The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island (King Kong)

Book Description

THE WORLD OF KONG

A Natural History of Skull Island

It was an uncharted island somewhere off the coast of Sumatra, it was a land whispered about by merchants and sailors. It was a place so unbelievable that no one dared believe in its existence. Except one man, the extraordinary showman Carl Denham. Many will, of course, remember his show on Broadway and its tragic ending. But New York is not where the story ended, it is where it began.

In 1935 a joint expedition of several prominent universities and organizations called Project Legacy was launched. Its stated mission goal was to create the first of several field guides to Skull Island, a land filled with creatures existing outside of their time, where dinosaurs roamed, evolved, and still lived. Only a year later it was discovered that the island was doomed; the geological forces that had formed the island were now tearing it apart. There were only seven more abbreviated expeditions to the island before its destruction and the start of World War II.

The journals, sketches, and detailed notes of the scientists who braved Skull Island would have continued to gather dust on shelves across the planet were it not for the work of the authors of this book. Here for the first time is their work, collected in a comprehensive edition of the natural history of this lost island. Here is The World of Kong.

Customer Reviews:

I love this book!.......2006-10-09

No, I haven't seen the latest King Kong movie.(not yet anyway) I did however pick up The World of Kong at my local library and loved it! The book is a field guide to Skull Island featuring over 200 pages of fantastic creatures and beautiful artwork. I have to have a copy! Even then I will be begging my 11 year old just to have chance to look at it!

Fantastically Detailed Study of the World of Kong.......2006-08-09

This book is no mere list of the creatures seen in King Kong; this is a fantastic and realistic continuation of the story and fleshing out of the "characters" of Skull Island.
Peter Jackson says in his foreword that, "in the end, what you see in the film represents only a tiny portion of Skull Island's possiblility," and the book works hard to prove that. With over 200 pages of 'research' and facts about the lifestyles and characteristics and evolutionary chains of dozens of animals, this book is no mere tie in to the movie; it is a work of fiction all on its own merit. Many, if not most, of the animals in this book were not featured in the film, and for every single one detailed information is given about the lifestyles and characteristics of the creature. Inside this book, you will find a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about the world of Kong, information that the movie barely even scratched the surface of. You of course get the obligatory pages about the Vastatosaurus Rex, Venatosaurus Saevidicus, and Kong himself, but you also get info on Aspiscimex Exos, Piranhodon Titanus, Sterculithos Arachne, Chalyceratops Seradorsus, and many, many others that were not in the film.
Also, the art is a wondrous thing to behold as well; the crisp, clean paintings also have a certain edginess to them that is needed for any book about Skull Island. The book is certainly not short of fantastic creatures, and the pictures never fail to inspire.
In short, I urge to buy this book if you were a fan of the movie, but longed to see more of Skull Island. With this book, you will not only learn the origins of Skull Island itself, but also the origins of many of the creatures, and ultimately, the fate of the island itself. So I highly recommend this book, just based on its fascinating merit as a 'research' book, and also because of its fantastically rendered art.

awesome book.......2006-06-12

If youve like "after man" by dougal dixon this book is up there with extreme and bizarre ecology. Awesome art and nice species profiles, the only piece i found lacking was the section on herbivorous chameleons, the description was very short and art was extremely lacking. I own quite a few chameleons species myself and the ones i own are more interesting and amazing looking than what was put in the book it would have been better if they didnt include that at all. otherwise a spectacular book id recommend it to anyone with any interest in animals.

kong rocks!.......2006-03-27

loved your goods great delivery rates and superb condition^^
ive recopmended this seller to allmy freinds who visit amazon

Great Book for those who love the artistry and detail of the movie.......2006-03-15

Let me start my review by saying that you shouldn't buy this book if you didn't like the movie, which should be a given. This book is not a behind-the-scenes look at King Kong, nor is it a book on the process of bringing the World of Kong to life, it's more of a fantasy-encyclopeedia for those who loved the movie and would like to explore the world of Kong further. The book does present some impressive artwork, and its a pity that more of the creatures displayed couldn't be in the movie. This book is a must have for fans of Kong.

