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.

Fire Sea: The Death Gate Cycle, Volume 3 (Death Gate Cycle)

Average customer rating:

Again, Amazed
Fire Sea - Death Gate Cycle takes a very dark turn...
One of the best!
sorta ok sometimes
Not bad, it is a shame the rest of the series was not written as well

Fire Sea: The Death Gate Cycle, Volume 3 (Death Gate Cycle)
Margaret Weis , and Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553295411
Release Date: 1992-02-01

Book Description

Abarrach, the Realm of stone. Here, on a barren world of underground caverns built around a core of molten lava, the lesser races -- humans, elves, and dwarves -- seem to have all died off. Here, too, what may well be the last remnants of the once powerful Sartan still struggle to survive. For Haplo and Alfred -- enemies by heritage, traveling companions by necessity -- Abarrach may reveal more than either dares to discover about the history of Sartan... and the future of all their descendants.

Customer Reviews:

Again, Amazed.......2007-07-09

From the first to the last this cycle is AWESOME! This one in particular really leaves the strongest impact of "What's going to happen next?" burning in your mind at the end so be sure to have the next one handy when you near the end because you won't be able to wait too long! Again I must say WARNING - this Cycle is addicting.

Fire Sea - Death Gate Cycle takes a very dark turn..........2006-02-23

Fire Sea, the third of seven books in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Death Gate Cycle is just as good as the previous two, if not better. This entry in the series takes place in Abarrach, the Realm of Stone.

It starts out different from all the rest, with the first seven chapters being part of a diary from Balthazar, King Edward's necromancer. Soon, as Haplo is about to enter the Death Gate, Alfred (from Dragon Wing) drops in and goes with Haplo to Abarrach. They soon discover that the Sartan found here practice Necromancy, or the art of bringing back the dead. This is discovered much to Alfred's horror, as he cannot believe his race would do such a thing.

The book continues, with many conflicts and sub-conflicts rising up and making for a very dark and interesting read. We get to see inside Haplo, and we discover he is not all Sartan-hater we think he is. We also find that Haplo is not invincible and that Alfred is more powerful than we knew.

Fire Sea is an amazing book in the Death Gate Cycle, and I cannot wait to read Serpent Mage!

P.S: Be sure to read the appendicies...They're important!

One of the best!.......2005-09-27

Fire Sea is book #3 of a seven book series. While the previous two volumes are quite good in themselves, this is the one that takes this series to a whole new level. I truly believe that Weis & Hickman did their best bit of writing as a team on this one book. The enviroment is so alive (in a dark sort of way).

"Gripping" is the word I would use to describe Fire Sea. I don't want to give away any spoliers, but believe me, the conflicts involved and the atmosphere itself will keep you turning pages for several hours. The storyline is very dark and morbid. The dead walk freely in Abarrach and the living are slowly dying off. The novel describes the struggle of the living as they try to survive a world that is killing them, just as they are unknowlingly killing themselves.

It is simply brilliant work, and I would freely recommend the book to anyone.

sorta ok sometimes.......2005-08-13

eh.. Decent books but tend to be weak in my view. They have some killer ideas but at the same time seem to get lost and opt not to take these books to a level higher than just run of the mill fantasy.

Not bad, it is a shame the rest of the series was not written as well.......2005-07-30

First, I will tell you how to get the most enjoyment out of this series. Start with going to the library and renting all of these books. Do not buy them as they are not worth it. Then read books 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 without reading the footnotes or the appendixes. You have the option of reading books 2 and 5 if you are really enjoying the series, but they are only filler and do not even need to be skimmed. Finally, accept the fact that Weis and Hickman may only be one hit wonders and move on.

Second, I write reviews for those who seek good fantasy and not for the zealots who hang on every Weis and Hickman word. You would think from some of the reviews of this series that these books were greater than War and Peace and written by Bronte and Conrad. In reality, this series is not very good. I am not trying to trash Weis and Hickman, I found the Dragon Lance series to be extremely enjoyable and would give at least the first two series of that line four stars. This series deserves no more than 2 stars. The books are incomplete thoughts that may have been much better had the authors taken more time to flesh out the story. Beware of fantasy books that contain footnotes and appendixes. Usually, these are the telltale signs of poor writing. Having said that, I did manage to read most of these seven books and here are some thoughts.

Many reviewers have made a lot of the fact that Xar is actually tsar or czar. I fail to see the significance here. Xar is a ruler and a tsar is a ruler. So what? What I found to be much more interesting and ultimately distracting was the use, by the authors, of the word mensch. Mensch is a Hebrew word. It is not close to a Hebrew word, it is a Hebrew word. If you look it up, mensch means a person of integrity and honor. What are the authors trying to say here? That all people without ambition or power are full of integrity and honor. I read all seven books trying to understand the use of this word to no avail.

Not surprising considering the books are filled with errors and inconsistencies. Some of these errors and inconsistencies are no doubt addressed in the footnotes and appendixes, but it would take an additional seven books to address all the problems. I believe that most of these problems occurred because the authors did not take the time to complete their work. Perhaps they were pressured by their publisher.

