Book Description
Based on historical people and real events, Arthur Miller's play uses the destructive power of socially sanctioned violence unleashed by the rumors of witchcraft as a powerful parable about McCarthyism.
Introduction by Christopher Bigsby
Customer Reviews:
Well Played.......2007-09-11
Arthur Miller's "The Crucible", a four act play about the Salem witch trials in 1692, is a wonderful drama that speaks about intolerance and authoritarian power in society.
The heart of the play is not about the accusations of witchcraft, but about the conditions that led to the accusations and how quickly people will take advantage of one another during hysteria. It is a historical reminder (and a warning) that people died because of hysterical fanaticism in an authoritarian culture. Miller takes this important lesson in history, adds words to the historic figures, and makes a darn good fictional drama depicting their roles in this historic event. The action inside the court room is beautifully constructed and explores the idea of injustices being perpetuated in a sanctuary designed to create justice.
Miller does a great job creating scenes that evoke outrage and indignation while keeping the characters real and human. John Procter is not be looked upon as the "hero" or "victim" because of his past indiscretions and ignorance, just as Abigail Williams is not to be looked upon as the "villain" because her actions are perpetuated by a persecuted youth who is suddenly granted power by the courts. The characters are an interesting mix of people caught-up in a blizzard of conditions that were just right to give innuendos truth and superstitions law.
I found the play very enjoyable and entertaining even without all the parallels to what was happening in the 1950's when it was written.
Miller's finest.......2007-09-01
Along with Death of a Salesman, The Crucible is deservedly known as one of the greatest American plays of all time.
A story of betrayal and personal ethics!.......2007-06-12
This tragic and thought provoking story follows the time period of the Salem Witch trials and the victims who were wrongly accused. "The Crucible" preaches for justice, truth and loyalty. When the Proctor's wife, and later on the Proctor himself, are unfortunately called under trail for relations with the devil, the pair suffers through the ordeals of asking for forgiveness of their sins or dying with pride as they know they are innocent. As they are being tried in court, Mary is the sole person who can testify if the allegations against them are true or not. In the beginning, she stayed loyal to the truth despite the pressures from society to condemn them. Yet eventually Mary breaks under the pressure of her peers and agrees that the pair is indeed guilty of their accusations, although they are innocent. She clearly gives in because of the fear she had of her own life, worrying if others would become suspicious of her. The proctor eventually refuses to repent for something he does not do, but is he still eventually hanged for his crime? Read this story to find out! As you read, benefit from it's parallels to the struggles in our society today, where the justice systems gets overly involved in the moral investments and rumors of the outside world. This book is the perfect historical account to one of the most despicable times in history, it preaches loyalty to the truth even in the worst of times.
delightful.......2007-03-27
This play by Arthur Miller is definitely worth reading, partly because of its engaging storyline and also for its succinctness. This play can pretty much be a model for what play should really be like. It has complex characters that at times both amuse and scare us, a straightforward storyline that is not without it's twists and turns, and most importantly, a fascinating topic that is in relation to historical context.
The plot revolves around the historic Salem Witch Hunt in Salem, Massachusets. A young woman named Abigail is among the others who are accused to performing witchcraft and for enthralling ordinary civilians. When they are finally proven guilty, they stand before court, but not before Abigail gains power in the justice and randomly convicts innocent women to be the "real" witches. The hyseria and corruption surrounding the court and Salem society as a whole will never be the same, as the innocent are convincted while the guilty are let go. Although fiction, this play does relate immensely to historical times, in which women indeed were sentenced to death during the trials for no reason and were never proven guilty. The story is written with eloquence and wit, with the occasional tad bit of humor and irony in the mix. The best part? The language is easy to understand, for us mere mortals at least.
A Timeless Parable; A Theatrical Masterpiece.......2007-02-15
Like many others, Elia Kazan flirted with the American Communist party in the 1930s; again like many others he was soon disgusted by the vicious totalitarianism of the Soviet Union and left the party. In the 1940s Kazan emerged as a major director, creating such films as GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT for the screen and staging playwright Arthur Miller's landmark dramas ALL MY SONS and DEATH OF A SALESMAN--but in the early 1950s his former affiliation with the American Communist Party came back to haunt him the form of the House Unamerican Activities Committee.
In the wake of World War II the American goverment began to fear that Soviet agents had infiltrated the country and were working for the overthow of American democracy. The film industry became a hotspot of investigation, with conservatives claiming that motion pictures were being used to popularize communist thought. Unfortunately, the House Unamerican Activities Committee was less interested in getting to the truth of the matter than in maintaining political power: American citizens were hauled before the committee; attacked, often for no reason; and found their careers and lives destroyed as a result. But there was a way around this. If you confessed you had been a communist (whether you had been or not), if you recanted your former beliefs (whether you had held them or not), and if you named names of others involved in the party (whether they had been or not)--you could survive. And when Kazan was called before the committee in 1952 that is precisely what he did.
Arthur Miller was so outraged by Kazan's behavior that he terminated both their longstanding friendship and highly successful working relationship; although they would eventually resume a working relationship, they had no contact for more than a decade. He also wrote a play about the situation: THE CRUCIBLE.
On the surface, THE CRUCIBLE is a retelling of the infamous Salem witch trials of 1692. The power-hungry Rev. Parrish has met with resistance in the town, and when his daughter Betty, his ward Abigail, and several other teenage girls are found dancing in the wood the community fears the worst: witchcraft. In order to protect himself, Parrish calls in Rev. Hale, an expert in such matters. In order to protect themselves, the girls confess--and then begin to name names of "other witches." In order to placate the court, those named must name others in turn, and the lies and hysteria turn into a cycle of power-grabs and revenge.
