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.

Charles Dickens Four Complete Novels (Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities)

Average customer rating:

Great value for the price
Pretentious
If nothing else, it looks good on your bookshelf.
Loved it,
Lousy Binding

Charles Dickens Four Complete Novels (Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0517053608
Release Date: 1990-10-03

Book Description

Includes the major works by one of the greatest names in literature. Namely, Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities. This Library of Literary Classics edition is bound in padded leather with luxurious gold-stamping on the front and spine, satin ribbon marker and gilded edges. Other titles in this Library of Literary Classics series include: Charlotte & Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels; Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works; Mark Twain: Selected Works; Jane Austen: The Complete Novels: Lewis Carroll: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works; and William Shakespeare: The Complete Works.

Customer Reviews:

Great value for the price.......2007-08-02

Let's face it, there are better editions of Dickens out there. You get what you pay for. This is not a top of the line leather edition. For the price, though, you can't beat it. It is what it is, a reasonably priced leather edition of four of his novels. At five dollars apiece, the price can not be beat.

Pretentious.......2007-06-07

Buying books because they look good on your shelf is pretentious and phony - and this book capitalizes on that. I got this as a gift and was amazed when I read it at the number of typos in it. There is simply no way this collection was proofed by an editor - that or the editing company is one of the worst in the world.

Buy these fantastic books, but not this edition, unless you just want people to think you read Dickens.

If nothing else, it looks good on your bookshelf........2007-03-13

You would do better off buying these books individually from a different publisher.
It sounds impressive, leather bound, gilded edges, but it is very cheaply done. On the plus side, it does have a ribbon book mark so you don't have to buy your own.
But this book was poorly edited, filled with needless typos, and with all four of these books available from numerous other publishers, I would suggest to just buy it from them.

Loved it,.......2006-02-12

I'm a big fan of long drawn out novles. I've always been a fan of Dickens. This book has on eof my favorite stories by his pen: Great Expectations. His style is very personal I found it a lot like Tolkien. His ability to tell a good tale is clear as the reader becomes part of the story. Very nice volume and worth the time and money in my opinion.

Lousy Binding.......2005-12-20

I've read all but "A Christmas Carol" in this edition. I've found several typos. Moreover, the binding is becoming unglued. I estimate by the time I finish "A Christmas Carol" the binding will be totally exposed. I value permanent books (otherwise I would buy paperbacks). I suggest anyone who enjoys Dickens buy a better edition.

Average customer rating:

"Why Can't I Get Back to the War and have Some Peace?!"
My favorite sci fi book of all time?
It wasn't that great
A Tale of Time City
OK

A Tale of Time City
Diana Wynne Jones
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0064473511
Release Date: 2002-01-22

Book Description

Time City is built on a patch of time and space outside history. It is full of wonders and haunted by "time ghosts," but it is nearly worn out and doomed to destruction.

In September 1939, Vivian Smith is on a train, being evacuated from London, when she is kidnapped by two boys from Time City, Jonathan and Sam. They mistakenly think she is the mysterious Time Lady disguised as a child. Only the Time Lady can wake the founder of the city, Faber John, from his age-long sleep, and only he can save the city.

Vivian wants to get home; Jonathan and Sam want her to help them in their quest through the ages of history to save Time City. Meanwhile, someone seems to be tampering with history, changing it over and over, complicating everything. When Faber John is at last aroused, Time City's and Vivian's dilemmas are resolved in ways that are as satisfying as they are unexpected.

Customer Reviews:

"Why Can't I Get Back to the War and have Some Peace?!".......2004-11-01

"A Tale of Time City" is a little different from Diana Wynne Jones's usual fare - it is not fantasy but science-fiction, though apart from that distinction there is the same wry humour, complicated storylines, quirky characters and original invention.

Time City is a place existing outside of space and time where the progress of time is watched over by the inhabitants, to make sure it progresses normally. But Time City is slowly running down, (helped along with the tampering of rouge time-travellers) and the legendary founder Faber John is the only being that is able to renew it. It is told that four caskets of Gold, Silver, Iron and Lead may save the city, but only the mysterious Time Lady can awaken Faber John.

Jonathon and Sam, two sons of important families within the City have decided to take matters into their own hands. After seeing a "time-ghost" (a visual imprint of an important moment) they travel through a time-lock into History for an adventure of their own that they haven't even begun to sort out. There, Jonathon grabs Vivian Smith, the girl that they are certain is the Time Lady.

