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.

Fires in the Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from High School Students

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Kids know what they WANT, but do they know what they NEED?
one of the best books for new or old teachers
Please read this book teachers!
I wish I had read this before my first year of teaching
Fires in the Bathroom

Fires in the Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from High School Students
Kathleen Cushman , and Lisa Delpit
Manufacturer: New Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1565849965

Book Description

The acclaimed book of practical advice from students to their teachers.

Since its initial publication in hardcover in 2003, Fires in the Bathroom has been through multiple printings and received the attention of teachers across the country. Now in paperback, Kathleen Cushman's groundbreaking book offers original insights into teaching teenagers in today's hard-pressed urban high schools from the point of view of the students themselves. It speaks to both new and established teachers, giving them firsthand information about who their students are and what they need to succeed.

Students from across the country contributed perceptive and pragmatic answers to questions of how teachers can transcend the barriers of adolescent identity and culture to reach the diverse student body in today's urban schools. With the fresh and often surprising perspectives of youth, they tackle tough issues such as increasing engagement and motivation, teaching difficult academic material, reaching English-language learners, and creating a classroom culture where respect and success go hand in hand.

Customer Reviews:

Kids know what they WANT, but do they know what they NEED?.......2006-01-30

If you eat chips in class, the teacher will give you a detention.
If you eat chips while working, your boss will fire you.
Ms. Cushman likes it when kids say what they want. But she forgot that when they graduate and go to work, they can't always get what they want. You have to listen to your boss at work or lose your job.
Following orders at school is good practice for the day you start working for a living.

one of the best books for new or old teachers.......2005-08-31

I was in the bookstore browsing and found this book. I've been teaching college students for over ten years, but only began teaching community college four years ago, and thus feel a bit at sea sometimes with the "high school mentality." This book contains some things that are obvious to those who have been teaching for a long time, but it's almost certain that at least one or two of the views of the kids will be helpful and will translate directly into classroom practice in a way that few books on teaching do.
The insights this book provides into what highschools are like, especially for kids in large city schools, are invaluable. I was surprised to find myself already following a piece of advice I read in the book in the classroom the next day. Definetely worth reading.

Please read this book teachers!.......2003-09-15

This book ROCKS. I wish that all of my teachers would read it. High school kids are sick of being treated like second class citizens or caged animals and finally here we get some respect. Thank you Kathleen Cushman for listening to intelligent teenagers and getting their words into print.

I wish I had read this before my first year of teaching.......2003-09-08

This book was awesome! If I had read this before my first year of teaching, I would have been a much better teacher. I'm really glad I came across it in a bookstore and bought it on a whim as I entered my second year of teaching. It's a book that I know I will read again after a bad day to connected to my students' point of view. It's also a book that I plan to share with many of my colleagues. It really hepled me see things from a kids' perspective. I think it will change my teaching for the better.

Fires in the Bathroom.......2003-08-21

Research has shown a persistent divide among teachers and students across the country, and Fires in the Bathroom did a good job at specifically addressing how the students feel and are driven. It also provided, from the students perspectives, many solutions as to what would work for them. This made it particularly apparent however, the complexities that the teacher would presume to encounter in his or her role. The book in itself hopefully will have some positive effects on teenagers that educators are wanting to listen and learn what they are about. It is a book I would recommend to new and seasoned teachers both, to either become or reacquaint themselves with the diversity of students and how much of an impact a teacher can make in their lives.

The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes: Glazing & Firing at Cone 10 (A Lark Ceramics Book)

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On my "must own" list
Great Book
The ultimate guide
A highly practical reference especially for ceramic artists
A Must Read for Potters

The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes: Glazing & Firing at Cone 10 (A Lark Ceramics Book)
John Britt
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Ceramics | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1579904254

Book Description

With hundreds of recipes for some of the most popular and enduring high-fire glazes used today, this reference will prove a boon to ceramicists who want to master this complex aspect of the art. Author John Britt, who recently served as Clay Coordinator at the respected Penland School of Crafts, has personally tested many of the recipes himself, and carefully reviews every one. He offers a thorough examination of glaze materials, chemistry, and tools, and presents the basics of mixing, application, and firing procedures. There’s specific information on each type of glaze, including copper, iron, shino, salt/soda, crystalline, and more. An exhaustive index of subjects and a separate index of glaze recipes will help ceramicists find what they need, quickly and easily.

Customer Reviews:

On my "must own" list.......2007-08-27

I discovered this book, AFTER painstakingly researching, gathering and testing glaze recipes to arrive at my glaze pallet. My condensed list of gathered glazes that work well and that I enjoy are all in this book. I could have saved so much time had I just got this book to start with. For anybody interested in glaze mixing, I recommend it. It contains recipes from potters who you see often which is nice. Ever want to how they got that color or effect? You can see their recipes and see for yourself.

