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 Journey of the Lost Boys: A Story of Courage, Faith and the Sheer Determination to Survive by a Group of Young Boys Called "The Lost Boys of Sudan"

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The tragedy of the children of Sudan
Learning about Sudan? START HERE
OUTSTANDING BOOK
A good term paper
An accurate, heartfelt and well-written account

The Journey of the Lost Boys: A Story of Courage, Faith and the Sheer Determination to Survive by a Group of Young Boys Called "The Lost Boys of Sudan"
Joan Hecht
Manufacturer: Allswell Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Sudan | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0976387506
Release Date: 2005-05-30

Book Description

Imagine you're a young boy—maybe as young as three or four—separated from your family by civil war, traversing deserts and mountains with little food or water, no medical care, and no protection from wild animals. Imagine watching hundreds of boys perish around you from hunger, disease, or attacks by enemy soldiers and wild animals. To most of us, it is unimaginable, but this was reality for "The Lost Boys of Sudan," thousands of young boys who were separated from their families and forced to walk approximately 1,000 miles to reach safe refuge from war and certain death.

For the first time, this award winning book offers readers a chronological timeline of the epic journey taken by these children, beginning in their rural villages of Southern Sudan and ending with their arrival as young men to the United States. Narrated through the voice of Joan Hecht, one of their American mentors, whom they lovingly call "mom" or "Mama Joan;" "The Journey of the Lost Boys" is a compelling story of courage, faith and the sheer determination to survive by a group of young orphaned boys. Because of Joan Hecht's personal relationship with them, she is able to portray their story in a way that most famous reporters and authors cannot. In addition to her extensive research of the political and historical events surrounding the long lasting civil war in Sudan, are the heart-rending personal stories and original drawings of the boys themselves. A must read for anyone interested in the the true story of the Lost Boys of Sudan!

Customer Reviews:

The tragedy of the children of Sudan.......2007-03-31

I can only summarize my comment about this book in a few words. The author Joan Hecht did a wonderful task in narrating the frightening and heartbreaking experience of the thousands of lost boys of the Sudan,Africa's largest country. Their dangerous journey involving thousands of miles in a very hostile landscape is incredible. The author's very kind heart,sincere consideration and admiration for these children is worth more than all the gold of the world. Very highly recommended for young and old.

Learning about Sudan? START HERE.......2006-10-15

This is the book you need to read if you are unfamiliar with the background of the issues in Sudan, the Lost Boys, and the issues faced by refugees who come to America. Ms. Hecht might not be an " academic", but she is the person with an enormous amount of first hand information on these subjects, and she breaks it down into managable pieces. Even if you are knowledgable on these subjects, this book is still useful as a clarifying tool. Ms. Hecht is also very committed, and that comes through on every page.

OUTSTANDING BOOK .......2006-08-11

Readers of this book will be touched by the stories of these incredible young men, who, at an early age, were separated from their parents and families. The atrocities witnessed by the boys are unspeakable. The author has provided the readers with stories that make those who have lived a life without fear take a new appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.

A good term paper.......2006-07-26

The endless conflict in Sudan is another calamity that the press should have been bombarding us with daily for years. A tragedy of such dimensions should torment our collective conscience. This is exactly why it deserves a better telling than Ms. Hecht is able to offer us. The writing is amateurish and the text cries out for the editing it appears not to have been subjected to. Easy streamlining and the correction of some grammatical errors would make the book more readable and more powerful. Ms. Hecht's devotion to the cause of the Lost Boys is clearly sincere and praiseworthy, however, and she does deserve thanks for contributing to making us aware of the atrocities that go on in the world while we turn the other way.

An accurate, heartfelt and well-written account.......2006-06-28

Joan Hecht's "Journey" is in this reviewer's opinion the most interesting and accurate book available on the topic of the Lost Boys. As a former foster father to one of the lost boys and a fellow author and researcher, I recommend the book without hesitation. It presents an extraordinarily complicated situation in a manner that is comprehensible, fascinating and accurate. It gives the reader a true sense of the horror, courage and hope that has gripped a generation of young Sudanese men.

For its rare photos, clear and organized presentation and sincere prose, I highly recommend this informative and inspiring book and thank the author for her outstanding efforts.

The Best Friend's Guide to Planning a Wedding: How to Find a Dress, Return the Shoes, Hire a Caterer, Fire the Photographer, Choose a Florist, Book a Band, ... Still Wind Up Married at the End of It All

Average customer rating:

Much more traditional than you'd think...
Helpful, earnest and humourous!
Everyone needs a "Girlfriend" at a time like this
Putting her at ease
Peace of mind with a bunch of giggles ...