Vivian Smith however, is soon to correct them - she's just a normal girl who was being evacuated with hundreds of other children from World War II. Now with no way back, and the concept of Time itself in jeopardy, Vivian agrees to help the boys uncover the mystery of Faber John (and keep them out of trouble while she's doing it). Racing through time to collect the four caskets before their enemies, the trio have to dodge androids, teachers, time-ghosts and antagonistic locals in order to save Time City.

Though I enjoyed "A Tale of Time City", it is not my favourite Diana Wynne Jones book; perhaps because I'm not a big sci-fi fan, perhaps because time-travelling stories utterly confuse me. I'm never sure what happened when, or what the true chronological order of the events are. But as usual, there is a lot in this DWJ book to recommend it, and it is packed full of creativity and enjoyment - such as the "butter-pies", cold on the outside and warm on the inside. Likewise, she gives us some future events to look forward to, such as the Mind Wars, the Forth World War and the Depopulation of Earth.

Time City itself is a great idea, (complete with architecture, social customs, and low opinions of those that live in 'history') and is vividly brought to life, but this is not really a book for younger readers, as the plot is quite twisty and complicated, and the ending a little bittersweet. But for a DWJ book that is a bit different, or a science-fiction book that is truly unique within the genre, then give this one a try.

My favorite sci fi book of all time?.......2004-07-04

While most of DWJ's books are fantasy, this one is pure sci-fi: there is no magic, just plenty of 23rd century butter pies (cold on the outside, warm and gooey inside: I wish the 23rd century would hurry up so that I can try one!).

This is the story of Vivian Smith, a girl who is being evacuated from London because of WWII. Because of a mixup with names, she gets kidnapped by two boys from Time City, a metropolis located outside of time where the officials monitor time and make sure it runs smoothly. Unfortunately for the boys, the sons of distinguished dignitaries, their "playing hero" went horribly wrong and Vivian is NOT the girl they are looking for.

By plucking an innocent person out of a time period that is already unstable, the boys have set off a chain reaction. Now they must work with Vivian to put everything right, before Time City itself disolves around them.

This is a fast-paced and exciting book. I have probably re-read it hundreds of times in the past 10 years. Anyone who likes DWJ's other books should give this one a try, even though it's a little different. Anyone who doesn't like the fantasy in her other books should definately give this one a try: it's a great work of science fiction, and oh so fun. I normally really dislike science fiction books, but this one is very well done and avoids the usual traps of the genre.

It wasn't that great.......2004-05-17

This book started out okay but by the time I was half way through it I was wishing it would end. There were too many characters and the time travelling was just confusing. When I got to the end of Novel I was so thoroughly confused that the only thing I could say about this book was that I wasn't very good. I've read a whole bunch of other books by Diana Wynne JOnes and they were all alot better than this one. So instead of buying this one go look at the Dalemark Quartet, The chrestomanci series and Archers Goon.

A Tale of Time City.......2003-11-05

A Tale of Time City
By Diana Wynne Jones, Published by HarperTrophy (January 22, 2002).

Vivian Smith was being evacuated along with all of the other children in London to "the Country" because World War II had just broken out. When she got off the train she was pulled into the greatest adventure of her life. When she got off the train she was kidnapped by an older boy named Jonathan Lee Walker, who claims to be her long lost cousin. In a space outside of time, there is a city. Placed there by a mythical man named Faber John, it has the overwhelming task overseeing the history of the earth and mankind all the way from the stone age to the depopulation of earth. This place is called Time City. Brought through a silver portal Vivian is taken to Time City. There's only one problem with Time City, its falling apart. Mistaken for another person called the Time Lady (Faber Johns mysterious wife), Vivian is swept away in the struggle to keep time city alive. This is one wonderful science fiction/adventure/action/fantasy book, I never really liked sci fi but I made an exception for this book and I was greatly rewarded.

The main characters are Vivian, a normal 18th century girl, who as I explained was kidnapped off a train. Vivian seems like anyone else, she just wants to go home. Jonathan Lee Walker, who Vivian always describes as a very "lordly" boy is the one who with the help of his best friend Sam kidnapped Vivian off the train during their mid year break. He and Sam at first only took it as an adventure but after they found out that Vivian was the wrong person it turned serious. Sam is another Lee (the Lees are the oldest family in Time City) he is only 8 but he is the closest in age to Jonathan for along distance ( There aren't many children in Time City). Sam is a butterpie addict (butterpies are a form of futuristic food) and it really shows. It is said that Faber John built the city with the help of his wife, the Time Lady, but when they were deciding how to govern the city they had an argument.

