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 Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats: Over 1,000 Solutions to Your Pet's Problems - From Top Vets, Trainers, Breeders, and Other Animal Experts

Average customer rating:

Excellent resource
Fur Baby Health Book
the best book ever
Great Book!
don't own a pet without this book!

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats: Over 1,000 Solutions to Your Pet's Problems - From Top Vets, Trainers, Breeders, and Other Animal Experts
Prevention Magazine Editors
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553577816
Release Date: 1997-08-04

Book Description

In this practical and entertaining guide, the top veterinarians and animal experts in the country offer more than 1,000 effective tips for treating common pet problems, such as: allergies, bad breath, ear mites, fleas, itchy skin, paw problems, teething pain, weepy eyes, and wounds. But, much more than a guide to the physical and emotional problems of pets, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats also provides solutions to some of the toughest behavior problems, letting pet owners know when it is necessary to visit the vet--and what they can do until they get there. Since the health needs of dogs and cats are often entirely different, there are also specific tips for both cats and dogs, along with more than 75 easy-to-follow illustrations. Having this ultimate do-it-yourself pet-care book is like having a veterinarian on call 24 hours a day.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource.......2007-03-23

I loved this book so much that I bought it for several friends. I only have dogs, so I cannot offer an opinion on the cat advice. For dog owners, it is an excellent resource with so many different things.

Fur Baby Health Book.......2007-03-16

LOVE IT, with fur babies, one needs some help, and this book is GREAT

the best book ever.......2006-12-14

This book is about a dog that helps pick up litter. And he lost a puppy because the dog had two puppies. What could have happened to the other puppy? Something that I like about the book is that the dogs feel real to me. Read the book and find out what happens.

Great Book!.......2005-09-14

This book is a great source of information that helps in a pinch. I recommend this book to all who own pets.

don't own a pet without this book!.......2005-04-05

This is a great book to have if you own a cat or dog! I've used it more than I ever thought I would. From destructive behavior to depression to obesity this book covers ALOT of issues pets suffer from and can be helped by their human gaurdians. I volunteer at an animal shelter and I see everyday how quick people give up on their pets. before you make that decision- get this book and give your pet the time,patients,and the second chance they deserve!!

Cat's Cradle: Warhead (The New Doctor Who Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Grim reality
This blast has echoes further down the novel series
"2 MEAN 2 DIE"
An excellent book
Cyberjunk

Cat's Cradle: Warhead (The New Doctor Who Adventures)
Andrew Cartmel
Manufacturer: London Bridge (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0426203674

Customer Reviews:

Grim reality.......2002-02-02

The future is a grim place in CAT'S CRADLE: WARHEAD. Breathing is difficult without the use of special masks. Police silently patrol the night streets in their hovercars. Shady corporations comb the local parks and sidewalks looking for unclaimed bodies (some still living) to perform dastardly experiments upon. Only one man and his contractually obligated silver cat can save the human race from itself.

We hadn't really seen a desolate future portrayed in quite this realistic fashion before in Doctor Who. Apart from the constant bleak sense of a world gone sour, we also see elements of cyberpunk cropping up here and there. While this aspect isn't as overplayed as one might fear, it does cast a fairly long shadow over the tone and feel of the book. The writing is particularly powerful in places and some of the scenes are surprisingly chilling. There are loads of little asides and passages that make the book spellbinding. It's an extremely well written tale.

The first part of the book deals with the pieces of the puzzle. At first it's not altogether clear how these different sections interrelate to each other. It's quite fun to work out what's going on. A name crops up from an earlier section, a scene links from something that was referenced to earlier. When you finally do figure out what's happening, it's quite rewarding. Personally, I loved putting all of those pieces together. Many times during reading I was finding myself flipping backwards and forwards impressed by the ease in which Andrew Cartmel made everything fit together just so. The Doctor's presence hovers over the many passages that he is absent for. Even during the fairly long stretches where he isn't to be seen, his fingerprints are visible. The plot is careful and calculated, with a lot of attention to detail.

Fortunately, the second part of the book also maintains a high quality of the first. Naturally, the Doctor's plan doesn't seem to unravel quite as expected, so rather than the plot falling into a predictable format, there is still an element of surprise to be had. The future that we had glimpsed in the earlier portions is fleshed out more here. Parts of the story here are trippy and mess with your head in the best possible way.

