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.

Average customer rating:

Needs More
Johnny Thunders-In Cold Blood BOOK
needs more careful research, as well as an index...
Only bio of Thunders, and by a very good writer
Superb Biography - A great read even if you aren't a fan

Johnny Thunders: In Cold Blood
Nina Antonia
Manufacturer: Cherry Red Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1901447154

Album Details

Book plus CD. Inside Look at his Life from Early Pre-heartbreakers Days with the New York Dolls to his Death in 1991. Book Includes Complete Discography and Over 100 Photos, Some Never Before Seen.

Customer Reviews:

Needs More.......2007-02-01

Great photos throughout the book. Some good info but not enough detail. BUT you do get to know Johnny a little better and there's enough life story there. Buy it.

Johnny Thunders-In Cold Blood BOOK.......2007-01-04

I had the original pressing from the late 80's or whenever it came out-got this version for my sister for Christmas--a great book and accounting of one of my fave guys JT. This is an updated verion as well-my only complaint is the part about when myself and Andy Babiuk (we are in The Chesterfield Kings) brought Johnny up to Rochester, NY to record an album-the reporting is accurate-and the track "Critic's Choice" is the last thing he recorded in the United States, or for that matter anywhere in a real studio--problem is Nina interviewed someone else--and they stated that he was incompatible with us, and we were impatient with him-NOT TRUE. We got along fine musically and socially-the problem was with the guy who owned the studio. He was screwing with JT, Johnny got miffed and the session only yielded one complete song and a batch of unfinished stuff. Nina-CALL ME THE NEXT TIME YOU UPDATE?? Greg Prevost/Outasite/Chesterfield Kings

needs more careful research, as well as an index..........2006-11-29

This book is useful for anyone interested in this seminal and influential figure of the American rock music underground. However, the author has the annoying habit of repeating accepted 'truths' that should be related with some scepticism. Case in point; "Jerry Nolan saw Elvis...". Many people simply do not believe junkie Jerry's stories (in one interview he spoke of an informal discussion with Jimi Hendrix, only the time and place he provided were clearly after Hendrix' death). I think Jerry Nolan was the world's greatest rock drummer, but when writing a book, careful presentation of material is in order.
This book also completely omits an index, making reference difficult or impossible. And yes, a book on Johnny Thunders does deserve an index, despite what you might otherwise think.
Hopefully these flaws will be repaired in any future editions of the book.

Only bio of Thunders, and by a very good writer.......2006-08-23

I heard this book mentioned in the new documentary about Arthur Killer Kane, "New York Doll". I had Antonia's book about the Dolls and thought they were fortunate to have a biographer who was a very good writer. Same here. I am glad that someone made a record of the tenderness and vulnerability that had to be at the heart of this artist. Like Frank, Marilyn and Elvis, he wore his heart on his sleeve and we were privileged to be there for it. One of the very few guitarists from whom you can hear a few seconds and know instantly who it is.

You should see that DVD, and also "Thunders, Kane and Nolan", a concert in 1987 when, I believe, Johnny was comparatively clean. That is the only Dolls reunion you will need.

Superb Biography - A great read even if you aren't a fan.......2006-03-12

Nina Antonia is a fantastic writer. I read through the 200+ pages in a day.

What I most enjoyed about this book is that it made Johnny out to be human - something no other press/media outlet acknowledged. Throughout the 80's he struggled valiantly against his addiction, only to fail. But never for a moment did he stop missing his children, regretting the time he spent away from them. This book doesn't try to sanitize his life. It details the depths of his addiction, his failures and lost opportunities. However, Nina also talks about the hope that he found later in life.

There are dozens of photos throughout the book - my favorite of which is a picture of a sober-looking Johnny and his girlfriend pushing their child in a stroller. It says a lot about the man: However strung out and wasted he could get, in his heart he was just a normal guy. It's too bad he became a parody of the thing his "fans" wanted him to be.

He was one of the very last of a breed of Rock 'N' Rollers that we will never see again and a presence as powerful as his will be sorely missed.

We miss you, Johnny.

