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.

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Average customer rating:

Great for action and fillers
...It had SO much promise...but ultimately left me disappointed
Can't go wrong with Star Wars
A classic case of false advertising...
A psychological and emotional journey towards the Dark Side

Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
James Luceno
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345477324
Release Date: 2005-11-22

Book Description

Throughout the galaxy, it was believed that Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker–the Chosen One–had died on Coruscant during the siege of the Jedi Temple. And, to some extent, that was true. Anakin was dead.

From the site of Anakin Skywalker’s last stand–on the molten surface of the planet Mustafar, where he sought to destroy his friend and former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi–a fearsome specter in black has risen. Once the most powerful Knight ever known to the Jedi Order, he is now a disciple of the dark side, a lord of the dreaded Sith, and the avenging right hand of the galaxy’s ruthless new Emperor. Seduced, deranged, and destroyed by the machinations of the Dark Lord Sidious, Anakin Skywalker is dead . . . and Darth Vader lives.

Word of the events that created him–the Jedi Council’s failed mutiny against Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the self-crowned Emperor’s retaliatory command to exterminate the Jedi Order, and Anakin’s massacre of his comrades and Masters in the Jedi Temple–has yet to reach all quarters. On the Outer Rim world of Murkhana, Jedi Masters Roan Shryne and Bol Chatak and Padawan Olee Starstone are leading a charge on a Separatist stronghold, unaware that the tide, red with Jedi blood, has turned suddenly against them.

When the three narrowly elude execution–and become the desperate prey in a hunt across space–it’s neither clone soldiers, nor the newly deployed stormtroopers, nor even the wrath of the power-hungry Emperor himself they must fear most. The deadliest threat rests in the hideously swift and lethal crimson lightsaber of Darth Vader–behind whose brooding mask lies a shattered heart, a poisoned soul, and a cunning, twisted mind hell-bent on vengeance.

For the handful of scattered Jedi, survival is imperative if the light side of the Force is to be protected and the galaxy somehow, someday reclaimed. Yet more important still is the well-being of the twin infants, Leia and Luke Skywalker, the children of Anakin and his doomed bride, Padmé Amidala. Separated after Padmé’s death, they must be made safe at all costs, lest the hope they represent for the future be turned to horror by the new Sith regime–and the unspeakable power of the dark side.

Customer Reviews:

Great for action and fillers.......2007-10-04

While this doesn't nearly stack up to other books in the EU, it kept my attention and left me wanting more Darth Vader stories. The action was good, but the plot was weak at times.

There need to be more stories about the Sith. This, Darth Bane, and Darth Maul are the only ones that have novels out (as of this writing).

Come on people! Let's hear more sith...

...It had SO much promise...but ultimately left me disappointed.......2007-09-27

Man I WANTED to like this book...and I guess it really was fairly well written, but as others have noted, where was the focus? Where does the story take us? Does the overall storyline ending with Revenge of the Sith and picking up years later in A New Hope move us forward--at ALL? The answer is simple: yes--but not by much.

One MAJOR complaint I have (as do others) is that even though the novel is titled, "Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader" he doesn't even make an appearance until around 50 pages in. What the...?? I am no editor, but shouldn't a novels MAIN character be present from almost page ONE? Okay, so it bugged me...let's move on.

While certain parts of the book VERY much reminded me of why Darth Vader really IS one of the greatest icon's of Evil fictional characters ever created, others were written almost like filler for other threads to follow or explore in more detail. I especially loved the inner struggle between Anakin and Darth (yes, strangely enough they really ARE like two different people) and thankfully Emperor Palpatine gives us plenty to chew on as he unlocks plenty of Sith training for Vader, and these sections are the entire reason why I gave this story more than the two stars it otherwise would have received. The scenes depicting the Emperor and Vader are SO well done that they seemed to be crafted by a team of great writers who all fully UNDERSTOOD the Dark Side of the Force. It seemed that virtually everything said by Palpatine was done EXACTLY the way I imagine they would and should have happened. These scenes alone are the single reason for buying this book (in MY opinion anyway).

So what was my overall impression? One of genuine disappointment. The idea of defining the details of the life of Vader from almost the moment he takes that first mechanically assisted breath within his new armored suit just seemed like a PERFECT story to tackle...and I imagine had it been written by someone who actually has serious talent for story plotting it would have and could have been one of the greatest stories in this long running franchise (think Timothy Zahn). But other than a few (and far between) sections that detailed the training between the Emperor and Vader (which seriously are awesome), I was just not all that impressed...and once again, I really wanted to be.

For the serious Star Wars fan, you simply cannot allow this one to go by. It really does help iron out a few isolated dangling threads left over from the 3 prequel films -- some of which you may not even realize are un-answered until you read the book. But overall, just being able to get inside that black helmet of Vaders is one real treat for the SW fans who can appreciate what a tortured individual Anakin has become. Hopefully this review helps.

Can't go wrong with Star Wars.......2007-09-17

I have yet to find a star wars book that I absolutely hated, and this book is not an exception to the rule. Whether I (or anyone else) tell you I hated or loved the book, it's not gonna change what you're gonna do. If you're a star wars fan that loves to see the movies continued through books, then you are going to read it (and you should!). If not, why are you reading reviews on these books anyway? Get a life :)

A classic case of false advertising..........2007-08-10

The publishers of this book obviously know what Star Wars fans like -- Vader. He has become a symbol of awesome evil for our fandom. His armor, his mask, even his ominous breathing have become synonymous with our favorite space saga. So when a book appears with Vader's face on the cover (twice!) and his name in the title, we immediately bite. After all, this book claims to fill in that crucial time between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope," and also claims to show his final development from Anakin to Vader.

Sadly, this book is a classic case of false advertising. For this book is not about Darth Vader, despite the lofty claims of the cover and dust jacket. Rather, it's about a weakened, whining Jedi Knight and the collection of ragtag fugitives and criminals he gathers, a group so flatly characterized that I couldn't even find the energy to care about a single one of them despite their hardships and losses.

One of the flaws of many Star Wars novels is that the authors focus more on their original characters than on the established characters -- as was the case of Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul) (though I forgive that book because the original characters actually had some depth and dynamics). In this case, the main original character stole so much of Vader's thunder that I didn't care when Vader finally killed him.

