History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Calculations are only as good as your numbers
  • Pants on fire?
  • Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
  • Very Interesting
  • History as Science Fiction
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

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:

3 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.
All God's Children: Inside the Dark and Violent World of Street Families
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Dangerously inacurate
  • Lost teenagers, living under the bridge.
  • Brave and Honest
  • An excellent, disturbing and profound look at violent street families
  • All God's Children
All God's Children: Inside the Dark and Violent World of Street Families
Rene Denfeld
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1586483099

Book Description

James Daniel Nelson first hit the streets as a teenager in 1992. He joined a clutch of runaways and misfits who camped out together in a squat under a Portland bridge. Within a few months the group-they called themselves a "family"-was arrested for a string of violent murders.

While Nelson sat in prison, the society he had helped form grew into a national phenomenon. Street families spread to every city from New York to San Francisco, and to many small towns in between, bringing violence with them. In 2003, almost eleven years after his original murder, Nelson, now called "Thantos", got out of prison, returned to Portland, created a new street family, and killed once more. Twelve family members were arrested along with him.

Rene Denfeld spent over a decade following the evolution of street family culture. She discovered that, contrary to popular belief, the majority of these teenagers hail from loving middle-class homes. Yet they have left those homes to form insular communities with cultish hierarchies, codes of behavior, languages, quasi-religions, and harsh rules. She reveals the extremes to which desperate teenagers will go in their search for a sense of community, and builds a persuasive and troubling case that street families have grown among us into a dark reversal of the American ideal.

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Dangerously inacurate .......2007-10-06

Having many years experience working with youth on the streets I have yet to come across ONE who has chosen a life of homelessness. While Denfeld writes of one horrifying situation she unfortunately connects this violence to all street youth. However, this is dangerously wrong, and paints a demonizing picture of youth who are surviving on the streets against all odds. There is already a stigma regarding homeless youth, and I fear Denfeld is perpetuating a damaging myth that these youth are from loving homes and choosing a life of homelessness...All she is doing is harming an already vulnerable population, and swaying the public from supporting their own children. Most of the youth I work with on the streets are there because their life at home was shockingly abusive, and the streets were safer. They are survivors in every sense of the word, they are nonviolent, often working, intelligent and engaging individuals who daily fight against a society who finds it easier to judge them than to realize the alarming rate of family trauma that is forcing children to leave their homes to search for safety on the streets. As a society we need to come together to allow these children to reach their amazing potential, not blame them for having been born to unsafe families. Yes, the story Denfeld wrote of is tragic, but it is so far from what happens on the street she was wrong to imply this violence as the norm. The streets are not fun, simply surviving day to day is no life, it is not a glamorous existence, it is often frightening, frustrating and painful. Anyone who asserts that youth chose a life on the streets is sadly misinformed, and I believe choosing to remain ignorant because they are simply not strong enough to realize how many thousands of children have been thrown in this country.

5 out of 5 stars Lost teenagers, living under the bridge........2007-05-28

Portland, Oregon and street kids.....gone wrong. The sadness of what can occur when parents do not accept the reasonability of parenthood and think more of themselves..... and our youth end up under the bridge,gone astray. Following the "parents" of the street, all the while longing for a home life. Reality at its best. A great in site to today's street kids.

5 out of 5 stars Brave and Honest.......2007-04-02

Denfeld is brave and honest in bringing to light a sad truth that none of us want to believe, nor except, about any of the kid's on the streets of Portland , or anywhere in America. She is clear that it is not all that go down this dark road,that many are truly homeless, with no other choice, and makes the point that the organizations that are there to help, need to have more knowlege of the culture. Chilling, brutal, yet hopeful, because it gave information about how to be aware and get on the road to solve this problem.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent, disturbing and profound look at violent street families.......2007-03-28

As a Portland native, I highly recommend this book. It is written from an investigative reporter view with info from all sides involved: homeless youth in Portland, the kids and adults inside the street family that the book deals with, the historical and present day violence within street families, the loving family of Jessica the murder victim as well as Jessica herself, the police officers and detectives involved in the grisly investigation and how some of the social service agencies in downtown Portland turned a blind eye to some serious issues. It also provides a great overview and history of street youth and street family culture and how wide spread and connected it really is. This book challenges us to really look at what is going with some of the young teens and adults that live on the streets in violent street families and why we as a society have chosen to ignore the violence and murder. It is grim and disturbing but honest and thought provoking, something many journalists and authors have forgotten how to do, but Denfeld has not.

