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.

The Silver Hand: Book Two in The Song of Albion Trilogy (Song of Albion)

Average customer rating:

Super Reader
Awesome
Great book
Better Than the First
Continues to satisfy.

The Silver Hand: Book Two in The Song of Albion Trilogy (Song of Albion)
Stephen R. Lawhead
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1595542205

Book Description

The great king, Meldryn Mawr, is dead, and his kingdom lies in ruins. Treachery and brutality rule the land, and Albion is the scene of an epic struggle for the throne. Lewis Gillies returns as Llew, seeking the true meaning behind a mysterious prophecy--the making of a true king and the revealing of a long awaited champion: Silver Hand.

The ancient Celts admitted no spearation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Silver Hand crosses the thin places between this world and that, as Lewis Gillies seeks to learn the secret of the prophecy of The Silver Hand--and to save Albion before it is too late.

Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-08-27

The Silver Hand is the middle book in Stephen R. Lawhead's Song of Albion trilogy, and, in general, is more involved with the young bloke that becomes Lugh in Albion, and how that happens. He has learned to be a warrior.

It details the choices he has to make about fighting, violence, and who to protect and how to protect them when you can, giving shelter and aid to those that need it.

Awesome.......2007-06-27

I love Trilogies and when I saw all three of the Song of Albion series on sale together I decided to give them a try. I had never read SRL before, but the concept of this series really caught my attention. Needless to say I was hooked. I have since read just about everything SRL has written, since March!

As may have been mentioned before, the book takes a little while to get started (most Lawhead's books do), but it was all necessary backround and character development. I guess he could have just created a "time machine", but that wouldn't have been anywhere nearly as interesting a storyline Lawhead has created here. Part Fantasy, part historical fiction/speculation, I found this whole series both entertaining and educational and really created a good foundation for his other Celtic based storylines (i.e. Pendragon series, Hood, Celtic Crusades etc.)

I would definetly start with the first book, The Paradise War, since this is a "true" trilogy, meaning it was meant to be a series right from the start and one book builds on the next with no "real" ending until the final chapter of the last book. The good thing is, the whole trilogy is complete and you don't have to wait for the next book in the series to be written. I read one book right after the other in about a week. I don't know if it's just because this is first series of Lawhead's I read or what, but this is still my favorite SRL series, one which no doubt I will re-read more than once.

Great book.......2007-06-09

This is the 2nd in a series of 3...love the series. Highly rec. if you like Celtic era.

Better Than the First.......2005-04-15

After the somewhat disappointing first book in this series, The Silver Hand turned to be quite good. The plot is exciting, the action is non-stop, and the Celtic lore was very interesting. Moreover, there were moments in this novel when I had to put the book down because could believe what had just happened. People are maimed, women raped and murdered, entire nations put to the sword. In fact, there were times when I thought the violence depicted went too far, but I also felt it was in keeping with the setting and alternate time period so it had to he accepted. If I had to make one complaint about the novel, it's that the ending was tied up a little too neatly, but not so bad that I didn't thoroughly enjoy the novel.

Continues to satisfy........2005-04-08

So many times a sequel doesn't satisfy, but this one does. Lawhead's story is interesting and exciting, and extremely well-written. I'm learning a lot about ancient celtic culture, too. He's done his research well.

English Swordsmanship: The True Fight of George Silver

Average customer rating:

A Great Work
in progress
Excellent book for study of English Swordplay
A Must-Have for Any Student of the Sword
An "magnum opus" of historical swordfighting

English Swordsmanship: The True Fight of George Silver
Stephen Hand
Manufacturer: Chivalry Bookshelf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1891448277

Product Description

George Silver was oneof the most significant writers on the history of Western swordsmanship. Best known for his distrust of Italian rapier fencing, this suspicion led him to document the system of swordsmanship practiced by the English gentry and nobility before the advent of the rapier. Looking back to earlier times, Silver described a system that in many fundmentals was still medieval, but he did so with an early Modern precision. Fearful that his countrymen were forgetting the basics of swordsmanship, Silver described the system in great detail. What emerges is a simple and powerful, yet deep and subtle style, heavily based on natural body movements and designed to work under the stress of real combat. In this book, Stephen Hand presents Silver's system with outstanding text and in more than four hundred clear photographs. This book is a must for anyone interested in swordsmanship, it stands to become a classic!