This is one of those books you can never put down,
if you are ever going to start this than make sure you have a long time to read. You just can't stop. Oh just one more page, just to the end of this chapter, I'm going to quit now, well maybe a little bit longer. I spent many late nights reading this book. I became part of this book as I read it, I felt as though I was really in Time City and I couldn't get enough! This is one book that I know I'm going to read over and over again, I can't wait to find more books like this. It's one of the books you can't figure out until the last page. This book is a treat that will satisfy almost anyone (unless you have a thing against fiction). I would recommend that every one at least give it a try.

OK.......2003-09-07

Wasn't that great compared to her other books. I was a bit dissapointed because I was expecting more of somthing like the Chrestomanci books :(

The Works of Charles Dickens: Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities

Average customer rating:

The Works of Charles Dickens: Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities

Manufacturer: Longmeadow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: 0681322756

Product Description

Complete and Unabridged

Three Great Novels: Hard Times; A Tale of Two Cities; Great Expectations

Average customer rating:

Three Great Novels: Hard Times; A Tale of Two Cities; Great Expectations
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0192823329

Book Description

These three very different novels show the remarkable scope of Dicken's work. Hard Times (1854) exposes the limites of utilitarian philosophy, as Louisa Gradgrind grows up trapped by her disciplinarian father's uncompromising views on bringing up children. A Tale of Two Cities (1859), set in London and Paris, sees the causes and effects of the French Revolution from the point of view of individuals caught up in events. One of Dicken's most experimental novels, it is also a highly charged examination of human suffering and sacrifice. Great Expectations (1860-1) charts the progress of Pip from childhood through a series of painful and comic experiences to adulthood, stressing that he must establish his own sense of self and discover his own set of values.

Peopled with memorable characters such as Sleary of the circus in Hard Times, and Miss Havisham, locked in memories of her past in Great Expectations, each of these novels explores questions of human fallibility, honour, and growth.

Average customer rating:

You'll want to share these stories :-)

Tales for Movie Makers

a Sophisticated Version of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Tales from the Times: Real-Life Stories to Make You Think, Wonder, and Smile, from the Pages of The New York Times
The New York Times
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | United States | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Nonfiction | City Life | Where We Live | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Social Issues | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Essays | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books | Espionage | Murder & Mayhem | Organized Crime | Serial Killers | True Crime
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
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Subwayland: Adventures in the World Beneath New York

Only in New York: 400 Remarkable Answers to Intriguing, Provocative Questions About New York City

Letters to My Teacher: Tributes to the People Who Have Made a Difference

Work and Other Sins: Life in New York City and Thereabouts

New York Stories: The Best of the City Section of the New York Times

ASIN: 0312312334

Book Description

A food editor befriends a chicken in his Queens backyard. A ten-year-old child prodigy learns quantum physics. A thief in Rome steals 1,000 euros-from the bottom of an outdoor fountain. These are the stories that make us smile, wonder, and think. They are real-life stories about real-life people, all of which have appeared on the pages of The New York Times. A perfect primer on humanity, Tales from the Times will intro-duce young readers to people and places that captivate the mind. There are certain human-interest stories that people just can't stop talking about-twins separated at birth or a five-year-old taking his mother's car for a joyride. Now, in this wonderfully eclectic compilation of articles, readers will find many of the most talked about stories from The New York Times. With stories from Randy Kennedy, William Grimes, Charlie LeDuff, Nicholas D. Kristof, Lisa Belkin, Jane Gross, and many more favorite New York Times reporters and columnists.

Customer Reviews:

You'll want to share these stories :-).......2005-05-19

TALES FROM THE TIMES is a book for readers of every age. Executives will find one-minute-musings. Children will be delighted by the wonder and humor. Vacationers will discover a book filled with short stories to fill an afternoon by the shore, on the plane, or in the cabin. People of all ages will turn the pages one tale at a time, and laugh, ponder and smile.

The idea for the book was born at a backyard barbeque where New York Times staff found they had something in common: their children's bedtime stories often consisted of articles from the paper. From there, an idea grew into a collection of stories of the unusual, the uplifting, the perplexing and the wonderful.

Take the Treaty Oak, a 500-year-old live oak tree from Austin, Texas, whose fate is in the hands of those who love it. Or Jacob DeHaven's nearly half a million-dollar loan to the Continental Congress. Read about the man committed to honoring the ancient city of Beijing's fallen wall, brick by brick. Find out what happened to the wishing coins tossed into Italy's Trevi Fountain. Learn why you might opt not to drive through Moscow during the winter holidays.

