The Shadow Trap (Star Wars: Jedi Quest, Book 6)

Book Description

When the Jedi are called in to help pacify a chaotic planet, it should be a routine mission. But behind the chaos is an evil in hiding. The routine mission goes horribly wrong and, in a moment that will be shocking to fans, a longtime member of the Jedi High Council is killed . . . with Anakin feeling responsible. It takes the combined power of Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-Wan to fight this battle.

Customer Reviews:

jude has done it again!.......2005-05-19

I enjoyed this book! I love it when Yoda uses his lightsaber!

Very Cool Series.......2003-11-14

Isn't it amazing how a so-called children's series has adults raving about it? I do feel sorry for those that pass over these Jedi Quest books because they feel they are for younger readers. Little do they know. The one relationship in the whole Star Wars univers that has fascinated me the most is the one between Obi-Wan and Anakin. We all know what it's destined for and that makes it a very heartbreaking journey to go through with them. But these books make you almost wish that there's some magical way that Obi-Wan and Anakin will work through their feelings. Shadow Trap shows us Anakin and Obi-Wan at one of those moments in their realationship where they're feeling apart. Well, Anakin is anyways. The great thing about this book is that we see it from both of their sides, we see inside both of their minds, their feelings on the matter. If Anakin could only see that while his Master may be disappointed in an act that he commited previously, he's not cast him off to the wayside, he is simply giving him time to try to deal with it. But of course, they are thrust into a mission with this tension between them and must try to find a way to deal with it and succsesfully complete their task.

This great little story is full of suprises and I think to say too much about it would give too much away. Suffice it to say that both Masters Yaddle and Yoda play a big part in it all. But the big question is, will the end of the story lead to Anakin and Obi-Wan closing that rift between them, or will the circumstances cause that rift to widen?

A Great Book.......2003-10-14

This is a great book. Dont judge the book on how many pages it has. Even though it is short, you will not be disapointed on buying it. im not goin 2 write anything that happens in it cause it would ruin the major thing that happens in the book. Buy the book and read it.

Also read the jedi apprentice books, boba fett books, legacy of the Jedi, and for the advanced star wars reader, The New jedi Order books. Other than the thrawn books, they are the best star wars books that take place after episode 6

Short but Sweet.......2003-04-28

This is the sixth book in Jude Watson's great series "Jedi Quest". At only 125 pages it is also the shortest. A lot of surprises are in this book and some cool characters as well. Without giving too much away, Yoda, Yaddle and even Granta Omega play pivotal roles in this story. My only complaint is that it was way too short. Make sure you read the first five "Quest" books before you pick this one up. if you want a good quick read this is for you!

Revelations.......2003-04-22

Whoa! This book was excellent. You find out some amazing stuff that I didn`t see coming. The plot is excellent with twists and turns. Some predictable, some aren`t. Get this book and the ones before it. Also try out the Jedi Apprentice series.

Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II

Average customer rating:

The title is misleading
Great Book
Could Be Better
my humble opinion
Same story my father told

Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II
Belton Cooper
Manufacturer: Presidio Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0891416706
Release Date: 1998-08-04

Book Description

As American tanks raced across France, one fact became immediately clear: One-on-one, the Sherman tank with its 75 mm main gun was no match for the more heavily armored and heavily-gunned German tanks that it faced across the battlefield.

Customer Reviews:

The title is misleading.......2007-07-05

There are some nice observations, personal observations that perhaps just make the book worth reading (at the price of $7).

But there is little about the Sherman and why it was a death trap other than it had thinner armor and initially an under-powered gun. I was hoping for more insight into how the Sherman was used and perhaps what the soldiers did to overcome the tanks disadvantages.

As others have said there is a lot of repetition, I think he repeats that the Germans fired on a tank until it burnt and therefore could not be recovered. This is mentioned twice on one page in one place and he seems to be annoyed at the Germans for stopping him being able to repair the tank!! How inconsiderate of them.

Then there are pages about troop movements and battle formations, nothing really to do with the tank and covered more accurately elsewhere.

After you have read the better books in this category, you might get this to complete your collection, but really there are much better books available.

Great Book.......2007-06-12

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the true story of the Sherman in WWII, written by someone who was actually there. This book and writer is endorsed by Stephen Ambrose.

Could Be Better.......2007-02-27

The title will get your attention but all the numbers will run together after awhile.It does have it's merits as the author details his life in the maintenance divison.The awful job of cleaning out a tank with the blood/tissue from battlefield casualties,a smell that never leaves that particular vehicle.And over & over to the point the story just repeats itself.I really had to struggle to finish this book.

my humble opinion.......2006-08-26

I agree that the best understanding of history comes from primary source documenation where the source has first-hand knowledge of the facts. This is exactly why moments of the book are quite insightful and moving. For example, the scene where Cooper shares a fox hole in combat for the first time after receiving heavy fire. Listening to a soldier tell of crying himself to sleep while reciting the 23rd Psalm and taking comfort from Paul's words in Phillipians is touching and honest. Moments like this are what make this book worthwhile.