5 out of 5 stars All God's Children.......2007-03-28

She really hit the nail on the head. Very informative without being overly sensational.
Dark Of The Gods
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • It will infect your imagination...
  • King of Thieves?
  • I am so glad these books are back in print
  • Subtle and Different
  • Definately a keeper!
Dark Of The Gods
P. C. Hodgell
Manufacturer: Meisha Merlin Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1892065266

Amazon.com

God Stalk and Dark of the Moon are the first two books in P.C. Hodgell's acclaimed series about the noblewoman/thief Jame the Talisman. These classic novels of high fantasy have been out of print and hard to find since they appeared in the early 1980s. Now, Meisha Merlin has reprinted them in the omnibus volume Dark of the Gods, which also includes the short story "Bones."

Jame is one of the Kencyrath, a race of magically gifted mortals bound to the Three-Faced God in the millennia-old struggle with the evil and immensely powerful being known as Perimal Darkling. God Stalk tells how the child Jame wakes to find herself a young woman wandering in the Haunted Lands, badly wounded and pursued by the undead, and how she becomes involved with thieves, rulers, inn-keepers, and divine powers in the gods-haunted city of Tai-tastigon.

The second novel, Dark of the Moon, finds Jame leaving Tai-tastigon in the company of her blind, mind-linked cub, Jorin, and the giant Kencyr warrior Marcarn. They seek Jame's twin brother Torisen, who instead of being a 10-year-old boy, is older than Jame, and the Highlord of the Kencyrath. Torisen is far away in the Riverland, where he is unpopular with his nobles, and embroiled in deadly serious intrigues that will soon reach out to enmesh his unsuspecting and politically naive sister.

Jame's adventure continues in the sequel to Dark of the Gods, Seeker's Mask. --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

Whether you are meeting the Kencyr Jame for the first time or reawakening an old friendship, Dark of the Gods is the place to start. Dark of the Gods is an omnibus collection of P. C. Hodgell's first two books God Stalk and Dark of the Moon, along with her short story "Bones", which takes place between the two novels. Jame is a Kencyrath, the chosen people of the Three-Faced God, who fights the demonic entity called Perimal Darkling. At the same time she fights an internal battle for her honor, because three thousand years ago the leader of the Kencyrath betrayed his people to the Darkness for his own immortality. She also must find her ten year older twin brother Tori and return to him the sword and ring of their father. If that is not enough, she has to kill a god, resurrect a god, stand before the rathorns, wear the cloak of living snakes, and visit a council room ablaze with stained glass.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars It will infect your imagination..........2006-06-21

I first read "Godstalk" when I was about 12 or 13. I thought to myself, "This fantasy stuff is awesome. I've got to read more!" I was terribly discouraged when my next several selections from the library proved to be tame in comparison. I was fortunate to encounter some good stuff before I gave up on the genre, though. :)

The world Hodgell has created is full of incidental detail that is essential in creating a living landscape...quite literally at times. There are enough events and relationships hinted at throughout the books to keep one happily speculating for years. This is a good thing, since the time between volumes has been so long!

Jame is an interesting protagonist - a mess of good intentions, destructive tendencies, honor, stubborness and with a mysterious past that threatens to consume her. Besides, who can resist a heroine with claws?

3 out of 5 stars King of Thieves?.......2003-09-17

This first book in this compilation has something of an underground cult level of fame, due to its limited availability for so long. Recent re-issues and its inclusion in this volume have finally rectified this situation. But does the work itself really live up to its word-of-mouth brilliance? Although different and well written, it is not in the same category as other fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings or The Last Unicorn.

The main character, Jame, as a young woman who cannot remember much of her recent past, but finds she has strange abilities and a mission to deliver a sword, ring, and book to Torisien, is very well drawn. Her entry into the city of Tai-Tastigon is not only very darkly flavored but brings a strong touch of horror to the reader, at least partially due to the reader not knowing precisely what is going on at that point. But as the story progresses, the vital uniqueness of the beginning slowly subsides into near-standard revelations of Jame's past and ancestral heritage; the multiple gods of the city, when seen close-up, lose some of their awe-inspiring flavor; and the basic plot devolves into rather simple lines. The battle between the inn that has become Jame's adoptive home and its across the street competitor, another battle for control of the Thieves Guild, and Jame's search for the meaning behind all the gods, her past, and the relics she holds in trust for Torisien form these lines, unfortunately all rather predictable, but they are well woven together. The resolution of all of them makes for a very satisfying conclusion to this book - far better than the conclusions of most opening volumes of long fantasies, making this book stand very well on its own.