Smile as you read about the romance of Hubert and Mildred, who met each other at a nursing home in New York. Raise an eyebrow at just how far kids will go, to school that is, in Terlingua, Texas. Shake your head at the extent to which unfounded gossip incited a community to hysterics in Orangetown, New York. Find out why Iceland wants to import alligators. Yes, alligators. Listen as Mrs. Wilber hears her husband's voice for the first time since first meeting him in 1946.

Lisa Belkin has edited and cleverly categorized the stories into sections: Changing Lives, Animals, School, Sports, Families, Language, Faraway Places, Closer to Home and Trying to Get Along. There is a story for everyone, waiting to warm your heart, within the pages of TALES FROM THE TIMES.

4.5 out of 5 Tales
Reviewed by True North
gottawritenetwork.com
May 18, 2005

Tales for Movie Makers.......2004-07-08

This collection of human interest stories from the New York Times follows several volumes of the Wall Street Journal's Middle of the Page column and The New York Times's own collections of science articles. No matter how religiously you read the newspaper, you will have missed or forgotten most of these stories. In fact, most of the stories are forgettable. But some of them will stick with you.

I enjoyed reading about a man who had lived in a terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for over ten years. So that's where Spielberg got his idea for the movie! There is a story about twin girls who didn't know the other existed until they were sixteen and finally found each other. Shades of Parent Trap.

Some of the stories are a little too heartwarming to be believable, but who's to say? The first story of a man who helps a homeless New Yorker find his mother and get a second chance at life becomes too much when there is a follow-up story after a year that finds the formerly homeless man living with his mother and playing piano at church every day. I'd rather be homeless.

If you love stories about child prodigies and lost pets who find their way back home, or if you are a film director looking for your next big project, Tales from the Times may be just the ticket.

a Sophisticated Version of Chicken Soup for the Soul.......2004-04-20

In many ways THE NEW YORK TIMES is America's newspaper, and overall its reporting is among the best in the country (its recent case of plagiarism not withstanding). For those who do not get the opportunity to read the TIMES all that often, TALES FROM THE TIMES may be the next best thing. In many ways the work is a sophisticated version of THE CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, and like the works in the CHICKEN SOUP series, the book captures a reader's heart and gives a reader stories to contemplate and remember. This is a compilation of human interest articles originally published in the paper. The articles are divided into various topics. While some of the articles are based on somewhat well known news stories, such as the young man who played in the Little League World Series but did not know his actual birth date, most are ordinary stories that come to life from the pens of the TIMES gifted writers. There is a variety to the stories and cover a range of human situations.

Book Description

In a novel that crackles with wit and suspense. Night Biters takes horror to a new, yet familiar place; the inner-city and introduces characters as diverse and complex as their city. Set against the gritty backdrop of Oakland, California Night Biters tells the story of Bay Area teens coping with the dangers of urban living while facing the horrors of the Supernatural. Fasten your seat belts, you're going to a place bustling with hip hop music, drugs, gangs and vampires.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read!.......2006-03-06

This is a great read.

Great, because it has a common sense idea that is missing from most stories of this genre.

The genre, "supernatural horror," ultimately goes to a war between good and evil (yep, heaven and hell), because these would be the source of power in the story. So the ultimate source of power is on another level--not the level the story is about (our everyday homes and neighborhoods). But hey, the vampires, zombies, and other things have been around for a long time. And we are still here, too. Something we don't usually see in these stories must be equalizing the landscape, or else ordinary humans would have been gone a long time ago. What equalizes a vampire? They have supernatural powers, so regular folks are out-gunned. In any war, if the sides are not matched, the war does not last long. In the literature vampires, zombies, et al., have been around a long time. So what holds them in check? Doesn't have to be a "good" version of the evil creature--just something with power and method of its own that it can use to engage the enemy. That's war. Even a supernatural one would have to have this equivalence of power.

There are popular movies about renegades that have reason to hate the supernatural villains, but vampires alone would have over-run the world before most of these popular characters started. Besides, these stories are usually more about special-effects or martial arts or something--not really horror stories but more like action-adventure-martial arts-horror. Whatever. There's only one movie I've seen recently that is an exception to this, "Constantine." But since this isn't a plug for movies, let's move on... ;)

"Night Biters" revitalizes the role of the church in this type of story! Instead of the lame "Exorcist" angle in which the demons have power that is clearly uncontrollable, here the war could have lasted this long. God is on our side through supernatural beings at this level. That's what I was referring to before, when I said that ordinary humans would otherwise be gone. In run-of-the-mill horror stories a recurring theme is that the heroes are so outmatched they have to sacrifice themselves--and leave this plane of existence--in order to win. So in time they'd all have moved on, leaving us here. There must be something more powerful that fights here and wins often enough to balance the war against evil. This story touches on this with style; it's a story told intelligently in a way that makes sense.