My only wish, and it's minimal considering, is that there was a picture of a test tile for every glaze recipe given. As it is, there are still quite a few examples, but you still have to do some testing on your own to see what they others do. It covers mixing, testing, and firing very well too.

Great Book.......2006-04-04

I own many ceramics books and I think that this is my favorite! Unlike most books, it has photos of every glaze recipe. It has photos of melt tests for many different chemicals. Overall amazing book!!!

The ultimate guide.......2005-08-02

this book is the ceramic's bible for high fire glazes. Well organized with beautiful photos, this book answers every question a person might have. The book contains hundreds of glazes with ample photos for reference, a must have for any potter

A highly practical reference especially for ceramic artists .......2004-11-13

The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes is a highly practical reference especially for ceramic artists - potters and sculptors who glaze their work, put it in a kiln, and then wait and see what comes out. Written by a practicing ceramicist of 20 years' experience, The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes uses full-color photographs, charts, and extensive detail to instruct artists in exactly what to expect when placing their work under fire. From technical information about the oxides that make up glazes, to a walkthrough of all aspects of cone 10 glaze-making including mixing the glaze and firing procedures for fuel and electronic kilns, to means of controlling a kiln's firing temperature and atmosphere for each type of glaze, hundreds of glaze recipes, and much more, The Complete Guide To High-Fire Glazes is a "must-have" for any dedicated ceramicist and a treasure simply to browse for its wealth of beautiful ceramic works for everyone else.

A Must Read for Potters.......2004-10-13

Potters are largely known as a generous group. However, there are a few clay artists whose working methods are kept like a closely guarded secret. If there were any secrets with regard to high fire ceramics, John Britt has shed light on a range of materials and processes that will help aspiring ceramists working in this challenging area. Some of the topics covered by Mr. Britt include raw materials, mixing, application, firing, and glaze recipes. The chart for limits and firing cycles are especially informative. In addition to the illustrations, I also a appreciate the photographic images of the pottery and sculpture. They are well lit and in full color and provide an example of the glaze color and texture. I highly recommend "The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes." It is a must read for potters.

Firefighting Operations In High-Rise And Standpipe-Equipped Buildings

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Firefighting Operations In High-Rise And Standpipe-Equipped Buildings
David M. McGrail
Manufacturer: Fire Engineering Books & Videos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Firefighting & Prevention | Civil Service | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1593700547

Book Description

This book establishes a proper firefighting mindset and promotes maintaining preparedness for the extreme physical and mental demands of firefighting operations in high-rise and standpipe equipped buildings. Armed with firefighting weapons that would be much more appropriate at a car fire, far too many fire departments are on a collision course with disaster and tragedy, should they encounter a serious high-rise fire. Countless false alarms, along with “good luck” while relying on bad habits, have greatly exacerbated the deadly disease of complacency. District Chief McGrail draws from his 25 years of experience, along with the lessons learned from many other fire service professionals, to provide a foundation for success and safety during high-rise and standpipe operations. The words “Everyone Comes Home” are just words. The actions necessary to ensure that everyone does come home are based on a lifelong commitment to excellence, and the consistent application of good fireground habits. This book is a compilation of those good habits and the many lessons learned by a man who is truly passionate about firefighting and firefighter safety and survival.

Among the many valuable topics covered in this book are:

• Standpipe system pressure regulating devices, pressure restricting devices and pressure reducing valves

• Cautious and disciplined elevator use during high-rise operations

• Elevator rescue operations

• Proper engine company suppression selection, including techniques to operate more powerful firefighting weapons with limited manpower

• Air support operations during high-rise emergencies, with or without an internal resource

Average customer rating:

Essential reading for fans of the Ring of Fire series.
Brilliant idea
Ring of Fire on fire
Essential background for 1633
A great addition to the franchise

Ring of Fire (Assiti Shards)
Eric Flint
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416509089

Book Description

The battle between democracy and tyranny is joined, and the American Revolution has begun over a century ahead of schedule. A cosmic accident has shifted a modern West Virginia town back through time and space to land it and its twentieth century technology in Germany in the middle of the Thirty Years War. History must take a new course as American freedom and democracy battle against the squabbling despots of seventeenth-century Europe. Continuing the story begun in the hit novels 1632 and 1633, the New York Times best-selling creator of Honor Harrington, David Weber, the best-selling fantasy star Mercedes Lackey, best-selling SF and fantasy author Jane Lindskold, space adventure author K. D. Wentworth, Dave Freer, co-author of the hit novels Rats, Bats & Vats and Pyramid Scheme (both Baen), and Eric Flint himself combine their considerable talents in a shared-universe volume that will be a "must-have" for every reader of 1632 and 1633.