One of the few things I didn't like about the story was the seemingly shallow portrayal of the main villain. We don't really learn too much about him, about his plans, or about his motivations. But most importantly, we don't really find out why it is that the Doctor is so hell-bent on making sure that his schemes are defeated; we just have to take it on faith. Sure, putting people's souls inside machines to avoid the responsibility of having to clean up the environment does seem to be a bit shortsighted, but it doesn't quite carry the assumed weight that one would expect. It feels a bit of a let down after seeing the Doctor's intricate plan.

Overall, this is one of the better Doctor Who books. The prose is captivating, the story is unpredictable, yet seamlessly logical, and the Doctor has never been more powerful. WARHEAD demands multiple rereads.

This blast has echoes further down the novel series.......2001-04-13

In the near future, the Doctor and Ace become involved in the covert operations of the Butler Institute, who are seeking psychic subjects for their plans to replace human bodies with artificial ones. And then they meet the psychics...

The second in the loose Cat's Cradle trilogy, and the first in the War trilogy (the three books in which occur a long way apart), this story portrays a much darker future than those traditionally shown in the Doctor Who TV series.

Back in 'Planet of the Spiders', the Doctor was investigating psychic abilities. This research makes a long delayed return, and in the hands of the manipulative Seventh Doctor, you can be sure that something nasty is on its way.

Not likely to be well received by people who want a simple continuation of the TV series, it is however a valid view of what Doctor Who could be like.

"2 MEAN 2 DIE".......2000-09-28

"Warhead" is apparently highly controversial among Whovians--I even read a comment somewhere that it ruined the New Adventures because subsequent writers emulated it. Don't let that fool you--this is a great book. It is rather dark and depressing at times, but that isn't necessarily a reason to criticize it.

Like some of the televised stories produced while Cartmel was script editor, "Warhead" has a complex structure that forces the reader slowly to deduce what is going on, and thus to envy the Doctor's superior knowledge about it all. As in other New Adventures, the Doctor already has a masterplan of how to deal with the situation at the beginning of the story, and manipulates the characters in very elaborate ways to accomplish his goals. The book contains a conversation--between Ace and Justine--which is, I feel, one of the finest in "Who" history and is a lovely expression of some of the general ideas of the "Cartmel Masterplan," although it doesn't make any startling revelations about the Doctor's past.

There are only a few problems with the story. When one finally realizes what the storyline is, and what the Doctor and Ace are fighting against, the threat seems relatively insignificant compared to its big buildup--one might have hoped for something truly horrifying. There is also one sequence, set in an abandoned McDonald's, which does seem a bit too gratuitously depressing and gloomy. However, from the rich detail of the dystopian future it depicts to the heartbreaking reality of the minor characters it conjures up in only a few pages, and from the fascinationg and sad guest appearance by a character from McCoy's era on television to the astonishing moment--one of "Doctor Who"'s creepiest scenes ever--where a supposedly dead character turns out to have survived in a quite unexpected way, this is a book that deserves a far better reputation than it has. "Doctor Who" at its most intriguing.

An excellent book.......1998-06-17

"Warhead" is apparently highly controversial among Whovians--I even read a comment somewhere that it ruined the New Adventures because subsequent writers emulated it. Don't let that fool you--this is a great book. It is rather dark and depressing at times, but that isn't necessarily a matter for critisicm. Like some of the stories produced while Cartmel was script editor, "Warhead" has a complex structure that forces the reader to slowly deduce what is going on, and thus to envy the Doctor's superior knowledge about it all. As in other New Adventures (or so I've heard--this is the only one I've read), the Doctor already has a masterplan of how to deal with the situation at the beginning of the story, and manipulates the characters in very elaborate ways to accomplish his goals. The book contains a conversation--between Ace and Justine--which is, I feel, one of the finest in "Who" history, and is a lovely expression of some of the general ideas of the "Cartmel Masterplan," although it doesn't make any startling revelations about the Doctor's past. There are only a few problems with the story. When one finally realizes what the storyline is, and what the Doctor and Ace are fighting against, the threat seems relatively insignificant compared to its big buildup--one might have hoped for something truly horrifying. There is also one sequence, set in an abandoned McDonald's, which does seem a bit too gratuitously depressing and gloomy. But, from the rich detail of the dystopian future it depicts to the heartbreaking reality of the minor characters it conjures up in only a few pages, and from the fascinating and sad guest appearance by a character from McCoy's era on television to the astonishing moment--one of "Doctor Who'"s creepiest scenes ever--where a supposedly dead character turns out to have survived in a quite unexpected way, this is a book that deserves a far better reputation than it has. "Doctor Who" at its most intriguing.