I will not comment on historical inacuracies concerning the US tanks v. the German tanks as it appears the foregoing commentators know a lot more than me. I would encourage readers to recall, however, who this writer is and what his job was during the war. Cooper raced across enemy lines in the cover of darkness regularly to report to his commanders who and what was recently destroyed. He then made every effort to get fresh supplies back to the front lines. In doing so, part of his daily routine was witnessing his peers wash the blood and guts out of semi-destroyed tanks - the blood and guts of their friends - so that young, often inexperienced soldiers, could take their place.

I suspect witnessing this bloodshed day in and day out for about two years would cause any person to long for tanks with more protection and more offensive power.

This aspect of the book needs not be forgotten. Sure, it could have done without the editorialism concerning events Cooper was not present for, but perhaps those digressions come from the unique suffering Cooper experienced during the War.

TAM

Same story my father told.......2006-07-03

My father landed on Omaha Beach with the 745th Tank Battalion. He survived to live a good life and raise a family. The few times he talked about WWII his stories mirrored Cooper's. I thought Dad's claim's about being shot out of 13 (THIRTEEN) Sherman tanks were just "war stories" when I was younger, even with his Purple Heart and Bronze Star as evidence. He was suspicious about politicians and military leaders the rest of his life. Perhaps the negative reviews are written by people who want to rewrite history. From what I heard from my father, Cooper is dead on accurate. I loved the book.

The Krytos Trap (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Rogue Squadron to the rescue!
The Rogue Squadron Tetralogy, Book 3
This is Star Wars
The series keeps getting better.
Everything you could ever want in a Star Wars book... and more

The Krytos Trap (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 3)
Michael A. Stackpole
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553568035
Release Date: 1996-09-01

Book Description

The Rebels have taken the Imperial headquarters world of Coruscant, but their problems are far from over. A killer virus called Krytos is spreading among the population, and fomenting a counter-revolution, at the same time as the treason trial of Rebel hero Tycho Celchu. And X-wing pilot Corran Horn, given up for dead in "Iceheart"'s inescapable prison, discovers an extraordinary power in himself--the power of the Force!

Customer Reviews:

Rogue Squadron to the rescue!.......2007-08-20

The Krytos Trap (by Michael Stackpole) continues the saga of Rogue Squadron. In this case, Rogue Squadron is trying to stabilize Curuscant (the former Imperial capital that was captured in Wedges Gamble) that is being racked by the Krytos disease that Iceheart had planted before turning the capital over to the Rebels. In the backdrop, Tycho Celchu is being tried for killing Corran Horn. Like the previous Rogue Squadron books, this one moves fairly quickly. Mr. Stackpole has proven very adept with this series and entertaining. Our favorite characters are back and there's some good twists in the plot (fairly predictable, but then this is Star Wars). My biggest disappointment is the lack of space combat. Rogue Squadron flies X-Wings and should be combating Imperial forces. Doing diplomatic missions and functioning as attorneys is a little out of what I expected. Despite these weaknesses, this a good and fun book. A solid 4 star performance by Mr. Stackpole and I'm looking forward to continuing the saga of Rogue Squadron!

The Rogue Squadron Tetralogy, Book 3.......2007-05-26

I understand that this series was capitalizing on the popularity of a computer game, but it would have been better if it didn't have the title of "X-Wing."

That minor beef aside, the first 4 books of this series form a tetralogy featuring the exploits of the ace starfighter squadron. For post-Return of the Jedi novels that are not about Luke, Han and Leia, these books are not bad.

As for the best novels from the era of the movie saga, I highly recommend the following 5-star novels:

Cloak of Deception (Star Wars)
Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul)
Labyrinth of Evil (Star Wars, Episode III Prequel Novel)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Star Wars)
Shadows of the Empire (Star Wars)

This is Star Wars.......2005-11-18

When you think of Star Wars, you think of space battles, lightsabers, the Empire, and impossible adventure. This one has it all. Corran Horn, thought dead by the Republic, finds himself trying to escape an Imperial prison. In the process, he finds himself in a forgotten collection of Jedi antiques. This scene is possibly one of the greatest in the E.U.

The book is just as good as the first two, if not a little better than the second one.

Lots of action, and the appearance of Luke Skywalker is a welcome addition. Highly suggested for Star Wars fans.

The series keeps getting better........2005-09-17

I am really impressed with the x-wing series. The action was fast enought to keep you going. It also has a bit of intrigue as to who the spy is. This is a really good read and you should definetly read this, but read the first two books before this if you haven't.

Everything you could ever want in a Star Wars book... and more.......2005-06-27

X-Wing Book 3: The Krytos Trap (1996.) Book three in a nine-part series.