Stylistically nicely written, without too many made-up words that seem to plague most fantasies, but with enough strangeness to let you know that this is not your everyday world, and a smoothness to the tale-telling that will carry you along without a bobble of something sharply out of place. Characterization of characters other than Jame seemed a little thin, but neither are they just cardboard cut-outs.

Overall, a nice start to a fantasy series, but much of its promise fades before the end, though having a real conclusion to this opening book is a definite plus in this world of seemingly never-ending fantasy works.

"Bones", the included short story, is something of a sidelight to the main story started above, but adds some depth of insight into Jame's character.

In the second book here, Dark of the Moon, we get to meet Jame's brother Torisien, who shows up as quite different from what Jame expected. More than anything else, this second book is one of political intrigue, something Jame is not good at, being essentially naive at such machinations. But being thrown into this game forces Jame to grow, to more carefully consider the consequences of her actions.

More of the underlying forces, beings, and history of this world are slowly revealed here, most especially the 'Builders' and those who belong to the Perimal Darkling. These revelations and their intertwining with the action of this story are the best items here, leading logically to decisions and actions by Jame that make at least a convoluted sense. There is more depth to the secondary characters, and more urgency to the plot. But I did feel that even more than in the first novel, this book trends more and more towards standard fantasy lines, with little that is genuinely new.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

5 out of 5 stars I am so glad these books are back in print.......2003-01-26

I used to buy used copies of God Stalk whenever I saw them, just to pass on to people saying "Read this Book!"

Hodgell's books are one of my all time favorite fantasy series, written in the tradition of Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stories (but with a few Lovecraftian twists thrown in).

Jame is one of the most original characters in modern fantasy, and Tai-Tastigon is a wondous hodge-podge of those fantasy cities you always wanted to visit. Hodgell's work recalls many of the greatest fantasists of the pre-Lord of the Rings era, yet has a wondeful modern voice all its own.

Please buy this book, if only help ensure that Hodgell will keep writing, and all of us die-hard fans who have been tearing our hair for 2o years will finally get to read the conclusion of Jame's story.

5 out of 5 stars Subtle and Different.......2002-11-11

I once had the pleasure of meeting the author of the two novels collected here at a writing workshop held at my college. She is a handsome woman, full of verve, and blessed with a keen eye born of life experience that allows her to be not only a wonderful writer, but a wonderful friend to writers. She also has a Ph.D. in English, so you know her writing is nothing to sneeze at.

This volume compiles her first two fantasy novels, "God Stalk" and "Dark of the Moon," along with a short story, "Bones," that adds to the events of the first novel. In a genre dominated by authors who try to replicate one another's successes, and by readers who shy away from challenge or from anything new, it's no wonder these books are little known. However, true lovers of fantastic fiction will be well rewarded by letting their gazes wander in this direction at least once.

The first book covers a year and a half in the life of the protagonist, Jame, and the second covers a matter of some short months. (The third, "Seeker's Mask," covers a little over a week. Plainly some crisis point is approaching for the character.) Her personal history is murky to us, and evidently only little better to her. She has spent a great deal of time in a place where time evidently doesn't apply, as she is seeking out her long-lost twin brother, who is now ten years her senior. She herself is an enthusiastic youth, and the story arc of the books is a maturation process for her.

In the first book, she finds herself at loose ends in a city where gods appear and disappear quite suddenly, where her own lost God gives her a task that violates everything she holds dear, and where her only options for survival include learning to steal and using her religious devotionals, which involve a hypnotic martial dance, as cheap entertainment. First published nearly twenty years ago, when the author was only somewhat older than the character, it reflects the turmoil all youth go through as they try to define their identities without their parents, while remaining inextricably part of the world around them. It also reflects the author's religious uncertainty, which comes out if you ever talk to her about issues spiritual.

The second book takes the character in a new direction. She leaves behind the trappings of the life in the city, bringing only the newfound self-discipline with her. She thinks she's going to cross the mountains into the land where her brother and her race live, but instead finds herself in a series of distortions, as time, space, and place are warped in an attempt to ensnare her for nefarious ends. The quest for her brother, and with him some form of family link and some form of group identity, takes on the proportions of a heroic quest, and receives only momentary resolution, deeply unsatisfying to the character, at the end.