Most of the characters are thinly veiled shadows of those characters from the Dragon Lance series. Only, these characters are not as interesting or as engaging. Part of the problem is that Weis and Hickman never determine where they want the story to go. They blur the line between good and evil, then they erase the line, then they re-draw the line in bold. In Dragon Lance, it was intriguing to see how the characters dealt with the discovery of the duality of their own nature. In this book it is just confusing.

Average customer rating:

About what I expected
Nuclear hogwash
Tom Clancy Obviously did not write this one!
Risible research
WHAT IS THIS GARBAGE

Sea of Fire: Op-Center 10 (Op-Center)
Steve Pieczenik , and Jeff Rovin
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425190919
Release Date: 2003-06-24

Book Description

A half-dead Singapore pirate is plucked from the Celebes Sea in the Western Pacific, setting off alarms halfway around the world in Washington, D.C. Traces of radiation are found on the man, causing Australian officials to call in Op-Center for a top-secret investigation of nuclear disposal sights. When an empty drum from a recent drop-off is discovered near where the pirate's ship was destroyed, the Op-Center team comes to a terrifying conclusion: a multi-national corporation that has been hired to dispose of nuclear waste is selling it instead -- to a most unlikely terrorist...

A powerful profile of America's defense, intelligence, and crisis management technology, Tom Clancy's Op-Center is the creation of Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik -- inspiring this and other gripping novels.

Customer Reviews:

About what I expected.......2004-08-03

Each of the Op-Center books has presented a crisis based on the current events and global political circumstances at the time of its writing. This one isn't different. The prospect of terrorists obtaining and using nuclear material is daunting, and the job of preventing such a disaster even more so. This book isn't quite as gripping as some of the earlier books in the series, but it did present a few surprises, and it wrapped up the story nicely. This book placed some of the Op-Center staff in new roles in the field, which was refreshing, and it introduced at least one new character that I suspect will return in future volumes. This was a fun, light read, perfect for any fan of espionage/political thrillers.

Nuclear hogwash.......2004-03-03

Among the countless and careless errors throughout this book, as attested to by several other reviewers, the one that bothers me the most is the author's horrendous misunderstanding of the terms "contamination" and "radiation." Being an ex nuclear submariner and nuclear engineer, I have always been impressed by the accuracy of Tom Clancy's research, whether it was the details of nuclear submarine operations or his insights regarding interactions among members of the officers and crew. Tom Clancy was a meticulous researcher. Tom Clancy understood the difference between "contamination" and "radiation" and never would have written a book based on such a misapplication of science.

Lee Tong, the "radiation man" who sets off the entire story, conceivably could have been irradiated by gamma rays from the nuclear cargo on his target ship but that exposure, no matter how intense, would in no way have made him radioactive. There would be no need for a lead shield as described in his hospital room. If on the other hand he became contaminated with radioactive material from the target boat as a result of the explosion, then the target ship and many of its crew members would also have been contaminated. But they weren't. You can walk away from a radiation source, but if you are contaminated with radioactive particles, it goes with you.

For those of us who have been conditioned to read anything with Tom Clancy's name on it, and who do so because we have learned to trust the authenticity of his work, this book is extremely disappointing. We used to read Clancy because we trusted him and because of this trust we had confidence that the technology described in the story was accurate, not science fiction. Apparently, that is no longer so, a sad finding for thousands of Clancy fans.

Much of the public fear about nuclear power comes from misunderstandings, such as Jeff Rovin's misunderstanding of contamination and radiation. Also, co-creator Steve Pieczenik, having a Ph.D. from MIT, would have easy access to the science that is at the heart of The Sea of Fire. He has no excuse to get it so wrong. For a ready reference, the difference is very clearly described on the Internet at:

Definitions Related to Radiation

or go to: http://www.orau.gov/reacts/definitions.htm

If you are looking for fairly good science fiction read, and don't care about its technical accuracy, or how big Australia really is, this book might do it for you. Otherwise don't be misled, find another book.

Thomas Banfield
tvbanfield@aol.com

Tom Clancy Obviously did not write this one!.......2004-02-19

I agree with the others who panned this. It is full of obvious errors, and they show the gross ignorance of the author. The one that got me and sticks is his description of the men in the Sampan using the oars to get close to the yacht. They 'oared' there. Oared is not a word. When men use oars to move a ship, boat, or any floating vessel, the term used to move it is ROW. You row a boat, you use 10 foot oars in a viking ship to ROW the ship. One paddles a canoe, but one does not OAR a boat. Obviously this book was thrown together in as short a time as possible, given minimal proof reading, and then published. Tom Clancy should be ashamed to have his name put on it.

Risible research.......2004-01-04

Before I reached page 50 I realised this author had confined his research on Australia (the setting for much of the action) to a Sydney Street Directory. Yes, you can see the Sydney Opera House from the Park Hyatt Hotel and that's the limit of his accuracy.

The protagonist travelled from Sydney to Darwin in 116 minutes? Not in a P3 Orion he didn't (unless it is unique among propellor driven aircraft in that it can travel at Mach 2. Maybe it was a Concorde in disguise.) The distance is more than 2000 miles (about equivalent of LA to Miami or New York to Phoenix). The offending yacht travelled from the Celebes Sea to Cairns (well over 2000 miles) in 30 hours. Australia's P3s are owned by the Air Force, not the Navy. In the RAN, a Warrant Officer is not a senior officer. A wommera is not a means of throwing darts, it is a means Aborigines used for throwing spears (it applies extra leverage as an extension to the length of the arm). In itself, a wommera would be about as useful a weapon as any other thin stick and it is hard to imagine why anyone would carry one, especially as that character was supposed to be half Aboriginal..