If you want a good piece of writing about Darth Vader, I would recommend seeking out a good piece of fanfiction rather than reading this book, which comes across as a mediocre piece of fanfic itself. I would also recommend instead Star Wars® Darth Bane Path of Destruction: A Novel of the Old Republic (Star Wars), which isn't about Vader but is still a much better read.

A psychological and emotional journey towards the Dark Side.......2007-08-07

With the blessing of George Lucas, author James Luceno takes his readers through Vaders psychological and emotional journey towards the acceptance of his new persona as well as his place within the Dark Side of the Force. Luceno focuses on details such as the limitations of Vaders body suit, a necessity brought forth by his defeat at the hands of his brother and old Master Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar.

Other topics, such as the adjustment to his light saber technique to his very manner of walking are also discussed. Star Wars: Dark Lord - The Rise of Darth Vader is a tale of ascension wherein Darth Vader, consumed by anger and hate, regains his lost confidence as well as his resolve in the Dark Side.

Star Wars: Dark Lord - The Rise of Darth Vader answers a lot of questions left behind by Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. So what are you waiting for? Grab your copy today!

My Favorite Nature Book: Stars & Planets: Includes an Activity Kit with Posters, Stickers & Glow-in-the-Dark Stars (My Favorite Nature Book)

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My Favorite Nature Book: Stars & Planets: Includes an Activity Kit with Posters, Stickers & Glow-in-the-Dark Stars (My Favorite Nature Book)
Janet Borg
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 157990923X

Book Description

With this gorgeously illustrated book and activity set, kids can fly into outer space and take a guided tour of the sparkling night sky. It features so many appealing elements that make the astronomical journey special: a poster of the solar system, reusable planet stickers to place on the poster, a map of the constellations, and more than 100 glow-in-the-dark star stickers. And it’s all nicely packaged in an envelope bound into the book’s front cover. The trip begins with the sun, and then it’s on to the moon and an exploration of its cycles. Move farther out to gaze upon the stars and map out the constellations. Finally, children return to Earth to gain an understanding of our own special place in the solar system.

Dark Matter, Missing Planets and New Comets: Paradoxes Resolved, Origins Illuminated Second Edition

Average customer rating:

thinking about fundamentals - a tour de force
Plenty of dubious ideas
The best explanation of Very Long Period comets.
Brand new thinking about timeless astronomical issues
Not so dark matters

Dark Matter, Missing Planets and New Comets: Paradoxes Resolved, Origins Illuminated Second Edition
Van Flandern
Manufacturer: North Atlantic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556432682
Release Date: 1999-01-08

Book Description

Tom Van Flandern's book adds a new dimension to cosmology--not only does it present a novel approach to timeless issues, it stands up to the closest scientific scrutiny. Even the most respected scientists today will readily admit that the Big Bang Theory is full of holes. But it takes a new look, like Dark Matter, Missing Planets, and New Comets, to explain not only why the theory is wrong but what to substitute in its place. If you are curious about such things as the nature of matter and the origin of the solar system, but feel inadequately equipped to grasp what modern science has to say about such things, read this book. You will not get the all too common condescending attempt to water down the `mysteries' of modern science into a form intelligible to little non scientist you, but rather a straightforward new theory, logically derived in front of your eyes, which challenges the roots of many of today's complex accepted paradigms, yet whose essence is simple enough to be thoroughly communicated to the intelligent layman without "losing it in the translation."

Customer Reviews:

thinking about fundamentals - a tour de force.......2006-07-14

I was extremely impressed by the amount of thinking that went into this book. Whether you agree with Van Flandern or not, he goes deep, challenging fundamental assumptions at every turn. His writing is also first rate. Van Flandern is very good at communicating difficult ideas -- not an easy thing to do.

I started out skeptical about exploding planets. By the end the author had almost convinced me. In the process I learned a great deal about celestial mechanics. I found especially appealing his idea that gravity has limited range of 2 parsecs. That would explain so many things. Like Van Flandern, I regard the Big Bang as a lot of nonsense. I also suspect that he is probably correct about the origin of the Valles Marineris on Mars -- the deepest canyon in the solar system. What an ingenious idea. And I admire Van Flandern for discussing controversial subjects, such as the monuments of Mars. His updated synthesis is the best I have seen yet. Clearly R.C. Hoagland benefitted greatly from Van Flanern's ideas. What a story.

I disagree with the author in several areas. Van Flandern could be correct that most comets originated from a disintegrated planet. That is plausible, though whether this happened via an explosion or a collision, I still have my doubts. I suspect there have always been rogue objects of unknown origin moving through the solar system. His explanation why these objects could not come from interstellar space was not entirely clear to me. Hale Bopp was much too large to be derived from a moon sized body.

The book was published before the discoveries of Hyakutake's ephemeral tail and cometary x-rays, which in my view are diagnostic for an electrical cometary connection. I wonder if Van Flandern is aware that several years ago a physicist in New Mexico demonstrated that terrestrial lightning causes x-rays, a discovery that's been confirmed many times, since. I believe that cometary x-rays and those caused by lightning are one and the same phenomenon.

I subscribe to the solar capacitor model. In my view the astronomer Bessel was correct long ago when he argued for an electrical connection between sun and comet. Van Flandern's discussion of comets touches on but neglects to discuss in full a most telling point: That comets are wildly variable in their brightness. Why, for example, was Halleys' comet 200X as bright after perihelion as before, at the same distance from the sun? Fred Hoyle described its display as a series of explosions. This sort of show could not be due to reflected light, alone, even if Van Flandern is correct that some of the material in the coma is debris from the original break up. I believe the extreme variability of X-ray generation and brightness is caused by solar flares and coronal mass ejections. In other words, there is a direct connection between sun and comet. Nor can a break up model account for the preponderance of smoke sized particles in the coma. The same is true for the vast cloud of hydrogen surrounding comets. All of this suggests electrical phenomena -- which NASA and mainstream science continue to ignore and dismiss.