These novels are more complex than nearly any other written in the fantasy genre. This, combined with the fact that P.C. Hodgell isn't a very prolific writer, has denied this story the popularity it deserves. However, for true lovers of the genre, and for lovers of good popular literature, this omnibus volume is one of great significance and quality. This is a book you'll lovingly reread and assign a treasured place in your collection. More than fantasy, this is a potential novel for the ages-and how few others can make that claim.

5 out of 5 stars Definately a keeper!.......2002-10-22

This is a book that I first read in the early to mid 80's. It made enough of an impression on me that I kept looking for the book until I was able to purchase my own copy in the early 90's. Due to circumstances outside my control, I lost my copies, and have been looking for them ever since, until I was able to get new copies earlier this year. I know of no other author that would inspire me to embark on close to a 20 year quest to own her books. That, in my mind, speaks for itself. The books are well writen, with a plot line that has yet to drag. The characters are old friends that I continuely delight in reading about, over and over again. The ONLY complaint that I have about PC Hodgell, is the length of time that it takes between books. I have found, however, that the wait has been more than worth it, each time that I get a new copy in my hands to read.

This is an author that you owe it to yourself to read. Enjoy!
The Dark Archetype
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not as dark as you would think
  • Good exploration of the shadows
  • A must read for any serious pagan
  • Excellent
  • Great Source of Info and Rituals
The Dark Archetype
Denise Dumars , and Lori Nyx
Manufacturer: New Page Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564146936

Book Description

This book deals with all of those things that we Americans are taught to ignore, to sweep under the rug, to not think about; in other words, to the things we keep in the dark: death, anger, fear, illness, and yes, even sex. The Dark Archetype explores these concerns by focusing on the magick and mystery of goddesses such as Kali, Hekate, and Lilith; and gods such as Set, Loki, Dionysos, and Shiva-deities who have not been given their due because of their less-than-desireable sides. The authors guide you through the world of darkness, unleashing the history and myth associated with each archetype.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Not as dark as you would think.......2007-09-05

This book wasn't really what I thought it was going to be like. It was definately more fluffy than I had anticipated. If you want a lighter side of Dark Paganism then by all means this book is for you.

4 out of 5 stars Good exploration of the shadows.......2007-04-26

When I first looked at the cover of this book I was ready to cringe and dismiss it as another twee approach to the dark archetypes. Happily I was totally wrong, this is an excellent book. The book covers a wide range of dark deities - Baba Yaga, the Black Virgin, Coatlicue, Hekate, Hel, Kali, Lilith, Medusa, Oya, Anubis, Dionysos, the Grim Reaper, Loki, Lucifer, Set, Shiva, Tezcatlipoca and Volos.
There is a chapter on each of the deities, covering their myths and relevance to modern western society, and then a subsequent chapter for each looking at rituals, spells, talismans and correspondences. I would recommend this book to all pagans, as it serves that important function of making people question and look beneath the surface, and then revel in the power and wisdom that can be found through integrating the entire psyche. Read and enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars A must read for any serious pagan.......2007-01-08

The reason why this book should be on every pagan's shelf (and read)! is mainly because we need a break from the fluff bunny wicca that the new agers have hijacked. This offers another pespective of Gods and Goddesses that many well intentioned leaders of the Wicca movement try to steer folks away from. Why be afraid of the dark? With the witty, humorous and easy to read delivery of the myths associated with these dieties, as well as the authors own personal experience with them, a new understanding will undoubtedly emerge.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2004-04-13

By Daven

It's rare to come across a book dealing with the darker side of the universe, so anytime someone writes one, I tend to pay attention. When it's a good exploration, I rate it highly. When it's done with as much humor and candid insight as this book is written with, well, I recommend it to just about everyone I meet.

Let me tell you how this book is laid out. First, there is a short introduction. Next the authors move to just what they are trying to accomplish with this book, specifying the way they hope they convey this information. Then they give the bits and pieces that apply to anyone they discuss in the book.

From what I can tell, this is the only time these two sat down together and worked on one section. The entire rest of the book consists of articles written by either Denise or Lori. I only counted one article written by both together. The articles had a lot of advice to offer, humor to explore, and thoughts that provoked me to review what I understood to be the dark side of the Gods.

This is a book on the Gods and Goddesses. Part one is the Dark Goddesses; Hekate, Baba Yaga, Kali, Lilith, Hel and even the Dark aspect of the Virgin. These articles average about 4-6 pages each, so they are short reads. Then they move on to the next section, the Dark Gods. As one may expect, Lucifer is in here, but some surprising Gods make an appearance like Shiva, The Grim Reaper and Dionysos as well. Each article is the same format, 4-6 pages of concise, humorous information.