The Best Friend's Guide to Planning a Wedding: How to Find a Dress, Return the Shoes, Hire a Caterer, Fire the Photographer, Choose a Florist, Book a Band, ... Still Wind Up Married at the End of It All
Lara Webb Carrigan
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060393025
Release Date: 2001-12-24

Book Description

Everyone knows your wedding day is the most important day of your life. But did you know it could also be the wackiest? Part family reunion, part ceremony, part dinner party, part get-down-and boogie dance party, weddings have a tendency to spin out of control-especially when You start considering all the important questions: Do I invite all of my relatives or just the ones I know? What does a wed" ding budget look like-and how do I stay on one? Where do I find a Dj who won't play the macarena? Why is my groom acting like such a grouch?

So who can you turn to for answers? Your best friend-that wise, resourceful, and wonderfully witty friend who will help you pull together the wedding of your dreams and make sure you have fun along the way.

In The Best Friend's Guide to Planning a Wedding, Lara Webb Carrigan, like that indispensable girl Friend, helps you navigate the complicated process of organizing a wedding with smarts, grace, and, above all, good humor. After having survived he hundreds of brides-to-be and newlyweds, collecting the kind of useful suggestions that no one thinks to share -- until after the wedding. Filled with voices of real women, plus insider tips from wedding consultants, caterers, and other pros, this essential resource offers practical, step-by-step strategies, checklists, and real-life advice from brides who have been there before. It also debunks wedding myths from "All bridesmaids have to wear the same dress" to "Seating charts are optional" and "The more makeup you wear, the better you'll look."

Like your best girlfriend, The Best Friend's Guide to Planning a Wedding helps you keep track of all the details (and your wits) while reminding you that what matters most isn't a perfect wedding but a wonderful marriage.

Customer Reviews:

Much more traditional than you'd think..........2003-06-12

The cover and the title of this book imply a funny, light-hearted, less-tradtional approach to the adventure/ordeal of planning a wedding. In truth, other than stressing the importance of doing what you want, rather than what you're being told you *should* want, this book is very traditional in its advice and approach. While the author does mention a few less traditional weddings in passing (mentioning marrying while skydiving numerous times), none of her advice is geared toward anyone actually taking one of these paths. Also, she seems to assume that every reader has the average $20,000 to spend on a wedding. One would think that a "best friend" might have had a few cost-cutting hints here or there. I give this book only two stars because it does not live up to its appearance. It's perfectly good for those of you having a traditional wedding; just make sure you have lots of money to spend if you're going to follow the advice.

Helpful, earnest and humourous!.......2003-02-14

With the plethora of wedding books on the market today, it's interesting to find one that strays a bit from the norm. With realistic reactions, numerous 'case studies' about other wedding, and interjected 'wedding myths' throughout the book, it's a quick read, a helpful guide to getting married, and a sets a good tone and perspective on the craziness of weddings, verses the serious commitment of marriage. It would be perfect, except it's really geared towards the bride in a 'her wedding not his' sort of way at some points, which i don't personally care for. However, I still highly recommend the book.

Everyone needs a "Girlfriend" at a time like this.......2001-08-14

My man and I are planning our wedding and I am a wreck. This book made me laugh and think and get really excited. I recommend it to anyone that is planning a wedding, especially if you don't have a lot of friends who have planned weddings recently. Lara gives great advice and backs it up with ideas and antecdotes. A must read!

Putting her at ease.......2001-02-10

I recently got engaged and my fiance was terrified about all the plans we would have to make. We do not have a lot of money and have to be very careful how we spend the little we have. Lara's tips and tricks and funny stories have set her more at ease. This book is so worth the money it will save in psychotherapy!!! It is warm and fun. We loved it.

Peace of mind with a bunch of giggles ..........2001-02-06

I thought this book was wonderful! Lara Carrigan does a great job at making the reader laugh while offering extremely useful information. I have purchased several "how to plan a wedding" books and I am using this one almost exclusively! It is great! After I read a couple of pages, I feel a lot less stressed out - which is a good thing for a bride-to-be! I recommend it to anyone planning a wedding! (She has a great sense of humor also!) Lara Carrigan is a princess!

Fire from Heaven: Deceiving the Enemy (Left Behind: The Kids)

Average customer rating:

Enlightening!
Left Behind 16 is way ahead of the times
Left Behind >The Kids < #16, Fire from Heaven
The Surprises Aren't Stopping!!!
Adult Reads Kids Series

Fire from Heaven: Deceiving the Enemy (Left Behind: The Kids)
Jerry B. Jenkins , Tim F. LaHaye , and Chris Fabry
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0842342974

Book Description

With millions of copies sold, Left Behind: The Kids series is a favorite of kids age 10-14. The series follows teens that were "left behind," who have nothing left but their newfound faith in Jesus Christ. Determined to stand up for God no matter the cost, they are tested at every turn. Books #15 and #16 have background plots from the fourth book in the adult series, Soul Harvest.