I believe that comets draw in ionized material from the rear via the tail. And free hydrogen is attracted to the negatively charged nucleus from all directions. This is not my model. I don't take credit for it, though I won't mention the originator's name because I promised him I would not. (His initials are J M)

A few other points: I doubt very much if the rings of Saturn are as old as Van Flandern thinks. Back when the fine detail in the rings first became known, the astronomers Victor Clube and Bill Napier argued that the rings could not be older than 10-20,000 years. After which the fine detail would gradually wash out and be lost. I suspect that physicist Paul LaViolette is correct that the rings are the signature of a recent event (see his book Earth Under Fire). In LaViolette's view this was caused by a galactic superwave. LaViolette thinks the cosmic wave pushed the sun's nebular cloud of dust back into our solar system, wreaking all manner of havoc, causing the ice ages etc. The same explanation would account for the zodiacal disk, a remnant that apparently is tipped 3 degrees away from the plane of the solar system, i.e., in the direction of the galactic center. Again, this is Paul's argument.

My other point of disagreement concerns Venus. Van Flandern's link with Mercury implies that Venus is a very old planet. How, then do we account for its tremendous heat? Venus should have cooled down long ago. The Magellan Mission showed that the planet is 85% volcanic -- though I suspect even this high number understates the reality. Could a greenhouse cause this? Of course not. The heat is coming from the planetary core. But why? Simple. Venus is very young, perhaps only a few thousand years old. I've studied the so called Venusian impact craters and can discern no difference between them and the planet's volcanic craters. Some of the "impact" craters actually have large associated lava extrusions. In my view most or all of them are volcanic in origin. Venus has many volcanic features unique in the solar system -- why? Simple. It is the youngest planet, by far.

I believe Venus was originally a giant comet that was captured by the sun. I know celestial mechanics can't explain the how of this -- but if it's shown that large comets do attract ionized material from the rear they can actually add enormous amounts of mass, which would slow them down, shortening their period and making capture a realistic possibility. I suspect that some of the other planets (and some of the moons) had a similar origin.

In short, I largely agree with Van Flandern. But I also hold for an altogether different capture mechanism (originated by J M) governed by electromagnetism. In an unpublished draft of his Principia Isaac Newton wrote:

"He who investigates the laws and effects of electrical forces with the same success and certainty [by which I have investigated celestial mechanics] will greatly promote philosophy [i.e., natural philosophy], even if perhaps he does not know the cause of these forces. First the phenomenon should be observed, then their proximate causes, and afterward the causes of the causes, should be investigated, and finally it will be possible to come down to the causes of the causes (established by phenomena) to their effects, by arguing a priori..."

Plenty of dubious ideas.......2004-11-11

This book sure has some wild hypotheses! But I think they tend to show not imagination and courage but poor intuition.

Let's start with Van Flandern's idea that gravity propagates much faster than c, the speed of light. That is, does the Sun pull you towards where it is, or to where it was 8 minutes ago? I think Newton might well have agreed with Van Flandern's argument that were gravity to propagate at c, planetary orbits around the Sun would be gravitationally damped and unstable, and the Solar System would not exist.

But this argument is false. It is the same for electromagnetism. A charge moving at constant speed pulls you towards where it will be when the field reaches you. A charge moving with constant velocity does not radiate: the lowest order radiation term is the dipole term, corresponding to an accelerating charge. And gravitational radiation depends not on the dipole term, but the typically much smaller quadrupole term, which can become significant for a body with a changing acceleration.

Examinations of binary pulsars have indicated that a quadrupole moment does indeed lead to a gravitational damping and orbit decay. Not only that, the decay is consistent to within 1% of the speed of gravity equaling c. I find that convincing. Moreover, near-occultation observations of quasars may support this conclusion as well. And on top of that, a speed of gravity greater than c would transmit a signal backwards in time.

Van Flandern argues that there is nothing special about c, given that we use electromagnetic waves to measure time and length. He's wrong. As Swiatecki and others have illustrated, the constancy of c is a consequence of the local spacetime manifold. Imagine a number of very thin boards with identical rectilinear grids and identical synchronized stopwatches fixed at all gridpoints on all boards. Now let the boards slide around at varying speeds and directions. Then smash one of the watches on the top board so hard that it stops all the watches directly beneath it. Later, smash another one the same way. You'll quickly discover the differential interval between spacetime events, and that will give you the value of c. And we've found c without any reference to light or to Maxwell's equations.

Van Flandern supports the "fission" theory for the origin of the Moon, rather than the "giant impact" theory. While that's still possible, evidence is leaning heavily away from his idea.

Now, what about a recently exploding planet creating the asteroid belt? Well, sure, there are many asteroid orbits that are unstable over really long times. But there's plenty of evidence that some asteroids have been around since the beginning of the solar system, and that what we're seeing is simply lots of collisions, not explosions. Moreover, a recent explosion, without a clear mechanism no less, is a little provincial as a theory.

The funny part is that there are some wild phenomena, such as planetary migrations, especially in other stellar systems, which do bear plenty of investigation. We don't need to start by indulging in arbitrary and dubious speculations: explaining what's right in front of us is exciting enough!

I think Van Flandern's comments about the "face on Mars" once again showed poor intuition. That "face" looked awfully strongly like something with a natural origin.

Van Flandern does not like the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, which he feels disregards the need for an underlying reality behind all the concepts. I think this actually may be a fair criticism, but there are alternative formulations of Quantum Mechanics which avoid such problems.

Finally, Van Flandern goes after the Big Bang theory of the origin of our Universe. I think that's a mistake. The evidence is overwhelming that the Universe was once much denser and much, much hotter. We see that from the Hubble expansion, from the 2.7 K blackbody radiation, and most important, from the helium percentages in the visible universe corresponding to Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Complaining about the beryllium percentage is very poor intuition indeed: we'd still have that dense, hot universe just as the Big Bang says. He'd have been better off attacking the Inflationary models of the early universe: these are still fair game.

Um, it could be that the accelerating expansion of the universe is heading towards a singularity (called the "Big Rip") in a finite time. Perhaps in a few billion years, spacetime will reach this. In the final million years, the galaxies would disperse, including our Milky Way. In the final months, our solar system would fly apart. In the final hours, the Earth would disintegrate, as gravity would no longer bind it together. At the end, all particles would explode as well. If you like wild ideas, this one is far more realistic than most of what Van Flandern proposes.