Osteology for the Archaeologist: American Mastadon and the Woolly Mammoth; North American Birds: Skulls and Mandibles; North American Birds: Postcranial Skeletons (Papers of the Peabody Museum)

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Osteology for the Archaeologist: American Mastadon and the Woolly Mammoth; North American Birds: Skulls and Mandibles; North American Birds: Postcranial Skeletons (Papers of the Peabody Museum)
Stanley J. Olsen
Manufacturer: Peabody Museum Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Birds | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0873651979

Book Description

This comparative analysis aids the fieldworker in identifying fossil proboscidean bones from early man sites. It also describes the skulls, mandibles, and posteranial skeletons of forty families of birds frequently found in archaeological excavations in the United States.

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This is a good book
Charlie Eggleston cries out in the book The Skull of Truth
A wonderful story.....
The Skull of Truth
the skull of truth

The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book
Bruce Coville
Manufacturer: Magic Carpet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0152060847

Book Description

Charlie Eggleston is the biggest liar in town. When he finds himself at Mr. Elives' magic shop, his eyes light upon the skull. He steals it, and it puts him under some sort of spell: Soon he can only tell the truth--but now no one believes him!

Customer Reviews:

This is a good book.......2007-08-15

This story is about a boy named Charlie. He lies a lot and finds a magic shop with a magic skull inside that forces people to tell the truth all the time. But Charlie finds out that he can get in to as much trouble by telling the truth as he can when he lies. But the skull ends up helping him learn about the truth and saves the swamp in his town from being destroyed.

I would recommend this book to other kids because they will really like Yorick the talking skull. He is a chatterbox and is always telling jokes. Charlie's aunt and uncle are funny by being boring all the time and that was good too.

I would rate this book with 5 stars because it is a really good book

Charlie Eggleston cries out in the book The Skull of Truth.......2006-10-24

Charlie Eggleston cries out in the book The Skull of Truth!
"Hold on to your skull"!

When Charlie Eggleston is running from a school bully, He runs through a swamp to get to freedom. While he is running the swamp ends. Then he sees the most odd and old magic shop.
While he is in the magic shop he starts looking around. He is looking for a pay phone to call his parents. When he is in the shop looking for a phone he hears a voice in the back room. The voice is really deep.
I thought this book was really good. It was funny in some parts. There were some sad parts too. Charlie Eggleston is a really funny kid. I really recommend this book to anybody who likes scary books or for people who like funny books too. It was really funny.

A wonderful story............2006-09-04

I would recomend this book to anyone, it is fantastic and funny. It made me laugh. It really took my imagination on an adventure. You really need to read this book.

The Skull of Truth.......2006-02-15

Though the idea of this book is intresting it didnt appeal to me, because the humor is corny and at times quirky. The plot of the story is cool but the writing style and characters could have been better. For instance the main character was a dork with a weird personality. However I did like the setting of the book. It was an average everyday town thrown into an extorordinary situation. Charlie, the main character develops a lot during the story. He goes from a liar to a truthful kid, which is good. The lesson learned in this book is kind of weird. It is ''Honesty is the best policy--sometimes."

the skull of truth.......2005-11-17

this is a reallly good book if you like mystery and fantasy. it has description and great pictures and if you read it youll want to keep reading

The Secret of Skull Mountain (Hardy Boys, Book 27)

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Action Mystery
Hardy Boys Forever....!!!!
A mysterious book!
The Secret of Skull Mountain
A Great Book

The Secret of Skull Mountain (Hardy Boys, Book 27)
Franklin W. Dixon
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0448089270

Customer Reviews:

Action Mystery.......2005-07-07

After several of the previous books in this series were somewhat disappointing, this book was a welcome improvement. The author paced the action better and formulated the mystery better than in the books just prior to this book. While I rated this book at four stars, when I compare this book with other books in the series I think it is one of the better books in this series.

Frank and Joe Hardy become involved in a mystery surrounding a new reservoir for Bayport. The reservoir is complete, but the water level is not rising. To be more specific, the water level rises during the daytime, but then drops during the night. If authorities are unable to solve the mystery, Bayport may soon be out of water.

Some of the Hardy Boys mysteries are very convoluted and complicated. This story has a much simpler, focused story. The story still has multiple facets, but everything revolves around why the reservoir will not fill. Because the story has focus, it is easier to follow, and I think it is also more interesting. I also think that because of the focus, the main story line has more detail than many of the previous books in this series, particularly those with multiple overlapping mysteries that the author often explains minimally.

This story also has fewer science elements, which many of the previous books handle poorly. This story focuses on the mystery and uses as little science as possible to establish the story and the mystery. Because of the focus and the minimal reliance on science, this story is easier to read and easier to believe. Because the author focused this story more tightly focused than previous stories, it is also more enjoyable. I look forward to the next mysteries in this series to see if the author maintained the quality of the story line exhibited by this book.