INTRODUCTION:
The Star Wars film series is, without question, the greatest science fiction series of all time. George Lucas captured the minds of people young and old across the world. But as anyone knows, there were only three films (this was before the prequels), and for many people, this just wasn't enough. And thus, the Star Wars Expanded Universe was born. The Expanded Universe consisted of comic books, video games, novels, and other media. Many of the stories focused on the characters in the films, many focused on unknown characters from the same universe. Among the authors who tried their hands at creating Star Wars novels was Michael A. Stackpole. In the mid-late nineties, he created the Star Wars X-Wing series, a nine-book series loosely inspired by the Star Wars PC game of the same name. Read on for my review of the third book in this series, The Krytos Trap.

STORYLINE:
It's been two-and-a-half years since the Rebel Alliance triumphed at the Battle Of Endor and Emperor Palpatine's death. Following an intense battle, the Rebellion has conquered Coruscant, the former Imperial capital. Unfortunately, the Rebellion and the New Republic are in shambles following the conquering of the world. Ysanne Isard, the new overlord of the Empire, LET them conquer the world because she introduced a virus onto the world that kills and spreads quickly. She is now trying to capture and withhold as much bacta as possible, as it is the only known cure against the virus. And that's not the worst of the problems for the Rebellion. Corran Horn, one of the finest young pilots in Rogue Squadron, was presumed to be killed in the offensive that allowed the Rebellion to take Coruscant, and fellow Rebel Tycho Celchu is being put on trial for Corran's murder. What the Rebels don't know is that Corran is alive, and plotting an escape from the legendary Imperial prison which holds him. As Corran plots his escape, the war between the Empire and a Rebellion divided rages on.

OPINIONS:
Overall, I was very satisfied with this story. This was the third of Stackpole's Star Wars novels I read (I'm working on the X-Wing series as we speak), and I am very satisfied with what I read. I personally thought Wedge's Gamble (Book 2 in the series) was a bit of a disappointment in that it was a departure from the aerial combat, but Stackpole redeems himself beautifully here. In this novel (and all other X-Wing novels), the classic trio of Luke, Leia, and Han have EXTREMELY SMALL roles (Han doesn't appear at all in this volume.) Stackpole instead focuses mostly on new characters, with the occasional old favorite like Wedge Antilles and Admiral Ackbar. I'm reading the X-Wing novels in order, and thusfar this one is the best one I have read so far. It's an exciting, emotional story, and if you preferred the space/air battles of the series to the conflicts on the ground, the X-Wing series should be right up your alley. If you strictly want to follow the exploits of Luke, Leia, Han, and all the other classic main characters, though, bypass this series. But if you want high-flying action that many stories lack, this one's for you.

OVERALL:
In the end, I must say that I am very satisfied with this story, and I am not at all reluctant to say that it would make for a fantastic movie - if George Lucas decides to make future Star Wars movies, this is a novel I would strongly recommend converting to the big screen. If you're a Star Wars fan who wants to go beyond the films, Stackpole's X-Wing series should appeal to you - that is, unless, you just want to follow the exploits of the main classic trilogy characters. Just make sure to start with Book 1 and read them in order, or you may be left dazed and confused.

Average customer rating:

How to slay a giant
OUTSTANDING ACCOUNT OF THE AFGHAN RESISTANCE AS TOLD BY ITS ARCHITECT
The Birds Eye View
A Paean to Pakistan -- and Little Else
Interesting but limted in scope

Afghanistan the Bear Trap
Mohammed Yousaf , and Mark Adkin
Manufacturer: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0850528607

Book Description

How did the horrendous situation in Afghanistan, with all its implications for recent events and the present time, come to pass? What was the role of the CIA and Pakistani intelligence in the creation of what became the Taliban? What are the implications for the future and lessons from the past for American forces today?

This highly controversial book reveals one of the greatest military, political and financial secrets of recent times. It is nothing less than the true, if fantastic, account of how Pakistan and the USA covertly controlled the largest guerrilla war of the 20th Century, dealing to the Soviet Russian presence in Afghanistan a military defeat that has come to be called 'Russia's Vietnam'.

This compelling book, put together with great skill by the military author, Mark Adkin, is essential reading for anyone interested in the truth behind the Soviets' Vietnam, and the reasons why, to this day, the war in Afghanistan still drags on despite the victory that the Mujahideen were denied when the Soviets withdrew. ?

Customer Reviews:

How to slay a giant.......2007-07-24

This is a Pakistani account of operations supporting the Mujahideen during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. First published in 1992 it predates the Taliban and 9/11 giving an `unvarnished' view of events.

The main theme is how the US helped the Mujahideen to the threshold of victory, only to yank the rug out from under them at the last minute. That contrasts sharply with the American narrative in which we helped the Afghan freedom fighters overcome the Soviet goliath (and then the credits rolled). Those aren't the only narratives at play, but the book gives an important slice of what was going on in Afghanistan during the 80's and how it contributed to what followed.