Customer Reviews:

A Great Work.......2007-07-29

I have a number of Western Martial Arts books and manuals manuals and this is really one of the best. You can tell the author is very knowlegable in what he teaches and he is also good teacher. The pictures and descriptions are very well written. I have over 20 years in the asian martial arts and have been studying western martial arts for about 8 years now and I would like to see more books written like this one. I would recomend this book to anyone who is serious about swordsmanship.

in progress.......2007-06-10

I have not read the entire book as yet, but I am impressed with what I have. The book appears to be very compleet and a good reference as well.

Excellent book for study of English Swordplay.......2006-11-10

Although I have not yet finished studying through this book,(and it may be quite some time before I am), I have found the way that Stephen Hand had lain out his own interpretation and explanation of George Silvers material on swordplay to be both insightful and clearly explained. Having read other books on renaissance rapier that were translations from Italian, I have found the additional explanations of why Mr. Hand interprets certain actions a particular way to be extremely helpful. I would suggest this book for anyone who is interested in the works of the Sword Masters of old but who are also looking for something decidedly different from the Italian school of rapier that seems to dominate most of the current study groups these days.

A Must-Have for Any Student of the Sword.......2006-10-12

The one word that came to mind when I first saw this book was "finally!"

George Silver, an English gentleman contemporary of Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth, left two written records to posterity. One, Paradoxes of Defence, was a refutation of foreign swordsmanship systems that he disliked--primarily the Italian and the Spanish--in what is now regarded as one of the most tasty martial diatribes in European history. The second was a manuscript he never got around to publishing--the Brief Instructions Upon My Paradoxes of Defense--where Silver gives us a detailed account of what he considered the best way for an Englishman to fight with a sword. Although unpublished, the Brief Instructions was discovered in the 19th Century and remains a precious testimony of how stalwart Englishmen fought, sword in hand, in the last quarter of the 16th Century.

One of the problems associated with the works of George Silver is their apparent simplicity. This, coupled with the popularity that these works in English have enjoyed in a mostly Italian/German/French-dominated field--has lead to several different interpretations that are often at odds with one-another or even downright wrong. A powerful and authoritative tiebreaker was badly needed. Enter Mr. Stephen Hand.

Stephen Hand brings an extensive and rather unique tool-kit to the writing of this book--including his skills as a trained academic, as an educator, as a writer and, most of all, as a martial artist. But most importantly, Mr. Hand has dedicated most of his adult life in studying the works of Silver, with a passion and determination that make him arguably the world's foremost authority on this important Renaissance English fencing author.

All this shows plainly in this book. English Swordsmanship is a carefully written and extensively illustrated analysis of the swordsmanship style described by George Silver. Both the theory and the practice are explained step by step in a way that will be equally useful to the fencing novice and the experienced martial artist. Stephen Hand's style is adademically sound but refreshingly easy to follow as it weaves its way through theoretical notions such as the Four Governors of the True Fight and practical techniques such as attacks, defenses, footwork and even grapples.

Also, the book is written with spirit and energy, in a style that is beautifully in sintony with the original works of Silver. All in all, this is a fantastic resource that belongs on the shelves of anyone interested in Renaissance England--and in the fencing bag of anyone wanting to learn Historical European Martial Arts.

An "magnum opus" of historical swordfighting.......2006-07-12

First, a confession: I have known Stephen Hand for the better part of a decade, and have had the pleasure of trading notes, lessons and blows with him. I also saw this manuscript in its draft form and helped him refine it to its final form. So I cannot be called "unbiased".

OTOH, one doesn't have to question their bias when a book is just damn good. This is a full, introductory course into English swordplay prior to 1600; the result of more than a decade of hard work, and it shows. By "full course" I mean that it is more than just an interpretation or reconstruction of techniques listed by George Silver in his manuscript. The student is given a firm grounding in Silver's fencing theory and tactics, and then is taught in a series of progressive lessons how to work through the system of the sword alone, grappling with the off hand, using the sword and dagger, the sword and buckler and opposing one against the other.