The Hardy Boys series is recommended for ages 8 to 12 because the series is relatively tame for the previous target audience of ages 10 to 14. However, the series still contains some interesting moments and will keep most readers guessing the answers to the mysteries until the final solution is revealed.

Hardy Boys Forever....!!!!.......2002-06-05

Bayport is suffering a water shortage due to water from a newly constructed reservoir mysteriously disappearing at night. Deciding to take on this 'mystery' for a bit of fun, Frank and Joe Hardy along with their best friend Chet, soon find themselves the target of a sequence of deadly attacks to get them off the case.

You might find the writing style of the book a bit dated due to the age of the novel, but you will soon get 'sucked in' to the story disregarding the 'cornyness' of the style. It follows the basic layout of a Hardy Boy story, the most noticable being the case they are working on has something to do with the case their famous detective father, Fenton Hardy, is also working on in Chicago. Great for young readers and nostalgic value. RECOMMENDED TO ALL!!!

A mysterious book!.......2002-03-17

I enjoyed reading this book. It was pretty fun, adventurous, and mysterious. Like many of the other Hardy Boys books, it is fun and exciting and it is hard to put the book down after a few chapters.There is always something suprising at the end of each chapter. When I tell myself to read just one chapter, I end up reading the whole book instead! I think this book may be one of my favorite books in the whole Hardy Boys Series.I enjoyed this book mostly because it is pretty humorous in some parts when Frank and Joe trick Chet. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book.

The Secret of Skull Mountain.......2002-02-16

This book was the best in the series. I have most of the hardy boys books. I love reading them. They are so exciting to read. I read one chapter a night before I went to bed and I couldn't put it down it's so exciting to read these books. My favorite part in the book was when they kept finding skulls on the ground, and in caverns and crevices. I would recomend this book to a person who likes mystery.

A Great Book.......2001-12-13

This review concerns the original 1948 edition and the revised 1966 edition. The revised edition follows the plot of the original and only had some events cut to eliminate some pages. Bayport is facing a water shortage when the newly constructed reservoir on Skull Mountain will not fill with water. The funny thing is that the water level in the reservoir rises during the day, but then it falls again at night. Frank, Joe and Chet camp out on Skull Mountain with two engineers to try to solve the mystery. Both editions are really great books; the original is well-written (the revised edition lost much of the rich language of the original, for that reason I'd rate it 4 stars), both have lots of interesting characters, a lot of action and an intriguing mystery. This book is what the series needed to get back on track following the extremely disappointing "The Phantom Freighter". Both books are really good; although, if possible, I'd recommend reading the original. I can't think that any Hardy Boys fan would find either of these books boring.

Average customer rating:

Quirky and unique
Winner of the NY State Reading Associaiton Charlotte Award
A wonderful inquiry inspiring book
More Fun to Read Than an Encyclopedia

The Skull Alphabet Book
Jerry Pallotta
Manufacturer: Charlesbridge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0881069159

Customer Reviews:

Quirky and unique.......2007-09-23

I use this book in archaeology and bone classes for kids. The ilustrations are beautiful, if unusual. The cover is a good representation. Each skull is pictured in a setting that gives clues to what the animal is. For whatever reason, the authors included a "find-the-presidents" search; there is a little hidden image of a president on each page. Produced in conjuction with Skulls Unlimited. Totally engaging.

Winner of the NY State Reading Associaiton Charlotte Award.......2004-04-17

10,000 New York State school children read new children's books and voted for their favorites. Skull Alphabet Book made the finalist list, relased last year and was announced as the Intermediate level Winner on April 10, 2004. Details on the Charlotte Award can be seen at www.nysreading.org
Author, Jerry Pallotta, will be honored at the NYS Reading Association in Saratogo Springs next Nov. 04.

A wonderful inquiry inspiring book.......2003-08-08

I have worked in museums educating students and teachers for nearly 25 years. The Skull Alphabet Book is a book that I have as "required reading" for my teacher workshops now, because not only is it fun and accurately and beautifully illustrated but it does an excellent job at stimulating curiousity, encouraging looking for details (yes, even the presidents portraits)... that might not be immediately noticed. All in all, it illustrates the learning potential of objects to teach a wide range of concepts. You can't just read the book... you have to look at it, gather information and then make your own conclusions. Fun for everyone.