The NEXT section, in my opinion is the real gem. It's working with each of these deities in rites and rituals. They also offer their thoughts on the aspects that may be useful for day-to-day invocation. I can honestly say that this is not the standard set of rituals for these deities. One example is using Hekate's aid in making a major life decision. I'll let the book stand for itself on this point, but trust me, it's an interesting invocation and use for this traditional deity of darkness.

This section also offers poetry to these deities, a few recipes and thoughts on these deities. It's obvious that these two ladies worked with each and every one of these deities to gain some of the insights they present in this book.

My criticism of the book: Believe me, I had to think for a while to come up with some point to criticize and this is actually more of a plaint. I feel that the deities in this work could have easily been expanded a bit. There are many deities out there that are dedicated to evil/chaos/mayhem and some that aren't but who can be seen as having that aspect as part of themselves. It can be expanded to include them. A Deity like Eris is conspicuous in Her absence.

The thing is, I understand why they didn't include those deities. Had they done that, and worked with each to understand Their nature to include Them with the same depth and sensitivity as all the other deities, this would have taken about 4 times as long to write.

So, to save the reader some time here, I will include a list of the deities that ARE in this work.

Goddesses included are; Baba Yaga, The Black Virgin, Coatlicue, Hekate, Hel, Kali, Lilith, Medusa and Oya. The Gods in this work are; Anubis, Dionysos, The Grim Reaper, Loki, Lucifer, Set, Shiva, Tezcatlipoca and Volos.

Other than that the wish, I find literally nothing I would change if I could. I'm giving this book 4 1/2 stars out of 5. Very well done Ms. Dumars and Ms. Nyx. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

Daven

5 out of 5 stars Great Source of Info and Rituals.......2004-01-02

There are a lot of occult books that come out every year - and most are not worth the paper they are printed on - tired rehashing of the same info on the same goddesses.

Now here is a book that should be a part of every serious practitioner's library, whether you're a wiccian, chaos magician, LHP, satanist, etc.

The info provided on each archtype is excellant, and the sample rituals stand well on their own, or can be easily modified to suit your own preferences.

FoS
A Dark and Hungry God Arises
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • this series is a let down but I'm still going to finish
  • Downhill FAST
  • The most forbidding and yet the best so far
  • Powerful
  • Yes, it does get even better after "Forbidden Knowledge"...
A Dark and Hungry God Arises
Stephen R. Donaldson
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0553562606
Release Date: 1993-07-01

Amazon.com

Remember how the fairy-tale-ish The Hobbit morphed into a wide-lens The Lord of the Rings? Plots, counterplots, and intrigue galore await readers of the Gap saga, which is still picking up speed. Allusions to Wagner's The Ring Cycle in opening book The Real Story's afterword now become clear as Earth politicians, Holt "Dragon" Fasner, and the rest of the United Mining Company Police bureaucrats enter the fray. Morn and company still teeter between exhilaration and desperation.... even readers who don't care for action or space opera may enjoy a story with this forceful a meld of character, cabal, and adventure.

Book Description

A master storyteller, Stephen R. Donaldson established a worldwide reputation with his unforgettable, critically acclaimed fantasy series The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant.  Then, with The Real Story and Forbidden Knowledge, he launched a thrilling new science fiction series.  Now the galactic epic continues as humanity struggles against the forces of ultimate evil--and its own dark nature.



The stage is set of confrontation at Billingate--illegal shipyard, haven for pirates and brigands, where every vice flourishes and every appetite can be sated.  Gateway to the alien realm of the Amnion, the shipyard is a clearinghouse for all they require to fulfill their mutagenic plans against humanity.



It is here that the fate of Morn Hyland is to be decided amid a kaleidoscopic whirl of plot and counterplot, treachery and betrayal.