The best explanation of Very Long Period comets........2003-10-28

If you want to know the very best explanation of the origin of the Very Long Period comets, this is where you will find it. If you combine the section on the Missing Planet, with a pile of album cover art by Roger Dean (on the YES album covers like Yessongs) you will know more about the history of the solar system then most professional astronomers. Is this hyperbole? No. Van Flandern is right about the origin of comets, but given the mindset of the astronomical community, protons will decay before they admit it.
Van Flandern is akin to A.C. Clarke in one way: Someone once said about Clarke that "if he had stuck to any one hypothesis, he would have been a dangerous man." Like Clarke, Van Flandern works many hypotheses. And if it is permissible to have a favorite Clarke book or theme, it is certainly also permissible to extol the virtures of DM,MP&NC on the basis of the MP&NC material alone.
Science will advance at four times the current pace when they stop ejecting people like Halton Arp and TVF from their ranks.

Brand new thinking about timeless astronomical issues.......2002-10-24

Tom Van Flandern's book adds a new dimension to cosmology--not only does it present a novel approach to timeless issues, it stands up to the closest scientific scrutiny. The author has a proven track record and top notch credentials, so when he begins his hard-hitting critique of the status quo it's a breathtaking read, for laymen and scientists alike. Let's be honest about the Big Bang Theory--even the most respected scientists today will readily admit it is full of holes. But it takes a new look, like Tom Van Flandern's book, to explain not only why the theory is wrong but what to substitute in its place. This is a significant book and if you read it you will get a thrill just as those who read Copernicus and Galileo must have gotten a thrill to realize they were reading about the future of science. Read it--you won't be disappointed.

Not so dark matters.......2001-06-16

__________________

Van Flandern was a consultant to the government regarding the Global Positioning System. Doubts had been expressed that the GPS could remain accurate due to a relativistic effect known as "frame dragging", but TVF concluded that, through a slightly too convenient coincidence, "frame dragging" didn't apply to this particular narrow case. It's clear that he understands conventional theories very well, and that's what made it possible for him to develop his Meta Model, the discussion of which comprises the first half of this book.

I can see how the Meta Model discussion would not get high marks, as it clearly didn't in at least one of the earlier reviews here. I read most of it, finally got bored, and skipped into the second half of the book (first edition ISBN 1556431554) which pertains to TVF's Exploding Planet Hypothesis.

When he wrote the first edition, the Alvarez theory was gaining momentum elsewhere in the sciences, as the position of the impact crater that ended the Cretaceous had been located at Chicxulub (the crater had been located circa 1960, but the Alvarez theory didn't come around until 1980 -- see "Night Comes to the Cretaceous" by James Lawrence Powell, ppback 0156007037 hardcover 0716731177).

TVF didn't mention any of that, spending time instead on the "Face on Mars". At that time (early 1990s) the newest surface photos from Martian orbit were still those of Viking from the 1970s. The "Face" did exist, and it was an artifact -- but it existed only in those photos, and was only an artifact of the lower resolution of the Viking cameras, as opposed to that of the recent (late 1990s) orbiter. I don't see how any reasonable person can look at the higher res photos (as opposed to both the Viking photos and the low res photos from the new orbiter, which can mimic the resolution of Viking) and conclude that the "Face" is artificial. This devotion to a completely discredited idea is not to TVF's credit, and as someone who respects his intellect and many of his ideas, I wish he'd knock it off.

The best part of either edition is the discussion of TVF's Exploding Planet Hypothesis (EPH). He uses the model to explain things like the tipped axis of Uranus, disturbed moon system of Neptune, retrograde rotation of Venus, Earth-crossing objects, and various other things which have made thoughtful people wonder for a very long time. In the original edition the EPH was about 3.2 million years ago.

This new edition extends the EPH by adding an earlier exploding planet dated to 65 million years ago, in order to provide a source for the object which crashed into the Earth and ended the dominion of the dinosaurs. TVF's extension seems a bit ad hoc, but once a single unexplained planetary explosion has been posited, additional ones shouldn't be considered surprising or forbidden. On the other hand, TVF had already questioned the (also ad hoc) Oort Cloud idea, and that's the leading competitor (and dominant paradigm) for a source of the Chicxulub object. Since TVF is devoted to building a single comprehensive model to explain oddball characteristics of various solar system objects to replace the dozens of (also ad hoc) unique explanations.

[see "Shoemaker by Levy" ISBN 0691002258 for some brief comments quoted from Shoemaker regarding the role played by Jupiter in sweeping the Solar System of transitory debris -- TVF needs multiple exploding planets because such debris would either be kicked out of the system or bent into untroubling orbits within ten million years, mostly due to the presence of Jupiter]

TVF's discussion of the origin of Earth's own Moon is a great reason to buy this book, and a great place to begin reading it for those who are like me, and enjoy picking at a book here and there. It's also a discussion I'd like to criticize a little. TVF discusses the four basic models of lunar formation, then picks them off one by one, as he offers his own model (fission from Earth due to overspin). The problem with his critique of the capture model is that his arguments apply also to his overspin model, and there's nothing he can do about it. Furthermore, the early presence of water on the Earth (a discovery that I think antedates this new edition of "Dark Matter") reduces the likelihood that the Moon was born of fission from Earth, either due to TVF's model or the more conventional impact model which is the dominant one of the five presented.

Book Description

There has been very considerable progress in research into low-mass stars, brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets during the past few years, particularly since the fist edtion of this book was published in 2000. In this new edtion the authors present a comprehensive review of both the astrophysical nature of individual red dwarf and brown dwarf stars and their collective statistical properties as an important Galactic stellar population. Chapters dealing with the observational properies of low-mass dwarfs, the stellar mass function and extrasolar planets have been completely revised. Other chapters have been significantly revised and updated as appropriate, including important new material on observational techniques, stellar acivity, the Galactic halo and field star surveys. The authors detail the many discoveries of new brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets made since publication of the first edition of the book and provide a state-of-the-art review of our current knowledge of very low-mass stars, brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets, including both the latest observational results and theoretical work.