Customer Reviews:

Enlightening!.......2004-01-01

This book is very enlightening and will teach you more about Christianity, God, and what is to come. Believe me, you do not want to be here...this series will tell you all about what is to come in a fictional way. It is a book that all preteens and teenagers should read. If you are 10-14, than I will say that this is a MUST read. I can relate to the characters sometimes. It is a very good book and a very good series! The rapture is not fictitious. It is going to happen. In fact, the moon the moon will turn as blood and all but a third of the sun will be darkened before God comes back for his chosen people. Do not be afraid of this judgment or of the Rapture. If you are a Christian, then you will surely not be here when the rapture happens. This book can tell you more than I can. You will learn more than you did know about the end times! That is a guarantee! I have learned A LOT more about the end times from these books! I have really enjoyed these books! Buy this book and all the others in the series and anything you can get your hands on to learn about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the Great Tribulation. This is definitely a subject that you should have knowledge of. Take it from me-the Tribulation is NOT going to be fun. Please buy this book and tell others about it. You might also want to visit www.leftbehind.com.

Left Behind 16 is way ahead of the times.......2003-09-30

This book is great. The thing I like most about Left Behind 16 is that it is so full of action. I'm surprised at many things that happen in this book. There are chases, escapes, and mysteries. One character that I can relate to is Judd Thompson; he is like me in a lot of ways. He's kind of bull-headed like me and he does some things without thinking. The most interesting part about this book is that it's about the end of the world and lots of strange things are happening. One is the government doesn't have very many religious freedoms and these kids are hiding from the government, which brings a lot of action packed events. There are also struggles within the group, which may remind you of your own family's struggles, but the kids try to get along. Tensions are always high in this book, that's for sure.

Left Behind >The Kids < #16, Fire from Heaven.......2001-11-19

"Threatened by a huge meteor, John must make a life-threatening decision aboard the Global Community ship Peacekeeper One. With the danger increasing, the kids near Chicago must assume new identites. Judd and Vicki ae at odds over the group's next move. Will the kids stay together?"
If you thought that the other books in this series were great, this one is a must have. It gets you on edge until the end, and leaves you craving for book 17, Terror in the Stadium. ^^ This is a great book.

The Surprises Aren't Stopping!!!.......2001-10-22

I've been reading Left Behind: The Kids series since the very first one came out and my grandmother bought it for me. Each book goes into more detail and depth about the 4 kids left behind after the Rapture of God. Book #16 has left me unable to wait for more. Not knowing if the 3 children left from the original Young Tribe Force will make it through another day alive. If you haven't read The Left Behind series you should start know and get caught up by the time book #17 comes out because you also will be wanting more. If I keep telling you anymore about the book I will definitely spoil the adventures the Young Tribe Force faces in book #16

The most amazing part of the book is how is keeps you on edge till the end, and still keeps you craving for more. This series of books has shown me why my decision in Christ will save me from the terrible and adventurous situations many people will experience after being Left Behind. Vicki, Judd, and Lionel learn more than ever in book #16 and must keep their heads on straight for the many dangerous situations they are going to have thrown at them. These books are truly uplifting and exciting and ready for any reader to open up and join in on the adventure. The adventures of these kids' lives are only at the second turning part and they are forced to make many life changing choices. Left Behind: The Kids #16 will never let you forget it, so purchase it today and join the fun!

Adult Reads Kids Series.......2001-05-31

Book number 14 keeps you on the edge of you seat. I could not put it down until I was done. These kids are more knowledgeable than most adults are about the Bible and how to use the Bible to resolve the problems that they get into. I have read the series as a companion to the main series. It gives insight of how kids react to desperate situations. It gives a difference perspective on the events that are unfolding in the main series and how they interact with the major characters. I recommend these books to anyone that like to read and gain an insight into their own personal relationship with their religious beliefs. Where are numbers 15-100? I'm ready.

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It

Average customer rating:

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal...
Bravery, personified
When Things Go Wrong on Carriers
A Gripping Tragedy, And A Strange Whitewash?
Excellent!

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It
Gregory A. Freeman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Naval | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Vietnam War | Military | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0066212677
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Amazon.com

In midsummer 1967, the United States aircraft carrier Forrestal, stationed off Vietnam, lost 134 men to fires and ensuing explosions after an errant missile from one of its own planes ruptured a fuel tank on a nearby jet. Gregory A. Freeman's Sailors to the End is a starkly illuminating account of the disaster which, like so many maritime tragedies, was perfectly preventable. Although a faulty detonation switch (similar to a surge suppressor) caused the rocket to fire, the crippling, deadly conflagrations were caused by exploding ordnance--"ancient ... thin-skinned" bombs of World War II vintage. The Navy never admitted its guilt in the matter, a point Freeman makes very clear. He has a knack for balancing instructive overviews with telling details (for example, each link in the ship's anchor chain weighed 360 pounds). Freeman does not shy from the grotesque detail, and many scenes, especially in the sick bay, are harrowing to read. The sad tale of the men of the Forrestal is a model of narrative clarity and honest reporting. --H. O'Billovich

Book Description

In the tradition of New York Times bestsellers In Harm's Way and The Terrible Hours comes a mesmerizing, high-adrenaline account of the heroic sailors who survived one of the worst accidents in U.S. naval history.