As schemes unravel to reveal yet deeper designs, Morn, Nick, Angus' lives may all be forfeit as pawns in the titanic game played our between Warden Dios, dedicated director of the UMC Police, and the Dragon, greed-driven ruler of the UMC.  Here, the future of humankind hangs on the uncertain fortune of Morn Hyland in a daring novel of epic power and suspense, relentlessly gripping from first page to last.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars this series is a let down but I'm still going to finish.......2007-05-22

I really loved the covenant series, so when after years the new book (book 7) came out - I read it - and decided to read the first 3 whle waiting for #8 to come out. Since I no longer had them, I bid for the lot on eban - and the gap series was included in the lot.
I have been shocked by the brutality in these books. He really seems to have issues with women -and just with sexuality in general. What is the obsession with the repeated rape sceenes throughout this series - along with other forms of torture? This series makes me think of someone who's language skills limit thier ability to express distress - so they use expletives. For Donaldson - rape & torture sceenes are his expletive for moral decay and abuse of power. The thing is he is a good writter - I know he is becuase the covenant chronicles were great. My recomendation is if you this series - just skim past the multitude of torture sceenes the best you can.
One more comment - my advise to Donaldson is this (1) Never again use the word exigency in your writing (really we are impressed with your vocabulary but don't beat us over the head with it - the word is way over used in this series) and (2) seek therapy with a stong but warm female therapist. Maybe these books are the therapy that have kept you from abusing your wife, but the obsession with rape sceenes and shallow portrayal of women concerns me. I really literally feel sad for Donaldson reading these books -becuase I imagine he must have some inner deamons that are just awful with which to live.

1 out of 5 stars Downhill FAST.......2006-03-20

This is an addendum to my review of the first book in this series. As I explain in that review, this series started off hopefully, and turned dark.

Well, in this third book it turned (if possible) worse than dark. It got more violent, conjuring images that are too gruesome to recount. Perhaps if Donaldson were not so good at writing, it wouldn't be so bad. I've read horror books that were not as disturbing as what I found here.

I got halfway through and just couldn't go on. The shame of it is that this wasn't necessary. The storyline was compelling. I was truly interested in the characters and the plot twists were complex and gripping. Donaldson is a master. But the themes degenerated to an almost Dahlmer-esque level.

What is even more disturbing is that so many reviewers gave this nonsense such high marks. I found it revolting and sick. And I am not a prude. But, there are some things that I don't want to fill my mind with. And this is a prime example.

4 out of 5 stars The most forbidding and yet the best so far.......2004-10-20

Nick, the swashbuckling spaceship captain, rescues Morn from Thantos and the creepy aliens. The mood is (again) dark and rancide - isn't there some kind of fun in the futures? Humans are still engaging the aliens but everyone seems to be running around doing their thing.

Angus, the likeable sadist from prior novels, gets his comeuppance. His mind is controlled by a company computer and in particular, by a loathsome representative of that company who has Angus do all sorts of sickening stuff. (This is not for the faint-hearted but remember - it is fiction.) At the end, the secret word is said and Angus is freed to start down yet another fateful path.

My biggest complaint - a common one with Donaldson readers - is that you can't see the forest for the trees. There are too many melodies all at once, the actions overlapping and intertwining, going off in several directinos. A coherent, straight-arrow story was never realized and yet it still remained a great, though not remarkable, work.

5 out of 5 stars Powerful.......2004-02-26

"The Gap into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is a brutal novel. It focuses, at great length, on extreme suffering, pain, depression, isolation, defeat, violence, and insanity. Stephen R. Donaldson, of course, has never run away from aggressively dark and vicious literature. Even by his standards, however, "The Gap into Power" still stands out. This novel is frequently unpleasant, sometimes even painful to read. But those who have the guts to get through it will find a masterpiece waiting in here. This is no ordinary science fiction experience.

Nick Succurso recaptures Morn Hyland and reaches Thanatos Minor. But once there, he finds himself short on allies and facing a most unpleasant surprise. Angus Thermopylae travels through space, heading for the exact same outlaw's hangout, his brain still controlled by UMCP computers. Unpredictable developments are in store for him as well, however. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the political situation approaches boiling point, as every player tries to outmaneuver the others and emerge from the scenario on top. This truly is one of the most far-reaching and intricate plots of all time. Not a cheesy setup where you can see all the twists and turns coming far in advance. Here everything is up in the air. You actually have to think about what each person is trying to accomplish, and more importantly, about which ones are actually good and which are evil.

But behind all this, Donaldson is actually telling us something. He is showing us not just how technology changes the human experience, but how humans themselves will change the shape of the future. The characters we see, Nick Succurso, Angus Thermopylae, Holt Frasner, the Bill and all the rest, live in a world where morality is completely gone. In its place, these characters let their most raw emotions dominate them entirely, with no considerations for what is morally acceptable. Indeed, most of them don't seem to believe that there is any difference between right and wrong. And it is to show us the consequences of such beliefs, especially to those who hold them, that Donaldson delves into such brutal and painful detail regarding what happens in the story. The scenes of suffering and torture, even the ones that aren't strictly relevant to the plot, are not gratuitous. They make us understand the true meaning of what we are seeing. "The Gap into Power" is not a story for children, nor is it for squeamish adults. But for those willing to take it on, it is one of the most rewarding science fiction novels ever.