The author is a trained educator, writing about a topic he knows inside and out, and it shows. Throughout the book, the student is given detailed drills, tips on what to look for and what to avoid, and a firm understanding of how and why techiques work *tactically* and by the same token, how they can be defeated or mistakes can be exploited. Later chapters address specific tactical ideas that should alone provide years worth of exploration for new students who have successfully reconstructed the technical material that precedes them. Throughout, Stephen is always very careful to use Silver's own words to clarify these ideas, and then show how his experience and research has clarified those ideas, not replaced them. I myself have been reconstructing the method of swordfighting detailed in 1599 by George Silver since the early 90s, and while Stephen's interpretations and ideas and my own do not perfectly mesh on every point, it is abundantly clear where w depart why he has made the conclusions that he has - and in a few places I now have to go back and reanalyze and amend my own work. That is one of the best compliments this sort of work can receive.

Over the yeares I have seen a great deal of misunderstanding and downright distortion appear amonst many fellow practitioners. Stephen's book should serve to bring that to an end. If you have any interest in the fighting arts of the English fighting man, my recommendation is aquire a copy of this book post-haste and read it conjunction with Terry Brown's excellent "English Martial Arts".

Gregory Mele
Chicago Swordplay Guild
www.chicagoswordplayguild.com

Average customer rating:

Excellent book...
A silver hand is better than an iron fist
Cheesy but fun
a perfect book
Not for 4 year olds (or maybe even 8 year olds)

Otto of the Silver Hand
Howard Pyle
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

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ASIN: 0486217841

Book Description

Born into a robber baron's household in medieval Germany, young Otto is caught in the middle of a violent blood feud. Captured in battle and severely tortured, the brave lad nevertheless grows up to be a gentle and loving person, standing above other men and looked up to by all. 55 dynamic illustrations.

Download Description

His new home was all very strange and wonderful to Otto; the armors, the trophies, the flags, the long galleries with their ranges of rooms, the great hall below with its vaulted roof and its great fireplace of grotesquely carved stone, and all the strange people with their lives and thoughts so different from what he had been used to know.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book..........2007-03-25

for the student that is studying middle ages. A story of loss, revenge, and forgiveness. We read this together as a family for our unit study on the Middle Ages.

A silver hand is better than an iron fist.......2006-08-09

Howard Pyle is one of my favorite authors, as he has splendid archaic English prose and beautful illustrations in all of his books. Otto of the Silver Hand is no exception, and is rather a devation from his normal books. Unlike Robin Hood and His Merry Men, his King Arthur books, or Men in Iron, this book has few battle scenes and is mostly about character development and the setting of the Middle Ages. It tells the story of Otto, the young son of a robber baron, who grows up in a monestary and is thrust out into the world. He finds it a cruel place, and much evil comes to him. Meanwhile, Pyle is through the whole book trying to show that strength of character is stronger than strength of sword, and that the silver hand is more desirable than the iron fist. It is a wonderful book, with wonderful illustrations by Pyle himself. I definitely recommend this, as well as Pyle other works.

Overall grade: A.

Cheesy but fun.......2005-10-25

Do you want an historically accurate and masculine story? This isn't it. If you want a fun story with swoopingly goopy prose and fantastic illustrations, this is it. I wouldn't call on Otto to save me from a burning building, but I like his drooling story and Howard Pyle's ridiculously awesome sketches.

a perfect book.......2005-03-15

As an elementary and junior high school teacher, I have read and re-read hundreds of the best children's books, scores of them aloud to my classes. In my opinion "Otto of the Silver Hand" is the most perfect book ever written for children. The story is engaging and inspiring, the flavor of the middle ages comes through in the language, and the illustrations are classic. This is a book no 9 to 14-year-old child should miss, and it is a rewarding read also for any thoughtful adult who has an interest in history or literature.

Not for 4 year olds (or maybe even 8 year olds).......2002-12-12

There are many reviews that describe how wonderful this book is, which it truly is. However, there are phrases and words out of use, such words as dost, thou, weasand, and phrases such as "mare's egg". More importantly, there are many gaps in the book that all but the most precocious 8 year old reader will not be able to cross, leaving them lost in the story. It might work to read to younger children and explain the gaps, but certainly not to 4 year olds.

I can only describe this book as being written out of love, though modern readers may object to absolute "goods" that are identified in the book. Two are the monastery and the King. The later is much the same as the Disney/Grim's fairy tales ilk.

Book Description

Rediscover the delightful, surprising-and irresistibly naughty-Victorian art of "furtling" in this interactive picture book that puts the underside (and more) of Victoriana at your fingertips. Practiced a century ago by Victorian upper classes, "furtling" is a wondrous erotic journey into the human hand's secret folds and furrows, one that delivers pleasure most vitalizing, lifts melancholy from the desponding mind, and restores wounded spirits.