Sailors to the End tells the dramatic and until now forgotten story of the 1967 fire on board the USS Forrestal during its time at Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam. The aircraft carrier, the mightiest of the U.S. fleet, was preparing to launch attacks into North Vietnam when one of its jets accidentally fired a rocket across the flight deck and into an aircraft occupied by pilot John McCain. A huge fire ensued, and McCain barely escaped before a 1,000-pound bomb on his plane exploded, causing a chain reaction with other bombs on surrounding planes. The crew struggled for days to extinguish the fires, the five thousand men on board experiencing different kinds of hell -- some trapped in damaged compartments waiting to die, some battling rivers of flaming jet fuel in order to rescue their buddies. Almost all of them were innocent eighteen- and nineteen-year-olds, but in an instant they were thrust into a tragedy that nearly destroyed the ship and took the lives of 134 men.

Written with the intensity and excitement of a thriller, and based on never-before-disclosed information and extensive interviews with the fire's survivors, here is the first full, minute-by-minute account of the disaster. Told through the stories of a dozen sailors, including John Beling, the carrier's beloved captain who was made a scapegoat for the disaster, Sailors to the End follows the Forrestal from its home in Norfolk, Virginia, through its mission in Vietnam. Focusing on the fateful fire and its aftermath, this book provides a gripping tale of heartache and heroism as young men find themselves trapped on a burning ship with bombs exploding all around them.

Sailors to the End also corrects the official view of the fire, providing evidence that the U.S. government compromised the ship's safety by insisting on increased bombing despite the shortage of reliable weapons. For thirty-five years, the terrible loss of life has been blamed on the sailors themselves, but this meticulously documented history shows that they were truly the victims and heroes, deserving recognition for their efforts during a sweeping tragedy that until now has been only a footnote in history. Gregory A. Freeman dramatically brings this story to life, creating a work that is both riveting and moving.

Customer Reviews:

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal..........2004-06-24

Riveting! One of the most well written books I have read in a long time. Having served over 20 years in the Military, this book and the men it honors, makes me proud to have served even more. We all owe a unpayable dept to the heroic men of the USS Forrestal. Should be included in the Military Professional Reading list.

Bravery, personified.......2004-04-08

The fire on the Forrestal was the major Naval event of my career up to that time. I knew some of the men who were a part of her ships company and airwing. I later came to know some who had survived that day.

At the time of the fire, I knew that a major catastrophe had overtaken the ship and its' crew. Over the remaining years of my military career, I came to learn what (I thought) was the cause of this tragedy. A 'training film' on the disaster focused on the mobile 'starter' unit left running under the Zuni rocket was the basic cause.

It wasn't until I read this great book by Gregory A. Freeman that I learned "the rest of the story". The mobile unit was only the causitive agent. Lack of communications and the bypassing of safety regulations were also contributing factors. But most importantly was the Johnson/McNamara administration's decision to intensify the bombing effort against the North Vietnamese. This decision meant using outdated, dangerous ordinance. This fact was kept from the public (and from the rank and file) for years. It goes to the heart of the prosecution of this vile war. In essence they said "damn the personal prosecuting the war, just prosecute it".

More importantly than the above political statement is the fact that this book brought so close to me the heroism of those sailors onboard Forrestal, from the flight deck Chief Petty Officer who raced into the conflagration to supervise the fire fighting efforts, to the Doctors and Corpsmen in sick bay who dealt with the massive casualties that overcame them, to the Damage Control Officer who took "speed" to save his ship, to the brave young men in after steering who died doing what they were trained and ordered to do, to the brave and heroic Commanding Officer who fought with all his skills and leadership and was eventually successful in saving this magnificent ship.

I am not sure in this day and age if anybody in the United States questions the skill and bravery of the young men who defend her, but if they do, just spend a few bucks and pick up this wonderful book.

When Things Go Wrong on Carriers.......2003-08-08

This story recounts how dangerous Aircraft Carriers may be even out of combat as the author describes how a series of failures on the USS Forrestal created one of worst naval accidents, killing 134 men in 1967, as the crew was preparing to launch an air offensive on Vietnam.

The story, which centers on a tragic fire, looks at the incident from various sailor's perspectives, and paints an excellent picture for the reador of real life on an aircraft carrier and the mindset of a group of young men battling for their survival againt two of a sailor's greatest enemies -- Fire and the Sea.