Among those named as a witch is Elizabeth Proctor, wife of John Proctor--a man who had a sordid affair with Abigail, who now sees the opportunity to get rid of Elizabeth via hanging and force Proctor into marriage. In an effort to protect his wife, Proctor goes before the court and denounces Abigail, but Abigail now turns on him as well, accusing him of being a witch. He is arrested and sentenced to hang. Rev. Hale, now aware of the fraud involved, begs Proctor to confess, even though the confession will be a lie. Proctor refuses and pays for his integrity with his life.
In broad historical outline, Miller's tale of the witch trials is quite accurate; he does, however, take considerable license with individual characters and relationships. Whatever the case, the result is a uniquely powerful play, not only as a story pure and simple but on a deeper level in its warning against the communist witch hunt of the 1950s--and any similar witch hunt, regardless of nature, which relies on a process created by those with ulterior motives and uses as evidence testimony extracted by fear of reprecussion. While most consider DEATH OF A SALESMAN Miller's finest play, I have always given that title to THE CRUCIBLE; unlike SALESMAN, which has a dated quality, THE CRUCIBLE has a timeless quality, remarkable in intensity, thought-provoking in subtext in ways which most plays are not. Strongly recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Book Description
This extraordinary book presents scenarios of one family's therapy experience and explains what underlies each encounter. You will discover the general patterns that are common to all families-stress, polarization and escalation, scapegoating, triangulation, blaming, and the diffusion of identity--and you will gain a vivid understanding of the intriguing field of family therapy.
Customer Reviews:
A New Paradigm for Me.......2007-06-06
This book was recommended to me by a psychologist as a new way to look at how we each develop in a system (in particular family relationships), and that system must be taken into account. It did just that. Through the story of a family in crisis, alternated with chapters of description and consideration of why the crisis develops, the reader is invited to understand how we can view their issues as part of a whole. For me some of the more important points included:
* How we behave and what we feel is greatly influenced by the family we are in and the dynamics of that family. For example, a daughter in the family "is elected" to become a problem because the parents need something to draw their attention away from the problems of their marriage.
* How we behave and what we feel actually can start way before we're born in grandparents and great-grandparents family dynamics.
* That communication and agreements can happen within the family even without the knowledge it's happened.
* Not to underestimate the need in healthy family dynamics for conflict.
* That healthy dynamics require honest communication of emotions we are feeling.
* Exercise of our respective authorities (parents for instance having more experience than kids so show it) are needed in healthy families.
* many more things
I did find some of the descriptions of behavior felt dated such as Freud framing more of the discussion than I currently hear in the field (both for his contributions and failures)and I believe we'd currently put different emphasis on some theories. For this I dropped a star off the rating. Nevertheless it opened my eyes to a wider understanding of myself and the dynamics of intimate human relationships around me, that become part of who I am.
Looking at the family as a whole, not the sum of parts.......2006-10-10
I first read this gem many years ago, long before I became a therapist myself. What an eye opener! Even reading the first Chapter (it's all of 11 pages) is enough to get you thinking in a fresh way about family problems. It certainly worked that way for me.
The book really is about Carl Whitaker, M.D. Augustus Napier was his understudy. Whitaker worked within the idea of family-as-a-system without limiting himself too much with theory. This allowed his methods to evolve as he treated more and more families. And it allowed a book like this to be written: lucid because it makes so much sense, dramatic because so much happens in the family whose treatment it describes, hopeful because it shows how much impact family therapy can have.
It wasn't that he didn't know theory. It's that as person he was intuitive, following his gut time and again, and eventually coming out with some guidelines for other family therapists, such as: -The therapist doesn't control the content of a family session, but she or he does control who will be there (this is dramatically dealt with in the first few chapters), -The therapist can cause change by stirring things up and getting family members to look at problems freshly, and -The therapist's job is to re-vision the problem as a communication that is somehow functional.
Typical is Whitaker's view that often the "identified patient" in the family is a stand-in for some other problem that the family cannot face without the help of a therapist.
Since this great book was written family therapy went through a boom time, was very popular. Then it became integrated into what is often called multi-modal therapy, in which family members sometimes come in individually, sometimes in small groups (ie the parents one time, the children another), sometimes as a whole. Still, it is necessary to understand family systems in order to work this way.
People looking into therapy will find this a great explanation of family issues that otherwise may seem baffling. It might also be a motivator to treatment.
Therapists trained individually will find this a fine introduction to working with families. They will also benefit from reading other luminaries in this field.
good resource for budding therapists.......2005-10-24
Napier's self-reflections as well as his piecing together a fascinating case study makes this book an inspiring, if a little dated, read for those considering or heading into family and marriage therapy.
Family in Therapy.......2005-10-02
Awesome book about family therapy. Am studying for Masters in Family Therapy so this is perfect vicarious way to look behind the scenes (inside the therapists heads) as they enter disjointed world of the subject family. They share what they are feeling, thinking and why they do what they do. An excellent example of whatworking with a co-counselor is supposed to be like. Dynamics of all the Relationships exposed in easy to follow honest terms.