Just place the book on a flat surface, position the fingers in the appropriate manner, life the page, and--Eureka!--behold The Heavenly Twins, Toungue & Cheeks, The Crocodile, or Happy Valley. In all, thirteen meticulous black-and-white engravings of turn-of-the-century ladies and gentleman-each with a die cut in exactly the right place-will profoundly change one's relationship with the hand.

79,000 copies in print.

Customer Reviews:

Juvinile fun.......2004-05-01

Ok, so the hand jokes in this book are a tad sophmoric, but hey, I still laughed. Also, some of the more risque hand poses aren't included. This is pretty tame, but dang funny.

This is the STUPIDEST book I've ever bought on Amazon.......2004-02-18

I bought this book because the reviews were so favorable, but sure wish I hadn't!!! Its incredibly stupid and a waste of money. Unfortunately, its been over a month or I would return it! Unless you like making finger puppets that look like butts, DON"T BUY IT!

The ultimate funny coffee table book!.......2000-06-13

This book is a hoot! I found it at a bed and breakfast I stayed at on their coffee table and it gave me quite a few chuckles. I guess this is what victorians did before tivo....

The perfect accent for your parlor table.......1997-12-10

The Victorians were prudes? You'll never look at old engravings with an innocent mind again. Great fun!

Corum: The Prince with the Silver Hand (The Eternal Champion, Volume 12)

Average customer rating:

Celtic free for all
Awesome
Still supreme
Corum is Second only to Elric himself!
One Of Moorcock's more sympathetic "Champions"

Corum: The Prince with the Silver Hand (The Eternal Champion, Volume 12)
Michael Moorcock
Manufacturer: White Wolf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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

ASIN: 158846850X

Customer Reviews:

Celtic free for all.......2004-08-03

In America at least, I think Moorcock has been overlooked as a notable pioneer in fantasy. At the very least he's merely underrated but as I read more and more of his work I realize how much he's influenced writers of today and the recent past, especially in the fantasy genre. Elric took the concept of the "anti-hero" and ran with it and Corum injects a whole heap of Celtic mythology into the proceedings, with quite entertaining results. Nowadays, some writers (Charles DeLint is the one who comes to mind right away) pretty much base their entire careers on building on those mythologies and folklores, but when Moorcock put all this stuff together, I don't think it was as common and I wonder what people thought of it at the time. This is another volume in White Wolf's Eternal Champion series and the second entire book to feature Corum (he's had cameos in other stories throughout) and this one basically wraps up his saga. Pound for pound I think Corum is a far more interesting character than Elric . . . Elric, while fun in a "gee what new tragedy will happen to him so he can complain about it" sort of way, probably has the biggest appeal these days to teenage fantasy lovers who mostly fixate on "Cool! He sucked out that guy's soul!". Corum, on the other hand, is more well rounded, he has definite doubts after saving the world, he misses his late wife but is prepared to move on, has a sense of humor and is actually proactive once in a while, which I think gives the stories more narrative drive, as opposed to the Champion reacting to stuff over and over again. These last three stories in the series have separate plots but mostly deal with the ongoing problem of saving the world from huge demigods from Limbo that would really like to get back but since they can't would rather just destroy the world (I'll give Moorcock this, his villains are unique). Corum is summoned to the future (really the past, or at least an alternate world) to save the world from these menaces and proceeds to get hip-deep in Celtic mythology. Moorcock sure seems to have done his research and it's hard to tell where he's drawing from other sources and where he's simply just making it up. The plot do suffer to some extent from the "plot coupon" mentality, where Corum has to go track down the long lost rare artifacts (the titles of the stories are a good clue) generally by way of a lot of tangential side quests, but Moorcock piles on so much local flavor that you don't really notice and he does take time to throw in extra twists and wrinkles so it doesn't feel color-by-numbers. The ending is typically downbeat (I know they're called "champions" but boy do their lives stink) but it's a fast entertaining read and probably possessed of more reread value than the Elric stuff, this definitely makes for a more consistent reading experience throughout. A must for both fantasy fans (the White Wolf volumes are sadly out of print, I'm sure the British or the originals are all available, although I'm not sure how much revision was done) and those who enjoy adding a sprinkling of Celtic folklore to their reading.