More Fun to Read Than an Encyclopedia.......2003-01-13

As an elementary school principal and collector of alphabet books (855 in a collection and 1041 "bibliographed"), this one ranks in my top 10 favorites. Author Jerry Pallotta and Illustrator Ralph Masiello have penned and drawn, respectively, several unusual alphabet books. This contribution eclipsed even The Yucky Reptile Alphabet Book.

Each letter of the alphabet is assigned to a skull. The reader is challenged to figure out to which mammal does the skull belong. That's just the beginning. Questions, information, and challenging art dare the reader-detective to do, what all educators want their students to do, THINK. E.g. The V page begins, "V is for. . . Does this page make you wonder what type of blood you have?" The illustration is a small skull perched on top of a gravestone in the night with a hint of a full moon. Hmmm, even adult alphabet book readers might find this skull challenging to identify.

Some critics might be put off by the addition of hidden presidential pictures in the illustrations! Not I. Children who would be engaged in this alphabet book will strut confidence in finding and identifying U.S. presidents in the illustrations. (Yes, our children can multi-task in their thinking and in their studies!)

As I have purchased alphabet books for older children in my family, I always found it difficult to find ones that engaged and intrigued the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. This one will be given frequently to children I know in this age group.

Thank you, Jerry Pallotta and Ralph Masiello, for giving sophistication to alphabet books that can keep children of all ages engaged in thinking, reading, and learning.

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Pleasantly Surprised!
A Masterwork of Fiction
Great Fiction
powerful glimpse at human desires
What Price Immortality?

The Book of Skulls
Robert Silverberg
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345471385
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Book Description

Seeking the immortality promised in an ancient manuscript, The Book of Skulls, four friends, college roommates, go on a spring break trip to Arizona: Eli, the scholar, who found and translated the book; Timothy, scion of an American dynasty, born and bred to lead; Ned, poet and cynic; and Oliver, the brilliant farm boy obsessed with death.

Somewhere in the desert lies the House of Skulls, where a mystic brotherhood guards the secret of eternal life. There, the four aspirants will present themselves–and a horrific price will be demanded.

For immortality requires sacrifice. Two victims to balance two survivors. One by suicide, one by murder.

Now, beneath the gaze of grinning skulls, the terror begins. . . .

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Chapter 1

1. Eli

Coming into New York City from the north, off the New England Thruway, Oliver driving as usual. Tireless, relaxed, his window half open, long blond hair whipping in the chilly breeze. Timothy slouched beside him, asleep. The second day of our Easter vacation; the trees still bare, ugly driblets of blackened snow banked in dirty heaps by the roadside. In Arizona there wouldn’t be any dead snow around. Ned sat next to me in the back seat, scribbling notes, filling up page after page of his ragged spiral-bound book with his left-handed scrawl. Demonic glitter in his dark little eyes. Our penny-ante pansy Dostoevsky. A truck roared up behind us in the left-hand lane, passed us, abruptly cut across into our lane. Hardly any clearance at all. We nearly got racked up. Oliver hit the brakes, cursing, really made them screech; we jolted forward in our seats. A moment later he swung us into the empty right-hand lane to avoid getting smashed by a car to our rear. Timothy woke up. “What the crap,” he said. “Can’t you let a guy get some sleep?”

“We almost got killed just then,” Ned told him fiercely, leaning forward, spitting the words into Timothy’s big pink ear. “How would that be for irony, eh? Four sterling young men heading west to win eternal life, wiped out by a truck driver on the New England Thruway. Our lithe young limbs scattered all over the embankment.”

“Eternal life,” Timothy said. Belching. Oliver laughed.

“It’s a fifty-fifty chance,” I observed, not for the first time. “An existential gamble. Two to live forever, two to die.”

“Existential shit,” Timothy said. “Man, you amaze me, Eli. How you do that existential number with a straight face. You really believe, don’t you?”

“Don’t you?”

“In the Book of Skulls? In your Arizona Shangri-la?”

“If you don’t believe, why are you going with us?”

“Because it’s warm in Arizona in March.” Using on me the airy, casual, John-O’Hara-country-club-goy tone that he handled so well, that I despised so much. Eight generations of the best blue chips standing behind him. “I can use a change of scenery, man.”

