have read these books know this, but for all of you who don't listen up! The series of Unicorns of Balinor books are full of fun and adventure. Riding unicorns and solving problems. When you sit down to read these books, you put all of your problems away and you put yourslef in Ari's shoes. You are in Balinor and you're ruling a land and making important decisions and fighting agaist evil. It really gets you going and I'm going to miss them when Mary Stanton finishes all of them!
Product Description
four new sizzling paranormal stories from popular author's!undead in the garden of good and evil by kim harrison,the claire switch project by lynsay sands,chaotic by kelley armstrong&dead man dating by lori handeland!
Customer Reviews:
Awsome book.......2007-09-21
This book is great! Its basicly 4 differnt mini books in one but each of them keep you on the edge of your seat! I recomend it to everyone!
Excellent.......2007-09-03
I loved this compulation. I am a big Kim Harrison fan but this introduced me to several other authors who I enjoyed as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.
ok for short stories.......2007-08-08
I personally only really liked one of these short stories. The others were ok but only one stood out. It is a good way to see how different writters catch your attention though.
And happily everafter...........2007-05-14
I really like the Rachel Morgan series by Kim Harrison, so I was surprised that the first story was my least favorite. I enjoyed the humor and adventure in the other stories, Kelly Armstrong's 'Chaotic' being my favorite. I will be looking up more titles by these authors in the days to come.
DATES FROM HELL.......2007-05-12
I fell in love with Kelley Armstrong after BITTEN, she hasn't missed a beat since. Can't get enough!
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