Awesome.......2002-06-22

I am reading my way through the White Wolf omnibus series and have just finished this one. There is only one word to describe the sweep and the depth of Moorcock's imagination -- awesome. It's no wonder so many other fantasy writers call him the Master.
This book, like the final book in the Elric series, has a dramatic and shocking ending, but that makes it all the better, all the more like a real myth. From books like Mother London and The Brothel in Rosenstrasse, through the Elric and Hawkmoon novels, to the most recent King of the City, Moorcock shows himself to be the greatest. A giant in modern fiction. Whether you like fantasy novels or literary fiction, I guarantee you will like the Corum series. Only Moorcock and Tolkien are the 'real thing'. Even in his minor work, he throws up concepts which other writers create entire series out of. He is one of the best and most influential writers of our age. Totally recommended!

Still supreme.......2002-01-22

When it comes to real intellectual content Gene Wolfe gives better value than Moorcock in this series at least. But for sheer Celtic instincts (listen to Celtic Ladies CD while you read this) Moorcock is second only to Yeats, who used the great Celtic myths for inspiration (both the CD and Yeats refer to 'moorcocks'). These are the closest to their Celtic roots, using Cornish, rather than Irish, as their main influence. Is it a coincidence that Cornwall has so many traditions associated with King Arthur and Camelot. There's a suggestion in this that Corum visits Tintagel, which sometime Dubliner Moorcock has used to similar effect in his Jerry Cornelius books. How mythologies intersect, sometimes with disastrous results, is part of the theme of this hell-for-leather fantasy which goes so fast, in comparison to modern 'phat phantasy', as Revolution SF calls it, that you hardly realise the time has passed. The CONTENT of this book, like Wolfe's, is considerably greater than the content of most of its rivals. Highly recommended, if just for its sense of the Celtic Twilight.

Corum is Second only to Elric himself!.......2000-07-11

My first experience with Moorcock was Elric. I loved the character and wanted to read more Moorcock, so I picked up Von Bek. Well, I did not care for Von Bek, so I picked up the Eternal Champion, which, excluding the Von Bek story, I liked. I had heard many good things about Corum and decided to give him a try. While I will not say that he is greater than Elric, he is almost as good. Corum's story is one of irony to the end. Humans take his eye and his hand, but he aids humans in their struggles and falls in love with one. She dies and the Prince with the Silver Hand collection starts up. I liked these novels and consumed them rather quickly. They are well-written and thought out and everything that happens, for the most part, is resolved. Moorcock's sense of continuity is wonderful. Corum, as are most Moorcock books, is violent and full of arrows through heads and swords through throats. If you are at all interested in dark fantasy, read Corum

One Of Moorcock's more sympathetic "Champions".......1999-04-07

While Elric remains Moorcock's most enduring charecter, Corum is the most likable. The Corum stories are also probably the best written because they were written as a series, unlike the Elric stories which were written through a 15 to 20 year time span. (The first 4 volumes of Hawkmoon are also excellent.)

Corum, like Elric is a tragic Hero, but is much more likeable and really has a lot of elements of being a true Hero. While Elric is a taker (The Stealer of Souls), Corum leaves his own world for another to help humans in a dire struggle against an Ancient race of Gods. (Actually charecters and representations from ancient Celtic Mythology.)

Book Description

This is the fascinating story of how these important early products were made and used, ranging from the simple tin pot to an elaborate brass chandelier. The book covers items used in the kitchen, living room, and bedroom: sconces, lanterns, trays, candle molds, candlesticks, andirons, ladles, bed warmers, braziers, stills, kettles, pans, and a multitude of other objects. 104 pages. Fully illustrated. 81/2" x 11". Soft cover.

Customer Reviews:

Not a Bad Little Book.......2000-09-10

Unfortunately, the author knows more than your average expert. When you correct someone and tell them it is a cramped joint not a dovetailed joint down the side of that pot, it's rough when he can site books considered tops in the field stating the contrary. Still the items shown are unique, the content informative and I am glad to have this book in my collection.