Customer Reviews:

Essential reading for fans of the Ring of Fire series........2007-03-30

I'm tempted to give this anthology 5-stars (which no anthology I've ever read has received). The majority of the stories here are fantastic and add significantly to the overall story behind 1632/1633. Only two or three of the stories (out of ~13) failed to impress me much and bring down the overall appeal of the book, but they are pretty short and shouldn't hamper anyone from enjoying the whole. Eric Flint's reasoning for promoting this book is sound. These stories help flesh out the characters in and around Grantville, introducing headline characters from future books and giving the reader a better grasp of the overall situations in the 30 Year War. Most of the stories take place around the same time as 1633.

Besides being enjoyable and fun to read, these stories accomplish the important task of progressing the overall story behind the series. Especially the last (and longest) story, written by Flint himself, which tells of the initiation of hostilities with Emperor Ferdinand and the alliance with Wallenstein to free Bohemia from Spain. Other stories fill in what happened in scenes that you were not privileged to in 1633, such as In The Navy, by David Weber, where you witness the recruitment of Simpson and the founding of the Navy.

Fans of 1632 and the following books should definitely take the time to read this book. It'll enhance your overall understanding of the situation and bring the characters into fuller life.

Brilliant idea.......2006-10-18

A brilliant idea: both this book and the new series of which it is a part. All red-blooded Americans will like these stories, and probably many Germans, too.

This is a better reading book than Flint's "1632" or "1633." Those are the novels that introduced the idea, of a bunch of small-town West Virginians mysteriously transported back to 1632 in south German lands in the middle of the misery of the Thirty Years War, into a series. This volume is the first to consist of a number of short stories and a novela, each one focused on a single topic or set of characters that are much simpler to understand than the novels. The argumentation or plots are short and tight here. Each story is an entire capsule, rather than open-ended threads (as in the novels), within a saga that is gradually spreading to encompass (and rewrite the "history" of) all of Europe, and equally difficult to integrate. The "main line" of novels sprawls a good bit, each juggling numerous parallel threads--like real history-- which will all, hopefully, link up some day. In this collection we get entire stories of how some line of innovation got started after the Americans arrived down-time, such as naval ships, the dye industry, religious rapprochements, telegraphy, infiltration, and the propagation of the American way, seen as the only route to survival. The idea is a bit like Twain's The Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, but now for an entire town of 3500 facing and adapting to the brutal challenges of a strife-torn Europe.

The brilliant innovation of the series is its structure. Besides the novels, written by the creator Eric Flint and picked collaborators, Ring of Fire begins a line of anthologies that fill out the big picture developed in those huge novels. This anthology is not the usual passel of authors riffing on someone's created world, each in their own inimitable but clashing styles. It includes stories set in the world of "1632" submitted by unknown authors over email, taking advantage of an intense online community that has grown for the further development of this world. They produce a coherent collection of disparate stories, but linked by style and consistent background events, thanks to Flint's strong editorial hand and the cooperation of the writers. Significantly, some stories provide the backstory of major characters seen in the novels, while others show the contributions of minor characters to the fight for survival. Most remarkably, new characters are also introduced who will be allowed to become leading actors in the future main line novels. This series is a truly collaborative enterprise; the many authors of this anthology are not merely guest writers. Their stories spin in to, not spin out from, Flint's world of "1632." This structure is very generous, excitingly productive, and is unique in my reading experience.

While the novels contain major military actions, as one might expect from Flint's other books, this volume concentrates mostly on a great variety of civilian matters vital to the survival and then expansion of the community. The prose is so-so, quite literal, and just drives staight ahead. There also must be lots of pedantic history necessary to make sense of the specific problems and situations addressed here. Although this book should be read after "1632," the stories are not confined to a time line, and so can be read alongside any of the "1634: xx" novels. The Assiti Shards moniker has nothing to do with the series at present, but may eventually explain the mysterious initial time travel element.

Ring of Fire on fire.......2006-09-01

I actually enjoyed this more than the main stream books. The more focused vinettes showed how the events effected not just the main characters, the the subcharacters and showed that each person would have their own point of view.

While it is mostly positive, here and there the darker side of human nature comes through.

Essential background for 1633.......2006-08-06

"...about the correspondence, we seem to have exhausted the real fruitcakes, but Al Green got a doozy this morning. Did he tell you? ...well, word got around that he's the Reverend Doctor Al Green, and so he's gotten a letter from the Earl of Carlisle's secretary. Apparently the earl's in Paris, helping Ussher with his researches, and does the reverend doctor have anything that might help?"
"*That* Ussher?...Reassure me Al's not going to send him anything."
"Well, I offered him my copy of Hawking..."
- Rev. Jones and Father Mazarre, "Between the Armies"

These aren't free-standing stories; several are part of the essential plot development of the 1632 universe, and some cover key incidents forming the background of 1633 and 1634: THE GALILEO AFFAIR.