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Two Dark Tales
Tells of two very different heroes who battle evil in alien worlds.
Dark Companion
Excellent Norton Tale
Two of Norton's best Forerunner novels

Dark Companion
Andre Norton
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0743498984

Book Description

In a future where humanity has scattered itself across the stars and Earth itself is now a dimly-remembered place of legend, two worlds of near-supernatural strangeness challenge two naive but courageous heros. The planet Beltane had been unscathed by the all-encompassing war of the four Sectors when Vere Collis and his friends, exploring caves underground, were trapped by powerful explosions on the surface. Their leader was killed, but the group wandered for days underground to find a way to the surface. They emerged to find that they were the last human survivors on Beltane. Only strange and deadly mutant creatures now roamed the surface. Elsewhere in the galaxy, Kilda's home planet had no place for her, so she took employment as a teacher and governess to two young children on the planet named Dylan. But she soon found that one of her charges has an invisible "dread companion"-and soon Kilda knows that the companion is not imaginary at all, as it leads her charges into an other-dimensional world resembling the legends of Faerie. Though the other world has unknown dangers on every hand, Kilda follows the children across the spatial barrier, knowing that she is their only hope. Two complete novels of two very different heroes battling alien and unknown evil, and fighting to protect the helpless in worlds that are wondrous, terrifying, and utterly alien. Publisher's Note: Dark Companion has previously appeared separately as Dark Piper and Dread Companion. This is the first combined publication of the complete book.

Customer Reviews:

Two Dark Tales.......2007-09-26

Dark Companion (2005) is an omnibus edition including two SF novels: Dark Piper and Dread Companion. These stories are unrelated except in their mutually dark ambience.

In Dark Piper (1968), Beltane had lost most of its security and technical men during the ten years of the Four Sectors War. Those that remained became even more work focused and pacifistic, especially after the Corfu incident. Now the war has ended, not by victory but mutual exhaustion.

The Beltane population rejoices that their forced separation from the outside worlds will no longer continue. They are looking forward to word of new scientific advances and renewed trade with other planets. The end of the war will surely bring good things to their world.

In this novel, Vere Collis is the son of the former Security Commander on Beltane. On the day that a fifth-rate tramp brings the Beltane survivors back home, Vere recognizes Griss Lugard among the other halt and lame. He was much too thin and had a partially restored face, but Vere recognized his father's former second in command.

Lugard has been given title to Butte Hold and all that it contains in lieu of back pay. The old security hold is probably the sturdiest structure on the planet. Shortly before the war started, Lugard had discovered artifacts in a lava cave nearby. According to his papers, Lugard is assigned responsibility for continuing these studies.

Vere gives Lugard a lift to his new home Their conversation during the journey does not forebode a peaceful future. Lugard discusses the ships and men that have lost their homes and now have no central control to restrain their actions. They talk of pirates and raids upon the central worlds. After seeing Lugard into his hold, Vere leaves with an invitation to return at any time.

In this story, Vere brings the Rovers -- a study group for the younger set -- to visit Butte Hold. Lugard makes them welcome and invites them to return again. The Rovers are very interested in the Hold, but Vere puts a damper on any talk of forerunner treasure.

This story introduces a homeless ship that asks permission to settle on Beltane. Despite Lugard's objections, the ruling council agrees to let the refugees have land in the vacant areas. Then two more homeless ships turn up asking to join their associates.

Lugard invites the Rovers to explore the lava caves on the day that the council has scheduled a full meeting to discuss this request by the new refugees. Vere and the youngster arrive later than expected, but Lugard has a troop carrier ready for their journey. They have entered the cave and are enroute to the old underground shelter when the earth shakes.

Dread Companion (1970) is set in the 25th century After Flight. The Survey Service allowed their space personnel leave to marry and to produce children. After several years, the marriage was break-bonded and the couple went their own ways. Any children from the marriage were raised in a Service creche.

In this novel, Kilda c'Rhyn was born on Chalox. Her father was Rhyn Halcrow, a Survey scout, and her mother was a Forsmanian of a trading family. After three years, the marriage is ceremoniously broken and Rhyn spaces out. Kilda's mother remarries within her clan and Kilda goes to the creche.

Kilda does well in the creche. Unluckily, she takes after her father in her restless nature. She doesn't want to just bear children and raise a family, but to explore new worlds.

Her mentor and sponsor -- Lazk Volk -- finds her a job that will get her off the planet to a less conventional society. She is employed as a house aide for a woman traveling to Dylan to be with her husband. Kilda is to take care of the two young children.

Oomark -- the younger child -- is a typical boy. However, Bartare -- the older sister -- probably has too much influence on the boy. Kilda notes an element of slyness in the girl and hears them talk about a mysterious "She" in their private conversations.

Gentlefem Guska -- the children's mother -- journeys to Dylan in deep sleep. Kilda stays with the children to supervise their activities during the journey. When they reach the spaceport at Tamlin, Commandant Piscov meets them with bad news. Konroy Zobak -- the children's father -- has been killed in a freak accident. But Bartare already knows of the death.

In this story, Kilda finds herself living in a daze for days at a time. She suspects that Bartare is an esper, but forgets to call for an appointment with the parapsychologist. Eventually she breaks out of the daze, but is still unable to talk to any other person about the girl.

Bartare wants to go on a field trip with Oomark's class. Her brother refuses and something bad happens to Griffy, Oomark's fur friend. When Oomark changes his mind, Griffy starts to recover.

On the field trip, Bartare and Oomark slip off and down the hill. When Kilda notices their absence, she follows behind the pair. Kilda finds them striking rocks against red boulders, producing clear tones. When Kilda tries to catch up, she slips and bumps the supply bag against a boulder at the same time as the children strike their boulders. The three tones blend and Kilda falls unconscious.

When Kilda recovers, she finds herself in a gray space filled with bright, colorful geometric figures. Oomark is also there, but he sees normal terrain, plants and insects. When Kilda drinks from a stream, she too starts to see a normal environment.

This work is a precursor to the Witch World series. In the other world or dimension, magic is effective and controlled by the Folk. So, too, is magic a force in the dimension containing the Witch World.

Recommended for Norton fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of strange worlds, struggling youths, and desperate actions.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Tells of two very different heroes who battle evil in alien worlds........2007-09-03

Norton's DARK COMPANION is vintage Norton writing at her best. It combines two of her classics - DARK PIPER and DREAD COMPANION - under one cover and tells of two very different heroes who battle evil in alien worlds.

Dark Companion.......2007-06-29

Classic period Norton, both stories reflect the mood of the "Cold War" era though they were both enjoyable to reread after these many years and stand on there own.

Excellent Norton Tale.......2007-05-26

These two novels in one volume are well crafted and highly enjoyable, classic Andre Norton. The first of the two, Dark Piper, is particularly
notable for a richness of texture, fast flowing action, and almost eerie
settings on the surface of the planet Beltane as well as below, in a series of caverns. Well worth a read and a reread, fine storytelling!