A willing suspension of disbelief in the interests of a good yarn is one thing, lamentable research and gross (easily checkable) error is quite another. Don't waste money on this dog.

WHAT IS THIS GARBAGE.......2003-12-31

WAY TO BORING AND HARD TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THE FLOW OF THE BOOK. I HOPE THE NEXT ONE IS BETTER BECAUSE IF IT IS NOT THEY SHOUDN'T HAVE WROTE IT AND I WILL NOT READ ANOTHER

Fire in the Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Book
fascinating and heartbreaking
An Honest, Inside Account about the Fate of the Sea Turtle
Mysterious Waters....
Compelling Read About Fate of Sea Turtles and the Oceans

Fire in the Turtle House: The Green Sea Turtle and the Fate of the Ocean
Osha Gray Davidson
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1586481991
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Book Description

"An elegant eco-cautionary tale wrapped in a scientific mystery." --Publishers Weekly.

Sea turtles have existed since the time of the dinosaurs. But now, suddenly, the turtles are dying, ravaged by a mysterious plague that some biologists consider the most serious epidemic now raging in the natural world. Perhaps most important, sea turtles aren't the only marine creatures falling prey to deadly epidemics. Over the last few decades diseases have been burning through nearshore waters around the world with unprecedented lethality.

What is happening to the sea turtle, and how can it be stopped? In this fascinating scientific detective story, Osha Gray Davidson tracks the fervent efforts of the extraordinary and often quirky scientists, marine biologists, veterinarians, and others racing against the clock to unravel a complicated biological and environmental puzzle and keep the turtles from extinction. He follows the fates of particular turtles, revealing their surprisingly distinct personalities and why they inspire an almost spiritual devotion in the humans who come to know them. He also explores through vivid historical anecdotes and examples the history of man's relationship to the sea, opening a window onto the role played by humans in the increasing number of marine die-offs and extinctions.

Beautifully written, intellectually provocative, Fire in the Turtle House reveals how emerging diseases wreaking havoc in the global ocean pose an enormous, direct threat to humanity. This is science journalism at its best.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Book.......2006-01-04

Well I have to say after receiving this book yesterday at 6pm I was done reading it by midnight. I just couldn't put the book down. The writing is so good and the flow of the book so steady, that as a reader you can't help but remain on the edge of your seat. The other nice thing about this book is that while the subject matter is complex, it is presented in a way understandable to all. HIGHLY recommended.

fascinating and heartbreaking.......2005-12-13

I loved this book, and not just because I am a lifelong turtle nut. I couldn't put this book down although at times it made me cry. Great storytelling, intelligent without being dry, and I wanted to tell everyone I know to read it. A must read for anyone into turtles, marine biology and oceanography, ecology, commercial fishing, commercial agriculture, veterinary medicine, and medical research.

"It all rolls into one, and nothing comes for free" -Robert Hunter

An Honest, Inside Account about the Fate of the Sea Turtle.......2004-03-04

I knew that sea turtles were endangered or threatened but never really investigated the reasons why. I found this book while perusing the book store and it caught my attention so I bought it and read it.
The book is well written and speaks to a non-biologist audience. It simply tells of the authors investigations into the reasons that they think the sea turtles are dying off at an alarming rate. It left me with my mouth gaping open and wondering why more people are not educated about the plight of this species.
While reading, the author makes you feel a part of their experiences, as if you were scuba diving with these creatures.
If the data from this book is any indication of the plight of the Earth's oceans, it is a very scary thought of what may be to come.
I recommend this book for ANYONE who is inquisitive about the hype surrounding "our dying oceans". It gives a detailed account of the afflictions affecting sea turtles and what we are trying to do to save them. The problem appears to go way beyond this mysterious virus. The book made me cry and get angry at the same time. We need to find out what is happening and target the source.
In the preface of the paperback edition, the author makes this statement: "If I could coin a blessing for a new world, it would be this: May your children swim in an ocean full of turtles." Amen to that Osha Gray Davidson.

Mysterious Waters...........2004-02-20

Unequivocally, I loved this book! Parts biological mystery, turtle evolution, naturalist history and love story to the sea, it's wrapped up in very engaging prose. It made me fall in love with the creatures!! And apparently I'm not the only one...

In a book I read last year, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," the authors' dedicated the book to a green sea turtle!! It read:

"To the green sea turtle who twenty-five years ago bumped the bottom of a boat in Key West, Florida, scaring a little girl. Those tears and this book are for you and your descendants."

Here's hoping that turtle's descendants will STILL be around in another 25 years! But the more people who read this book, the more attention these endangered animals will deservedly get.