Allen, Deann and Turner, Mike: "American Past Time" How baseball began catching on in the reborn United States, starting with Billy, a high-school senior who considers himself the only hard-core fan and player in town (who'd probably have tried to pitch for the major leagues uptime). Split between pickup games with Grantville's immigrants and Billy's regular life, split between school, working for his dad, and freelancing on a farm.

Boyes, Walt: "A Witch to Live" A Jesuit, having written a controversial book opposing witchcraft trials, is assigned by his bishop to see justice done in the trial of the daughter of a once-respectable family, and when she flees to U.S. soil, he follows to bear witness to her retrial.

Cresswell, Jonathan and Washburn, Scott: "When the Chips Are Down" The Four Musketeers seeking a way around a central European prejudice against eating potatoes (seeing them as food for livestock rather than people).

DeMarce, Virginia: "Biting Time" Gretchen's formidable grandmother Veronica, and how her appointment for being fitted with false teeth led (through her handling of brats at the dentist's office) to her own bit of private enterprise.

Dennis, Andrew: "Between the Armies" How Jules Mazarin and lapsed Jesuit Father Heinzerling became involved with Grantville, and how Father Mazzare decided how to cope with the differences between the 21st century Church and that of 1632.

Donahue, Greg: Gerd, a former member of Tilly's army living in Grantville, has "Skeletons" in his past - ex-associates who have infiltrated the refugee camp looking for pickings.

Dorsett, Jody: A group of religious refugees sends an emissary to Grantville, who strikes up an alliance with someone with a different definition of "The Three Rs".

Flint, Eric: "The Wallenstein Gambit" occupies about a fifth of the book and introduces a major storyline as the badly wounded Wallenstein offers a deal in exchange for alliance and medical treatment: his help in preventing a massacre of Jews in Prague. Some exploration of the social complexities of a Jewish community in the Europe of that time.

Freer, Dave: "A Lineman for the Country" The mine's only switchboard operator and the town's telephone repairman can see that their old state-of-the-art equipment needs to be "downgraded" to something that can be maintained, but they lack the political skills to make it a priority with anyone else. Enter one of Mackay's couriers, prepared to appreciate anything that'll spare him days on horseback, and who has the people skills Ellie and Len lack.

Jones, Loren K.: "Power to the People" How the crew at Grantville's power station coped with the Ring of Fire, particularly the three staff members stranded without their families.

Lackey, Mercedes: "To Dye For" introduces leftover hippie and practical chemist Tom "I made LSD in the sixties" Stone and family with the story of how Stoner managed to persuade his prospective father-in-law of his suitability.

Pedersen, Anette M.: "Family Faith" suffers in the short form, as the family relationships of the protagonist - an excommunicate Jesuit in a largely Protestant noble family, seeking knowledge of young relatives lost among the refugees of the war - constitute most of the story, and are presented via exposition to an old family friend who should already know the facts.

Viehl, S.L.: "A Matter of Consultation" Introducing Charles Stuart's personal physician, William Harvey (key background to _1633_), local healers of various types (including "witches") and how they get on with uptime healers.

Weber, David: "In the Navy" (foundation of Grantville's naval shipyards and navy) Eddie Cantrell of "the Four Musketeers" - the young wargamer enthusiasts who have the best library of military history in Grantville - is the quartet's naval specialist in game design, but that doesn't trump the real experience of the most experienced ex-navy man in town: John Chandler Simpson. Decent character development of Simpson: competent administrator as an ex-CEO, experienced combat officer who knows how to explain things to another military man.

Wentworth, K.D.: "Here Comes Santa Claus" (December 1632) Doesn't seem to dovetail with "The Wallenstein Gambit", despite Flint's remarks to the contrary, but it's cute. Julie McKay is organizing Grantville's first annual post-Ring of Fire Christmas party, and can't get any uptimers to play Santa Claus (or much hard data on local Christmas customs). Spies (including Pappenheim, seeking the sniper who shot Wallenstein) sneak into town left and right and get very confused.

A great addition to the franchise.......2006-05-12

Fans of 1632 and 1633 will definitely enjoy Ring of Fire! Eric Flint follows the path of many previous writers, allowing various authors to "explore the alternate history" he created in his previous books. The result is a welcome expansion of characters and events that helps to flesh out the story of Grantville, the West Virginia town transplanted to 30 Years War Germany. The effects of American ideals of liberty on the repressive and absolutist rulers of early seventeenth century Europe are especially enjoyable to watch!