Average customer rating:

A Pleasure to Play
Great Condition, Great Content
Very good stuff. Right on target tabs.
Good stuff
Purchase

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0711996067

Product Description

P/V/G arrangements for every song from Coldplay's 2002 Grammy winner for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by a Group. 11 tracks: Amsterdam Clocks Daylight God Put a Smile upon Your Face Green Eyes In My Place Politik A Rush of Blood to the Head The Scientist Warning Sign A Whisper.

Customer Reviews:

A Pleasure to Play.......2007-09-05

I look forward to going home every night (and probably much to my neighbors' and roommate's dismay) to try to play and sing at the same time. The music is for the piano to accompany the rest of the band, so it doesn't always carry the melody. But it's awesome and not too bad. The abundance of sharps and flats may scare some, such as me, but in the end the chords are not too difficult; there is a lot of repetition. I am particularly fond of many of the songs. I hope this helps! Personally, I prefer Parachutes.

Great Condition, Great Content.......2007-02-06

It feels great to order something and get exactly what you intended and had in mind, all at the same time it being in wonderful condition. It was a smart order.

Very good stuff. Right on target tabs........2005-09-01

This is a great set of tabs.. I never could have figured out the tunings or alot of the effects without many more years of experimenting.

Good stuff.......2005-02-12

I have been playing the violin for 9 years and teaching myself the piano on the side, so this book was a little hard for me. I loved the fact that these are the actual parts to the songs, not some simplified score that doesn't sound anything like the original. "The Scientist" was the first song I learned and by far the easiest. I recommend this book to any musically inclined Coldplay fan because you'll end up loving their music more.

Purchase.......2004-11-30

Grab it while it is available. These punk rock music books suddenly go out of print.

The level is a high end of intermediate.

Rise Up Singing: The Group Singing Songbook

Average customer rating:

This is the Best of the Best
Excellent Music Book
Wow! A ton of titles...
Amazing Resource!
Rise Up Singing

Rise Up Singing: The Group Singing Songbook
Peter Blood
Manufacturer: Sing Out Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

ASIN: 0962670472

Product Description

Words, chords and sources to 1200 songs designed for group singing anywhere, anytime! Includes illustrations and an introduction by Pete Seeger. Songs include: Amazing Grace Desperado Let It Be My Favorite Things The Rose hundreds more. Spiral-bound. 8" X 10".

Customer Reviews:

This is the Best of the Best.......2007-09-03

I've had a copy of this book for over 10 years and still use it all the time. I'm about due for a new copy since mine is starting to get pretty beat up. I have a bunch of cassettes (tells you how long I've been using it) with about 1/3 of the songs on them so you could hear them performed. But now days I can find a lot of them on YouTube.com being performed by someone if I don't already know the melody, amazing.

Excellent Music Book.......2007-07-23

Its one of the best music books I've ever bought. It contains many old and new songs. Especially good for small acts (solos, duets & trios etc).Not for everybody but for me, a musician who plays state wide festivals as well as "the local bar scene" this is a very good one.

Wow! A ton of titles..........2007-05-26

Bought this for sing-a-longs in the living room and at the campfire. A ton of material (almost too much)...great for all ages! Love it!

Amazing Resource!.......2007-03-17

This book has an amazing collection of all kinds of folk songs. As long as you know the tune (or know someone who knows the tune), you'll have ALL the words and chords. The only surprise was that this is perfect bound (glue binding); I ordered it because a friend had one and it was spiral bound. The spiral binding lays flat when you're using it, which is a LOT easier. I'll probably end-up tearing all the pages out of the glue binding and putting them into a small 3-ring binder. But as far as it's usefulness, this book is fabulous.

Rise Up Singing.......2007-03-08

Numerous songs from the fifties and sixties, folk type, that we enjoy singing. Have formed a song circle using this book and meet once a month with other musician type and sing and play these songs. Great Book.

A Simple Twist Of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of Blood On the Tracks

Average customer rating:

Great for Dylan Fans, Not Necessary if You Are Not a Fan
Behind the Scenes
Slight
simple twist of fate:bob dylan and the makeing of blood on thr tracks
A Most Rare Book from Masterful Musicians All 'Round

A Simple Twist Of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of Blood On the Tracks
Andy Gill , and Kevin Odegard
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0306814137
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Book Description

An in-depth look at the creation of one of Bob Dylan's most celebrated albums, Blood on the Tracks.