“That’s all?” I asked. “That’s the entire depth of your philosophical and emotional commitment to this trip, Timothy? You’re putting me on. God knows why you feel you have to act blasé and cool even when something like this is involved. That Main Line drawl of yours. The aristocratic implication that commitment, any sort of commitment, is somehow grubby and unseemly, that it—”

“Please don’t harangue me now,” Timothy said. “I’m not in the mood for ethnic analysis. Rather weary, in fact.” He said it politely, disengaging from the conversation with the tiresomely intense Jewboy in his most amiably Waspish way. I hated Timothy worst of all when he started flaunting his genes at me, telling me with his easy upper-class inflections that his ancestors had founded this great country while mine were digging for potatoes in the forests of Lithuania. He said, “I’m going to go back to sleep.” To Oliver he said, “Watch the fucking road a little better, will you? And wake me up when we get to Sixty-seventh Street.” A subtle change in his voice now that he was no longer talking to me—to that complex and irritating member of an alien, repugnant, but perhaps superior species. Now he was the country squire addressing the simple farm boy, a relationship free of intricacies. Not that Oliver was all that simple, of course. But that was Timoth

Customer Reviews:

Pleasantly Surprised!.......2007-06-07

I bought this book because I thought it was horror. When I read the back and saw it was classified as SF I was a little leary. I don't think it's horror or SF. I see it as a piece of fiction that delves into four very different personalities, how they interact with each other, how they examine their own personal demons. This is definitely a book I want to read again!

A Masterwork of Fiction.......2007-04-25

I found this book among some SF and Fantasy books being thrown out for trash and am really glad I saved it. Though presented and packaged as a dime novel mass market popular paperback, the work is deserving of high literary merit and probably should be taught in literature classes where character study and symbolism are main themes.
Silverberg's scharacter developement of the four college boys who have discovered directions to an Arizona cult that can grant immortality is astounding. Parts of the story are told from the first person viewpoints of each of the four questers, and as in Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" each section has a distinct style and train of thought in order to effectively describe the different personalities of each of them. Knowing that in order to complete the ritual, one of the companions must be murdered and another must commit suicide, the thought processes of the companions become exceedingly intricate as the story unfolds.
The most obvious symbolism in the book is stated by analogy when the tracking of a wild beast by primitive hunters is described. The four companions are, essentially, a War Chief, a Political Chief, a Witchdoctor, and a Court Jester. They are tracking a wild beast across a vast landscape, and this beast is symbolic not only of immortality but also of an ideal civilization. The interaction between the four adventurers is an analogy to the relationship, communication, and strife between different factions of government.
Incredibly profound, hypnotically interesting, and with an ending that will blindside even the most astute reader, The Book of Skulls is indeed a novel worthy of cannonization. I am exceedingly happy to see it back in print!

Great Fiction.......2006-07-22

I first read this book when it came out (I was in high school). I was profoundly affected by it then, and it still hits the spot today. So glad it is finally available again after such a long time. Probably Silverberg's best work, and a quick and easy read, whether the first time or the 8th. A great psychological exploration of 4 separate characters told in first person by each. Probably my favorite book of all time.

powerful glimpse at human desires.......2006-02-15

The Manhattan Jew Eli found THE BOOK OF SKULLS in a Columbia University library. He and is three Harvard University mates, Timothy, Oliver, and Ned agree to head to Arizona where the monks reside who control the secrets of the tome. The four know that two must die for two to gain immortality. They drive from New England for the southwest on a fifty-fifty chance of eternal life and youth.

In Arizona, the quartet meets the monks and become postulants in the monastery. They already know that three must murder one and one of the three must commit suicide for the other two to "pass" the test. As they reveal their inner secrets to one another each wonders will they die before they turn twenty-one or live as a twenty year old forever?

This is a reprint of a terrific early 1970s tale that once begun a reader cannot stop until the novel is finished. Robert Silverberg, before Valentine became a fantasy icon, provided a deep look at the human condition especially life and death in an early game of survivor. The story line rotates viewpoint though purposely not equally so that the audience can see inside the soul of each participant. Interestingly Mr. Silverberg stereotypes his foursome also on purpose so that the reader must ponder even more so why. THE BOOK OF SKULLS remains a powerful glimpse at human desires.