Two of Norton's best Forerunner novels.......2005-10-07

"Dark Companion" is a reprinting of two novels: "Dark Piper" and "Dread Companion." Both are set in Andre Norton's Forerunner universe, in which humans have been exploring space for so long that they barely remember Earth. Both books take place late in the greater story arc of this universe, but they can be read in any order. (Click on my name to see the list.)

In "Dark Piper," scientists have established a colony on a distant planet, where they can conduct their experiments and ignore the terrible war that is happening in the rest of their galaxy. When the war suddenly ends, a soldier returns home to the colony, full of dire warnings that civilization is about to collapse. Fearing an invasion of marauders from space, he becomes a sort of Pied Piper, befriending some of the children and leading them on a dangerous expedition into an underground tunnel system where, according to rumor, the remains of an alien society have been discovered.

"Dark Piper" is excellent science fiction, engrossing and fast-paced, with admirable characters who behave in an intelligent, believable way. It contains nothing objectionable for young readers, but it does deal with some grim topics. In fact, it seems to have been written for a young-adult audience. I highly recommend it.

The second novel, "Dread Companion," is a creepy story about a governess named Kilda, who senses something sinister about the two children in her care. Eventually she realizes that one of the kids has an invisible friend, a powerful and malevolent entity who has plans for the child. Kilda accompanies the kids and their mother to a remote planet, where the invisible entity makes its move to claim the child for its own purposes. Scary and bizarre adventures ensue as Kilda tries to protect her young charges and escape from a world that is unimaginably alien.

I must admit that I didn't enjoy "Dread Companion" as much as "Dark Piper," because the alien scenes were so fantastically odd that it was sometimes hard to figure out what was going on. Nevertheless, if you want to learn more about the mystery of the Forerunners, you should definitely read this book.

Looking at the Planets: A Book About the Solar System/With a Glow in the Dark Planet Mobile

Average customer rating:

Make your own solar system

Looking at the Planets: A Book About the Solar System/With a Glow in the Dark Planet Mobile
Melvin Berger
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0590203002

Customer Reviews:

Make your own solar system.......2002-09-07

This book would be a good way to introduce children to the solar system. It focuses on the nine planets, and has a "punch-out" glow-in-the-dark kit that allows you to make your own model of the solar system. The information is of the most basic, which would probably be best for children from four to eight.

Average customer rating:

If you love space opera, here's a series for you
Joint Review of Dark Wing Series; Solid - 3.5
More Star Wars than Honor Harrington
Too much alien mysticism ruined it.
Much Better than "The Dark Wing"

The Dark Path
Walter H. Hunt
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: B000C4SHMW

Book Description

The stakes are the same: the survival of the human race! Only the enemy has changed. In the future, man will take to the stars and in so doing place his continued existence in jeopardy . . . for not all of the galaxy's inhabitants will welcome us with open arms. Humanity's war with the zor is over, and Admiral Marais, the legendary 'Dark Wing,' is long dead, though some of his companions from that campaign of xenocide still remain. Now a mystery from the past has become a threat to the present. Whole fleets are disappearing, and the few survivors are stricken with madness. Man and zor must join forces to meet this new adversary head on.

Customer Reviews:

If you love space opera, here's a series for you.......2007-07-23

I won't try to rehash what others here have said so well. My observations are limited to the following: First, the build up and characterization are stunning, but the finish leaves you somewhat unfulfilled. It deserved better. Second, I absolutely, thouroughly enjoyed the way Hunt's alien culture and psychology were driven so convincingly by their physiology. This was opera I could believe, consistant and convincing within it's own universe. Perhaps Hunt will write a 5th book to finish the story in the way it deserves. If he does, I will plunk down my cash without hesitation.

Joint Review of Dark Wing Series; Solid - 3.5.......2006-01-24

These 4 books - The Dark Wing, The Dark Path, The Dark Ascent, and The Dark Crusade - exhibit many of the standard space opera devices. There are the winged and in many ways admirable aliens, the remorseless insectoid alien adversaries, the hidden powers attempting to manipulate human fates, and the sprawling and somewhat corrupt space empire. There is also more than a touch of mysticism with events mirroring myths of the winged alien species. Nor can it be said that Hunt has done anything particularly novel with these devices.
Nonetheless, Hunt is a more than competent practictioner and these books are a decent read. Hunt does quite well with reasonably tight plotting and characterization. His integration of the mythic elements is better than average. These books are better, for example, than David Weber's very popular books.

More Star Wars than Honor Harrington.......2006-01-15

As I read this, I kept trying to figure out which series the reviewers had not read - this one or the Harrington books. The protagonists are female space navy officers: end of similarity.

Harrington is a retelling of Horatio Hornblower / Admiral Nelson in a science fiction background - complete to loosing an eye and an arm. She commands ships and fleets in battle.

In this book, the heroine is on a quest to repeat the accomplishments of a legendary alien hero - complete with ghosts and mystical visions.

If someone really wants to quibble: Harrington has a symbiotic partner (Nimitz can hardly be called a pet) who is empathic, but stops far short the mysticism found here.

Too much alien mysticism ruined it........2005-10-25

The first book, The Dark Wing was much better, it concentrated more on the space navy side of things and whether or not we commit genocide to save both species. This one is just totally bizarre throughout much of it.

Much Better than "The Dark Wing" .......2004-07-28

Walter Hunt's second book on humanity's Solar Empire and the Zor is a gripping, tantalizing examination of interspecies relationships and Zor psychology. "The Dark Path" is set eighty five years after the last of the human-Zor wars chronicled in "The Dark Wing". Now at peace, humans and Zor are staunch allies, with each serving in the other's military forces. At remote Cicero Naval Base Commodore Jacqueline "Jackie" Laperriere and her exec, Commander Ch'k'te HeYen, are forced to confront mindshifting and shapeshifting aliens, the insectoid Vuhl, whose coming was foretold by the Zor High Lord of the Nest in "The Dark Path". Together they must reenact an ancient Zor myth to win back from the vuhl a sacred sword seized by the Vuhl from its human owner, the aged Serge Torrijos, an envoy of the Zor government.