In 1974 Bob Dylan wrote, recorded, reconsidered, and then re-recorded the best-selling studio album of his career. Blood on the Tracks was composed as Dylan's twelve-year marriage began to unravel, and songs like "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Shelter from the Storm" have become templates for multidimensional, adult songs of love and loss.

Yet the story behind the creation of this album has never been fully told; even the credits on the present-day album sleeve are inaccurate. Dylan recorded the album twice-once in New York City and again in Minneapolis, with a rag-tag gang of local musicians, quickly rewriting many of the songs in the process.

For A Simple Twist of Fate, the authors have interviewed the musicians and producers, industry insiders, and others, creating an engaging chronicle of how one musician channeled his pain and confusion into great art.

Customer Reviews:

Great for Dylan Fans, Not Necessary if You Are Not a Fan.......2007-05-12

A Simple Twist Of Fate is a fascinating look behind the scenes of the making of one of the greatest of Dylan albums, who is one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever. However, the book includes many technical details of the recording sessions which border on the arcane to boring - I mean, how many people really care about the make and model number of the microphone used?

An interesting exclusion in a book about the making of an album is that the book does not include the complete lyrics of the songs (maybe they thought anybody buying book already knows all the lyrics)?

If you are a true fan of Dylan, you will want to read the book. If you aren't, you can avoid this and still lead a productive life (although you may not read this far unless you were already a fan).

Behind the Scenes.......2007-01-02

Throughout his songwriting career Bob Dylan's creativity knows no bounds. Dylan effortlessly swings back and forth from folk to rock-a-billy to gospel to blues. In 1974, Dylan was looking for a new sound, but at the same time to get back to his roots. The album "Blood on the Tracks" was the successful culmination of this effort, and the album continues to be Dylan's most popular. "A Simple Twist of Fate" gives the everyman's version of the making of this album. Most Dylan fans know that "Blood" was recorded once in New York City and once in Minneapolis. It is clear that the authors favor the Minneapolis sessions not only because one of the authors played on the tracks, but because the sound that was produced seemed crisper. One of the leading gripes of the New York session musicians is that they did not have time to practice or warm up before Dylan went right in to the music. Besides that Dylan kept changing around the chords without any warning to the musicians. Eventually, those same musicians realized that Phil Ramone (the New York producer) "was only interested in getting Dylan on tape. It didn't matter what any of us played. That could be dealt with later.' Because of the various problems with the New York sessions, Dylan went back to the mid-west where his brother set up another session. This session, according to the authors, was a much more successful endeavor. As a result, the album itself is a mix between the relative confusion of the New York session and the more temperate Minneapolis session. Throughout the book, the authors attempt to offer contextual analysis of the album but almost wholly concentrating on the vagaries of Dylan's break-up with his wife. The last third of the book drags itself down with various gripes of the Minneapolis session musicians who did not receive credit for their input. This is the principal weakness of the book and takes away from the strength of the very interesting behind the scenes narrative that the book offers.

Slight.......2006-03-30

A pretty entertaining, minor work in the Dylan-analysis cannon. The making of this album is pretty fascinating, and it gives you a view into Dylan's psychology that it's often difficult to get, but as music journalism it doesn't really hold up. Long periods are direct quote from session men, and the analysis is just weak. I'd go for Invisible Republic (aka The Old, Weird America) or Positively 4th Street if you haven't read those yet.

simple twist of fate:bob dylan and the makeing of blood on thr tracks.......2006-03-26

hi! a nice read of the makeing of a classic album. the songs being either improved or ruined,as other have commented on is a matter of individual taste. the book however is a afternoon well spent.