OUTSTANDING ACCOUNT OF THE AFGHAN RESISTANCE AS TOLD BY ITS ARCHITECT.......2006-03-19

THIS IS A FACTUAL, READABLE AND DETAILED, INSIDER'S ACCOUNT OF THE AFGHAN WAR AGAINST THE SOVIETS. THAT SAID, IT MOVES WELL ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN THE READER'S INTEREST.

THE AUTHOR LITERALLY COULDN'T BE MORE QUALIFIED TO SPEAK. AS HEAD OF THE PAKISTANI INTELLIGENCE SERVICE'S AFGHAN BUREA FOR FOUR CRUCIAL YEARS FROM 1983-1987, HE WAS THE STRATEGIC AND SOMETIMES TACTICAL BRAINS BEHIND THE MUJAHIDEEN EFFORT AGAINST THE SOVIETS, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR MUJAHIDIN COMMANDERS IN THE FIELD AS WELL AS THE OVERALL CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS. HE IS ARTICULATE AND COGENT IN HIS PRESENTATION (THE BOOK IS QUITE WELL WRITTEN) AS WELL AS SURPRISINGLY VULNERABLE IN WHAT HE SHARES.

WHAT RESULTS IS AN AUTHORITATIVE AND PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE SOVIET AFGHAN WAR, TOLD BY THE PAKISTANI GENERAL WHO SERVED AS ITS ARCHITECT. THE AUTHOR LAYS OUT HIS THINKING AND INVITES THE READER INTO THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS (AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY) AS HE SEEKS TO DISCERN HOW BEST TO EMPLOY HIS LIMITED AND DISPARATE FORCES AND RESOURCES TO OPPOSE (AND EVENTUALLY DEFEAT) THE VASTLY SUPERIOR FIREPOWER AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE SOVIET ARMY. HE LAYS OUT THE IMMENSE LOGISTICAL, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL PROBLEMS WHICH FACED HIM AT THE OUTSET.

IN THIS BOOK THE READER BASICALLY GETS TO SIT DOWN WITH PAKISTANI BRIGADIER GENERAL MOHAMMAD YOUSEF AND LISTEN TO HIM TELL HIS STORY. IT'S QUITE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY IF THOUGHT OF IN THOSE TERMS... I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN THE HISTORICAL EVENTS WHICH HE DESCRIBES, OR THOSE WITH A GENERAL INTEREST IN EITHER PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN OR THE MILITARY DECISION MAKING PROCESS. IVE READ SEVERAL BOOKS OF SIMILAR SUBJECT MATTER - THIS ONE IS REALLY A GEM.

The Birds Eye View.......2006-01-11

Afghan/Soviet War books can be broken up into a finite set of subjects. Personal/First Person Journalist account, War tactics or High level political/war analysis.

This book is squarely in the last category. A view of the war as described by the Pakistani ISI Brigadier General who ran it.

Regardless of the fact that the book is one sided, I found the book invaluable as a reference on how the Pakistani's ran the war. From Supply chain, US politics, right to on-the-ground tactics; the General goes over everything. At some points admitting Government secrets (That had probably be unclassified by print time).

An excellent book, well written, and interesting. The book even reviews at a tactical level, many battles you can read in "The Other Side of the Mountain".

This book won't cover the entire war, but is a great high level view of the Pakistani operational framework.

A Paean to Pakistan -- and Little Else.......2006-01-05

The CIA:

1: was (probably) responsible for Zia'a death

2: didn't know the first thing about how to wage a guerilla war

3: either allowed or participated in widespread corruption and theft

4: was foolishly reluctant to install an Islamic fundamentalist government in Kabul, and

5: at the end, intentionally pulled the rug out from under the Mujahadeen.

Pakistan's ISI, on the other hand, was wise, incorruptible and only cared about winning the war.

Other than maybe 10 pages describing a handful of battles, I've just told you everything there is in this book.

Interesting but limted in scope.......2005-12-07

It seems that most authors writing on the conflict between the Mujahideen and the Soviets choose their favorite guerilla leader and pay tribute to him alone. Too often this leaves a substantial gap in the grander scheme of the Afghan war. Mohammad Yousaf is no exception.

Being the head of the Afghan bureau of the ISI, Yousaf seems to have been in close contact with Gal Badin Hekmatyar and places the chieftan in high regards. However, Hekmatyar has been equally labeled a guerilla mastermind and a cowardly schemer. Yousaf fails to acknowledge the more unflattering aspects of Hekmatyar's reputation or spends much time discussing other commanders like Abdul Haq and Ahmed Shah Massod.

However, Yousaf does provide a very enlightening discussion of Soviet and Afghan tactics. With numerous maps illustrating a number of Mujahideen operations, the reader is granted a better understanding of how the war was fought on the ground.

Furthermore, Yousaf's high ranking position does provide useful insight into how the United States funded the Mujahideen with weapons and supplies through Pakistan's intelligence service. Still, I would have liked to see Yousaf lend greater depth to the role Saudi Arabia played in funding the more fundamental guerilla factions.