A Gripping Tragedy, And A Strange Whitewash?.......2003-07-06

"Sailors to the End" presents the events aboard the Forrestal in gripping detail, and pays homage to the brave men who fought the terrible fire in 1967. I certainly can't argue with the spirit in which it was written, or the strong prose. However, as I read the book, I found myself increasingly angry with the text's attempts to justify the actions of Captain John K. Beling. While Beling is presented here as a badly-wronged victim of circumstance (he was strongly reprimanded after the fire, and never again commanded a ship), there is a great deal of evidence in the book to support the idea that he got off too easily. Beling, it is clear, was a showboater who had the audacity to propose flying aircraft off the damaged ship as it sailed into its home port for the first time after the tragic accident, and a man who refused to accept responsibility for what was doubtlessly a preventable incident. Freeman seems anything but impartial in his analysis of the fire, preferring instead to blame "the system" and the lack of political support for the situation. One has to wonder what his motivation was - perhaps the author feared a blackball by the retired crew? It is not difficult to see, using some of the evidence presented in the book, that ordnance crews under Beling ignored critical safety instructions, and that the presence of obselete weapons on board was not brought to the Captain's attention due to a failure in the chain of command. That to me indicates Beling was actually guilty of dereliction of duty, and that he got off far too easily. In my book, he should never have been allowed to remain an officer in the U.S. Navy.

Excellent!.......2003-03-13

I found this to be a great book - very enjoyable to read and was well researched, organized, and written. It could easily have been titled 'Heroes to the End', as it tells a story of true heroism and bravery (2 words often overused and abused) in the face of disaster. The only part that I thought was somewhat thin was research and analysis of the subsequent navy and other investigations (but this did not detract from the story itself). The author organized the story really well, telling much of it from the eyes of several sailors present on those fateful days. It is chilling to read about the event that led to the book's title. The author goes into a reasonable level of detail on the events leading up to the tragic fire and explains many navy equipment and processes in layman's terms. The book at times seems overly sympathetic to Capt. Beling, but I agree that at the end of the day, no matter what, the captain always has full and ultimate responsibility for his ship and its crew. I was surprised how many people saw me reading this book and recollected the event like it happened yesterday. I highly recommend it.

Pyramid of Fire: The Lost Aztec Codex: Spiritual Ascent at the End of Time

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Pyramind of fire
DiaGnosis: A very important document
Hidden wisdom of Aztec codex

Pyramid of Fire: The Lost Aztec Codex: Spiritual Ascent at the End of Time
John Major Jenkins , and Martin Matz
Manufacturer: Bear & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591430321
Release Date: 2004-11-03

Book Description

The first translation of a previously unknown Aztec codex and its initiatory teachings for 2012

• Discloses the potential for great spiritual awakening offered at the end of the Aztec calendar cycle

• Presents the only existing English-language transcription of the Aztec codex, with line-by-line commentary

• Contains the epic poetry and metaphysical insights of Beat poet Marty Matz (1934–2001

In 1961 an unknown Aztec codex was revealed to Beat poet and explorer Marty Matz by a Mazatec shaman in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. Originally intended for dramatic performance, this codex presents a profound metaphysical teaching describing how the end of time will bring about a visionary ascent. At the behest of his Mazatec teacher, Matz transcribed this pictorial codex into a literary form that would preserve its initiatory teachings and reveal its secret meanings to a wider audience.Pyramid of Fire is an epic poem that provides a vehicle to transport the initiate into the higher realms of consciousness. It represents a barely surviving thread of teachings that have been passed down in secret since the time of the Spanish Conquest. Revealed are the techniques by which man is transported to the stellar realm after death via the solar energy within what the ancients called the “serpent of consciousness.” Line-by-line commentary by Matz and John Major Jenkins provides insights into the perennial philosophy contained in the codex and its relevance to our times.

Customer Reviews:

Pyramind of fire.......2007-03-09

Since I dabbled in mind altering drugs in the 60's and 70's I could understand the words and thoughts of Jenkins. Since I first heard of 2012 in Graham Handcocks "Fingerprints of the Gods" I have sought out books on the subject. I have narrowed my reading to the Central American and Hindu trane of thought. I like Jenkins so much I purchased Maya Cosmogenesis 2012. Both should be read by all.

DiaGnosis: A very important document.......2007-02-18

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Beat generation poet Marty Matz explored remote areas of Mexico and learned to speak the Mazatec language. He gained the trust of a Mazatec shaman, who showed him an unknown codex, and also explained to him the meaning behind the pictograms. Marty made a translation and recited it in the poetry clubs of San Francisco. The final page got lost over the years, but John Major Jenkins located a recording of one of Marty's recitals and reconstructed the whole translation.