Old book, still valid in many areas.......2005-09-22
We used this book in a MFT class recently at UCCS and I found it to be quite insightful in understanding the dynamics of family systems. The book covers one family through a long therapuetic process. Even though this book was written in the early 1970's and has a few outdated techniques, the scope of therapy, witnessing the impact of illuminating family-of-origin issues and having an intimate view of the personal agony therapy forces people to work through was very educational from a student counselor perspective.
Book Description
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
. . . the lives of three men will be forever changed. In that split second, defined paradoxically by both salvation and loss, they will destroy the world and then restore it. Much had come before, and much would come after, but nothing would color their lives more than that one, isolated instant on the edge of forever.
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
. . . James T. Kirk, displaced in time, allows the love of his life to die in a traffic accident, thereby preserving Earth's history. Returning to the present, he continues a storied career as a starship captain, opening up the galaxy. But as he wanders among the stars, the incandescence that once filled his heart remains elusive.
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
. . . that haunts James T. Kirk throughout his life, he preserved the timeline at the cost of his happiness. Now, facing his own death, the very fabric of existence collapses across years and light-years, forcing him to race against -- and through -- time itself, until he comes full circle to that one bright star by which his life has always steered.
Customer Reviews:
Crucible: Kirk.......2007-04-05
Out of the three books regarding McCoy, Spock & Kirk, I found the one about Kik the least enjoyable. I was surprised since the other two were outstanding reads. It was still OK and worth the time to read. It's just that the other two were that much better. Still, I'm glad to have in my ST Universe collection.
A good story........2007-03-14
the book is not as good as the other books in the triogy but not a bad story.
I loved this book - exciting read!.......2007-03-13
David George is one of my favorite writers - Star Trek or otherwise. Each book of this trilogy left me excited to read the next one. I love how all three books have new scenes that are interwoven with original series episodes. The new scenes were so good, I had a hard time recalling whether or not they were actually in the episodes. What a great way to pay tribute to the show on it's 40 year anniversary. Each book has it's own distinct tone which I also liked. The first two are more personal and character-driven. Even though this one is more action-oriented, it still manages to reveal the heart of Kirk. I like that George wasn't constrained by what was published previously. However, he remains true to the canon of the original and animated series. He also gives us a new take on the origins of Kirk - one that I find far more interesting than being the son of a starfleet admiral. After reading this, I also had a much greater appreciation for the movie, Generations. I now view it very differently. If you've got an open mind and let yourself go with the story, you'll enjoy the ride!
A Major Letdown.......2007-03-13
It is sad that this series celebrating 40 years of Star Trek did not reach our expectations of being a real contender. The initial idea could have made this the greatest Star Trek series written to date.
The first in the series, Crucible McCoy was far and away the best though it tended to ramble and to over repeat already well known classic Star Trek TV episodes and films. While longer than need be, the longest of the three in this series, it did give an interesting study of Leonard "Bones" McCoy. I gave it five stars despite reservations over the overuse of well known material. Crucible Spock was far below the first in that it was repetitive of past outings by other writers and frankly rather boring. Knowing how the second book of a triology can be less than the first I gave it four stars in charity. The idea was that the third and last book would be a hum dinger. That all the magic of classic Star Trek would be right there for us to enjoy.
Sadly this is not the case. The author admits that it was a hard book to write and it is shorter. You don't need to read the first two books, though you should the first if you haven't. David R. George III acts as though you haven't read them and repeats material from his first two. This final book in the series does not really resolve anything.
I consider myself a big Star Trek fan, have all the DVDs and a lot of memorabilia (including numerous books) in addition to knowing well several of the stars. I have used Star Trek in my teaching and have written articles about what I consider one of the media giants of the 20th Century. Had the author just combined these three books into one giant volume, only referred to past events in shows we have seen without detailing the plots of so many, and not repeated so much this would have been a great addition to any Star Trek library.
If the reader is as unsatisfied as I am about how the author ends the last days Kirk, Spock and McCoy, there are much better books. I will only recommend one series here. I refer to the series by William Shatner and company. It is the far future of Picard, Janeway and Sisko, but the three we have known so well are especially there. Kirk has survived thanks to alien outsiders, McCoy is very old and still going with the help of bionics and Spock is of course on hand. Not married, though Kirk is for a while, and free booting about the Galaxy in a special ship again saving the universe.
Shatner, or whoever is doing that writing, gives us the real Star Trek we knew and loved. Mr. George just doesn't undestand the Star Trek universe.
A disappointing final entry.......2007-03-09
After reading the first two volumes of this trilogy, featuring Dr McCoy and Mr Spock, I was excited to pick up the closing issue about James Kirk. I must say I was really quite disappointed. I really enjoyed the McCoy book and to a very slightly less extent, the one about Spock. In those character-based stories, the reader was treated to a view of the principles unlike that of most ST novels. In the final volume, however, the author decided to write an action-driven story about Kirk, with very little of the character analysis and history that made the first two so enjoyable to me.
It isn't like we were hurting for another action-packed James Kirk novel. And between the real Kirk, the nexus-Kirk, the nexus-remnant-Kirk, and future Kirk, and the post-dead Kirk, I'm not even sure which one I was reading about.
The author should have stuck with the formula of the first two.
Average customer rating:
- A great read of the play by professionals
- Crucible Excellent
- High School English help
- "Can you speak one minute without we land in Hell again? I am sick of Hell!"