A Most Rare Book from Masterful Musicians All 'Round.......2006-01-27

First, I must apologize for not quite "getting it" (this book) at the outset. It is a most rare book not only because it is about Bob Dylan's creation of arguably his best album ever; but the authors have written from the masterful point of view of "the musicians" who worked with Dylan all 'round. One not only learns about how "records" back then were engineered and produced but the most fascinating material like why Bob Dylan never used a capo on guitar; why Graham Nash and Steven Stills thought these miraculous songs in the raw were not up to their expectations; why the musicians had difficulty keeping up with Dylan and ultimately gained a deeply profound respect for not only his songwriting ability but extremely complicated musical gifts on a variety of instruments. You will be thrilled to read this especially if you have ever attempted to seriously play solo, or as part of a band and "the gig" let alone - anyone aspiring to do so...now. A great book.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Essexntial Groups & Artists)

Average customer rating:

awesome
A Great Album and Great Book
Best of the Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Essexntial Groups & Artists)
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 079354582X

Product Description

All 17 songs from their smash hit album, including: Give It Away The Power of Equality Suck My Kiss Under the Bridge and more.

Customer Reviews:

awesome.......2007-01-19

Book arrived exactly when the company said it would. The book was in perfect condition, highly recommend !!

A Great Album and Great Book.......2006-07-01

This is a great RHCP book. It has tabs and sheet music for their landmark album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The album itself has great songs but the guitar book is a step up because now you can sound like the great John Fruchante with a single book. Dont hesitate to purchace it. Buy the album too. It Rocks

Best of the Peppers.......2003-10-08

This is their most funky, and punkish album in my opinion. With (bassist) Flea pop slapping the groves, and (guitarist) John jamming the catchy tunes that stay in your head this CD is very well put together. I would highly recomend this book to any guitarist who wants to have some fun, and learns the famous chart topping hits, or to any fan of the Peppers.

Knowing The Score: Film Composers Talk About the Art, Craft, Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Writing for Cinema

Average customer rating:

Great discussions of the philosophy of film scoring.
Excellent

Knowing The Score: Film Composers Talk About the Art, Craft, Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Writing for Cinema
David Morgan
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0380804824
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Book Description

This collection of interviews with Hollywood composers offers the most intimate look ever at the process of writing music for the movies. From getting started in the business to recording the soundtrack, from choosing a musical style to collaborating with directors, including Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, the Coen brothers, Terry Gilliam, Kenneth Branagh, and Ken Russell, from learning to deal with editing to writing with time-sensitive precision, the leading practitioners in the field share their views on one of the most important -- and least understood -- aspects of filmmaking: the motion picture art that's heard but not seen.

Customer Reviews:

Great discussions of the philosophy of film scoring........2007-05-13

This book is a compilation of interviews and discussions with a prominent and diverse group of composers. There are wonderful passages reflecting the philosophy and experiences of these composers that make this book a really interesting portal into their minds and lives. Often the philosophy and approach behind an artform are more important to learn than the techniques of creating it - this book reflects that.

Excellent.......2007-01-04

Great interviews and inner views of composers of film. I would recommend it for any composer or enthusiast

Blood Music (Ibooks Science Fiction Classics)

Average customer rating:

Way ahead of its time.
Rapturious
mind bending read!
The Rise and Fall of Blood Music
Nanotechnology and accelerated evolution.

Blood Music (Ibooks Science Fiction Classics)
Greg Bear
Manufacturer: IBooks, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1596871067

Book Description

An amazing breakthrough in genetic engineering made by Vergil Ulam is considered too dangerous for further research, but rather than destroy his work, he injects himself with his creation and walks out of his lab, unaware of just quite how his actions will change the world. Author Greg Bear's treatment of the traditional tale of scientific hubris is both suspenseful and a compelling portrait of a new intelligence emerging amongst us, irrevocably changing our world.

Customer Reviews:

Way ahead of its time........2007-09-02

Cyberpunk before cyberpunk was cyberpunk. Except Bear does it with a difference, the computing systems are completely biological and DNA based, in vivo no less! One of the great early works by Bear, who aint no slouch in the "hard" sci-fi genre.

Rapturious.......2007-06-03

Does God work on a micro or macro scale to bring us to heaven? Blood Music is a fascinating view of how sub-biology brings the Rapture apon the human race, earth and then the universe. Imformation is good.

Blood Music is a truly fascinating piece of work. Greg Bear has spanned science and the book of Revelations with a rapture that leaves no one behind. To those looking from the macro-scale of their physical world, the biological change is horrific. Change may be hard on you, but change can bring you more freedom than you could ever imagine. Access all information.