Cyberjunk.......1997-02-05

I like Doctor Who. I like cyberpunk novels, but like ice cream and spaghetti they shouldn't muddle together on the same plate. This book has all the elements of a decent William Gibson book except for the devilish glee that Gibson takes in his dystopian universe. Instead there is a lot of gibberish that is supposed to make me feel depressed, and I am depressed reading it. But only because I have a hundred more excrutiating pages left

Average customer rating:

Not as good as just plain "Milton"
inside the mind of a neurotic house cat
Milton - for kids and grownups too

Milton Goes to the Vet
Hayde Ardalan
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0811828433

Book Description

It's every cat's worst nightmare: the cat carrier comes out, and the trip to the vet begins. But the irrepressible Milton handles the ordeal with style, and ultimately shows the vet who's boss. Cat lovers of all ages will surely see their won feline in Milton's antics. And children will easily relate to the fear of going to the doctor and will share Milton's relief when he realizes that it's not that bad after all!

Customer Reviews:

Not as good as just plain "Milton".......2007-02-07

We received the original "Milton" as a gift and loved reading it to our child, so we ordered "Milton Goes to the Vet" (MGTTV). What a disappointment! The illustrations are cute but the "story" is not as engaging. Not that there's a ton of action in the original "Milton," but it really offers a unique voice for the black-and-white hero. I thought my 2-year-old could have written MGTTV - it just didn't have the same cleverness, and Milton had lost his charming cat personality. We actually sent MGTTV back to Amazon b/c neither my husband nor I enjoyed reading it to our daughter. The original Milton, on the other hand, is a 5-star book!

inside the mind of a neurotic house cat.......2003-02-01

The author does a great job of capturing the thought process of a neurotic cat who doesn't want to go to the vet. The illustrations help to convey the silliness of Milton's dread of riding in the car and being examined by the vet. Anyone who has tried to force a cat into the cat carrier and bring him to the vet will laugh out loud when reading this funny little book.

Milton - for kids and grownups too.......2001-10-18

The bright bold colours make a terrific background for Milton the black and white cat. Milton is the narrator, and anyone who's ever had a cat will smile knowingly when Milton, upon seeing that his cat carrier has been brought out, tries to run and hide --- but ends up sighing, "They always find me in the end". His expressions as he waits anxiously in the vet's office are beautiful. I've often thought about writing a book about the "adventures" of my own black and white cat, Axel --- but Milton IS the book I would have liked to write!! I plan to get the whole series AND all the accessories.

Cat's Cradle : Witch Mark (The New Doctor Who Adventures)

Average customer rating:

"Only a Pennsylvanian would do that."
The Doctor and the unicorns?

Cat's Cradle : Witch Mark (The New Doctor Who Adventures)
Andrew Hunt
Manufacturer: Virgin Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0426203682

Customer Reviews:

"Only a Pennsylvanian would do that.".......2002-02-08

CAT'S CRADLE: WITCH MARK takes place both in the mythical land of Tir na n-Og, and in a simple Welsh village. We know that the land is mythical because we see a lot of unicorns and centaurs. We know that the small village is in Wales, because characters actually refer to each other as "Boyo". The story starts off intriguingly enough. A bus crashes, and during the police investigation, it is discovered that none of the dead bodies can be identified. It's an interesting twist on the standard missing persons story, but unfortunately, the narrative isn't able to sustain its interesting beginnings.