- The Crucible
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The Crucible (L.A. Theatre Works Audio Theatre Collection)
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ASIN: 1580812198 |
Book Description
Arthur Miller's classic play about the with-hunts and trials in 17th century Salem is a searing portrait of a community engulfed by hysteria. In the rigid theocracy of Salem, rumors that women are practicing witchcraft galvanize the town's most basic fears and suspicions. The ruthlessness of the prosecutors and the eagerness of neighbor to testify against neighbor brilliantly illuminate the destructive power of socially-sanctioned violence. Written in 1952, The Crucible famously mirrors the anti-communist hysteria that held the United States in its grip. Directed by Martin Jenkins.
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Stacy Keach, Irene Arranga, Rene Auberjonois, Ed Begley, Jr, Georgia Brown, Jack Coleman, Bud Cort, Judyann Elder, Hector Elizondo, Fionnula Flanagan, Ann Hearn, Carol Kane, Anna Sophie Loewenberg, Marian Mercer, Franklyn Seales, Madolyn Smith, Joe Spano, and Michael York
Customer Reviews:
A great read of the play by professionals.......2007-10-03
The L.A. Theatre Works' rendition of Miller's _The Crucible_ is an excellent demonstration of the actor's craft, as the tenor, pitch and emotive power of the play bring the characters to life. On the recommendation of Amazon reviewers, I used this for my English class (in addition to the Daniel Day-Lewis / Winona Rider DVD and a class read-around) to get a feel for the play and the various theatrical interpretations of the work.
As a previous reviewer noted, there are some differences between the audio version and Miller's script, but they are minor, and if one is not using the entire CD, a moot point. The performances are fantastic, and, as others have mentioned, it certainly gives life to the written word. Outside of a classroom, I couldn't recommend it, but as a teaching tool, it is first-rate.
Crucible Excellent.......2007-03-13
I used this as a review of the play for my students and was very pleased with the performances. A little disappointed with some of the cuts they made, but do realize the necessity for cuts.
High School English help.......2006-11-06
I find that books on CD help my 17 year old get an edge on his English projects. He has a reading disability that makes conventional book reading difficult so books on tape or CD are an answer to his problems.
"Can you speak one minute without we land in Hell again? I am sick of Hell!".......2006-09-14
When John Proctor says these words at the beginning of this play, he has no idea that he himself will face accusations of being in league with the Devil. Though he has sinned by committing adultery with Abigail Williams, he believes the witchcraft trials which will ultimately consumed him to be the result of human, rather than godly, forces. Playwright Arthur Miller sets the scene for this action in an Overture explaining the theocracy which controlled Salem. Powerful clergymen, some more rigid in their interpretations of Scripture than others, "protected" citizens by enforcing conformity with the church's teachings.
Through detailed character sketches inserted into the structure of the play, Miller broadens the realism, and when a group of hysterical young women makes accusations of witchcraft, resulting ultimately in the deaths of nineteen of their fellow-citizens, Miller has prepared his audience to accept the trials and the behavior of the characters as plausible. His straightforward prose, use of homely details, and simple sentence structure (despite its archaic tone) further add to the realism. When the affair between John Proctor and Abigail Williams, who precipitates and then promotes the hysteria among the young "afflicted" girls, is revealed within the play, the modern reader is given a "hook" with which to identify with characters and situations which might otherwise feel foreign.
Miller's play is a powerful revelation of themes involving mass hysteria, fear of the unknown, and a belief in the essential evil hidden within the hearts of men. As the accused are required to prove their innocence, questions regarding the role of individualism within this society, its intolerance of differences, its justice as defined by the state and by clergymen who differ, and the hysteria which grows from repression all surface within the dramatic action, leading to an intensity of feeling rare in modern theater. When John Proctor is faced with a choice of telling the truth and being sentenced to death or lying and being saved, the ironies of the play are fully revealed.
Written in 1952, slightly before the McCarthy era, Miller's depiction of these trials presages the McCarthy hearings and illustrates his belief that the fear of Communism is the equivalent of fear of the Devil in colonial times. Miller, however, has selected facts which illustrate his point of view and his themes, making no pretense of accuracy regarding the witchcraft trials themselves. In reality, Abigail Williams was eleven, and John Proctor was sixty, quite different from the dramatic circumstances here. Mary Whipple
The Crucible.......2006-03-18
The printing is of poor quality, some pages are genuinely difficult to read. Since I was unable to view pages on the website I was unaware of the print quality. I would choose a different edition, if I had it to do again.
Book Description
Primitive man's discovery of the ability to change matter from one state to another brought about a profound change in spiritual behavior. In The Forge and the Crucible, Mircea Eliade follows the ritualistic adventures of these ancient societies, adventures rooted in the people's awareness of an awesome new power.
The new edition of The Forge and the Crucible contains an updated appendix, in which Eliade lists works on Chinese alchemy published in the past few years. He also discusses the importance of alchemy in Newton's scientific evolution.
Customer Reviews:
strong on ideas, research inconsistent.......2007-05-20
As usual Eliade spins wonderful philosophical and spiritual ideas laid over history. And they make engrossing reading. I don't know how much one can trust the historical facts cited throughout this work. For example Eliade says the earliest known metallurgy was in the mountains of Armenia in 1200-1200 BC. In fact it is now widely accepted that the Ban Chiang (present-day NE Thailand) was forging bronze tools and ornaments at least by 2200 BC, possibly earlier.
Still, well worth reading for the ideas.
Great Introductions to a fascinating subject.......2001-12-11
If I had my time over again I would read these three books on alchemy in the following order: All of them are excellent in their own sphere to introduce a complex process.
(1) The Forge and the Crucible - Eliade
This is an excellent prehistory of alchemy showing the patterns of thought out of which Alchemy most probably arose. An easy read.