Average customer rating:

Too bad they don't give literary awards for "just plain fun to read"
A More Civilized World?
Hoo-Haa!
One amazing read
Pure "sci-fi" (in the Ellisonian sense of the word...)

School of Fire (Starfist, Book 2)
David Sherman , and Dan Cragg
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345406230
Release Date: 1998-06-28

Book Description

Combat, betrayal, and murder at the edge of human space . . .

Deployed to assist the oligarchs of Wanderjahr in putting down a rebellion that threatens the planet's political and economic stability, the Marines must fight two wars at the same time . . . one against the resourceful, well-led guerrillas and another with the entrenched police bureaucracy.

But who is the real enemy and who can be trusted? On Wanderjahr, nothing is as it seems--not even the animal life--and everyone has his own agenda. Inexorably, the Marines of the 34th FIST are drawn deeper and deeper into the politics of a world where murder, terror, and betrayal are the accepted methods of government . . . and everyone is ripe for an old-fashioned butt-kickin'.

Download Description

'From the duo of armed-forces veterans who authored First to Fight comes the second action-packed military science fiction adventure featuring a Marine squad on a deadly interstellar mission.

Customer Reviews:

Too bad they don't give literary awards for "just plain fun to read".......2007-02-14

A great yarn that moves out at a steady double time from start to finish. We get enough back story to set the stage, and then send in the Marines! The authors fill in the gaps as needed as the story progresses w/o making look like an "oh yeah" add in. It flows well.

The day to day humdrum scenes are brief enough so as not to bore, but still vivid and informative enough to clearly paint the necessary picture. The political workings in the background (to the main characters) are likewise short, concise and to the point. As for the combat, not surprisingly they also do a very good job capturing the "20 years of boredom punctuated by 5 minutes of abject terror."

I have seen some reviews state the characters are shallow, lack depth etc. While this may be true of the auxiliary characters (personally I could care less about the life story of the baddie + supporting staff) their main protagonists all but jump off the pages at me. This was especially true in the scenes where they are placing some of the junior Marines into leadership positions in the local forces to train them. As they describe the thoughts and actions of the trainers during their first leadership experience they hit the "oh crap" of someone young and unsure of himself right through the exhilaration an experienced soldier gets when given the chance to train others.

They explain the oddball (some say unbelievable) tactics of the local forces with the "politically appointed leadership," and while it may be a stretch it works when you remember that in every major action our own military has been in we have had to relearn what we should have remembered from the last war and then some. So 200 years of no military + political appointed leadership = volley fire. Ok.

If you can turn off your nit-pick gear and just relax and be entertained then grab this book.

A More Civilized World?.......2005-07-25

In the original installment of the Starfist series, the marines were sent to a backwater, neo-barbarian planet to lay down the law. In this one, they still get sent to a backwater but it is supposedly a relatively civilized place. The problem is that the upper crust, who called the marines to begin with, are as bad a lot as any of the insurgents the jarheads have been called on to fight. Fighting, however, is not their primary job description. Instead, they are to train the local forces how to do it for themselves. In short, they are advisors and we all remember how dangerous that can be.

The marines have their work cut out for them. The "elite" troops they are to train are good at the parade ground stuff but their war fighting doctrine leaves a bit to be desired. Can you imagine firing by platoon volley while standing in straight ranks while the bad guys fire at you from concealment? It's one of those situations where the powers that be are more interested in a good appearance than in effective troops. After all, the peasants who fill the ranks are pretty cheap to replace.

David Sherman and Dan Cragg do a good job of capturing the military mindset and it makes for enjoyable reading. They are never going to get literary prizes but I, for one, am glad that they would rather tell a compelling story.

Hoo-Haa!.......2003-05-16

Why did I buy this book? Again the same arguements. I don't really care for Marines, the cover was stupid, too much hoo-haa. I think these books lace their pages with some kind of narcotic. They're really not that good but I keep going down the series. Who knows, maybe sometimes I just want a cheap stupid read?

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. Same problems as the first.

One amazing read.......2002-10-23

The first book of the series (Starfist: First to Fight) was great. This one is, in my opinion, even better. It will keep you guessing all the way to the end. It is a must read for warfare and science fiction lovers. The writers' style is great for keeping you hooked. All in all, it is one of the best books I have ever read.

Pure "sci-fi" (in the Ellisonian sense of the word...).......2002-05-14

I gave StarFist One, "First to Fight", two stars. "School of Fire" gets three for two reasons: 1) Having read book one, I knew what I was getting into when I picked up book two and; 2) Now that I know what to expect, these books just keep getting funnier.

The strengths of the series are the writer's personal military experience, knowledge of contemporary combat tactics and familiarity with Marine Corps history. Sherman and Craggs combine these strengths with technically correct writing skills to create crisp, fast-paced combat scenes and believable descriptions of a military planning staff in action.