Walter Hunt approaches Ursula LeGuin in his captivating examination of Zor psychology and religious mythology. And he evokes Orson Scott Card's Ender Wiggin saga in his depiction of the insectoid Vuhl. Much to his credit, Hunt does a fine job creating believable, likeable characters, most notably those of Jackie and Ch'K'Te. Alas he ends the story a bit too neatly at the end, but with enough hints suggesting yet another further installment in the humans-Zor saga.

Average customer rating:

Joint Review of Dark Wing Series; Solid - 3.5
Good 'space navy' type novel.
A Mixed Bag
One of the Better Efforts in Space Opera Lately
Definitely an engrossing read

The Dark Wing
Walter H. Hunt
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 076530113X

Book Description

Gordon Dicksons Dorsai series, Fred Saberhagans Berserker series, and David Webers Honor Harrington series are standards of epic science fiction. Into this pantheon steps Walter Hunts The Dark Wing, an epic novel where the stakes of a human/alien conflict are nothing less than the survival of the human race.

Customer Reviews:

Joint Review of Dark Wing Series; Solid - 3.5.......2006-01-24

Good 'space navy' type novel........2005-10-25

Although the alien mysticism is a bit odd, it isn't overpowering. Good stuff.

A Mixed Bag.......2005-04-11

I have just finished reading THE DARK WING, and am of very mixed feelings about this book. This is indeed a page-turner, a book you don't want to put down, in order to find the answers to the variety of puzzles that crop up over the course of the story. Unfortunately, there are precious few surprises along the way, and many of the resolutions are telegraphed well in advance. The main problem, however, is this: Some parts are beaten to death by the author--we are told, and told, and told again what is happening or what will happen, and then it does. On other occasions, the story simply skips ahead days or weeks into the future, and we get only the most brief explanation of what has happened. An example would be the fate of Admiral Marais. We are told what his likely fate will be, then told about it again, and then again, so that when his fate actually plays out, it can only be met with a yawn. This book also tries to be too many things at once, and can never quite decide what it wants to be. A space-battle shoot 'em up? Not much after about the first hundred pages. A conspiracy tale? In some places, but only rarely, with little development. A sociological look at an alien society? For about the middle third of the book, maybe, but then that goes out the window, too. A trial drama? For a few pages, with no surprises at all, really--and including yet more rehash of what we've already been told over and over. In sum, this is a book with numerous enjoyable moments, that simply does not hang together well as a whole. Coupled with the mostly shallow characters, the book on balance disappoints. Here's hoping THE DARK PATH, which looks to be a bit shorter, will also be more focused and developed.

One of the Better Efforts in Space Opera Lately.......2004-07-19

First-time novelist Walter H. Hunt is surely a writer to watch, writing credible space opera that harkens to some of the finest I have seen from the likes of Gordon Dickson and Jerry Pournelle, to name but a few. Although Hunt isn't nearly as gifted a stylist as both venerable science fiction authors, he does a magnificient job in reviving time-worn space opera in his literary debut "The Dark Wing". This is a spellbinding tale of a scholar and military officer, Admiral Lord Marais, who becomes mankind's savior in the latest war against the zor, an ancient race of bird-like aliens. Marais seems to be the only one capable of understanding zor psychology and religion, which he uses effectively against the zor in a brilliant campaign after a zor sneak attack on the Solar Empire's key outpost of Pergamum. I liked Hunt's depiction of the zor and the internal conflict within their government as they realize that Marais thinks of himself as their destroyer, "The Dark Wing". Hunt does a fine job in creating several intriguing characters along with Marais, most notably the senior naval officers Torrijos, Hudson and Bell. With this novel, Hunt has established himself as a superb writer of military science fiction, with sufficient political and religious intrigue that is similar in scope to J. Michael Straczynski's "Babylon 5" television series. Anyone expecting to read a thin rehash of routine "Star Trek" fiction will be disappointed. But others, including myself, should look forward to Hunt's future efforts in military science fiction and space opera.

Definitely an engrossing read.......2003-12-24

A fascinating story... for military science fiction, more concept and thought than action... Think about Apocalypse Now, not Starship Troopers.

9-11 Descent into Tyranny: The New World Order's Dark Plans to Turn Earth into a Prison Planet

Average customer rating:

Important Pieces of the Puzzle
Not supported by facts or logic.
Listen
a good read
Decent expose of Oklahoma and both WTC attacks

9-11 Descent into Tyranny: The New World Order's Dark Plans to Turn Earth into a Prison Planet
Alex Jones
Manufacturer: Progressive Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Globalization | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Terrorism | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1575581132

Customer Reviews:

Important Pieces of the Puzzle.......2007-03-03

I agree with those that suggest that the author goes over the top sometimes, but I will also be quite explicit in saying that I think Alex Jones is a very important part of the patriotic truth movement, and all that he does is in my view at least 80% vital to improving public intelligence in the public interest.

This book plays out a theme that relates the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma with 9-11, and I read through it at the same time that I was watching the DVD "Painful Questions" which actually had news clips about additional unexploded bombs being found in the Federal Building after the fact.

I am increasingly frustrated as I read so many of these books, each with vital tid-bits, many of which I can see correlating with one another, but yet no one anywhere has cut the spines off all these great books, digitized them, and created a visual diagram that makes sense of all this.

One thing I am certain of: the White House and Larry Silverstein are both hiding information from the public, and one day we will have proof of the degree to which elements of our own government allowed 9-11 to happen and went the extra step of helping to murder thousands of Americans solely and exclusively to manipulate a mandate for combining a police state at home with a unilateral ;militarism-terrorism abroad.

Not supported by facts or logic........2006-08-05

It is a sad sign of the times that so many people have apparently swallowed Alex Jones's ramblings and disconnected assertions hook, line and sinker.

Listen.......2006-07-11

This may not be the total truth and there is no book that can explain the total truth about 9/11. But i'll bet you Alex Jones comes closer to exposing the government involvement in 9/11 than the corporate media. What iam trying to say is Jones is more credible than the media which is twisted to what your supposed to believe. And what your supposed to believe is not true. The US government was involved in 9/11 and used it to create a never ending war, justify taking away our liberties so they can become more powerful and make us scared so we let them take our liberties away. If you cant see that by now you never will. Spread the word, we must be heard.

a good read.......2006-06-08

no matter how many times you've watched 9-11 road to tyranny you still pick up some new things. Same with his book, which even tho it covers a lot of the 9-11 stuff, still has things which just make you angry.