All other codices that have survived have been interpreted solely by non-indigenous scholars, with the exception of the Popul vuh of the Maya, which was written into a word form from what was originally a pictorial document. This means that the Pyramid of Fire is a unique insight into the philosophy of the Aztecs, which turns out to be fascinating. The true meaning of sacrifice, for example, is simply a transcending of the ego - a self-sacrifice. The metaphorical pictures were misunderstood and resulted in the gory mass sacrifices of prisoners for which the Aztecs later became famous. In fact, the Aztec philosophy turns out to be very similar to that which was known to G.I. Gurdjieff, following his travels across the near East and Asia.

The Pyramid of Fire reveals that the Aztecs had a spiritual technology similar to the Kundalini yoga of the Hindus, in which Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, is shown to be an identical concept. Though some have suggested this in the past, they lacked the evidence - now we have it.

The last page of the codex reveals that the final New Fire ceremony will bring a fire of purification that will burn away the remains of mortal desires and illusions, that will be the end of obscurity - the obscurity imposed by Tezcatlipoca - the Smoking Mirror, or obsidian mirror. This is a very similar concept to the end-time vision of St. Paul "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" (1 Cor 13 v.12) or alternatively, "through a glass darkly". Since Jenkins has already reconstructed the meaning of the New Fire ceremony as a tradition for tracking precession (see Maya Cosmogenesis 2012), and that it was adapted at Chichen Itza (the pyramid of Kukulcan) to correlate with the Mayan end-date of 2012, then it seems that the Quetzalcoatl-Kukulcan-Kundalini teachings are to help prepare mankind for the current time-window earmarked by 2012, when we are due to confront The Other.

Hidden wisdom of Aztec codex.......2005-09-12

John Major Jenkins is best known for his facinating work on the Mayan calendar, such as 'Maya Cosmogenesis 2012' and 'Galactic Alignment'. In this book, he explores the Aztec culture, and in particular an unknown codex discovered by his co-author friend Marty Matz, a 'beat poet' of the 1950's generation. In the book Jenkins provides a complete listing of the 13 page codex, along with his own commentary on its meaning. In addition, there is an autobiographical novella written by Marty, which reminded me of the writings of Carlos Castaneda. Jenkins is convinced of the authenticity of the codex and its part in the 'perennial philosophy'.

I was particularly intrigued by the parallels of the writings of the codex with those of other esoteric sources, particularly the writings of George Gurdjieff, Gnostic, Hermetic. Kabbalah, Hebrew and Christian scripture. Jenkins seems to have a profound grasp of the esoteric meaning behind the writings of the Mayan, Aztec and other Meso-America cultures and their part in the perennial philosophy of the ages. Jenkins is a gifted writer and scholar and I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

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The 1967 fire on the U.S.S. Forrestal.
When Things Go Wrong on Carriers
Wonderful account of an emergency at sea...
A Sad Tale That Could Have Been Better Told

Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It
Gregory A. Freeman
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060936908
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Book Description

The aircraft carrier USS Forrestal was preparing to launch attacks into North Vietnam when one of its jets accidentally fired a rocket into an aircraft occupied by pilot John McCain. A huge fire ensued, and McCain barely escaped before a 1,000-pound bomb on his plane exploded, causing a chain reaction with other bombs on surrounding planes. The crew struggled for days to extinguish the fires, but, in the end, the tragedy took the lives of 134 men. For thirty-five years, the terrible loss of life has been blamed on the sailors themselves, but this meticulously documented history shows that they were truly the victims and heroes.

Customer Reviews:

The 1967 fire on the U.S.S. Forrestal........2004-07-22

This is a great read, and it took me all of three days to read this story of the fire on the U.S.S. Forrestal. I am surprised this book did not become a bigger seller than others. Freeman does a great job of detailing the life on this carrier and the result of the fire and deaths as a result of the accidental firing of the Zuni rockets. One gets a sense of purpose of those people who work their lives on the carriers.
This book taught the value of following procedures in dangerous situations. Those who circumvented the rules indirectly caused the firing the rocket into McCain's aircraft. The government using old WWII ordinance also bears some of the blame. The young crew are to be truly commended for fighting such a dangerous blaze at the risk of their lives. Their actions saved the ship. Freeman tells an amazing story.

When Things Go Wrong on Carriers.......2003-08-08

Wonderful account of an emergency at sea..........2003-08-03

As a sailor myself maybe I just have a soft spot for the guys on the USS Forrestal who lived through an incredible disaster at sea during the Vietnam war. I can attest that what you read here is still taught in shipboard firefighting training sessions in the US Navy.

Freeman does an admirable job of portraying a chaotic and unprecedented event in history. In 1967 an accidental missile firing on the flight deck of the USS Forrestal struck John McCain's plane, starting a series of events that ended in the deaths of more than a hundred brave sailors.