The weaknesses of the series are creativity and believability. The writers rolled the clock forward while simultaneously presenting both civil and military societies that have either stalled or experienced outright retrograde motion. Women are conspicuously absent from Sherman and Craggs' future Marine Corps, while the few female characters presented are either barmaids and prostitutes or authority figures looking for a man to sleep with and subordinate to.

Equally incongruous are societies of interstellar colonists in the StarFist universe who apparently traveled through the depths of space to new homes, but left behind their copy of "On War" and purged all historical knowledge of combat and tactics from their minds. Book one gave us the 25th century "charge of the light brigade." Book two brings us parade formations in the jungles firing en masse on command.

Though Sherman and Craggs effectively stripped the fifth, fourth, and possibly even the third dimension from contemplation of future space (and most of their characters), they managed to create a series that delivers clean, simple, mind-numbing fun.

I look forward to reading book three out of pure perverse curiosity. This series is just ludicrous enough to be enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader

Like an Altman movie

Surprisingly Excellent

Sterling's best novel -- "A+"

Truly great

Holy Fire (Bantam Spectra Book)
Bruce Sterling
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 055357549X
Release Date: 1997-10-01

Amazon.com

In an era when life expectancies stretch 100 years or more and adhering to healthy habits is the only way to earn better medical treatments, ancient "post humans" dominate society with their ubiquitous wealth and power. By embracing the safe and secure, 94-year-old Mia Ziemann has lived a long and quiet life. Too quiet, as she comes to realize, for Mia has lost the creative drive and ability to love--the holy fire--of the young. But when a radical new procedure makes Mia young again, she has the chance to break free of society's cloying grasp.

Book Description

The 21st century is coming to a close, and the medical industrial complex dominates the world economy. It is a world of synthetic memory drugs, benevolent government surveillance, underground anarchists, and talking canine companions. Power is in the hands of conservative senior citizens who have watched their health and capital investments with equal care, gaining access to the latest advancements in life-extension technology. Meanwhile, the young live on the fringes of society, ekeing out a meagre survival on free, government-issued rations and a black market in stolen technological gadgetry from an earlier, less sophisticated age.

Mia Ziemann is a 94-year-old medical economist who enjoys all the benefits of her position. But a deathbed visit with a long-ago ex-lover and a chance meeting with a young bohemian dress-designer brings Mia to an awful revelation. She has lived her life with such caution that it has been totally bereft of
pleasure and adventure. She has one chance to do it all over. But first she must submit herself to a radical--and painful--experimental procedure which
promises to make her young again. The procedure is not without risk and her second chance at life will not come without a price. But first she will have to
escape her team of medical keepers.

Hitching a ride on a plane to Europe, Mia sets out on a wild intercontinental quest in search of spiritual gratification, erotic revelation, and the thing she missed most of all: the holy fire of the creative experience. She joins a group of outlaw anarchists whose leader may be the man of her dreams...or her undoing. Worst of all, Mia will have to undergo one last radical procedure that could cost her a second life.

In Holy Fire, Bruce Sterling once again creates a unique and provocative future that deals with such timeless topics of the human condition as love,
memory, science, politics, and the meaning of death. Poginant, lyrical, humorous, and often shocking, Holy Fire offers a hard unsparing look into a world that could become our own.

Customer Reviews:

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A realised version of the old people are boring meme. Rejuvenation
treatments are available to those that can afford them, and these lead
to, of course, those very elderly being in control through wealth and
influence. They tend to lead static, safe, placid lives to protect
their investment in themselves.

So, any change can only come through the young who avoid any of the
existing technology. Here, one of the former group crosses to the
latter, slumming to some degree.

Like an Altman movie.......2006-10-20

Previous reviewers here have touched most of the bases. This is a meander, not a nail-biter. It reminds me of one of the Sprawling Robert Altman films like "Nashville" with numerous characters and set pieces strung loosely together.

Sterling occasionally seems to be trying to show how witty he is. But I found much to enjoy in this book. One pleasure, a cyber-punk mainstay, is utter confidence in the wordplay depicting the fabulous computer networks of a future world, with wearable super-power communication hardware, etc.

I appreciated, actually, that the story took more interest in its amusing characters than in plot development to some sort of climax. That said, there is occasional action and excitement. It's true the central Mia / Maya character wasn't deeply drawn, but I liked her and her adventurous spirit.

Altogether a fun, light read that made me think a bit.

Surprisingly Excellent.......2005-05-31

This book was a big surprise to me. I have been a fan of the Cyberpunk or Movement genre since the 80's, and while Gibson and Rucker have captivated me with almost every book they write, Sterling's work has always... lacked something for me. I've enjoyed his short stories more than I have his novels, and have given them a fair shot. Most of them I would rate about a 3.