Compelling Read About Fate of Sea Turtles and the Oceans.......2004-02-12

Fire In the Turtle House is a thorough, investigative account of many dedicated marine biologist, scientists, and turtle lovers trying to figure out how and why green sea turtles have become afflicted with fibropamillomatosis. The virus is killing off the specie in untold numbers and will lead to their extinction. By the reading the book not only did I learn about sea turtles, and how they live and breed, but I got an enormous education in marine biology and how the ocean is a precious habitat for these creatures. The author helped me understand by giving specific examples as to how man is contributing to the ocean's decline and thus sea life's decline. This isn't a diatribe on man but a well thought out provocative look at a very important topic told so that everyone can understand. There is a quote in the book by Arthur C. Clarke that says that our planet should not of been called Earth but perhaps "Oceana." Very true when most of the planet is made up of water, as are we. My eyes have been open to the truth of this statement after reading Fire in the Turtle House.

The Sea on Fire: Jean Barraqué (Eastman Studies in Music)

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The Sea on Fire: Jean Barraqué (Eastman Studies in Music)
Paul Griffiths
Manufacturer: University of Rochester Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1580461417

Book Description

Jean Barraqué is increasingly being recognized as one of the great composers of the second half of the 20th century. Though he left only seven works, his voice in each of them is unmistakeable, and powerful. He had no doubt of his responsibility, as a creator, to take his listeners on challenging adventures that could not but leave them changed. After the collapse of morality he had witnessed as a child growing up during the Second World War, and having taken notice of so much disarray in the culture around him, he set himself to make music that would, out of chaos, speak. Three others were crucial to him. One was Pierre Boulez, who, three years older, provided him with keys to a new musical language-a language more dramatic, driving and passionate than Boulez's. Another was Michel Foucault, to whom he was close personally for a while, and with whom he had a dialogue that was determinative for both of them. Finally, in the writings of Hermann Broch-and especially in the novel The Death of Virgil-he found the myth he needed to realize musically. He played for high stakes, and he took risks-with himself as in his art. Intemperate and difficult, even with his closest friends, he died in 1973 at the age of forty-five.

Average customer rating:

duplicate
3rd part of trilogy and doesn't stand alone

Fire Down Below (Sea Trilogy)
William Golding
Manufacturer: Faber and Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0571191460

Customer Reviews:

duplicate.......2007-01-09

I returned this book because it is included in "To the Ends of the Earth".

3rd part of trilogy and doesn't stand alone.......1999-11-18

Wonderful prose, beautifully observed character study, as WG slips into the skin of an extremely priggish and snobbish early twenties aristocrat as he comes of age and begins to understand a little more of the virtues of the ordinary people around him. Sea journeys of that era were long, tedious, largely uneventful and extremely uncomfortable. All 3 books in the trilogy carry this perfectly: the maritime atmosphere is conveyed as perfectly as the arrogant character of the narrator. However, the tedium of the journey also comes across in the virtually non-existent plot which makes the books drag on somewhat. It is probably, though, as brilliant description of the English class system at the start of the 19th century as you will read. I believe that the books in Trilogies should be able to stand alone, if they are to be sold separately, & on that basis, this trilogy definitely fails. I'm glad I read it as a single 750 page tome.

Fire on the Waters : A Novel of the Civil War at Sea

Average customer rating:

Very enjoyable -- annoying quotes
Quite good
A Bitter Beginning
Good stuff
Great Historical Fiction

Fire on the Waters : A Novel of the Civil War at Sea
David Poyer
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671046810

Book Description

The year is 1861, and America shudders on the brink of disunion. Elisha Eaker, scion of a wealthy Manhattan banking family, joins the Navy against his father's wishes. He does it as much to avoid an arranged marriage to his cousin, Araminta Van Velsor, as to defend the flag.

Eli meets Lieutenant Ker Claiborne aboard the sloop of war U.S.S. Owanee. An Annapolis graduate who's seen action in the West Indies and the Africa Station, Claiborne is cool and competent in storm and battle, but he now faces an agonizing choice between the Navy he loves and his native Virginia. Whichever road he takes, he'll be called a traitor.

With authentic nautical and historical detail, master sea-yarner David Poyer follows Eli, Araminta, Ker, and their loved ones and shipmates into a maelstrom of divided loyalties, bitter partings, stormy seas, governmental panic, political blundering, and, finally, the test of battle as the bloodiest and most divisive war in American history begins.

Customer Reviews:

Very enjoyable -- annoying quotes.......2007-07-08

The story and characters are brilliant, and evoke the time in a way that connects with modern readers. However, Poyer has taken it on himself to use long dashes "--" instead of quotation marks. This is something that I couldn't get used to, in part because there is no mark to indicate the END of a quote. --Go below, Eli said. The first time I read a line like this, I think that it's someone telling Eli to go below. It's actually Eli speaking. 99% of the time there is little confusion, but basically you have to de-code every line of dialogue. A real pain in an otherwise first-rate book.

Quite good.......2007-04-24

I read one of David Poyer's earlier, modern naval books, probably 10-15 years ago, and wasn't impressed with either it or him. I guess in the interim he learned to write, or I became more tolerant of his foibles, because I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The story begins in 1861, with the U.S.S. Owanee. One of the main characters of the book is the ship's executive officer, Lt. Ker Claiborne, a Virginian who is unsure of his loyalty to the Union, but certain of his determination to keep his oath of loyalty to the Navy, the flag, and his ship...at least as long as he's a serving officer in the Navy. As the book starts, the ship is joined by a volunteer lieutenant, a New York blueblood who's talked his way into the Navy by exaggerating his skills as a yachtsman, to escape an overbearing father.