So is it scary? Yeah, because the writer tells the tale in a way that evokes vivid images of what the characters are going through as all of these peculiar things happen. It's not a predictable story. I found myself liking some, and wondering if they'd make it...but it's war. Casualties are inevitable. How does it end?

Check it out! It's a great read!

Night Biters Rocks!!!.......2006-01-16

This is no R L Stien! This book has a diverse group of hip hop characters from the Bay Area that are actully intelligent and not based on stereotypes. The book has teens in the Bay dealing with regular teenage issues, as well as vampires gang violence. The characters are cool, there's African American's, Vietnamese, Latino's, Filippino's, Jews, Goths, ravers, taggers and possibly dirty cops and a guy who eats a rat. If you LOVE hip hop, or you're from the Bay Area you need to read this book. I love Night Biters because it's real hip hop, it's not derogatory or dogmatic, it's just real and entertaining.

The book is written in the style of how Traffic and Crash were made as movies. A ton of individual stories, all intertwined into one explosive plot. Read this book, you won't be disappointed. The story is based on actual events in 1999 leading up to the change of the century in the backdrop of the worlds most integrated group of cities. Two teens come here to spend the summer and find that some of thier friends have become vampires and are dealing with personal issues like abusive stepfathers, drugs, gangs and police (damn taggers!). Doooooood read it!!!

Pinoys get Respect.......2006-01-13

Night Biters is my favorite book, I visited the Bay Area and have saw the old Montgomery Ward building. It was too scary a building for me to enter but not a vampire. I also like that us Pinoy's finally got some recognition and respect in a book. Dragonbrush is my dog I liked the way he and Tioni looked out for one another and how he showed that he really appreciated her. Jamilah is cool but too stuck up for my taste, I wouldn't want my sister taking all my favorite clothes just because she wants them. But in the end they all looked out for one another.

A Clever Premise, filled with Twist and Surprises.......2006-01-04

Adrian Harper's Night Biters offers some fresh ideas to the fantasy genre. The magical compact disc is as effective a talisman as a ring or trinket in other period work of fiction. It also solidifies the effectiveness of hip hop in a way the reader will find appealing. Graffiti spray painting is also featured, skateboarding is taken to new heights and I will never see using a Super Soaker the same way.

The writer skillfully depicts the story's teens as youth who regret some of the poor choices they have made and the impact those decisions have on their families while ably avoiding stereotypes. He also offers some interesting views on vampirism viewing it more to an addiction than a spiritual damnation reminding the reader that there is always hope. Filled with clever twist and surprises, Night Biters is a delight.

Great Book.......2006-01-03

This book puts Oakland, CA on the map. It is filled with suspense and humor. The multi-cultural characters are people we see in everyday life. I loved this book. I can't wait for the next one.

A Tale of Two Cities (New Oxford Illustrated Dickens)

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The most unforgettable opening and closing sentences ever found in a book!
A Good Review
A Story Like No Other
Classic Story of Love and Redemption!
An amazing tale

A Tale of Two Cities (New Oxford Illustrated Dickens)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0192545043

Book Description

It's time to rediscover the wonderful books we all cherish.

First published in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is one of Dickens's most famous and popular novels. This stirring tale, set in the late eighteenth century against the backdrop of the French Revolution, is a novel for all generations. Filled with adventure and love, revolution and terror, it transports the reader to a time of political upheaval and solutions by guillotine.

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Dicken's classic novel of The French Revolution. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…"

Customer Reviews:

The most unforgettable opening and closing sentences ever found in a book!.......2007-07-14

I will never, the rest of my life forget these two sentences. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...." and at closing "It is a far, far, better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known."

Wow, this is not your usual Dickens. No quirky characters with strange names and laugh out loud moments, just a darn good story -- the story of two cities, London and Paris. It is difficult to put the plot into words, but when the book begins you are in London at the time of the American revolution and spies (or suspected spies) abound, and the story eventually switches to France prior to and during the French revolution.