What a trippy book and I didn't have to go to a church building, a laboratory, or take LSD. Greg Bear has a beautiful mind. Thanks for letting me live there for the duration of Blood Music. Is Blood Music Greg Bear's way of infecting us with noocytes? Well, thanks Greg. Sneeze on me anytime.

mind bending read!.......2007-04-29

Greg Bear wows me again with this eerie take on the Small overcoming the Great. He presents another great take on "one man changing the world." Oh my, and HOW does he change it! Simply fantasic ideas and follow through. I was riveted from beginning to end and found myself dying to know how the nanites would change their creator, their environment, humankind, reality and the universe.

The Rise and Fall of Blood Music.......2007-02-09

Thanks to the ability in Amazon to read the first few pages of many books, I bought "Blood Music" since I had to find out "the rest of the story". It read like a 5-star early on, in much the same genre as Michael Crichton (scary biotech/nanotech), and somewhat like Stephen King (think "The Stand") (spooky things that go bump inside you).

In my 344 page version, it took a downturn around page 150, when it started to get...well,...less like good Crichton, and more like bad King.
I downgraded it to a 4-star, with a feeling of foreboding that maybe a 3-star was coming on.

By the time page 250 rolled around, I had it figured out that the book was turning out to be a biotech/biohazard version of "We are the world", and that maybe at the end, the earth and any humans left would hold hands and sing "Kum Ba Ya" and "I'd like to teach the world to sing"

And that is how it ended. Or nearly so. So if you like that sort of thing, you'll enjoy this book. (But don't say I didn't warn you)

The beginning had shown so much promise...

Nanotechnology and accelerated evolution. .......2007-01-24

When an unpleasant and amoral scientist is forced by circumstance to take an experiment a little too far, he ushers in a period of massive biological change that may end the world.

This novel is based on a short story by the same name. In 1984, the short story won the Hugo for best novelette. The central ideas of the book (creation that goes out of control, accelerated evolution)are interesting enough that you can see what appealed to the judges. Unfortunately, the expansion to the novel felt rushed (whether it was or not) and the structure is poorly constructed. The flaws with the expansion draw this book down.

The book sections simply do not fit very well together. Changes in pace and abrupt character jumps come close to spoiling the reading experience.

This said, it is a fascinating idea, and Bear is a strong enough writer to keep the reader moving. His influence as one of the earliest writers dealing with the notion of nanotechnology is well justified.

I personally would suggest sticking with the short story (which is amazing) and skipping the novel. But even if you begin here, there are things worth reading. Faint praise, I realize, but there you go.

Roger Corman: Blood-Sucking Vampires, Flesh-Eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers

Average customer rating:

Kudos from Creating Characters author Marisa D'Vari
Corman Exposed
Roger Corman:
Driller Killers and Roger Corman, Of Course
Roger Corman: An Unauthorized Biography

Roger Corman: Blood-Sucking Vampires, Flesh-Eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers
Beverly Gray
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560255552

Book Description

A pioneer of independent cinema, Roger Corman is a fascinating study in contrasts. As the original King of the Exploitation Film, he has filled his movies with images of blood-sucking vampires, rampaging biker gangs, vigilante strippers, and abducting aliens, all while producing each of his four-hundred-plus films on a shoestring budget and making a profit on nearly every one. In the process, Corman became the role model for today’s independent filmmaker. This guru with a vision has also demonstrated an uncanny eye for talent, being among the first to recognize and employ the abilities of Jack Nicholson, Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante, Ron Howard, John Sayles, and James Cameron to name but a few. Through interviews with eighty of Corman’s friends and associates and photographs, Beverly Gray takes you behind the cameras and into the heart of Cormanville for a firsthand, insider’s look at the man and the mogul, providing a compelling private and public perspective on this soft-spoken giant of the cinema.

Customer Reviews:

Kudos from Creating Characters author Marisa D'Vari.......2005-09-03

This fascinating "biography" is really a savvy "how to" book that belongs on the shelf of every screenwriter, aspiring producer, director, and development executive -- and everyone else who loves films and craves to know the secrets of Hollywood's most colorful mogul.

I found it fun to read as a realistic "behind the scenes" glimpse of what it takes to be a profitable mogul, such as the way Corman hired young cheap "promising" talent instead of going for experience. Directors fresh out of film school reading this book, for example, can get a good feel for the mindset and financial situation of producers they interview with. Screenwriters will learn how Corman and team (Gray had been his development executive) managed to write and produce so many successful films quickly.