The ship then sails south, and almost starts the Civil War by participating in a rescue or reinforcement mission to Fort Sumter. When that fails, the ship returns first to Washington, then Newport Naval Station, where they ultimately tangle with the first rebels towards the end of the book.

This is one of the better naval novel's I've read in a long time. The author has adopted Charles Frazier's habit (Charlie Huston uses it too) of preceding everything anyone says with an em dash rather than using actual quotation marks. I'm not sure what the point of that is, but it works here, for the most part. Perhaps I'm getting used to it.

I enjoyed this book, and I'm proceeding on to the second one in the series right now.

A Bitter Beginning.......2006-08-02

The time is the opening days of the US Civil War. Secession is imminent but has not yet happened and many still hold out the hopes that it will not. The issues of the day, however, are driving people apart, even people who have worked closely with each other. This includes the officers and crew of the sloop of war, OWANEE, just back from the Africa station.

The ship is tired as are her crew. She was expected to be put into ordinary but now has to scramble to take on the missions assigned to her as the nation prepares for rebellion. Matters are not helped by the fact that the crew is composed of northerners and southerners, whites and blacks. The loyalties of the southerners are in question even when they go above and beyond the call.

Into this mix is introduced a frail young yankee man as a gentleman volunteer. He has his own issues in addition to those of the country. He has the head knowledge of a sea officer but no experience. Neither is he familiar with the customs of the navy. He wants to serve, however, because he is escaping a controlling father and because he wants to prove himself. He is also a fierce abolitionist.

The entire action of the novel takes place over the course of just a few days. The ship is sent to the relief of Ft. Sumter and then dispatched to Hampton Roads to aid in the evacuation of the naval base. During the course of these actions the aspiring sea officer changes from a timid boy to a responsible man.

This is certainly not the best naval fiction I have read nor is it the most interesting. It is quite readable, however.

One small thing stood out for its nuisance value. The author uses a long dash "-" to mark quotes instead of quotation marks. I found this a bit distracting but it did not harm anything.

Good stuff.......2003-12-17

I decided to try this book because I am a fan of historical fiction in general; naval fiction (O'Brien) and Civil War (Shaara) in particular. I actually picked up a Country of Our Own first and was only partway into that book before I went out and purchased this one to start over at the beginning.

I was very pleased. There are several interesting characters, the main ones being Ker Claiborne, the conflicted Southern officer and Elisha Eaker, a young Northern idealist. The setting is superb. We get a real sense of the building anxiety and tension among shipmates as political events unfold. I would say that this book has a little less action and is more character focused than most in the genre. But you get the sense that much more action is set to occur in the next installment. Here the big question was would there or would there not be war. We readers all know that a bloody explosion is coming but the characters in the novel can't quite see the future.

Great Historical Fiction.......2003-12-16

I decided to try this book because I am a fan of historical fiction in general; naval fiction (O'Brien) and Civil War (Shaara) in particular. I actually picked up "A Country of Our Own" first and was only partway into that book before I went out and purchased this one to start over at the beginning.

My only complaint about this novel is the whole storyline involving Elisha's fiancee, Araminta. It really doesn't contribute much at all. I get the feeling it was put in as filler to provide a change of scenery, given that the events of the book only cover a couple of weeks' time. There's one scene in particular where she attends an abolitionist meeting that seems so much historical name dropping. I was lost and confused by what she was trying to do at the end of the book and the final revelation involving her character was totally lame and cliché. Good riddance to her.

Average customer rating:

A very interesting read, but still somewhat weak

"Lost in Translation" is a Good Subtitle

Needs a better translation...

View from the Inside of the Soviet Navy

Fire at Sea: The Tragedy of the Soviet Submarine Komsomolets
D. A. Romanov
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Russian Submarines: Guardians of the Motherland

Silent Steel: The Mysterious Death of the Nuclear Attack Sub USS Scorpion

The Death of the USS Thresher: The Story Behind History's Deadliest Submarine Disaster

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ASIN: 1574884263

Book Description

This book is the first complete English-language edition of D. A. Romanov’s vigorous defense of the people and institutions that built the ill-fated Soviet nuclear attack submarine Komsomolets which caught fire and sank in the Norwegian Sea on April 7, 1989, while on its first patrol. Afterward, the Soviet Navy claimed that numerous technical imperfections had caused the accident. In addition, official investigators portrayed the crew as self-sacrificing and well trained, upheld the commanding officer’s actions, and found no fault in behavior among the dead or surviving crew members.

Buoyed by Mikhail Gorbachev’s glasnost, dissident voices challenged the official view. The resulting controversy ruined careers, damaged personal and professional relationships, and divided the Navy itself. Romanov refutes the Soviet Navy’s claim that from the very beginning it had done everything to ensure that Komsomolets was well prepared for independent patrolling, that it had trained the crew well, and that the submarine’s personnel had performed capably during the accident.

Observers familiar with the issues and the acrimony that surround the loss of the Russian submarine Kursk in August 2000 will find startling antecedents in the Komsomolets incident. Readers interested in submarine operations and technology, Cold War navies, Russia, and the dark side of personal and bureaucratic behavior will be thoroughly satisfied by this comprehensive study of what really happened and the ensuing cover-up.