This novel however, I place squarely in the full 5 star category. The best works of fiction, be they SciFi, Horror, Literature or what have you, are those which make one reflect upon oneself and the nature of existence. This book falls into such august company. A few of the reviews here mention the lack of action or resolution, but I think that they have missed the point. Mia/Maya is discovering both what it means to be an individual and what the nature of life is. She is both an observer and a participant as she is neither truly old or young. Her "wanderjahr" is an exploration and evolution of self and as such, despite the futuristic trappings resonates with the individual quest for the self and what lies beyond it in all of our lives no matter where we are on life's journey. I would hope that everyone makes such a journey in their lives (whether literally or metaphorically), or better yet, experiences life as a continuous unfoldment of same. Highly recommended, in my opinon Sterling's absolute best.

Sterling's best novel -- "A+".......2005-01-26

_____________________________________________
Mia, a 94-yr old woman at the close of the 21st C., tries a new life-
extension treatment. She emerges in the body of a thrill-seeking
20-yr-old. . . you say you've seen this story before? Not as
related by master extrapolationist, storyteller & all-around fine
writer Bruce Sterling.

Let's go into the polity, the medical-industrial complex that rules the
world, where "the whip-hand of coercive power is held by
smiling & stout-hearted medical rescue personnel. And by social
workers. And by very nice old people. . ."

"There were, of course, some people who disagreed with
the entire idea of life extension. Their moral decision was
respected & they were perfectly free to drop dead."

The story-line is simple: a bildungsroman, the wanderjahr of a
95-yr-old girl thru 21st C. Europe.

We're at a fashion show in fin-de-siecle Roma. Mia is getting ready:

..they put the wig on & she left human perfection for a
higher realm. It was a very smart wig. This wig could have leapt from
her scalp like a supersonic octopus & flung its piercing tendrils right
thru a plaster wall... It was a staggeringly pretty wig, a wig in rich,
solid, deeply convincing, faintly luminescsent auburn, a wig as
expensive, as cozy & as well-designed as a limousine... When it
curled lustrously about her neck & shoulders it behaved the way a
woman's hair behaved in daydreams...

The models were old women, and they looked the way that modern
old women looked when they were in truly superb condition ...
They showed none of the natural signs of human aging, but they were
just a little crispy, a little taut. The models were solemn and sloe-eyed
and dainty and extremely strong...

Their clothes were decorative and columnar and slender hipped and
without much in the way of a bustline... The clothes were
splendidly cut... Rather ecclesiastical, rather bankerly, rather like the
court dress of high-powered palace eunuchs from the Manchu
Forbidden City...

Well. I could go on, & probably would if I had a scanner, or was a better
typist.... but you should be picking up the flavor of the book, the
richness and density of invention. Sterling at his best reads something
like a collaboration between Tom Wolfe & John McPhee. Folks, I've
been reading this stuff for 40 years. and I'm hear to tell you, it don't get
much better than this.

Highly recommended.

Review copyright 1996 by Peter D. Tillman

Truly great.......2004-09-06

I really don't know what to say. This is an absolutely amazing novel. Sterling is a genius.

High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety, Second Edition

Average customer rating:

For the megacities of the world- Tall Building Checklist!

High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety, Second Edition
Geoff Craighead
Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0750674555

Book Description

High-Rise Security and Fire Life Safety servers as an essential took for building architects, building owners and property managers, security and fire safety directors, security consultants, and contract security firms.

* Provides the reader with complete coverage of high-rise security and safety issues
* Includes comprehensive sample documentation, diagrams, photographs to aid in developing security and fire life safety programs
* Serves as an essential tool for building owners and managers, security and fire safety directors, security consultants and contract security firms

Customer Reviews:

For the megacities of the world- Tall Building Checklist!.......2000-08-03

for investors, managers, and inspectors of tall buildings, this is an exceptionally useful book. Mr. Graighead combines his Australian roots and his California experience in a clear guide to fire safety and security management of these "vertical villages." I have quoted from this work in forums around the world, and have made this book a special present for colleagues in the fire service and architecture and "authorities having jurisdiction." It is a how- to and why guide to active systems. I recommend it highly. And, given that so many skyscrapers are now being built in Asia and in Latin America, I hope this is translated into Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese. - Richard A. "Nick" Candee, Executive Director, Global Operations, NFPA International

Battletech 39: Sword and Fire (Battletech)

Average customer rating:

Worthy conclusion to the initial TotC series.
Bloody slaughter that leaves many questions unanswered.
This book rocks!!!!!!!!
Not his best work
Uneven Stuff

Battletech 39: Sword and Fire (Battletech)
Thomas S. Gressman
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0451456769

Customer Reviews:

Worthy conclusion to the initial TotC series........2000-01-16

So far the best and most entertaining novel of the Twilight of the Clans series. The plot involving the investigations of Morgan's murder is excellent and the fights to conquer Diana by Task Force Serpent are decent battletech war tales. I would have wished a more effective defense by the remaining CSJ forces, but in view of the following book of the series, the Inner Sphere units needed to get out of the initial assault rather unscathed.