What really stood out for me in this story is the heroism of ordinary guys risking their lives to save the ship, themselves and their shipmates.

WARNING: There are really gory descriptions of some of the casualties so be prepared to be shocked.

A Sad Tale That Could Have Been Better Told.......2003-07-13

This narrative recounts the causes and consequences of the disastrous flight deck fire that engulfed USS Forrestal (then-CVA 58) in the Tonkin Gulf at the end of July 1967. When the smoke cleared 134 sailors were killed - often in the most agonizing manner imaginable - and more than 100 more were seriously burned or otherwise injured. The explanation of the how the fire started (technically from equipment failure, but the failure would never have occurred if plane handling crews had not deviated from safety regulations) and got out of control (obsolete ordnance exploded on the flight deck in less than one-and-a-half minutes, before the initial fire could be contained). To me that is the best part of the book.

The tales of the fire from the perspective of several young "citizen sailors" and the carriers experienced CO and wizened Engineering/Damage Control officer offer a heart wrenching view of the conditions faced by those fighting the inferno. Although some of the sailors exhibit "attitude problems" (as did I as a citizen sailor in the same era) they fight bravely with inadequate equipment and (according to the author) little fire line leadership (Freeman says lots of the equipment and the best trained firefighters were lost in the explosions at the beginning of the fire). The courage, tenacity and eventual success of the citizen sailors in saving the ship belies the snide, condescending remarks Defense Secretary Rumsfeld recently made comparing the U.S.'s current military to supposedly inferior draft-era servicemen (the sailors, while not draftees per se were also not, by 2003 standards, "professionals"). The book would have been stronger if Freeman had tracked down some junior officers and senior petty officers who fought the fire, since there's virtually no account from anyone between E-4 and full Commander.

Overall I enjoyed the book and, sad though the story is, recommend it to anyone interested in aircraft carriers in general and the Vietnam-era Navy in particular. If you are knowledgeable about the Navy and carriers, be warned there are lots of errors (e.g., Forrestal was certainly NOT the most powerful carrier at the time, that honor clearly goes to Enterprise) and repeated wording errors really grate on a sailor's ears (e.g., ships don't have "mess halls" as Freeman repeats over and over, they have "mess decks"; also a quote from the CO addressing the crew as "comrades" (?!) rather than "shipmates" is improbable). A review of this book in the August 2003 Naval History magazine REALLY pans it and calls it "historical fiction", but I wouldn't go that far. There is a documentary on the Forrestal fire, Situation Critical - The U.S.S. Forrestal, also sold on Amazon.com.

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A TV Movie
Cliche Piled Upon Cliche
A Nice Way to Spend the Afternoon
A sidestep in Mitchell's development
Great premise, but...

End in Fire (Roc Science Fiction)
Syne Mitchell
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451460332

Book Description

Astronaut Claire Logan is living her dream working on the space station Unity. But two days before her mission ends, Earth is engulfed in nuclear war. Stranded, helpless, and desperate to contact her family, Claire refuses to give up. But when the crippled Unity rescues a Chinese space station from certain death, Claire discovers that the war on Earth has come to space-and she must make a final stand.

Customer Reviews:

A TV Movie.......2006-10-30

I hesitate to express what I believe to be shortcomings in a book that does not purport to be anything that it is not. Ripping off a nice thriller once and awhile has always been a favorite activity. But "End in Fire" couldn't quite decide what it was going to be. There are seeds of several excellent stories but I believe that the author unintentionally blunted the impact of each thematic opportunity by sacrificing characterization to the demands of action and plot. The author is trying too hard. Great artists make the work look effortless. Great authors have a story so finely developed that you know exactly what the characters are doing and why; crucially, the reader cares why. Otherwise, it is as if you are watching a TV movie where you know that everything will wrap up with a nice satisfactory ending in time for the 11:00 news broadcast.

The hugely relevant issue of what would happen in the event of a nuclear exchange would have itself been a very interesting premise. It is about time someone revisited the issue: Brinkley's "The Last Ship" comes to mind and here we have the perspective of astronauts rather than sailors. Some serious thought went into the framing of the nuclear exchange, interesting observations included the importance of ham radio operators, the dependence of society on satellites, vulnerability to EMP, etc. I admire an author willing to push the button as it were, but the opportunity to make any conclusions or to develop the theme was missed.

The characterizations were also rife with missed opportunity. None of the characters developed during the story. Our proud, self-sufficient mother-astronaut who shouldn't have left her baby didn't learn anything from her journey. The others who accompanied her at various times were little more than shadows. The more I read and the older I get the more I appreciate a finely-drawn character. You can put such characters in the most outrageously contrived situations and the story will move along nicely--Neal Stephenson has a gift for that.