Customer Reviews:

A very interesting read, but still somewhat weak.......2007-02-18

In 1989, the Komsomolets sank. For some reason, instead of blaming the crew (K-219, K-19...), the Soviets chose in this incident to concentrate blame on the boat's design.

Of course, the boat's designers can't leave this unchallenged, so one of them responds in this book.

The good stuff: Despite a few overly-literal translations, as a whole the book is quite readable. The author convincingly defends his thesis that the crew's incompetence was the primary cause of the sinking.

The bad stuff: Romanov's defense of the design against the "Design Peculiarities" mentioned by the commission is a little weak. More than half of Romanov's defenses are regulation based ("they didn't say to do so in the 1967 regs") rather than reasoning based ("this move will actually be detrimental to the safety of the boat").

This kind of legalistic defense might be better than a reasoning defense had he been under lawsuit. And he's probably correct that it won't have made a difference either way with that crew. But he's trying to sell a book to a public that has already been biased by the Commission into believing the designers are negligent. Perhaps a reasoning, less bureaucratic approach is better for the situation.

Also, sometimes, Romanov's arguments inappropriately intrude into operational decisions. For example, he criticizes the decision not to surface immediately. From a design and engineering standpoint, surfacing at the first sign of trouble is correct. However, from a tactical viewpoint, no sub likes to surface unless he clearly has to.

Sometimes he even weakens his own position. For example, the original crew requirement was for 29 officers of senior lieutenant (a.k.a. at least 2 years experience) or over, 26 michmen (a.k.a. at least 3 years of conscript experience+2 years of school), and 2 cooks. He groans because the Navy decided to sub in a few conscripts for his michmen.

The Soviet Navy, I'm sure, has no qualms about a fully-professional crew if they can provide it. The manning, however, is roughly equivalent to a US sub design that mandates that all its officers be at least Lieutenant j.g. (no Ensigns) and all its enlisted be at least Petty Officer 1st Class or above. Acceptable for an experimental submarine, but Komsomolets is supposed to be a combat submarine that experiments with deep diving. For a combat submarine design, this lack of positions for apprenticeships is clearly untenable (especially since the new design Soviet subs are of equal technical sophistication and are all headed Komsomolets' way in manning levels).

Despite these flaws, it is still a very interesting read and its base tenet is well-argued.

"Lost in Translation" is a Good Subtitle.......2007-01-27

The bad up front: As noted in an earlier review, the quality of the translation is really poor, apparently more a "decoding," or word-for-word effort, than a real translation. In addition, the result reflects little or no knowledge of submarine or power plant language, terminology, and organization.

The editor's prior submarine experience did little or nothing to help matters. There are clear errors in translation, some of which already have been noted. In addition, abbreviations have been left unexpanded, even in transliterated form, and the glossary is minimal at best. The end notes now are number beginning at 1 for each chapter, but apparently once were numbered consecutively throughout. The change has resulted in confusing references between end notes. Finally, in at least one instance the illustration captions have been switched - the main ballast tank blow diagram (Figure 5) is listed as being the sources of air pressurizing compartment seven diagram (Figure 4), and vice versa. Apparently the detailed captions identifying the numbered items either were not translated, or were missing in the original.

On the good side: The book is still worth reading, as it offers several key insights into the state of the Soviet nuclear submarine navy, and thus probably also into the current state of the Russian nuclear submarine navy. There also are some fascinating system diagrams which indicate the way key systems are laid out. The book was written by one of the submarine designers at the Rubin Bureau, which designed the Komsomolets, and thus has a stake in how the events are presented. The author clearly lays the majority of the blame for the loss of the ship on the ineptitude and lack of training of the submarine's crew.

Curiously enough, by way of explanation the author describes several design features of the Komsomolets without seeming to realize just how dangerous or ill-conceived some of these design features are. As but a single example, the ship's emergency diesel generator requires an electrically driven pump for its cooling. As an emergency power source for the reactor plant and the ship, it would have bneen far better to have the engine's cooling pump driven directly by the engine itself, thus making the operation of this vital emergency power supply dependent on outside power, at least initially.

Despite all the drawbacks, the book is still of interest both to historians and to naval and submarine buffs. One could only wish that the translation were better.

Needs a better translation..........2006-12-06

I was initially very excited to see this book was available. The Komsomolets was the advanced technology "Mike" class submarine. Designed with a titanium hull and advanced hull design, the submarine was a worry for the US Navy in the closing days of the Soviet Union. However in 1989, a fire broke out on board while in the Norwegian sea, and this drove the submarine to the surface. The fire spread and the submarine floundered and eventually sank, with considerable loss of life. The present book's author, D. A. Romanov, was one of the designers of the submarine. As such, he is ideally placed to discuss the technical issues and aspects that lead to this tragedy.