The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, Second Edition

Average customer rating:

Best book I have found so far...
one of the best
The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Book of Alternative Photographic Processes)
Good Book
Excellent Book On Alternative Processes

The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, Second Edition
Christopher James
Manufacturer: Cengage Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1418073725

Amazon.com

Pssst, wanna make a weird photograph? How about a moody blue cyanotype or a Kallitype? Or maybe a ziatype, anthotype, or Ambrotype? Or perhaps you'd just like to know more about image transfer processes or how to make a pinhole camera. Imagine knowing a really cool guy who casually tells you lots of valuable stuff about the history and science of photography while you're working in his experimental darkroom, and you've got the essence of the unusual and delightful Book of Alternative Photographic Processes. Christopher James, a photographer and former Harvard University professor, leads you carefully through the chemistry and use of materials for each process. He offers numerous ways to make negatives and prepare the printing paper, and he coaches you in understanding and accepting the enormously variable effects of each method. Seven useful appendices deal with such topics as safety considerations and resources on the Web. Unlike the narrowly task-oriented approach of average how-to guide, this one points you to a much bigger world. Even the illustrations include a generous assortment of contemporary prints--among them James's own inventive images--as well as work by 19th- and early-20th-century photographers. They were the ones who pioneered most of the techniques that are now considered "alternative."

The fun of this book--even for someone unlikely ever to set foot in a darkroom--lies in the author's fascinating excursions into the wide world of knowledge, from the workings of 3-D to Charles Babbage's steam-driven punch-card systems. Equally compelling are the author's sense of humor and his utter lack of dogmatism. "In gum printing," he writes, "there are very few absolutely correct ways to do anything." --Cathy Curtis

Book Description

Photographic artists and students of alternative process photography will welcome this new edition of Christopher James' The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes. This significantly expanded edition is a full-color, lavishly illustrated, comprehensive resource that explores every aspect of alternative process image making. With his highly conversational writing style, Christopher James explores the techniques, processes, idiosyncrasies, history, and cultural connections that are such a significant part of the genre. Best of all, Christopher makes it extremely accessible, providing clear instructions and practical workflow advice. The book delves into a vast menu of alternative and traditional options, among them: calotype, salted paper, cyanotype, argyrotype, chrysotype, POP, kallitype, ambrotype/wet collodion, Van Dyke, platinum/palladium, Ziatype, gelatin dry plate emulsions, carbon, gum bichromate, albumen, hand-applied emulsions, paper, alternative imaging systems, and digital negative production for alternative process image making. The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes has become the unanimous standard reference text for alternative process photography, one that students love to read and work from. Not only does this definitive work make the most complex ideas easy to understand, it is conversational, comfortable, inspirational, and fun to read- a tremendous resource and a treasure trove of alternative process images.

Customer Reviews:

Best book I have found so far..........2006-03-23

This book is great. It has nearly every process I was interested in, and steps you through each of them with: easy to follow instructions, checklists of chemicals, and useful/helpful pictures.

Theres enough here to interest both the amateur photographer as well as the seasoned professional who is interested in these techniques.

Check it out, I don't think you'll regret it.

one of the best.......2006-03-20

this book is excellent if you're interested in alternative photographic tech's. it is very thourough and offers MANY different processes.

The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Book of Alternative Photographic Processes).......2006-02-27

This book is great for someone who has a little experience, or for those who may have a lot. It gives a lot of great ideas for new ways of creating and working on images, and provides a lot of information on how to go about the processes. Some info is pretty technical, but there are plenty of processes that are novice-friendly.

I especially enjoyed the illustrations the book used, because they give you an idea of just what the processes can do--that way you aren't going into it totally blind.

Good Book.......2006-02-25

This book is very informative, and the processes I have done are easy to follow from the book. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in doing alternative photographic processes.

Excellent Book On Alternative Processes.......2006-02-24

This is an outstanding book for both novice and professional. It is packed with good advice, explicit instructions for many different processes to try, and some wonderful illustrations and examples that provide ample inspiration. I have several books on the subject, and this is one of the most comprehensive.

The Bull and the Spear. Volume 1 of Prince Corum and the Silver Hand

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The Bull and the Spear. Volume 1 of Prince Corum and the Silver Hand
Michael Moorcock
Manufacturer: Granda
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M670VO

Chaffers' Hand Book to Hall Marks on Gold and Silver Plate

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Chaffers' Hand Book to Hall Marks on Gold and Silver Plate
Christopher A., Markham
Manufacturer: Pomona Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1406794007

Book Description

Originally published in 1902. A revised edition with upwards of forty of the hall marks having been redrawn from original specimens. The well illustrated contents include: Tables of Date Letters of the Assay Offices - London - Birmingham - Chester - Exeter - Newcastle - Sheffield - Edinburgh - Glasgow - Dublin.

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