(2) Anatomy of the Soul - Edinger
Set out according to seven processes involved in alchemy Calcinatio, Solutio, Coagulatio, Sublimatio, Mortificatio, Separatio, Coniunctio, this is an accessible book that puts each process in reasonably neat boxes, (though the considerable overlap and intermingling is acknowledged). The approach is somewhat mechanical.
(3) Alchemy, an Introduction... - Von Franz.
More 'organic' than Edinger, Von Franz has a very warm and human touch. She deals with the origins of alchemy in Egypt and Greece and delves into the 'Aurora Consurgens', attributed to Aquinas. She includes relevent and interesting case material. Being a transcription of lectures, it is a little haphazard, though none the less informative for that.
TAKING A GLANCE TO THE MYSTERIES OF ALCHEMY.......2000-11-23
Lucidly and masterly written, this study on the origins and meaning of ancient Alchemy is a highly useful and recommendable one. As always, M. Eliade has collected a vast amount of data concerning this issue and has reached far-reaching conclusions as for the value, the role and the meaning of the otherwise rather vague world of Alchemy. Very important for anyone interested in knowing about the theme.
Book Description
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
...the lives of three men will be forever changed. In that split second, defined paradoxically by both salvation and loss, they will destroy the world and then restore it. Much had come before, and much would come after, but nothing would color their lives more than that one, isolated instant on the edge of forever.
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
...Spock, displaced in time, watches his closest friend heed his advice by allowing the love of his life to die in a traffic accident, thereby preserving Earth's history. Returning to the present, however, Spock confronts other such crises, and chooses instead to willfully alter the past. Challenged by the thorny demands of his logic, he will have to find a way to face his conflicting decisions.
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
...that stays with Spock, he preserved the timeline at the cost of Jim Kirk's happiness. Now, the death of that friend will cause Spock to reexamine the fundamental choices he has made for his own life. Unwilling to accept his feelings of loss and regret, he will seek that which has previously eluded him: complete mastery of his emotions. But while his quest for the perfect geometry of total logic will move him beyond his remorse, another loss will bring him full circle to once more face the fire he has never embraced.
Customer Reviews:
Good book, but...........2007-08-02
This is a good book, but I was disappointed about the (other than flashbacks) elimination of the character of Saavik. She really needed to have been featured in this novel. And while i realize that TREK books are not considered 'canon', the writer took A LOT of creative liberty in the last three pages of this novel with Spock.
A good read overall.
Second book in trilogy a disappointment.......2007-06-27
In his introduction to this book, David R. George III writes that he trashed his original plot for this book-I wish he hadn't as it could only have been better than what he produced. This book is totally inconsistent with the character of Spock as portrayed in the post-series movies. This plot is unbelivable to the point of insulting: we are expected to believe that Spock, who has certainly faced his share of sorrow and passed with flying colors, would be so unhinged by the death of Kirk that he would again seek to purge his emotions through Kolinar and that his Vulcan teachers would encourage such a cowardly motive. The ending was simplistic and equally insulting. (By the way, those wishing to read a more believable and rewarding account of the death of Amanda should read "Sarek" by A.C. Crispin.) The only positive aspect of the book is that character of Alexandra and Spock's romance with her but only a few pages are given to this part of Spock's life, as opposed to the rich characterization of McCoy's love interest in the previous, much superior book. One receives the impression that Mr. George had little passion for this character and only sought to get his second book out of the way in order to move on the third; however, I was so displeased with this book that I refuse to read the third. Rewrite, Mr. George-rewrite! I can't believe that this shoddy piece of work made it past your editor's desk!
Intriguing study of relationship between character and event.......2007-06-08
The three Crucible books present the story of the Hugo-winning TOS episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" (in which Edith Keeler is killed) in three new ways, incorporating ideas about time travel that were developed in Star Trekiana years after this episode was aired. The main character in each book (in this book, of course, Spock) experiences this adventure they share in different ways, and for each it becomes a central (if not THE central) event among their many life experiences which simultaneously shapes, defines, and expresses the character of the individual. The story is expanded in ways that might have been inconceivable at the time the original episode was written. If you love the TOS characters as much as I do and if you enjoy what I can only term psychological fiction, then you will truly enjoy all three of these books -- but I don't think any one of these books is truly meaningful without the other two.
Poor continuity research!.......2007-05-16
Poor continuity research! Spock's mother's death was a major theme in the book by A.C.Crispin published in 1994, where she died of a wasting disease, so how come she dies here in a shuttle accident?
Not the greatest read .....
Second in the Crucible Trilogy.......2007-04-09
I bought all 3 of the trilogy, read them in order back to back. I must say this second one was slightly disappointing. I feel I've known Spock for 40+ years, but I hardly recognised him here. One thing that bothered me was Spock's use of contractions. I don't think I''d seen that before anywhere. This book deals almost exclusively with his pursuit of ridding himself of emotion. Then there's an illogical ending kind of tacked on. Mr George is an excellent story teller as witnessed in the first book (McCoy). Where the first was a 5* plus this is only a 3*.