The proof is in the pudding. The globalists openly talk about what they do and want to do.

Don't let them do it to you. Arm yourself with knowledge and with....just do it. Resist tyranny

Decent expose of Oklahoma and both WTC attacks.......2006-05-09

Alex Jones wowed me with his first 9-11 documentary THE ROAD TO TYRANNY that was made in 2002. It woke me up to the New World Order and confirmed my doubts that I had since day one. How could those buildings come down so fast anyway with the limited amount of jet fuel? How can different types of damage cause two uniform collapses that are so fast they defy the laws of gravity? These questions were not even touched by scientists until almost recently. Since Alex Jones' video/book came out only in 2002, it simply asks the rhetorical questions about how could they come down so fast and what about WTC 7 that wasn't even hit by a plane and had only small fires? He also quotes Lou Cachioli, a firefighter who told PEOPLE magazine he heard bombs in the buildings and a demolition expert friend of his who said on the day it happened that it was the most beautiful demolition he'd ever seen.

Jones hits on the main bullet points about 9-11 quickly and has paranthetical references to the relevant news articles. He talks about drills that simulated the actual 9-11 events before and during 9-11, the phony anthrax attack coming at a critial time - the patriot act renewal, government obstruction of terror investigation, cancelled flights by top Pentagon brass including Ashcroft before 9-11, insider trading, prior knowledge, CIA meeting with Bin Laden, the Bush-Bin Laden business connection, warnings from other nations and the David Schippers interview who talks about people refusing to take vital information on purpose and other things. Since 2002, more information has come out but the content here on 9-11 (one 50 page chapter) raises enough questions and doubts and points out too many "coincidences."

Before the 9-11 chapter, he spent a couple of chapters talking about the use of problem-reaction-solution throughout history. Of course he touches in Nero burning Rome, The USS Maine, The Lusitania, Hitler's Reichstag fire*, Pearl Harbour and Northwoods. These documented facts are kept down to a paragraph to probably save room but also demonstrate that government sponsored terrorism is nothing new; therefore we should not believe, "Oh the government would never do that."

*(Some modern day national socialists claim that the insane communist fellow in the thirties actually did set fire to the Reichstag and the Nazis were innocent and surprised (David Irving). However some say the Nazis probably let it happen. Paul Joseph Watson in his book Order Out of Chaos claims that Hitler's storm troopers used an underground passage that connected Goering's cellar with that of the Reichstag whereby they scattered gas to feed the flames when the lone communist nut who broke in set fire to his shirt.)*

After Alex Jones finishes with his 9-11 chapter, he moves on to how the citizens' liberties are being targeted by the government and how police forces are being trained to see citizens as their enemy and to act contrary to the constitution (a woman being brought to trial for exercising her fourth amendment rights after being stopped at a random check point, FBI terrorist manual targeting patriots, FEMA training whereby Christians and the founding fathers are branded as terrorists - a convenient way to get them to attack people who oppose the NWO). Alex Jones talks about random check points and the Delta Force taking over cities and running drills to take away guns and put people into detention camps. He also talks about one psy-op in particular where a false news story was put out by the government about a deadly virus outbreaks in one city. People believed the lies and went to the hospital afraid. "It's all part of conditioning the population."

Alex also quickly, but a bit superficially, touches on how children are being indoctrinated into living with big government and a cashless society through newscasts and even children's cartoons. He also talks about people being told that microchips are a good idea because they are for their protection against terrorism (has an Andy Rooney quotation saying chips are good for America). Alex also talks about how the military runs psy-ops in schools by running using mock terror drills and frightening children, training them to think a police state is normal. Alex says in his book at one of these drills a kid was shot in the face and nothing happened. I would have liked a source for that in his book and in his film THE ROAD TO TYRANNY.

Near the end, he has a quick spiel on the UN plan to control private property, poisoning our foods with flouride and aspartame, global warming as a phony scare tactic to grab land, and tainted vaccines that are basically word for word from his film. While these are common knowledge, Alex should have provided sources and could have spent a little more time on them instead of simply repeating verbatim what he said in his flim TRTT (or one could make the argument regaring the UN desire for land grabbing, 'hey, that's what his 1997 film DESTROYED BY DESGIN is for). A lot of times he says, "it is documented" or "it is a known fact." While true, he should still give more sources in some places - he could have given links or sources to check out that further elucidate the vaccine, flouride and aspartame scams.

Alex even says in the conclusion that this book is pretty much verbatim is 9-11 film THE ROAD TO TYRANNY but that it is meant to get this information to a wider audience, including the deaf. Alex Jones tends to hit important points in just a few sentences and give a source before moving on the next point quickly. While it does save room, a little more expansion on certain issues would improve the book. This is where Paul Joseph Watson's book comes in. His book is longer, has more detail on many of the same issues Alex touches on and fills in the gaps that Alex Jones' book creates. If you want top level documentation and a little more detailed explanation of certain things including historical backgrounds of government sponsored terrorism like MI5 infiltrating the IRA (Jones doesn't deal with this), Watson is the man. Watson seems to want to incorporate 9-11 into a wider paragidm whereas Jones wants to focus mainly on 9-11 and then give a small taste of the past and get it over with so we can begin our political activism or something. Don't get me wrong. Jones' film/book here is good and makes many good points, but Watson elucidates the issues a bit better. I got both books from the website oneheartbooks. This is a place that people NEED to go to incase you think you are too far away from Texas (Jones' residence) to get this book successfully in the mail.

P.S. If you use google correctly, Watson's and Jones' books are available from nwowatcher dot com in abridged pdf's.

P.P.S. Here is a table of contents for Jones' book - something that was lacking but should not have been.

Introduction - 5
I.The House of World Government - 15
II.Terror In History - 23
III.September 11, 2001 - 56
IV.The Bill of Rights-A Terrorist Manual - 105
V.Conclusion - 172
Appendix A:World Bankers Feed Off of Crumbling Economies - 175
Appendix B:Infowars Exclusive: Bohemian Grove - 191
Appendix C:Know Your Enemy-The Communist Manifesto - 207
Appendix D:Know Your Heritage-The Bill of Rights - 210

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