5 out of 5 stars Yes, it does get even better after "Forbidden Knowledge"..........2003-07-05

"A Dark and Hungry God Arises" is an expansion from the second book as much as the second is an expansion from the first. The structure changes from mostly-Morn-and-occasionally-Angus to swapping between many different characters over the course of the long and dizzyingly complex story. Donaldson's world expands to include politicians and leaders, both power-crazy and honest, all driving at their own aims and all caught in utter deadlock by each other. The theme of all the plots and complex intentions of every character in the book concentrating in one spot and acting like a "critical mass" is a good one, and gives a suitable background for a highly explosive ending. The structuring is brilliant - unfaultable, in my book - and if you try listing all the characters the story swaps between after you've read it, you'll find a couple of interesting "nuggets" for the really attentive reader . . . This is true of the third and fourth books, as well.

In my review on here of the second book in the Gap Series, "Forbidden Knowledge", I stated that my considerations of readers of a more squeamish disposition forced me to mark down. In the third book this is less true - the darkness is still there, but the utter horror of the second (particularly the "force-growing" of Davies Hyland on Enablement Station) isn't so much in evidence. Only one particular scene - where an important conversation is conducted to the background of a woman gutting herself for the pleasure of a crowd - is particularly vile. I think that is the only example of horror in the series which can be considered entirely gratuitous. It is unnecessary, and rather wince-worthy. That it elicits disgust from me is testament to that. But there is none of the intense and ghastly - though never gratuitous - horror of the second book. At any rate, it is a minor complaint.

This book is superb. It is chock-full of characters in situations unbelievable in their horror and tense extremity, but which Donaldson somehow manages to *make* believable. I state categorically that he is a master story-teller - one of the best who has ever lived. All the characters are larger than life. They run the story, rather than the other way round. The opening concept of Norna and the crib inversion with Angus is particularly good, and intriguing; not to mention excellently executed.

This is a superb third book to the series. I have this to close with. You may have read the first two, and been left unsure as to whether the series gets better. Believe me, it does. Once you start reading the third book you will be so gripped you'll forget reading this.
God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Reassurance for those willing to examine their beliefs
  • Another excellent book by Os Guinness
  • One of my favorites
  • Deal With Doubt by Understanding It
God in the Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt
Os Guinness
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0891078452

Book Description

The renowned author of The American Hour, No God But God, and The Dust of Death examines doubt from every angle and from every major perspective. Os Guinness pays special attention to the two basic questions""Why, O Lord?""and""How long, O Lord?""He t

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Reassurance for those willing to examine their beliefs.......2007-02-01

Mr. Guinness examines faith and doubt rigorously by tracing their presuppositions, carefully explaining the indissoluble bond between faith and rationality. Faith can and will lead us beyond reason, but never against reason into absurdity. The God who created our capacity for reason is beyond our reason but never at odds with it.

Although the majority of the book probes the nature of doubt from practical origins, one chapter is entirely devoted to doubt springing from emotional and / or psychological scars. This chapter is handled very well, proving Mr. Guinness thinks deeply as well as with breadth of soul and empathy. I think he is a most uncommon and remarkable man.

I was particularly struck with his comparison, using scripture, of the different kinds of doubt we hold. Some of us doubt the POWER of God to affect our lives for the better. This illustration is made in Mark 9: 17 - 25 (the man who brings his demon-possessed son who is often thrown into water and fire to destroy the child). The father of the possessed child has experienced failure at the hands of the apostles. He approaches Jesus with "...if thou canst do anything...." He doubts the POWER of God. He confesses his weak faith: "...and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

This kind of doubt is contrasted with the doubt in God's COMPASSION and MERCY as shown in the leper who desires to be cleansed (Matthew 8:2; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12). The leper says, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." (Matthew 8:2) He doubts the willingness of God to extend healing and mercy - but not God's power to do so. Jesus affirms his willingness verbally: "I will" or "I am willing" and then touches the man (the touch of great compassion and power).