All in all, Yousaf's work is an interesting contribution to the work written on the Afghan war. However, it is limited in scope and is tinged with biases. In order to truly understand the war in Afghanistan, a different text would be more appropriate.

The Wurst Of Grimtooth's Traps (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

Average customer rating:

Creative, but too unrealistic
For when you want to kill an adventuring party
An archive of the Grimtooth trap series
Great resource
Absolutely Essential

The Wurst Of Grimtooth's Traps (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Rick Loomis
Manufacturer: Sword & Sorcery Studio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1588461394

Customer Reviews:

Creative, but too unrealistic.......2007-09-25

Traps described in this books are much more interesting than standard ones, but absolutely unrealistic. Can you believe that somebody will use a teleporter for... throwing a victim some yards up, in order to drop him on the spike? If I'll make a teleporter trap, it will be MUCH more effective.

But if your players are not interested in realism of your D&D world - this book will be excellent for you. Game mechanics described in it is very interesting.

For when you want to kill an adventuring party.......2007-09-18

The original Grimtooth's Traps books were loaded with devilishly inventive and horribly deadly traps, really only suitable for a DM who wanted to kill an adventuring party. This update to those classic traps preserves the original creativity, while giving a DM Search and Disable Device DCs for each trap, giving PCs a _slightly_ increased chance of survival. However, what really makes this book shine is the detailed descriptions of each and every trap. The perfect cure for everyone who's tired of the standard: "Trap: CR 2, poison darts, trip wire trigger, Search DC 12, Disable DC 15." I highly recommend this book to all D&D players; whether or not you use the traps in the book, they're simply fun to read.

An archive of the Grimtooth trap series.......2007-09-15

This tome is a compilation of the Best of the Grimtooth's trap series. The majority of these traps will kill off a character. The last chapters of the book contain adventures, Traps Bizaar and the Dungeon of Doom, which are cool but again will kill off a party...

Great resource.......2006-01-20

Short and sweet.... It has everything I liked about the original books and is in a format that I can use to easily torture my players. Good stuff!

Absolutely Essential.......2006-01-08

Short review time, this is probably the only off-brand book that I would consider essential to any half-decent DM. For anyone who complains that D&D is far too combat oriented, put a couple of the more vicious traps from this book in their path. Granted, a lot of them have a very cheesy 2nd edition feel to them, but even those provide inspiration for your own traps, and 90% of this book is PURE genius.

Breaking the Conflict Trap: Civil War and Development Policy (World Bank Policy Research Reports)

Average customer rating:

civil war != development

Breaking the Conflict Trap: Civil War and Development Policy (World Bank Policy Research Reports)
Paul Collier
Manufacturer: A World Bank Publication
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0821354817

Book Description

Civil wars attract much less attention than international wars but they are becoming increasingly common and typically go on for years. Where development succeeds, countries become progressively safer from violent conflict, making subsequent development easier. Where development fails countries can become trapped in a vicious circle: war wrecks the economy and increases the risk of further war. This new World Bank Policy Research Report challenges the belief that civil wars are inevitable and proposes an agenda for global action.

Customer Reviews:

civil war != development.......2006-02-02

These days, when the idea of failed states occupies the minds of many policymakers in the developed world, Collier provides a timely study of how civil war can help bring about a failed state. He studies several decades of civil wars, spread across the world, though primarily focused on Africa. In these wars, we see how the development of those countries was severely stunted. From Liberia to Sudan to Cambodia and other places.

The tragedy of course is that these countries already had parlous economies, prior to the conflicts. Plus, during the wars, conditions naturally worsened.

Quite a thoughtful book. The author and, implicitly, the World Bank, argue that until such wars end, it is futile to seriously contemplate any development policy.

The Terrorism Trap: September 11 and Beyond

Average customer rating:

Nothing we don't know now
the missing pieces to parts of the puzzle
The terrorist Trap
Absolutely Brilliant
Parenti is about hard truths....

The Terrorism Trap: September 11 and Beyond
Michael Parenti
Manufacturer: City Lights Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0872864057

Book Description

A penetrating analysis of the hidden political, economic, and religious agendas behind the September 11 attacks and the war, with an emphasis on Afghanistan's history and the U.S.-led globalization process that has impoverished and angered much of the world.

The Terrorism Trap is a richly informed, powerfully argued, well-written analysis of the deeper causes and meaning of September 11. Michael Parenti dissects the religious, political, and economic forces behind the attacks, putting them in proper historical perspective, which includes an understanding of Afghanistan's hidden history. He answers such questions as: Why did September 11 happen? Who is to be blamed? Who is taking advantage of the crisis? Who is hurt by all the ensuing events? And why do they hate us? He sees the religious terrorism of today as related to a longstanding religious tradition of violence as well as being a reaction to a U.S.-led globalization process that has impoverished and angered much of the world. This book helps us understand what is to be done to save democracy from terrorism and reactionism.