Harriet Klausner

What Price Immortality?.......2005-11-10

While I am not familiar with the works of Robert Silverberg, I am familiar with his name and his genre. The basic story here is about four college kids at a large, well known eastern university, who discover an ancient book that promises immortality. They agree to journey out west in search of the Brotherhood of the Skulls in a quest for immortality. Each one of them is undertaking this journey for different reasons and along the way they will learn disturbing things about themselves. I have to say that I found the ending of the book to be unsatisfying, but, considering the questions that Mr. Silverberg has raised, I am not sure there can be a satisfying ending. It is a slow moving book with much talk of hetero- and homosexual sex and a lot of philosophizing. If you can get beyond that and look at the book on a deeper level, it is a absorbing book. I believe that Mr. Silverberg, rather than wanting to write a novel of pop fiction, intended to raise interesting questions such as what price are we willing to pay for immortality? He raises questions about faith and beliefs. Is the Brotherhood just another cult, not unlike the ones led by Jim Jones and David Koresh? Or, are they really immortal? Moreover, if they really are immortal, what is the ultimate price the survivors have to pay for it, (i.e. can they eventually leave the Skullhouse or must they remain there in order to maintain their immortality (not unlike leaving Shangri-La in "Lost Horizon"))? What have they really gained? I would like to live forever also, but I want to have some fun doing it. While the ending of the book is ambiguous and leaves the reader to ponder what might actually happen afterwards, I believe, it will inspire long, deep, and possibly heated, conversations.

Skull Beneath the Skin (BBC Radio Presents/Cassettes)

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Disappointed
Playing at Murder
Cowards die many times before their death...
A Book Dripping in Creepy Atmosphere!
James is one of the best mystery writers ever.

Skull Beneath the Skin (BBC Radio Presents/Cassettes)
P.D. James
Manufacturer: Random House Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0553472232
Release Date: 1994-01-01

Book Description

Private detective Cordelia Gray is invited to the sunlit island of Courcy to protect the vainly beautiful actress Clarissa Lisle from veiled threats on her life. Within the rose red walls of a fairy-tale castle, she finds the stage is set for death.

"Richly intricate and literate," James's second Cordelia Gray mystery "shows James at the height of her storytelling powers" (San Francisco Chronicle).

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-09-22

The Skull Beneath the SkinWay too much minutiae and not enough written on the plot to keep my interest. Very disappointed but will give P. D. James another try with Cover Her Face featuring Adam Dalglish. You can't beat Agatha Christie for being the queen of description in one short paragraph while James takes pages to show us a setting.

Playing at Murder.......2007-05-06

"The Skull Beneath The Skin" is the second (and presumably last) installment in the Cordelia Gray mystery series by P.D. James. Why there are only two Cordelia Gray mysteries is hard to say. James has bestowed her female detective Cordelia with the exact same rich characterization that has given her more prolific male detective its large fan base, and the plotting and mystery at the center of this tale are as rich and satisfying as the yarns she's woven for Dalgliesh.

Cordelia, a self-employed private detective, finds herself with an interesting case that actually involves humans for a change. She is hired by Sir George Ralston to protect his wife, the actress Clarissa Lisle, while she stays the weekend on Courcy Island to give a performance of "The Dutchess of Malfi". It seems that Clarissa has been receiving poison notes, not necessarily threatening, but enough to throw her of her game and make her fear for her life. Cordelia finds herself under the guise of secretary to the actress, a self-centered woman she finds herself disliking. And when Clarissa is found dead just hours before the play's performance, her skull bashed in beyond recognition, Cordelia finds herself at odds with the police who are called in to solve the murder and the desire to figure things out for herself. With the cast of suspects the party of people on the island, Cordelia finds herself racing against time to figure out which one is the murderer before he or she can strike again.

"The Skull Beneath the Skin" is richly plotted, with unique twists to the mystery and a satisfactory ending if not a resolution. Cordelia Gray is an extremely likeable character, her hesitations and second-guessing coincide with that of the reader. With James' expertise at writing mysteries, reading this last Cordelia Gray makes one wish that there were more stories with her, as one wonders how her private detective agency is getting along.

Cowards die many times before their death..........2006-11-13

A delightful mystery in the classical, Agatha Christie style, "The Skull Beneath the Skin" has all the features making it remarkable within its genre.

A young private detective, Cordelia Gray, who has so far been struggling to make ends meet with tasks like rescuing lost pets or tailing the husbands of suspicious wives, suddenly gets a real, albeit strange, assignment. It comes from Sir George Ralston, a husband of a relatively famous actress, Clarissa Lisle. Apparently, Clarissa has been receiving anonymous notes with quotations from plays by Shakespeare, Webster and Marlowe, which she appeared in. The notes are always revolving around death and can easily be interpreted as death threats, especially that Clarissa is obsessively afraid of dying.