Few books reveal the inner machinations of a successful producer so intimately. Gray, a screenwriting teacher at UCLA, has done a spectacular job of showcasing the life story of an intruiging man through more than eighty interviews and via her own experience.

Corman Exposed.......2005-08-24

Wow! Talk about switching personalities! This amazing biographer can emit the style of the person she is writing about to really give you a flavor of the personality. And of course, she spent time working for him, so you are privy to more of a view. Written somewhat bruskly like Roger's personality, you really gain insight into his life and what made him the person he is. Contrast this book with Beverly's biography of Ron Howard and you see some of the exceptional talent of this lady. A great read!

Roger Corman:.......2005-03-20

I have to agree with the other five-star reviews. "Roger Corman: Blood-Sucking Vampires, Flesh-Eating Cockroaches, and Driller Killers" is the best book on the subject, the subject being the most unique American studio head in film history.

Beverly Gray really paints a nuanced picture of Corman and never panders to the fans, the haters, or her old boss Corman himself. Though it's impossible to pull back the curtains entirely and see into a man's soul, Gray seems to have at least pulled back one side, giving us as much a glimpse as is possible without telepathy.

Storywise, Corman is, as always, fascinating, and Gray's perfectly detailed retelling of his story is the best yet written.

Driller Killers and Roger Corman, Of Course.......2004-06-08

(...)

Gray's biography--fun as it is-- is more than a story about a man who is arguably one of Hollywood's most idiosyncratic moguls. It is a chronicle that parallels that of The Great Depression, World War II, the growth of the film industry and Los Angeles itself. We meet again celebrities we haven't thought about in years like the adorable dimpled Jon Davison, the memorable Vincent Price and even run across pop culture icons like Frank Gorshin.

Occasionally this book is burdened with glitz-town detail that only a dedicated film buff might adore but these moments are rare. Like a super hero, Corman--now 75 and still going--is resilient because he is multi-faceted. The same can be said for screenwriter cum UCLA instructor and journalist Beverly Gray. The two seem admirably paired in that way. Gray uses her many experiences and talents to tell the story of a man of many parts.
(...)

Roger Corman: An Unauthorized Biography.......2003-11-12

Beverly Gray's superbly written, readable, and extensively documented biography of Roger Corman maintained my interest and gave me an understanding of his complex personality and career. The book also gives an insider's view into many Hollywood personalities, including a number of his disciples, cohorts, and acquaintances. The insightful prevailing theme of the book is Corman's internal struggle between his artistry and his bottom-line business concern, resulting in settling for small but memorable low-budget achievement rather than for potential professional greatness as a filmmaker. Ms. Gray draws on the personal insights she has gained on Corman from her almost ten years as his development executive. She also does a remarkable job in presenting the enormous multiplicity of his sources and story lines, including the anti-establishment themes of the 1960's and 1970's.

Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader

Average customer rating:

Get psychotic reaction
sexcapades of a boring old hippie
NOT a great collection...
Living / Loving Life a Little Too Hard
Supercharged rock writing

Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader
Lester Bangs
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375713670
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Book Description

Before his untimely death in 1982, Lester Bangs was inarguably the most influential critic of rock and roll. Writing in hyper-intelligent Benzedrine prose that calls to mind Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson, he eschewed all conventional thinking as he discussed everything from Black Sabbath being the first truly Catholic band to Anne Murray’s smoldering sexuality. In Mainlines, Blood Feasts, Bad Taste fellow rock critic John Morthland has compiled a companion volume to Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, the first, now classic collection of Bangs’s work. Here are excerpts from an autobiographical piece Bangs wrote as a teenager, travel essays, and, of course, the music pieces, essays, and criticism covering everything from titans like Miles Davis, Lou Reed, and the Rolling Stones to esoteric musicians like Brian Eno and Captain Beefheart. Singularly entertaining, this book is an absolute must for anyone interested in the history of rock.