Michael Parenti is one of the nation's most astute political analysts. He received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in 1962 and has taught at a number of colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. He frequently appears on radio and television talk shows and lectures on college campuses and before community, church, and public interest groups to discuss current issues and ideas. His books are read by both lay readers and scholars, and are used extensively in college courses.

He is the author of many books including To Kill a Nation (Verso, 2001), History as Mystery (City Lights Books, 1999), Democracy for the Few (St. Martin's; seventh edition 2001), America Besieged (City Lights Books, 1998), Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism (City Lights Books, 1997), Dirty Truths (City Lights Books, 1996), Against Empire (City Lights Books, 1995), Land of Idols: Political Mythology in America (St. Martin's, 1994), Inventing Reality: The Politics of News Media (St. Martin's; 2nd ed. 1993), Make-Believe Media: The Politics of Entertainment (St. Martin's, 1992), The Sword and the Dollar: Imperialism, Revolution, and the Arms Race (St. Martin's, 1989), Power and the Powerless (St. Martin's, 1978. )

His work has been published in CovertAction Quarterly; Monthly Review; New Political Science; Nature; Z Magazine; Dollars and Sense; The Humanist; The Nation; Journal of Politics; American Political Science Review; The New York Times; Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing we don't know now.......2007-02-28

Perhaps in the immediate aftermath of September 11, this was a book that was a shock to those who read it, but 5 1/2 years on it's all nothing new.
In fact, the book has the feel of being hurridly thrown together at times, which is perhaps why it never seems to hold a consistant argument. And while it does raise some valid points about US foreign policy that could be built upon, Parenti instead often goes of on tangents that seem more like small rants.

the missing pieces to parts of the puzzle.......2004-04-23

excellent and brilliant, all points are backed by hard fact and proof. For those not knowing what to beleive in this day and age, stop listening to jingoistic corporate-media blitherings and take the time to step back and read this book. Parenti unabashedly and unapologetically deals the truth clearly and concisely. Many oppose him but thats no suprise to me: "The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth." ~ H.L. Mencken

The terrorist Trap.......2004-04-19

Required reading for History class and now need to write a paper

Absolutely Brilliant.......2004-01-04

The moral of the story is as follows: Every tragic event that occurs is quickly utilized in the name of political advantage.
The book describes various changes that have taken place since 911 which would have not occurred otherwise and are not known to the general populous. The transition is then made to the wars in Afganistan and Iraq, which follow as a natural consequence. Reasons for these wars are also given. Parenti's logic is so strict that is impossible to find a fault in it. References are provided for all the statements that are made.

Parenti is about hard truths...........2003-11-13

I'm thankful that there are writers like Mr. Parenti who are willing to tell the truth about why the world works like it does. He's not a conspiracy theorist, as some allege. However, he logically explains that a powerful minority of the Earth's population has similar self-interests, thus creating a system that skews policies, economies, and laws in their favor.

September 11 was an opportunity for the world to wake up and change course toward a cooperative and peaceful future. Instead, the Bush administration, the oil/fossil fuels industry, and the military/weapons industry steered us toward more of the same old mistakes, arrogance, and ignorance. Mr. Parenti clues us in on who benefits from walking down the same road we've been so many times.

Incidentally, Oliver North never mentioned bin Laden in his Iran/Contra testimony, as a previous reviewer asserts, and this bit of right-wing mythology is well-debunked at snopes dot com (http://www.snopes.com/rumors/north.htm).

Average customer rating:

what a waste

poor

Good idea seeds, not much else

Book of Challenges -- a challenge to use it!

Well done, but worthless

Book of Challenges: Dungeon Rooms, Puzzles, and Traps (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Daniel Kaufman , Gwendolyn F. M. Kestrel , Mike Selinker , and Skip Williams
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Role Playing & Fantasy | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Dungeons & Dragons | Gaming | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0786926570
Release Date: 2002-06-01

Book Description

Danger Around Every Corner and Behind Every Screen!

The greatest threat to any adventuring party is a devious Dungeon Master. This book is spring-loaded with ideas, both subtle and sinister, that will ensure every gaming session is appropriately hazardous, including:

Over fifty encounters designed to be dropped into any campaign.
Scalable scenarios that can be pitted against characters from 1st to 20th level.
Advice for creating your own deceptive and deadly situations.
Dungeon Masters who want to keep their players on their toes will be inspired by the invaluable material within these pages.

To use this accessory, a Dungeon Master also needs the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual.

Customer Reviews:

what a waste.......2004-06-22

I thought this book would be chalk full of traps and challenge ideas for dungeons/caves etc, but it turns out to really just have four examples of setting where there are challenges. So you buy a book, to possibly place four ideas in your adventures and that's it. It is the worst buy I have ever made for a role playing acessory.

poor.......2003-04-01

this book turned out to be nothing of what i expected. i expected it to be a book of traps and various kinds of challenges in it, to give ideas to DM's who need a little help from time to time (as we all do). instead, what i got was a book that has four examples of particular challenges for various level of characters. i thought this limited the use of the book tremendously, and hence has been the book that i least spent time reading and using.