The plot turns out to be slightly poorer than it really should be. To make a long story short, this is the tale of a quest across a strange and magical land, filled with centaurs, unicorns, trolls and other unworldly creatures. Unfortunately, that's all the story is. The Doctor and Ace begin their trek fairly early in the book, but by the three-quarters mark, they are still pretty much in the same state that they were in the beginning, the plot not having budged an inch. Don't get me wrong now, I don't mind a story that's padded, as long as the padding consists of interesting material, sparking prose and enough entertaining substance to maintain the reader's attention. This is not what we got here. And on top of that, after one has struggled through pages and pages that don't amount to anything, the resolution is shockingly quick and far too simple. I do not have a problem with the Doctor talking his way through a solution; in fact, I think some of the best stories have been enhanced by featuring a clever and witty Doctor who is able to mentally run rings around his opponent. Unfortunately, the level of argument has to be of a higher quality than what we ended up with here. Having the Doctor more or less saying, "Don't do this evil thing" and giving the villain no greater of a response than, "Gee, okay" does not make for an exciting resolution.

Even more appalling than the lackluster outcome to the villain's evil scheme is the fact that there are numerous plot threads that are just left dangling. Character motivations that one expected to be explained by the end of the book simply aren't addressed. There are many sequences that only work if you don't think about them too much and forget them before you reach the ending. If one happens to go back and start picking things apart, one will find a host of actions and scenes that were simply left unresolved. It really leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.

WITCH MARK features two of the worst portrayed Americans that the series has ever seen. In their introduction, the author is so intent on making sure they're recognizably American, that he moves them way beyond Cliché American and Stereotypical American and blasts them somewhere into the realm of Ludicrously American and Overwhelmingly Fake American. Make no mistake, if this was a televised story, then they'd both end up sounding exactly like the oh-so-American guy in TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN who went around spouting off macho nonsensical dialog such as, "Hey, some character's gone an' bahlled up tha loh-t!", "C'mon, let's get back to tha rah-ket!", and "Hey, Vic!" Not exactly the soft, realistic character study that one should be aiming for.

The other characters aren't much better. The Doctor and Ace aren't acting like their usual selves. The Seventh Doctor seems at times to be behaving like any incarnation other than the current one. Ace is back to being a silly teenager who appears to have completely bypassed the events of REVELATION and WARHEAD. Secondary characters are similarly poor, with special mention going to the idiot, lisping priest. Future authors should take note: speech impediments aren't really all that funny, and there's nothing more annoying than reading dialog that incorporates a heavy lisp. I was begging for the character to give a quick wink to the audience, shout "Thufferin' thuccotath!", and then take a flying leap towards the nearest window.

The book does have a few things working for it. The mixture of science fiction and fantasy is actually quite interesting. There was the potential here for everything to be rationalized away in an extremely boring "here's the way magic and science really work" speech, yet it rose above these would-be pitfalls. The relationship between Tir na n-Og and "real" Earth somehow managed to come across without feeling cheap. The story was straightforward enough and could be fairly enjoyable in a leave-your-brain-at-the-door type of way. It just isn't at all satisfying.

In the end, sloppy writing and elemental mistakes really hurt this book. What should have been a mind-blowing ending to the Cat's Cradle series turns out to be a fairly standard run-around in fantasy-land. The story itself is hurt by a lack of coherence and a dearth of uninteresting characters. Definitely not one of the better written NAs.

The Doctor and the unicorns?.......2001-04-21

The TARDIS' ongoing problems worsen, and an emergency landing brings the Doctor and Ace to a small Welsh village. Strange creature from legend have been spotted, and a stone circle contains the gateway to another world...

The concluding book in the Cat's Cradle trilogy, this one is plainly the work of a first-time author. While every author must write a first book, that is not necessarily ever published. Mr. Hunt shows that he needed more experience to make this book work. I could give a list of faults, but basically they all come down to that he doesn't understand how a book works. This is not to say that he has no potential!

Customer Reviews:

A GOOD GUIDE BOOK.......2000-12-15

My cat (of six years ) recently passed away from a virus,and since i have two more cats i ordered this book to help me to learn about common diseases and there symptoms. It covers over 60 common diseases and lets you recognize immediatley when your pet needs medical attention, plus informs you step by step on first aid and what to do incase of emergencies. This book also contains lots of helpful pictures showing you how to handle your pet during a certain situation, I'm not going to lie to you but there are pictures of sick cats that'll break your heart to see. For all cat lovers out there I highly recommend it.