Dickens does a marvelous job (as always) of building his story one step at a time and slowly peeling back the layers one at a time. This is not a put down and pick it up a week later kind of a book, it is very intense and complicated and you have to pay close attention. I was just floored at how he sucked me in with his descriptions of the mobs, terror and the madness of the revolution leading you to a nail biting finish. I admit to holding my breath during those last few pages!

Highly recommended, and well worth the time to discover (or rediscover) an old classic.

A Good Review.......2007-05-17

I think this book was great! In the beginning of this book some of the words are French or English, which makes them a little hard to read, but once you get past that it turns into an amazing book. This book is about a daughter who saves her father from insanity and brings him home to England. Years after that day the daughter is married and her husband is asked to come to France (the French Revolution is taking place), but once he gets there he is put on death trial because of his fathers' crimes. In the end of the book the husband is saved and they all go back to England.

A Story Like No Other.......2007-04-02

A Tale of Two cities is a vivid story of the French Revolution filled with imagery and motifs that are thick in the literature. So many stories collide in as the numerous characters are all connected some way, some how. There's a dramatic love triangle, a revenge story, a recovery from an eighteen year imprisonment and much more.

Charles Dickens writes as someone from his day would, filled with commas and metaphors. For children under thirteen this might be inappropriate, not because of content, but because they might not understand it enough to appreciate all it has to offer. It shows the immoral side of humanity, even though revenge isn't the only purpose. The aristocrats were mercilessly taken from there homes and to La Guillotine.

Motifs such as The Sea, Redemption, Secret Sins, Letters, and many others reinforce what is trying to be demonstrated. They are occurring events or ideas that keep the book interesting. So many of these characters come to their doom and it the affects the reader just as it would if you were actually watching it. Dramatic foreshadowing is also very affecting, but the actual events are even more thrilling.

Overall, I recommend this book to all willing to read, it's a wonderful book to enhance your literary vocabulary. It has tastes for men with its brutal wars and battles, but also has a sense of feminism as the love story will interests the women.

Classic Story of Love and Redemption!.......2007-02-19

This is easily my second favorite classic novel. Saturated with adventure, love, passion, and redemption, Dickens expertly and eloquently details the lives of many characters all woven together by the golden threads of love during the tumultuous and dangerous French Revolution. A must read!

An amazing tale.......2007-01-07

To begin, this is the first Dickens novel I have ever read. As a student of history and political science, most of my reading projects involve works of nonfiction. I must admit that I am not well versed in classic literature--a fact that I am ashamed of whenever I watch jeopardy or converse with literature fans. This past year I made a concerted effort to acquaint myself with some of the classic masterpieces. As a social studies major, "A Tale of Two Cities" was an excellent choice to begin my foray into classic literature.
Charles Dickens is a master storyteller. How someone can contrive such an intricate and compelling tale is beyond my comprehension. Dickens's imaginative skills should be respected and envied by all writers. "A Tale of Two Cities" takes place during the French Revolution. It is a story about love, revenge, and sacrifice. Dickens portrays the madness and brutality of the French Revolution in vivid and skillful fashion.

This is a must read for anyone interested in literature and/or history. I can see how Dickens is not for everyone, however. The reader must have a good vocabulary to fully understand his writing. Knowledge of 18th century European history is an added advantage and will help the reader to better comprehend the situation and setting. If those prerequisites are met, the reader is sure to be moved by this masterpiece.

Best of Times: A Musical Adaptation of Charles Dickens' "a Tale of Two Cities

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Best of Times: A Musical Adaptation of Charles Dickens' "a Tale of Two Cities
Steven Porter , Coreyn Pepper , Corey Pepper , and Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Phantom Publications Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Plastic Comb

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0887340385

Charles Dickens: Great Expectations; Hard Times; A Christmas Carol; A Tale of Two Cities (Greenwich Unabridged Library Classics)

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Charles Dickens: Great Expectations; Hard Times; A Christmas Carol; A Tale of Two Cities (Greenwich Unabridged Library Classics)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Greenwich House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

The classic works of literature contained in each of these volumes represent each author's best and most famous writings. A wonderful introduction to world literature, this finely crafted and affordable series offers the works of these world-renowned authors to a wider audience. Includes A Christmas Carol, The Old Curiosity Shop, and A Tale of Two Cities.

Las obras clásicas de literatura en cada volumen son una representación de los mejores y más famosos escritos de los autores. Una introducción maravillosa a la literatura universal, esta serie hermosamente diseñada pone las obras de los autores mundialmente conocidos al alcance de todos.

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