Unfortunately, a better title for this book might be "Lost in Translation". It is immediately clear that the translator has no knowledge of submarines, and the translation appears to be almost a literal word for word version, with little regard for idiomatic phrasing. The result is an extremely awkward, and in many cases unintelligible book. Two examples: "The supply of oxygen in these compartments was provided by the periodic opening of the corresponding valves in the oxygenated collector of the electro-laser in the electromechanical air regenerating system located in the second compartment." A little further on the same page: "In accordance with the RBZh-PL-82 (appendix 15), the watchstander of the compartment must control the content of the oxygen in the atmosphere of the compartment no less than six times a day by use of a portable apparatus, independent from the condition of the automatic means of control." These border on some of the best technobabble since Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The official investigation by the Soviet Navy of the Komsomolets accident basically exonerated the crew and the leadership, instead blaming the accident on numerous "design pecularities" and "technical imperfections" of the submarine. Romanov's thesis is that crew training and readiness were woefully inadequate, and the failure to routinely monitor oxygen systems led to a fire that started in compartment seven (the aftermost compartment at the stern). The failure to control the fire by promptly discharging Freon -based extinguishing materials into compartment seven led to the fire spreading forward, and smoke spreading through the ventilation system. Confusion reigns in the few minutes after the fire develops, and precious time is lost in attempting to clarify the situation aft. Romanov systematically goes through the accident timeline and testimony and points out step by step how the crew and officers lost several chances to control and contain the fire and save the submarine. He defends the design of the submarine and condemns the poor casualty training and especially the lack of officer leadership in the disaster. Even when the decision was made to surface the submarine and discharge life rafts from special canisters built into the hull, the lack of training and preparedness conspires to kill additional men in the icy waters. The deployment canister is designed to rapidly discharge the rafts into the water by having the bottom of the canister drop away and release the rafts. This operation is totally misunderstood, and instead the crew tries to lift the 200 lb rafts out of the top of the canisters. Romanov also devotes a section near the end (Assault of the Pundits) to answering specific criticisms leveled at the submarine design. I suspect that there may be a decent and intriguing story struggling to get out of this book; unfortunately, it didn't make it!

I was extremely disappointed in this book overall. As noted above, significant sections of it are excruciatingly difficult to read and understand. The language is extremely stilted, reminiscent of Cold War Tass press releases. There are a number of rather complicated block diagrams of key ship's systems throughout the book; these are labeled in Russian and there is no accompanying explanatory text. The diagram titles are minimally helpful (e.g. sources of smoke and gas in compartments two and seven). As such, they just fill space and do not aid the reader at all in understanding the technical arguments. The book does have some photos, although many were taken underwater after the sinking and are extreme close-ups. Without some sort of context, it is next to impossible to say why any particular photo is shown and what the reader should take from the picture. Unless you are an extremely hard-core Russian submarine fan, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to you.

View from the Inside of the Soviet Navy.......2006-04-11

This is an important and interesting book on at least three levels.

First it is a glimpse into how the Soviet Union designed and built nuclear submarines. It is written by the deputy chief designer of the design bureau. It uses the story of the Soviet Sub Komsomolets which sank on its first patrol as the centerpiece of the story. Here is an explanation of how designs were carried out. Without going into detail in a short review such as this, the interesting points were:

These people were not dumb, they understood what they were doing,
the system they worked in was at the same time similar to and different from the way designs are carried out here in the US,
they were allowed the latitude to produce the best design they could.

Second it is interesting to see that within the supposed monolithic system, individuals such as the author still held strong opinions. They perhaps were more restricted in what they could say, but that's not too different than the way the Navy or big corporations work here.

Third, it is clear that the people such as Mr. Romanov have learned that there comes a time when they can publish books on interesting events that happened while they were 'on watch.' And that publishing such books helps to get their view exposed and this can't help but provide a bit more income during retirement.

Scandinavian Glass 1930-2000: Fire & Sea

Average customer rating:

Scandinavian Design at its best

Scandinavian Glass 1930-2000: Fire & Sea
Leslie Pina , and Lorenzo Vigier
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0764324497

Customer Reviews:

Scandinavian Design at its best.......2007-01-10

The Schiffer publications know more about glass and ceramics in Scandinavia than the Scandinavians know themselves. High class pictures, almost photographic art, very reliable references. The only slightly negative opinion at us, is the unbalanced presentation of Norwegian Glass and Ceramic design.

Average customer rating:

slower than the first
A Story that Inspires Anger
I loved it
Not her best effort
only if you like characters who are really DUMB!

Sea Fire
Karen Robards
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440221080
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Book Description

The tempestuous saga of Lady Catherine Aldley and the pirate Jonathan Hale that began in Island Flame now continues in Sea Fire. . .

What can a beautiful captive say to a handsome, ruthless pirate?

He was her husband, her lover, the pirate who seized her body, then stole her heart.  Lady Catherine Aldley fled England to make a home with the infamous Jonathan Hale in Carolina.  But their perfect life was shattered when Cathy was summoned to England to her ailing father, and discovered that her marriage to Jonathan was a sham.  He was a wanted man, one step from the gallows.  The only way she could save him was to wed her despised cousin, to let Jonathan think she had betrayed their love.

Anything but "no."

With a price on his head and vengeance in his soul, Jon Hale led a mutiny aboard the prison ship Cristobel and recaptured his faithless wife.  Cathy could rile his blood as no other.  The fire in her eyes infuriated and beguiled him.  Cathy said she hated him, yet melted at his touch even as Jon tried to despise what he most desired.  Then fate threatened to part them forever and Jon risked his life to rescue the woman he could not live without.  .  .  .