Customer Reviews:

Get psychotic reaction.......2006-10-19

Indeed while this book is essential reading for any rock fanatic it is somehow less interesting than the first tome (Psychotic reactions...). While he was able to write some really brilliant pieces (The Miles one) some of the other articles sometimes border on juvenilia (the one on Black Sabbath) and while they all have some good moments overall it does the book a great disservice since it does not provide a coherent vision of his writing like the other book did. I guess that if you are really interested in rock and in rock journalism you should get it, but after the first one.

sexcapades of a boring old hippie.......2006-05-26

If you enjoy the idea of Lester Bangs, don't read his writing. It just proves he was never anything but another drugged-up beat scumbag. And not in an amusing way.

NOT a great collection..........2006-04-25

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed "Psychotic Reactions and Carbeurator Dung", it seemed logical that a writer as smart, funny, and insightful as Lester Bangs would certainly have another book's-worth of great stuff in him, and I assumed that this collection would be it. Unfortunately, no. To be sure, there are some great pieces in here, like his lengthy recap of his trip to Jamaica to check out the reggae scene first-hand, but there are too many long-winded rants about whatever and too much stream-of-consciousness bio-junk, and I ended up skimming and skipping an awful lot of it. If you're a TOTAL Bangs junkie, well, you probably already have and love this thing...the more casual Bangs admirer is advised to beware.

Living / Loving Life a Little Too Hard.......2004-06-16

Once at an allergist appointment to treat my asthma I had to use a nebulizer, a machine to help my medication get deep into my lungs. There were two end results: I started breathing better and was high on oxygen and I got more medication into me than normal and got high on that. Basically, I was high as a kite for an hour or two and then it wore off. But for that brief period of time, I was happy and did everything at warp speed and was lovin' life.

Lester Bangs, for those of you not familiar with him, was a rock critic who was lovin' life a lot of the time, but he wasn't being supplied with happy, legal drugs from his allergist. When you read his work, you don't have to be told, though he does tell you, that he often wrote under the influence of a myriad of things. Sometimes his reviews don't make a stitch of sense. Other times they are pure genius.

The bottom line is, if you consider yourself music savvy, you should know who Lester Bangs is. If you need an introduction to his work, Mainlines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader is a great place to get it. The reader is a collection of Bangs' writing, edited by friend John Morthland. Most of the reviews are written as Bangs must of spoke. In fact, I often found myself reading his work out loud because they sounded better than they read. He would write an accent - not in a Zore Neale Hurtson I-spell-out-dialect sort of way, but in a William Shakespeare rhyme-and-meter-are-everything sort of way. It's magic.

Some of the reviews in Mainlines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader are tedious and near impossible to get through. He often refers to music that is most likely inaccessible to you, because, let's be frank, the man was a music snob. Snobbery or no, he knew his stuff and his developed completely original creative ways to write reviews.

Bangs loved life a little too hard and died of an overdose in 1982. He is still remembered in movies like Almost Famous and his mark is left on music / rock criticism everywhere.

Supercharged rock writing.......2004-05-07

The rock writer Joh Morthland has compiled a companion volume to Psychotic Reactions And Carburettor Dung, the first collection of the writings of Lester Bangs, rock `n roll's most influential critic and the one who defined the genre.

The book is divided into the following sections: DRUG PUNK, including previously unpublished writings on Andy Warhol and autobiographical ruminations on Bangs' adolescence; HYPES & HEROICS includes pieces on the MC5, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, Patti Smith's album Horses, Wire and Jello Biafra.

PANTHEON contains pieces on The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Captain Beefheart, Nico's Marble Index album, Brian Eno, Jim Morrison and Lester's famous review of Lou Reed's notorious Metal Machine Music album. TRAVELOGUES includes impressions of his trips to Paris, Jamaica, Austin and California.

The last chapter is titled RAVING, RAGING AND REBOPS and contains writings on the roots of punk, The Mekons (Bad Taste Is Timeless) and an excerpt from the previously unpublished All My Friends Are Hermits from 1980.

Lester's adrenalin charged writing has lost none of its appeal. He wrote with an enthusiasm that transcends the decades. I highly recommend this book to all rock fans that are passionate about the music. I also recommend the great biography by Jim DeRogatis, titled Let It Blurt: The Life And Times Of Lester Bangs and The Dark Stuff by Nick Kent.

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