Cat's Cradle: Times Crucible (The New Doctor Who Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Complexity that never fully pays off
The past and the present in collision

Cat's Cradle: Times Crucible (The New Doctor Who Adventures)
Marc Platt
Manufacturer: London Bridge (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0426203658

Customer Reviews:

Complexity that never fully pays off.......2002-01-10

Marc Platt's previous entry into the Doctor Who canon was 1989's GHOST LIGHT, a story so squashed into the available time allotted, that much of it seemed confusing upon the first watch. Subsequent viewings made the material easier to understand, revealing a story in which virtually none of the action is wasted. In "Ghost Light" there's hardly a single line of the story that isn't vital.

The difference between that story and CAT'S CRADLE: TIME'S CRUCIBLE couldn't be any greater. Because of the strict time limits imposed on the television episodes, GHOST LIGHT ended up being boiled down to its barest essential elements. On the other hand, freed from those constraints, TIME'S CRUCIBLE grows into a massive sprawling work that spans literally millions of years, through the history of the Time Lords, from the beginnings of Gallifreyian time travel to the journeys and origins of the Doctor. The book suffers from an incredible lack of focus, and this is a pity because there are a lot of very interesting ideas present, that if executed properly would have resulted in a much more satisfying story.

The plot is intensely complicated. Unfortunately, the complexity doesn't necessarily mean good, and the payoff at the end isn't especially rewarding. If you have the guts to make it all the way to the ending, you'll find that the conclusion and explanations are worth it, but only barely. It all makes sense (apart from one or two minor problems that I noticed) but when one reaches the ending, one wonders why we had to go through such an elaborate process to get to it. It feels complicated, not because the story had to be, but because the author just felt like making it convoluted simply for the sheer sake of it.

The story somewhat centers around several survivors from a wrecked experimental time vessel that had crashed into the TARDIS. The poor characterization, and unsure prose style meant that I had a lot of trouble keeping track of which person was which. After a few pages they all seemed to melt into the same puzzlingly enigmatic character. This was quite annoying as there was a great opportunity here to explore the characters as they appeared and reappeared in different stages of their lives.

It's frustrating when one sees good ideas go to waste, and TIME'S CRUCIBLE falls into that trap. There are some very interesting concepts here that never really get close to fulfilling their potential. The setting is excellent and the descriptions of the dead and decaying city are very effective. The passages dealing with the apparent destruction of the TARDIS convey a sense of impending doom quite well. Ace's reactions to the story unfolding around her are handled interestingly. Some of the sequences set on Ancient Gallifrey feel quite epic. All of these things make for fascinating reading, but the problem is that they simply don't work well together. As individual set pieces they are engaging, but the momentum keeps getting lost somewhere. The gaps between the exciting parts are simply plodding and dull.

This should have been a much better story than it ended up being. There are a lot of fabulous ideas and the central concept is quite an intriguing one. The problem is simply the poor execution. If there had been some major editing to remove all the dull, incoherent parts, and to tighten up the pacing, the book could have been very much improved. The ending really needed something with enough impact to make the sitting reader bolt upright and shout, "Oh, so that's what was going on! That was incredible!" Unfortunately, the result was the reader having a yawn, a stretch, and mumbling, "Oh, so that's what was going on. Well, that all makes sense, but so what?"

The past and the present in collision.......2001-04-13

With the TARDIS under attack, the unexpected collision with an early time vessel from Gallifrey's past seemingly destroys the TARDIS and Ace awakes in a strange city under attack from a thing known as "the Process"...

Written by Marc Platt, probably best known to Doctor Who fans as the scripter of the late classic 'Ghost Light', this book is the first in the very loose Cat's Cradle trilogy and features a substantial look at the prehistory of Gallifrey, the Doctor's home planet.

Reasonably complicated in structure (the behaviour of some of the characters is determined by complicated matters that become plainer towards the end of the book), it helps fill out the background of the Doctor's people while involving the Doctor and Ace in a seriously threatening adventure.