Bloody slaughter that leaves many questions unanswered........2000-01-16

Of all the books of the Twilight of Clans series, this is for sure the most martial one. Sure, some of the other books really lacked mech combat, but in this case, mass didn't mean style. Okay, a point was to be made: Warfare is brutal, bloody and no sports and in order to justify Victor S-Davion's campaign of annihilation of CSJ, his message had to be delivered with such a slaughter (on both sides) on CSJ's homeworld. And the timeline of the fierce battle and the dynamics of such brutal fights are a good base to get the reader's attention. But, the way Gressman describes mech combat seriously lacks the originality and depths of other btech authors (like i.e. the early Stackpole warrior trilogy). Here it's simply a chaotic string of oftenly unrelated scenes of mech combat. This woulda been accetable if Gressman had stuck with a few main characters, but alas he more than once introduces combatants in a passage and never mentions the same character again, leaving the reader wondering what happened to them. Even worse, he neglects the fate of main characters and of complete mech units. For example Russou Howell, who had been built up as main protagonist in 2-3 of the former novels just gets 2 short appearances. Or, what happened to saKhan Brandon Howell, who was skilled enough to be the only CSJ leader not to completely fail at Tukayid (does Gressman read Btech source books?)? What impact did the IS' reserve units have after they got summoned to reinforce the 2 main groups? Etc... Questions over questions - and not every one gets (satisfactorily) answered in the short final passages when Victor's forces arrive and the battle is decided rather abruptly. Contrary to other reader's comments I liked Gressman's detailed logistical descriptions in 'The Hunters' and he was good at that. But here, I just got the impression that Gressman either had to hurry to finish the assault on Diana or that he simply lacks the skill to span a coherent story line for large scale mech combat. And that's what Btech is about: Mech combat. And therefore just 2 stars.

This book rocks!!!!!!!!.......1999-03-25

this book is realy cool because it shows how clan smoke jaguire tries to deal with the invading inner sphere attackers.I am a huge fan of battle tech(I have ALL the books,games,and r.p.g.s)and I think this is one of the best works ever produced by FASA!!!

Not his best work.......1999-01-07

Sword and Fire was an adequet ending to Twilight of the clans. The battle scenes wern't the best, but the scenes with the M16 teams were great, as well as the hunt for Morgan Hasek-Davion's killer. Gressman didn't put his all into this book, though it was fairly good. I recommend this for anyone.

Uneven Stuff.......1998-11-08

Well, Gressman is certainly improving which is a blessing. He still makes mistakes in here but they appear to be the result of tight deadlines leaving little time for proofreading, rather than his earlier factual mistakes and improbable events. Still, after reading this novel I feel it would have done wonders to compress his three novels into two. That way the obvious filler spaces would disappear and more thought put into whether an event was probable and/or really needed or just included to impress the readers in some way. The battles were generally much closer run things than before and even going in the Jaguars favour at times. Still, the number of troops that came back from the IS is surprisingly low (doesn't mesh with other sources) and with artillery blasting so many omnimechs and elementals to pieces, before the mech to mech battles have begun, I'm really wondering how the Jags suddenly are doing so well with such small numbers. Looks like over compensation for earlier easy IS victories. Yet all the battles do make SoW much more enjoyable than The Hunters with its long drawn out buildup. One more thing I did get annoyed at is how IS troops are written as almost all heart (Only the Nekekami proved to be coldblooded killers) while the Jaguars are almost always painted as complete bastards. The only tenderness exhibited by a Jaguar happened when an Elemental carried IlKhan Osis to an ambulance. A less black and white view of the people involved would have been nice. I hope that Gressman can turn into a good solid all around author since he does have the potential. At the moments his books are marred by some serious flaws which occasional bursts of brilliance can barely make up for. But these are only his first three books after all. Even Stackpole made some serious mistakes in his first trilogy.

Don't Bug Me: The Latest High-Tech Spy Methods

Average customer rating:

Don't Bug Me: The Latest High-Tech Spy Methods
M.L. Shannon
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0873646584

Book Description

This comprehensive study of spying devices shows you how to stop others from tapping into your privacy and violating your right to be left alone. It covers everything from inexpensive transmitters hidden in potted plants to the latest high-tech supersystems favored by governments and businesses.

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