Cordelia is supposed to accompany Clarissa for a weekend on a private island, the Courcy Island, off the Dorset coast where the actress would give a performance in "The Duchess of Malfi", staged by an amateur theatre company in a castle theatre belonging to the eccentric owner of the island. Cordelia is to protect Clarissa and see to her well-being as Sir George is unable to be present. There are very few people present during the weekend: the owner and friend of Clarissa's, Ambrose Gorringe, a collector of Victorian curiosities, some of them morbid; Ivo Whittingham, a theatre critic, deadly ill; Clarissa's cousin, Roma Lisle, an owner of the small bookstore; Simon Lessing, a teenage son of Clarissa's second husband; Clarissa's dresser and two house servants. Unexpectedly, on Saturday Sir George makes an appearance... And on Sunday the murder takes place.

The similarity to Agatha Christie lies in the novel's British style, although it is set at the beginning of 1980s, the isolated setting, narrowing the suspect circle, and the careful rendering of the character cast, each representing in an exaggerated manner a certain type. The plot is slow at first, as the background is set with detailed introduction of each character, but as it progresses, it gets extremely engrossing (I lost the track of time while reading). There is enough suspense, despite Cordelia proving useless at solving the mystery in a way satisfactory for the police and there is no formal punishment for the murderer... The literary quotations and the theatrical setting give a very neat general interest background, and the book is full of nice, postmodern allusions to mystery fiction, which are fun to discover. Other mysteries of the castle add to the charm of the novel.

A thoroughly enjoyable read for all fans of mystery!

A Book Dripping in Creepy Atmosphere!.......2006-06-22

Many people like their mysteries well balanced: Great plot; wonderful characters; terrific character development; almost indecipherable mystery; not too much blood; and outstanding writing. If that's your goal, this book isn't the best choice for you.

But if you like your mysteries to be focused in creepy circumstances with deeply flawed characters, The Skull Beneath the Skin will probably serve your purposes quite well.

I have both read this book and listened to the Books on Tape unabridged version read by Penelope Dellaporta. I strongly prefer the recording, which better captures the book's mood.

This is the second and last (for more than 25 years so far) mystery featuring Cordelia Gray who starred in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Since that novel, Cordelia has carved out a living running the detective agency that her ex-partner Bernie established, which agency now specializes in recovering lost pets thanks to the help of two part-time employees from Cordelia's old typing agency.

Cordelia's still having a hard time making a go of the agency. She's putting up a new plaque (that's hung crookedly) when her prospective client arrives, the husband of the fading actress Clarissa Lisle. Clarissa had observed Cordelia concluding one of her pet detective forays and saw something undefined that she liked. As a result, Clarissa has sent her husband to hire Cordelia to protect Clarissa from receiving any more death threats while Clarissa tries to resurrect her career with an amateur production of The Duchess of Malfi on secluded Courcy Island.

Cordelia is soon being stone-walled by Clarissa . . . but does succeed in intercepting several nasty notes. Also Clarissa turns out to be a pretty self-centered, unpleasant woman. As the stories are related to Cordelia, she's finding it hard to be professional about her responsibilities. The last straw comes when Cordelia is ordered not to guard Clarissa's door just before the performance. As you can imagine, someone kills Clarissa just then . . . and Cordelia feels totally embarrassed professionally. Despite a warning to "keep out" by the local police, Cordelia finds herself unraveling the twisted motives of those on the island and checking on their access to Clarissa's room at the key moment. The suspects make all of this harder by showing a preference to create a cover up.

All the time, you feel like even more of an outsider than Cordelia looking on at most unpleasant sights.

Cordelia does unravel the mystery . . . and finds herself challenged to avoid a great wrong. That crisis brings the book to a height of emotion and to a delightfully ambiguous conclusion.

Cordelia has a lot to learn about detection. Stopping murders is harder than finding wandering cats. But she has a keen intelligence and devotion to duty that serve her well.

But the real star in this book is the mood of decay, dissipation and collapse that Baroness James creates. It's very creepy!

If you were to gauge the book on the appeal of the plot alone, this would be a 2-3 star book . . . so if that's what you're looking for, keep looking. The plot is also sub-par compared to An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Cordelia's role also isn't quite as interesting as that book. For reasonably long sections of this book, Cordelia all but disappears into the woodwork.