Book Description

Dr. Edward Scanlon practiced small-animal medicine along Philadelphia's exclusive Main Line for decades, often treating the pets of some of the area's most prominent families. But no matter what their backgrounds were, the animals--and their owners-- always made sure their doctor never had a dull moment! From Birthday Lady, the sweet kitten who was joyfully reunited with her young owner after a serious accident, to the canine companions of philanthropist and ambassador Walter Annenberg, Dr. Scanlon's patients always surprised him, made him laugh and cry, and showed him the value of the career he had chosen.

Invasion of the Cat-People (Doctor Who the Missing Adventures)

Average customer rating:

awful stench from the litter box
Bizarre, fantastic, and exciting
Gary, come on, try!
Garys' Cats are OK.

Invasion of the Cat-People (Doctor Who the Missing Adventures)
Gary Russell
Manufacturer: Virgin Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Doctor Who | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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

ASIN: 0426204409

Customer Reviews:

awful stench from the litter box.......1999-10-22

Horrendous. Simply god awful. Like the last few seasons of Doctor Who (Ghostlight, Happiness Patrol, Delta and the Bannermen), there seems to be a faction within Who fandom that have decided that Doctor Who stories must make no sense and be numbingly violent and stupid. As bad as THE MAN IN THE VELVET MASK and that's bad. For the reader, I will identify the exact spot where the book just dies. When "Tim" tells Ben and Polly that he's an alien. From that point on the story ceases and the reader is treated a mishmash of events just slapped together. It's as if the author just had something better to do. The book is very PC. If that helps.

Bizarre, fantastic, and exciting.......1998-09-29

Gary Russell manages to capture both the charm of the early days of Doctor Who and the sophistication of the later episodes & novels. The characters are odd, the science is wonky, and the plot is strange, but it is all very intertaining. Perhaps one of the best parts of the book is the reactions of Ben & Polly, two characters from the 1960s, to the 1990s. Having traveled to the fictional far future and the distant past without so much as a shrug, we get to see these characters' reactions to the real future of England awaiting them in 30 years time: CDs, personal computers, and McDonalds hamburgers!

Gary, come on, try!.......1998-07-19

Following on from his excellent "Legacy", Russell follows with a drab, self-indulgent effort which does not fit in with the era of the Second Doctor. Poorly written, characterised and structured.

Garys' Cats are OK........1998-06-27

Having just become a Doctor Who fan , i started buying some of the books by virgin. One of the first was IOTCP. I adored this book and thought that the cast list at the end was a nice touch. The way the chapters are in episodes are a very nice concept and the cliff hanger at the end of Episode 3 is fantastic. The writing of the doctor is very much that of Patrick Troughton , another plus. Polly and Ben are OK and true to the show. When they are in the book shop and see the biography of River Phoinix is very touching. The Cat-People are a little to unrealistic bad a a good enemy. Over all this is a great story. Well done Gary Russell.

The Pet Doctor: Your Total Guide to Dog and Cat Care

Average customer rating:

Read this if you have a pet!
An absolute MUST for all dog and cat owners

The Pet Doctor: Your Total Guide to Dog and Cat Care
Morton B. Caplan
Manufacturer: Whitecap Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1551102501

Customer Reviews:

Read this if you have a pet!.......2003-11-25

If only I had found this book the first two years of companionship of my lovable, demanding and (fortunately) non-shedding friend! I learnt so much from this excellent book -- things I had to learn by trial and error and after several vet visits. I particulary liked the chapter on the digestive system as my dog has a sensitive stomach. A nice gift book for a pet lover.

An absolute MUST for all dog and cat owners.......1999-01-31

This is a practical, easy-to-understand and comprehensive manual for dog and cat owners, written by a veterinarian who obviously loves animals. He illustrates his points with very interesting anecdotes from his many years of practice. The book covers basic information (choosing a pet and choosing a vet, training, feeding, vaccinations, and what exactly happens when you leave your pet for surgery or tests at the vet's office. The second half covers all the major illnesses and problems that can be encountered and what to do. There are loads of helpful tips (i.e. that chocolate is poisonous for dogs and cats, that Tylenol is equally poisonous, what to do if your cat eats thread or string, etc.) This delightful book is written in a style that blends Dr. Spock (for pets, of course), with James Herriott. Highly recommended.

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