Bestselling, award-winning author Karen Robards once again brings us dazzling adventure and unforgettable characters in a searing saga of passion, seduction, and dangerous love.

Karen Robards is the author of twenty-two novels.  She lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, their three sons, and a sizable menagerie.

Customer Reviews:

slower than the first.......2005-08-12

I loved 'Island Flame', the 1st book. I could not believe there was a sequel. Yes with the same main characters from the 1st. It wasn't an easy start reading Sea Fire, then when I got in to it, Jon provoked even more outrage in me than before. Unbelievable -- revisiting this couple was sensational.

Some of it was disappointing, like their baby on the beach during a long awaited love scene. I could not enjoy it w/out thinking of the baby left alone on the shore!. And the end fell short. But I wouldn't have missed it!

If you liked Woodiwiss's style in 'Flame and the Flower' you'd enjoy this. But of course, read Island Flame 1st.

A Story that Inspires Anger.......2004-11-04

The entire premise of this book is rather offensive. Unless you're a big fan of underdeveloped characters, a weak plot, rape (I lost count of the number of times the heroine Cathy is raped or almost raped) and child abuse, then I do not suggest this book. I was particularly outraged by how our 34-year-old hero, raping a 17-year-old Cathy was justified because she "subconsciously wanted him."

I loved it.......2004-09-21

It may have been um, a "harder" type of book, bu I am open to most topics in books, so I loved this book. Jon was a jerk sometimes, yes and Cathy too immature, but it is a book, and a story. So, I loved it. Give me more!!

Not her best effort.......2004-07-15

Karen Robards has written some of my favorite historical romances, but this is *not* one of them. The characters of Cathy and Jon are too one-dimensional and their emotional growth in the story is just about nil (particularly amazing since this book is the sequel to "Island Flame"--300 plus pages of more of the same.) The two books were written in the early 1980's, so I believe that they are some of Karen Robards's earliest efforts. Near the beginning of "Island Flame", beautiful Lady Catherine is captured by a pirate ship captained by the very handsome Jonathan Hale. Despite the fact that she is half his age and a virgin, Jon rapes her repeatedly (he later denies that it was rape because he has managed to wring a little response out of ther on occasion.) Looked at objectively, his behavior is what you might expect from a pirate captain in the mid-1800's, and I might even have been able to get past it and forgive him for it if he had ever really taken responsibility for his bad behavior and *changed*! But he never changes. He is still the same violent, insanely possessive, thoughtless, serial mis-understander and rapist almost all the way through "Sea Fire". All this *after* he has declared his love to Cathy at the end of "Island Flame" and has lived as her husband for two previous years. Needless to say, Jon is a very troubling "hero". To my mind, he is unsatisfying even as an anti-hero as he lacks any underlying vulnerability and redemption. His misogynistic tendencies are explained away as a result of the trauma of discovering that his stepmother was a whore--but that seems inadequate given the depth of his pathology.
The problem with the hero is compounded by the lack of a compelling heroine. Cathy is constantly described as beautiful and desirable (even immediately post-partum! How is that for romantic fiction!) but she is also a vain, thoughtless, tantrum-throwing twit. She is also plenty verbally and physically abusive in her own right. Although she never does anything to deserve Jon's horrible treatment, she does frequently throw kerosene on the fire of his rage by her reactions and insults. Not smart, in my opinion and she *never* learns. The "I hate you/I love you" thing gets very tiresome before the book is half done.
They are also *terrible* parents (abandoning a 2 year old for a year with the nanny and leaving a one month old baby alone on a beach while they frolic all night at a distant site on the island--shudder!)
Given what has gone on in this and the previous book, the ending of "Sea Fire" is not satisfying. I was waiting for Jon to come crawling back *on his knees* and to prove that he really had changed his ways--and I am still waiting. The comments from Cathy's nanny and her father about what a great guy Jon was and how well he had treated her were *appalling*.
In summary, this book was ultimately unsatisfying and not one of Karen Robards's best efforts. I would recommend instead one of her other, much better, historical romances, such as "Dark of the Moon", "Tiger's Eye", "Loving Julia", "Desire in the Sun" or "Dark Torment". For a much more entertaining take on the "innocent kidnapped by pirates" theme read "Windflower" by Laura London--well worth it if you can get ahold of a copy.

only if you like characters who are really DUMB!.......2004-06-19

I've read several of Karen Robards' more recent books, so let me start by saying that at least her storytelling and character development have greatly improved since she wrote this book and its predecessor, "Island Flame". After reading these two books, I felt like a motorist who passes a major car wreck and slows down to look at the carnage. I've read many novels: romance, mystery, mainstream fiction, etc., and I have never encountered two more stupid people than the "hero" and "heroine" in these books. I put the terms in quotation marks, because these characters are definitely not heroic in their behavior, especially the male character. I realize that in the old days of "bodice-rippers" nobody thought that there was anything wrong with the male protagonist forcing himself on the female protagonist, no matter what her age (in this case, she's half his age!!), but this book was written in the 1980s! I would think that Ms. Robards might have had her feminine consciousness raised just a little bit by then!
As for the female character, she does one stupid thing after another until the reader can no longer sympathize with everything that happens to her. Like I said, there are other books by this author that are worth reading, but this one is not one of them!

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