SPOILER WARNING! There was an entire book lurking in the space rescue, which was horribly abbreviated. Sure, the whole thing smacked of dramatic hyperbole--but hey, a dramatic space rescue is what kept me reading. Here it pushed the bounds a bit much--reentry is difficult enough with all of the computers. Apollo 13 would have provided a little foundation for the framing of a crisis situation. All you need is a little hole in the craft. Reengineering a reentry vehicle on the fly--in space no less--was just over the top. As for reentry itself... I won't go there. Suffice it to say that it is reminiscent of the cartoon with scientists at a chalk board full of equations and the words at the bottom corner "Then a Miracle Occurs" and one scientist says to the other something to the effect of "there needs to be a little more detail here."

I will watch Ms. Mitchell's future efforts as I do think that the seeds of some excellent writing are present--but can't get past 3 stars on this one.

Cliche Piled Upon Cliche.......2005-09-05

I was looking forward to this read but if it had not been for the fact that I took it on an international flight, it is unlikely that I would have got more than 50 or so pages into it before giving up. All the characters are terribly stereo-typed, the racist military pilot, the inscrutable Chinese "taikonaut" and the honour-obsessed Japanese. None of these characters ring true and the others are equally over the top cliches. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong to the nth degree until it all becomes absurd and stupid. Then there are the ridiculous coincidences that beggar belief and completely ruin any hope of a useful conclusion. I loved The Changling Plague and Technogenesis but this is very disappointing.

A Nice Way to Spend the Afternoon.......2005-08-13

Syne Mitchell's "End In Fire" was an excellent novel for a dreary afternoon. I was in the mood for a real-space novel, and while this was set in a slightly extrapolated future, it fit the bill close enough.

In the novel, Claire, the central focus, is assigned to the American space station Reliance (successor to the International Space Station) and is working on her life's dream, a solar collector that will help to eliminate America's dependence on fossil fuels. If successful, the solar array will be the first of many beaming microwave electricity back to earth.

Of course, in true Science Fiction style, she's not, and all hell breaks loose.

Through the remainder of the story, we experience the trials and travails of Claire, both in orbit and in her heart, as she fights to help her crewmates and her young son and husband survive the cataclysim that is unfolding beneath their feet.

There are several suprises in this book, places you don't quite expect things to go, but the book is a very good read.

In terms of shortcomings, certain scenes are written way too briefly. Things that take hours come across as instantaneous occurences (it would take quite some time to deorbit from MEO, but the event passes in about half-a-page in the novel), but in fairness, they are places in the story that really have nothing to elaborate on.

Regardless of the shortcomings, "End In Fire" is a good novel that I would recommend to anyone, even if the afternoon isn't dreary.

A sidestep in Mitchell's development.......2005-08-08

I was born in 1950, so I grew up with science fiction during the Cold
War. I found End in Fire to be an odd blend of SF from then and now,
especially since SF then tended to look beyond the insanity of the
time at hand to successfully dealing with future challenges. Modern
SF seems to extrapolate the way things are going and often winds up
some place I'd rather not be.

Still, End in Fire is worth reading, for the warning of a possible
future, for the hands-on jury rigging of tin cans to get home, and for
a decent stab at handling various personalities and nationalities
thrown together in situations that weren't in the training manual.

Ultimately, people will look back at this as a bit of a sidestep in
Mitchell's development as a SF writer. One's firstborn can do that
to you....

Great premise, but..........2005-07-05

...unfortunately the writing falls a bit short.

The characters were rather cartoonish, and the dialogue was juvenile.

Spend a few hours with this book and enjoy it for what it is worth, just don't expect too much.

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Another Biblically correct winner from Preterist Don K Preston!

In Flaming Fire

Manufacturer: JaDon ProductionsllC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

If Paul was writing to living Christians, and he was, And if those Christians were being persecuted for their faith, and they were, And if Paul promised those living Christians relief from that persecution, and he did, and if Paul promised those living Christians that their relief would come "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven", and he did, Then if Jesus did not come in the lifetime of those living Christians and give them relief from that present persecution, then, Paul was a false prophet! This is one of the greatest challenges to Biblical inspiration to be found! But, Paul did not lie, Jesus did not fail! Paul was vindicated, Jesus did not fail! This is one of the most concise, powerful, convincing expositions of 2 Thessalonians 1 that you will find. Powerful, powerful book!

Customer Reviews:

Another Biblically correct winner from Preterist Don K Preston!.......2006-06-14

For scriptural accuarcy, you really
can't do much, if at all, better than
Don K Preston!

The age to come!: The present organization of matter called earth, to be destroyed by fire at the end of this age or dispensation (Millerites and early Adventists, sect. 2, reel 6:11)

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The age to come!: The present organization of matter called earth, to be destroyed by fire at the end of this age or dispensation (Millerites and early Adventists, sect. 2, reel 6:11)
Lewis C Gunn
Manufacturer: J.V. Himes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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