Book Description
Crucible of Power is an updated, revised version of Howard Jones's classic text Quest for Security: A History of U.S. Foreign Relations from 1897. This book, available again for use in the classroom, presents a straightforward, balanced, and c
Customer Reviews:
Crucible of Power.......2007-06-12
Jones' book is presented in a very straight forward fashion. The information is presented extremely well and is easy to understand. I took Dr. Jones' American foreign policy class at the University of Alabama in 2006 and this book was the primary text used in class, obviously. The book goes in depth in issues from the digging of the Panama Canal to the end of the Cold War. His research is well thought out and is a great book for those interested in U.S. diplomatic relations or foreign policy.
mead review.......2007-02-19
The book is great for those interested in history and its interpretation, as well as for the students who study the US foreign policy
Considers wartime and peacetime events and measures.......2001-11-09
Howard Jones' Crucible Of Power is an essential history of American foreign relations from 1897 to modern times, and should be considered a mainstay of any serious history and political science collection. It surveys America's growth from an emerging power in the 1890s to its dominance in modern global events, considering wartime and peacetime events and measures.
Book Description
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
. . . the lives of three men will be forever changed. In that split second, defined paradoxically by both salvation and loss, they will destroy the world and then restore it. Much had come before, and much would come after, but nothing would color their lives more than that one, isolated instant on the edge of forever.
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
. . . Leonard McCoy, displaced in time, saves a woman from dying in a traffic accident, and in so doing alters Earth's history. Stranded in the past, he struggles to find a way back to his own century. But living an existence he was not meant to, he will eventually have to move on, and ultimately face the shadows born of his lost life.
IN A SINGLE MOMENT
. . . Leonard McCoy, displaced in time, is prevented from saving a woman from dying in a traffic accident, allowing Earth's history to remain unchanged. Returning to the present, he encounters a medical mystery he is committed to solving. But the echoes of an existence he never lived haunt him, and the specter of a premature death will bring him full circle to the shadows he has never faced.
Customer Reviews:
Dr. McCoy's Multiple Lives.......2007-09-03
Somehow this was more tedious than the other two Crucible novels -- perhaps because there was so much retelling of known material about Dr. McCoy. But the fascinating speculation of what his life might have become had he been marooned (or in the timeline where he WAS marooned) in early 20th century Earth was fascinating and worth rehashing all the other stuff for.
Expecting more.......2007-08-12
Provenance of Shadows left me disappointed and wanting. I don't deny that there was some good parts in there, and George's narative skills are fantastic, but the inclusion of McCoy's romantic episodes in the past and future as an in depth look into his psche left a lot to be desired. It would've ranked amoung my favorites had George not overstepped the bounds. Frankly, I'm surprised Pocket Books allowed its publication. As it is, PoS as the initials fit nicely.
In my opinion, Friedman does a much better job of catching the real McCoy in "Shadows on the Sun"
Very, very good........2007-07-13
There is not too much that I can say that the other posters haven't said, really. A very good book, but just to let you know, there are numerous references to events that happened in the animated series of STAR TREK, so do your homework if you notice a reference to an event that you are not familiar with.
Very good!.......2007-05-17
I liked the "what if" scenario and how the book follows the original episodes and movies in sequence. If you're familiar with the series then you'll have no problem visualizing the storyline as it intertwines with the plots of the original episodes. I really enjoyed it.
A very touching, character driven Star Trek novel.......2007-05-03
While I wouldn't consider myself a "Trekker" I have seen all the original episodes and the movies. I've read a few of the novels but this is the rare Star Trek novel I consider to be a really good work of fiction. It brings together so many threads in the Star Trek timeline and gives much deeper insight into the personal life of Leonard McCoy. It's thought provoking, well researched and best of all very effective on an emotional level. The only thing to be aware of with this novel is that it does require a good knowledge of the Star Trek universe to enjoy. This is the kind of book that you'll find yourself thinking about for sometime after you've finished it.
Customer Reviews:
Mini-Review: "Militant Islam in Southeast Asia - Crucible of Terror" by Zachary Abuza .......2006-07-19
I acquired this book, "Militant Islam in Southeast Asia," in order to do some background research for a novel I am writing. My book is a long-term project with no projected publication date as yet. It is a rather ambitious undertaking - a retelling of "The Odyssey" set as an Al Qaeda terrorist story that takes place partly in Indonesia! So, in preparation for an eventual fact finding trip to Indonesia, I have been doing some reading about terrorism and Southeast Asia.
Zachary Abuza is on the faculty in the Political Science and International Relations Department at Simmons College in Boston. He has traveled extensively in researching this book, which has received enthusiastic praise from many quarters.
W. Scott Thompson of Tuft's University's legendary Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy had this to say about Abuza's work:
"Showing an astonishing persistence in tying together the threads of the terrorist threat, Abuza has come up with a dazzling display of Al-Qaida at work. It is rare that a book comes out with so deep and thoughtful analysis of a contemporary subject - this may well become the standard reference on everything happening in the Southeast Asian theater of the world terror crisis."
Barnett, in "The Pentagon's New Map," and in his recent "Blueprint for Action," makes it clear that Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, will play a pivotal role over the next several decades in impacting the balance of power among the leaders of what Barnett calls "the Core" and the "New Core." Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world, and will play a significant part in determining the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. Therefore, Abuza's seminal work becomes a very helpful tool in understanding how terrorism in general - and Al-Qaeda in particular - may serve as a crucial factor in determining how the relationship between the West and the worldwide Muslim may evolve.