Watch out for the many allusions to the skull beneath the skin. It's a masterful use of imagery to set a truly appropriate mood for many dastardly deeds.

James is one of the best mystery writers ever........2005-10-22

I have just recently discovered P. D. James and at my age I should have discovered her long ago. Considering the quality of the mystery writing out today by most authors, it is an
extreme pleasure to read James. I plan to read everything I can by P. D. James. I am right now on her Cordelia Gray, Detective
and it is a cant put down.

Radiology if the Skull and Brain 8 BOOK SET (The Skull, Angiography, Anatomy and Pathology, Ventricles and Cisterns, Volumes 1 Books 1 & 2, Volumes 2 Books 1-4, Volume 3, and Volume 4)

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Radiology if the Skull and Brain 8 BOOK SET (The Skull, Angiography, Anatomy and Pathology, Ventricles and Cisterns, Volumes 1 Books 1 & 2, Volumes 2 Books 1-4, Volume 3, and Volume 4)
T.H. Newton and D.G. Potts
Manufacturer: The C. V. Mosby Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JSWNFI

Product Description

Radiology of the Skull and Brain 8 Volume Set Volume One: Books 1-2: The Skull Volume 2: Books 1-4: Angiography Volume 3: Anatomy and Pathology Volume 4: Ventricles and Cisterns

Radiology of the skull and brain. Volume One Books 1 & 2: The Skull (TWO VOLUME SET)

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Radiology of the skull and brain. Volume One Books 1 & 2: The Skull (TWO VOLUME SET)

Manufacturer: Mosby
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Answers Questions Everybody Had!!
KONG IS KING
Nicely done,,,
YIPEE
Awesome

Kong: King Of Skull Island
Joe DeVito , and Brad Strickland
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 159582006X

Book Description

In 1933, American showman Carl Denham returned from a mysterious, hidden island with a priceless treasure. A treasure not gold or jewels, but the island's barbaric god, a monstrous anthropoid called "Kong." The savage giant escaped and wreaked havoc among the man-made canyons of Manhattan, but within hours of the giant ape's death his body - and Carl Denham - disappeared. Twenty-five years later, the son of Carl Denham makes a shocking discovery that leads him back to the site of his father's greatest adventure and to the answers that will unlock the century's greatest mystery and history's greatest miracle. Authorized by the Cooper Estate and based on the original novel that inspired the all-time classic film. This new novel acts as both prequel and sequel to the classic fantasy tale, King Kong. Acclaimed fantasy artist Joe DeVito and top fantasy and science-fiction writer Brad Strickland join forces to make for an interactive visual-narrative storytelling experience unlike any other.

Customer Reviews:

Answers Questions Everybody Had!!.......2007-05-13

Thought the book was an excellent follow-up to the original movie, and answered questions such as what happened to Denham? What happened to the skeleton after the Empire State fall? Are there any more like him? Very quick read, enjoyed it completely. Fans of the original movie will like this very much

KONG IS KING.......2006-03-15

It answers a lot of questions about how everything is the way it is. Like: Why are the doors in the wall the size of Kong? Where did Kong come from? Who build the wall. What will happen to the island? It also gives a nice account after the fall of Kong.

Nicely done,,,.......2006-01-19

Reading "Kong: King of Skull Island" was a real treat! I found the book to be well written and beautifully illustrated. This book makes Skull Island come alive with very realistic settings and credible native peoples. We learn how the wall that isolates the native population from the islands creatures came to be. And of course we learn of Kong. What his early life and death struggles were like. How he came to be the last of his kind and why he chose skull mountain as his stronghold.

I felt the writing perfectly captured Kong's nature showing us a complex creature of almost human longings yet still a very frightening beast. Hats off to Joe DeVito and Brad Strickland for crafting an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable book.

YIPEE.......2005-12-28

Fianally a book that does justice to the long running King Kong. People complain that it does not connect with the movie "Son of kong". Well guess what, that movie sucks. That's why they made a new book to make a new, bettter ending to King Kong's saga. The artwork is stunning, and Skull Island's origins are also revealed, which I liked. If you loved the old, classic King Kong, BUY THIS BOOK!

Awesome.......2005-12-26

Kong returns once again through the artwork of Joe De Vito. His genius in creating this book shows on every page. Through "Storyteller" the secrets of King Kong and Skull Island are revealed. Is it fantasy or did Kong really live? The secrets are revealed in this spectacular book!

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