Good idea seeds, not much else.......2003-01-28

I purchased this book hoping that I would be treated to something along the lines of an updated Grimtooth's. What I got was a mixed bag of good advice for building your own traps and challenges, coupled with traps that fell far short of that advice. Some of the challenges are so poorly worded that you have to read them two or three times to figure out what the text is actually describing. The figures vary from very well annotated to not anontated at all. The solutions to the puzzles are frequently ones that even experiences D&D gamers would never think to try, because they suggest utilization of abilities in a manner other than they were intended. Setting all of that aside, there is a bigger problem: most of the traps make no sense. Who would have built such ludicrous mechanisms? Who would have populated them with such an odd assortment of creatures? How do such creature survive if they depend upon PC adventurers wandering into these traps as their sole means of food?!? Aargh. It comes down to this: if you were a wizard powerful enough to build some of these traps, you would have used your powers to build better ones. Summary? Good advice, but I wouldn't bother with the traps.

Book of Challenges -- a challenge to use it!.......2003-01-27

The format of the book is less useful. I was expecting something closer to a Monster Manual but for traps, and I was disappointed. Each "challenge" is formatted like a mini-encounter rather than a single trap or puzzle explained. Some challenges are 2-3 pages long. I prefer a bit more quick-use format structure so I can just pull out the encounter and plop it into my adventure just like a monster from the Monster Manual. I prefer Traps & Treachery by Fantasy Flight Games which has that type of structure.

Well done, but worthless.......2002-12-19

I realy like the artwork and the level of detail of the different traps that are described.
So for that part, the book is surely worth your money.

However, there is no rules on trapconstruction (sure they are in the DMG and "Song And Silence".
The traps you find have no calculated prices.
The advice on building puzzles is nice, but building a puzzle that fits in your campaign still is up to your imagination.
Some of the traps are smart, but all in all, I feel this book does not offer you anything.
As a DM setting up traps is the fun and joy of the game and if you need this book to do that, I think you should consider asking one of your players to take over DM'ing.
After all, what is being a DM about besides setting up traps and "ugly" encounters?

Book Description

A Moonlight Escape—Their Only Hope For Safety!

Dov Zalinksi has achieved his goal of broadcasting from Old City Jerusalem, only to find himself trapped in the siege of the Jewish Quarter. Escalating Arab attacks rock the home where he has taken temporary refuge and leave a dozen orphans displaced and alone. With war just days away, the Jewish Quarter is no longer a safe place for anyone, let alone children. Caught in circumstances beyond his control, Dov comes up with a daring plan for their escape. Can he trust God to help them find freedom?

Emily Parkinson's journey home to England takes an unexpected twist when her ship docks at Cyprus for emergency repairs. Knowing Dov's father spent his final days in the island's detainment camps for illegal Jews, Emily sees the detour as her chance to search for Dov's missing mother—if Emily can just find a way into the camps. Could Leah Zalinski still be alive? Emily will stop at nothing to learn the truth....

Average customer rating:

Treblinka Escapee Traverses the Polish Countryside with Minimal Difficulty

an interesting look at life in treblinka extermination camp

A Treblinka Buff

Star Witness in Claude Lanzmann's epic film, Shoah

Holocaust Deniers Beware!

Trap with a Green Fence: Survival in Treblinka (Jewish Lives)
Richard Glazar
Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Holocaust | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Jewish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Poland | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
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General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0810111691

Customer Reviews:

Treblinka Escapee Traverses the Polish Countryside with Minimal Difficulty.......2007-09-20

Richard Glazer, a Czech Jew, mentions his life in German-occupied Prague and then his arrival at Treblinka. Naked for the "shower", he gets pulled out of the line to the gas chamber by an SS man, and diverted to forced labor. Glazer then elaborates his experiences in Treblinka, giving a particularly good description of typhus and how it flourishes under the unsanitary conditions and is spread by lice (pp. 72-73). Glazer escapes Treblinka during the famous August 1943 revolt. He eventually gets caught by a Volksdeutsche, but avoids the death sentence for being a Jew, and ends up a forced laborer in Germany, where he is liberated. Glazer also recounts his "reunion" with 54 still-living Treblinka escapees during the trials of the Nazi war criminals in West Germany in the 1960's (pp. 195-196).

Some Polish Jews discussing the possibility of escaping from Treblinka tried to discourage it by sinking to new lows of Polonophobic mythmaking. They actually asserted that Poles who help Jews no longer exist at all, and that 9 out of 10 Poles betray Jews (p. 84)--all without even stopping to think about the self-refuting nature of their absurdities. Just two sentences earlier, they had spoken about Jews who had escaped from Treblinka and returned to the Ghettos to warn the remaining Jews there (p. 83). If anything other than a trivial fraction of Poles betrayed Jews (let alone 9/10) then no Jews who escaped from Treblinka would've survived more than a day!