Using painstakingly well-documented and footnoted research, Abuza traces the growing influence of Al-Qaeda in Southeast Asia - from Afghanistan and the jihad against the Soviets to the bombing in Bali and beyond. His basic premise follows a logical chain of events. Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, many zealous Southeast Asians who had fought as mujahadin returned to Asia to use their skills and battlefield experiences to bring the passion of jihad to several local struggles to establish autonomous Muslim states through Southeast Asia. These struggles included the secessionist movements in Mindanao, East Timor, Sulawesi and the Malukus and Aceh - among others. Once the U.S. attacked Afghanistan to topple the Taliban and neutralize the command and control of Bin-Laden's team, Al-Qaeda was forced to flee from its lair in Afghanistan and scatter among a handful of safe havens - many in Southeast Asia. At first, these safe havens - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand - were used as a convenient "back offices" for Al-Qaeda to conduct training, money-laundering, weapons acquisition and coalition building. Al-Qaeda also funded and co-opted many local insurgents and gave them a vision of taking part in a global jihad against the "savage intervention of the American Crusade Armed Forces and their allies [who are involved] in the Muslim cleansing scheme. . . as a `harsh reprimand' to Jews and Christians led by American heathens in oppressing and tainting the Islamic holy land, where the Revelation of the Prophets descended." (Pages 166-167).
Eventually, the terrorists took advantage of lax security and political dissent in these nations to launch terrorist attacks on soft targets within these host nations - the bombing in Bali being the most spectacular and deadly among these incidents.
For anyone who wants to develop a more comprehensive understanding of where Al-Qaeda is heading in its long-term strategy and short-term tactics, this book as a valuable resource.
Al
Frustrating work.......2004-11-05
This is a frustrating work. You read the glowing blurbs (none of them experts on Southeast Asia, to my knowledge) and you expect a great book. The book does not, alas deliver: it is good in some ways, not in others.
At one level, the book is quite good. Abuza manages to tie together a wide variety of facts into a coherent narrative. The book reads reasonably well, although there is clear evidence of haste (e.g. misspelled names). If you knew little about Islam or Southeast Asia, you'd probably come away with the impression that this is a crackerjack book.
But what if you *do* know something about Islam or Southeast Asia? Alas, here the book is irritating. Take this howler: "Because Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, it is easier for radicals and terrorists to fit in." (p. 123). That is an absurd statement. (On the same page, Abuza opines about former PM of Malaysia Mahathir's "insecurity about being a Muslim Malay" -- who knows what he is talking about?)
Abuza, to his credit, usually avoids such bizarre claims. But he resorts to a formulation all too common on "terrorism" experts: that there is something called "moderate" Islam in SEA and then radical or extremist (which he identifies with "Wahhabis" or Salafis).
If you know anything about Salafis, you know that Saudi Arabia is full of them, some of them probably seeing themselves as Salafis committed the 9/11 attacks . . . BUT that the vast majority of them do not embrace terrorism! No matter. Abuza paints with a broad brush and thus smears all Salafis without explaining what, exactly, in their beliefs makes them terrorists. This is intellectually lazy. It explains nothing.
The use of terror is a TACTIC. It is a tactic used by weak non-state groups of all sorts of backgrounds. What we really need to know is why, at this particular time in history, a tiny percentage of Salafis have decided that it is the tactic to use.
One last point: Abuza seems to like "moderate" Muslims. WEll, almost all Indonesians are Muslims. Some of these so-called moderates (e.g. NU, the military leadership) engaged in the killings of 1965-66 that left about 500,000 civilians dead. Some of these "moderates" killed East Timorese (over 100,000). But just as I would never use this as proof that "moderate" Muslims are bloodthirsty thugs BECAUSE OF THEIR ISLAM, so I don't think that individuals are terrorists because of their
Islam. Islam contributes a world view, and many Salafis are rigid and uncompromising in their beliefs. . . one might want to argue that Salafis are more *predisposed* to the use of terror . . . but Abuza does not even make that more nuanced argument.
My advice: read this book for the story of the different networks of terrorists in SEA. Take some of its claims with a grain of salt: after all, who really respects the Philippine intelligence services, who provide some data to Abuza. But discount Abuza's explanations on Islam.
sloppy and pandering.......2004-03-20
This book is rubbish. Abuza uses weak secondary sources with third rate results. He does not know the relevant languages to do substantive research (Indonesian, at least) and has cobbled together a text that panders to the most paranoid of policymakers. He's part of the fear-mongering industry and his work should be read with great skepticism, if read at all.
Superb Book, Shows what OPEN Sources Provided, Great Speaker.......2004-01-25
I have the advantage, in reviewing this book, of having heard the author present his views in a superb illustrated briefing that held 150 government intelligence professionals glued into their seats and fixated on the author's rapid-fire compelling presentation.
This man is a brilliant scholar who has returned to the almost lost art of combining persistent field work with foreign language open sources (both printed and oral), and thoughtful analysis.
Across the board, from his narrative to his footnotes to his bibliography to his index, this book is as good as it gets. This is a world-class contribution to our understanding in three areas: 1) what can be known about terrorism and militant Islam from open sources of information (but is being largely ignored by the so-called professional intelligence agencies that are obsessing on secret sources and methods; 2) what governments in Southeast Asia are and are not doing about it (in many cases, abusing American naiveté or being put off by American arrogance; and 3) where militant Islam is going in this area--be afraid, be very afraid.
If all academics were this good, we would not need spies. This book and this author represent the very best scholarship that one could ask for. The author is the Program Director for East Asian Studies and associate professor of international politics at Simmons College. Goggling him yields a fine selection of interviews and Congressional testimony.
Essential Reading.......2004-01-05
This is a fascinating book that examines the Southeast Asian terrorist network in chilling detail. It is highly readable, yet filled with data and information. It is essential reading for all those interested in Southeast Asian terrorism,and to understand how Al Qaeda has morphed.
Amazon.com
Histories of the American Revolution tend to start in 1763, the end of the Seven Year's War, a worldwide struggle for empire that pitted France against England in North America, Europe, and Asia. Fred Anderson, who teaches history at the University of Colorado, takes the story back a decade and explains the significance of the conflict in American history. Demonstrating that independence was not inevitable or even at first desired by the colonists, he shows how removal of the threat from France was essential before Americans could develop their own concepts of democratic government and defy their imperial British protectors. Of great interest is the importance of Native Americans in the conflict. Both the French and English had Indian allies; France's defeat ended a diplomatic system in which Indian nations, especially the 300-year-old Iroquois League, held the balance between the colonial powers. In a fast-paced narrative, Anderson moves with confidence and ease from the forests of Ohio and battlefields along the St. Lawrence to London's House of Commons and the palaces of Europe. He makes complex economic, social, and diplomatic patterns accessible and easy to understand. Using a vast body of research, he takes the time to paint the players as living personalities, from George III and George Washington to a host of supporting characters. The book's usefulness and clarity are enhanced by a hundred landscapes, portraits, maps, and charts taken from contemporary sources. Crucible of War is political and military history at its best; it never flags and is a pleasure to read. --John Stevenson
Book Description
In this vivid and compelling narrative, the Seven Years' War–long seen as a mere backdrop to the American Revolution–takes on a whole new significance. Relating the history of the war as it developed, Anderson shows how the complex array of forces brought into conflict helped both to create Britain’s empire and to sow the seeds of its eventual dissolution.
Beginning with a skirmish in the Pennsylvania backcountry involving an inexperienced George Washington, the Iroquois chief Tanaghrisson, and the ill-fated French emissary Jumonville, Anderson reveals a chain of events that would lead to world conflagration. Weaving together the military, economic, and political motives of the participants with unforgettable portraits of Washington, William Pitt, Montcalm, and many others, Anderson brings a fresh perspective to one of America’s most important wars, demonstrating how the forces unleashed there would irrevocably change the politics of empire in North America.
Customer Reviews:
A historical tome.......2007-07-30
This serious work of American history does not take the easy route. At over 750 pages, the French and Indian War is described in deeper levels of details and analysis that I ever thought possible. The French and Indian War has always been given short shrift in American History. Probably because it occurred before there was an America, and most of the well known heroes were British Generals. Many of which became the "enemy" during the American Revolution.
The author makes several attempts to portray the French and Indian war as a critical part of the foundation of the American Revolution. This he does. The book is dense and the author spares no expense in describing the events of the time. This book is not for you if you want a quick read. It is almost several books in one. It covers topics such as English politics, the Stamp Act, and Intra-Indian relations in such detail, they could each be their own book. Little is heard from the common solider or settler. They are mainly backdrop to the politicians and generals who form the base of the work. The book is a worthy piece of serious history and I will not be clamoring for another book on the French and Indian War anytime soon
Introduction to the American Revolution.......2007-05-31
I picked up this large book on a subject of little personal interest at the time thining to read one chapter just for a change of pace. I pu5t the book aside after reading the last page wishing the thing hadn't ended so soon. This is a marvelous book: scholarly, intellectual, highly readable, enjoyed by people who would normally never read a book on the Seven Years War who are glad they did. If you see a book by Fred Anderson read it! You'll like it.
A reading adventure by any count.......2007-04-29
The fat 700+ pages should not deter the reader from starting this wonderful start-to-finish history and story. The start and finish is pegged at each end with none other than our own George Washington, and the pages go by swiftly. The audio version of the book, read by a king's-Englishman voice-over, is good listening, but you really need the book to see all those excellent old drawings, maps, and illustrations. Because of the huge number of events and personalities - American, Indian, English, and French - it is nearly impossible to spend much time on any particular one (any one except George Washington, of course), as this would make the book an arm-breaker to carry around.
At the beginning we almost have an "uh oh" when the author, bow-tied professorial picture on the dust jacket and all, launches into the importance of the native Indian population in this war. He easily could have spent the book ranting about only this point, and the work would be less interesting and far less read. This fair point, not often recognized, though, was made and then put into perspective. The bigger point was that the French and Indian War was the first world war in history. Not a total war, which had to await Napoleon, but a war that spanned the globe in extent.
One can wonder if in France this war is called the "English and Indian War," or if there were Iroquois archives, the "Four-Faced English and French War" by our native citizens!
Eye-opening Account.......2007-01-19
I enjoyed this account very much. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down to work on my classwork. While it is a very detailed historical account, it reads in many places like a novel. The only problem that I had with the book was that the sources were buried in a end note format in the back of the book and often times was difficult to peruse for source information.
The first world war.......2006-12-14
Crucible of war provides an excellent look at what is arguably the first world wide conflict. From the United States to India this book does an excellent job of showing how France lost most of its world wide empire and the British rose to dominance. The ideas of the American Revolution are born out of this war and the stage is set for slave revolts in the Caribbean. This war is absolutely essential for anyone who wants to study British Empire or the American Revolution. This book is five stars and provides the best account that I have read yet. While others go into parts of the war this is the only comprehensive that really treats the war for what it is. A world war.
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- The Dark Highlander
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- The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
- The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life's Dreams
- The Power of One: A Novel
- The Rules of Engagement: The Art of Strategic Prayer And Spiritual Warfare
- The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny
- The Smoke Jumper
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