In contrast, some Jews who contemplated the possibility of escaping from Treblinka had a realistic view of the situation. They recognized the fact that killers of fugitive Jews in the areas surrounding Treblinka were not, as often alleged, members of the Polish Underground (the AK and NSZ). They were simply bandits, many of whom pretended to be members of the AK and NSZ, and who killed both Jews and non-Jews at will: "A few kilometers farther into the woods you would come upon the partisans, and then a gang with nothing in common with partisans than the name. They rob, and they murder; they don't care whom they attack by night." (p. 105)

When Richard Glazer actually escaped from Treblinka, he spent much time traversing the Polish countryside. He describes his peregrinations and the help he received from Poles. He passed by a long series of Polish villages, including Ostrow (p. 149), Wiszkow, Radzymin (p. 150), Rembertow, Solejuwky (p. 151), "...Piaseczno, Gora Kalwaria, Grojec, Mogielnica--those are the exotic-sounding names of towns passed through, more or less without incident." (p. 153). He had to evade a column of Germans. Yet not once did he indicate any threat from Polish blackmailers or denouncers. And, when he was finally caught, it was not by a Pole but by a Volksdeutsche. (p. 153)

an interesting look at life in treblinka extermination camp.......2007-02-16

This book is just as excellent and disturbing as Willenburg's "Surviving Treblinka", but it has a different feel about it. Its almost as if he is telling the story as a detached observer, which, in some cases, caused the survival of many Nazi victims. It is very detailed but, amongst the suffering among the few prisoners chosed to sort the clothing of the dead, there is a hope you get out of it. There were of course prisoners who has to work in Camp 2, where the gas chambers were located and those prisoners has to unload the chambers and put them in mass graves, later replaced by huge pyres, also called the roasts. But Glazar worked in Camp One, first sorting clothes, and then getting a better position working in one of the sheds where packaged belongings were stored until the objects could fill up a train to head back to Lublin headquarters. One of the most interesting chapters is called "The Hangmen and the Gravediggers", where Glazar, while working in this shed, encountered and actually had relatively normal conversation and mingling with SS men who worked the camp. This chapter describes many SS men, calling some terrible, while others were not as bad as others. Corruption was the name of the game; that is, SS men would come to this shed to get fine clothing and other objects and would often keep them of send them home to their families. This practice was extremely against SS regulations, but it happened anyway. The rest of the book is very interesting as well, such as when Glazar was assigned to the forest brigage, who would collect pine branches and such to camoflauge the fences of the camp. The evolution of the revolt is great, despite terrible things that happended in the course of organizing the revolt, such as military leader of the revolt, Zhelo Bloch, a Jewish captain of the Czech Army, being sent to Camp 2, with its gas chambers and dead bodies everywhere, as punishment for numerical errors that occured one day when trains were being loaded up with the stolen goods of the Jews, trains that would go to Lublin and spread from there. And there was also the death of Dr. Chorozycki. He was found in possession of money that to be used in the purchase of arms to be used in the revolt. Kurt Franz made the discovery and the doctor attacked Franz with a surgical knife and blows from his fist, a great act of courage. The doctor managed to slip some cyanide tablets and he died before the SS could torture him, to try to get information from him. Terrible indeed, but the revolt still took place...ive said enough, just read this book! You will not be disappointed, particularly if you are already interested in the subject of the Holocaust. I would suggest anyone read it though. The book is depressing, but, to me atleast, the way it is told seems almost detached, and theres even monents of dark humor thrown in here and there, atleast thats how i percieve it. A moving book to say the least. Get it!

A Treblinka Buff.......2004-04-27

I read everything there is about Treblinka and I can tell you that this is one of the best accounts yet. Other alternatives are "A year in Treblinka" and Arad's "Belzec, Sobibor and Treblinka: Aktion Reinhard Death Camps". Steiner's Treblinka is a very enjoyable work of fiction (but historicaly inacurate).

Star Witness in Claude Lanzmann's epic film, Shoah.......2002-07-19

None of the previous reviewers seem to know that Richard Glazar, a young Czech, is one of the most effective eyewitnesses in Claude Lanzmann's epic masterpiece, 'Shoah.' He appears at numerous points during the parts of the film that deal with Treblinka. What comes across is his vitality, integrity, and self-awareness. He was one of the few to survive the Treblinka revolt in August 1943 in which several hundred prisoners finally managed to break out, although most did not finally survive. Glazar appears too in interviews with Gitta Sereny, 'Into that Darkness,' in her study of Franz Stangl, the commandant of Treblinka. Glazar's work is utterly authentic and a MUST READ.

Holocaust Deniers Beware!.......2000-01-11

Richard Galzar, a Jew from Prague, survived for 10 months as a clothes-sorter in Trebinka, until his escape in the breakout of August 1943. While not a professional writer, his clear, strongly written account is an excellent source for true students of Holocaust history. The above reviewer either has not read the book or clearly seeks to defame this author, as is typical with Holocaust Deniers.

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