The account of the leper in Matthew is followed very closely by the account of the gentile centurion (Matthew 8:8) who comes to Jesus seeking the healing of a beloved servant of his household. Jesus tells the centurion that he will come and heal the servant, but the centurion (knowing Jesus would be ceremonially defiled by entering into a gentile home) tells Jesus he (the centurion) is not worthy that Jesus should come under his roof, but that a word spoken alone shall be sufficient. Jesus marvels at this great faith and speaks the word of healing. No touch, just the word. The centurion did not need further reassurance because his faith was very strong. He doubted not the power or the mercy and goodness of God.

I am so grateful for these precious insights and so many others which Mr. Guinness gives in this book.

One more insight, which I find very true in my own experience in the battle with unbelief. On page 65, Mr. Guinness explains why many of us (in comfortable circumstances) do not lose our faith. "One reason why many people do not lose their faith is that they are protected by their lifestyles from the uncomfortable logic of the deficiency in their faith. But this is dangerous. The subtlety of the wrap-around influence of alien presuppositions is that they do their work before they are noticed. Whether it is a Christian student surrounded by relativism on a university campus or a Christian family surrounded by the influence of the mass media, too few are awake to the danger. And when they do wake up to the situation, they find that the combat against relativism is not a clean, hand-to-hand fight but a wearing war of nerves against an enemy who is everywhere and nowhere, friendly-seeming but deadly at the same time."

How can anyone resist such beautiful insight and clarity of thought? Does this not describe many of our experiences in the West?

The book has great practical value. After describing and examining the source of each type of doubt, the solution for each is also given with equal logic. That sounds deceptively easy, but Guinness has an ability to illuminate knotty problems so these lose their complexity.

A most valuable book for those who wish to wrestle with their doubt, and love and serve God with gladness and singleness of heart.

5 out of 5 stars Another excellent book by Os Guinness.......2007-01-13

Os's book concisely explains foundational Christian truth and the character of God. It's an excellent tool and support for clearing away misconceptions of belief. His observations about trust are simple and complex. Brilliant.

5 out of 5 stars One of my favorites.......2006-06-28

There nothing else like God In The Dark: The Assurance of Faith Beyond a Shadow of Doubt out there in print that makes such a thorough examination of the phenomenology of doubt.

In part 1 Guinness starts with what he calls the "square one principle": "The person who has the courage to go back when necessary is the one who goes on in the end." Going back and reexamining faith guards against coasting through life on the basis of a faith that, though once vital, has grown inauthentic due to it being taken for granted. When an inevitable crisis comes it fails, leaving one disillusioned and alone in the dark with all kinds of duplicitous thoughts.

From there he "dares" us to doubt by explaining that the idea of faith being "doubt free" only sets us up to drive our faith into the ground like an overloaded donkey. First, it is beaten with a variety of admonitions and cajolings that then lead to warnings and threats of the "big stick" of judgment until it expires and collapses. Then it is beaten for collapsing.

Guinness explains that the doubt is an "in-between" problem that has two minds between faith and unbelief. Unbelief is a deliberate refusal to believe that willfully rejects any affirmation of faith, while doubt is the suspension between the two. The distinction is important, because it makes all the difference in expunging that dreadful perfectionism demanded by "doubtless faith" which ends up being more discouraging than the worst of doubts ever could be.

Part 2 is the lengthy middle section of the book in which Guinness identifies seven different kinds of doubt:

Doubt from ingratitude

Doubt from a faulty view of God

Doubt from weak foundations

Doubt from lack of commitment

Doubt from a lack of growth

Doubt from unruly emotions

Doubt from hidden conflicts

I cannot go into all of these, but I will say that the first two and the last two had the greatest effect on me. Sometimes our doubts are good in that they question our pitiful ideas of God that often are outright misrepresentations of him.

In part 3, Guinness addresses two of the biggest questions that most often shipwreck faith: Why, O Lord; and How Long, O Lord? Suffering and evil are at the center of the first question, and is only answered by trust in the God who knows why--the same one who became incarnate and asked the very same question at the point of his death.

Interestingly enough, Guinness believes the second question is much more difficult for faith than the first. Faith seeks its vision to be substantiated; it does not want to BE, it wants to DO. The prospect of the vision going unfulfilled makes one ask if believing was even worth it, and there is no easy answer except to nourish the vision with the vision of God's character.

The book prescribes remedies for each of these doubts, though none is exhaustive. However, I was struck by the non-simplistic answers to these issues and how one must be diligent in engaging the heart and mind to really grasp for the assurance of faith in an honest way.

5 out of 5 stars Deal With Doubt by Understanding It.......2000-10-25

Got in the Dark is not a fast read because it is so profound. You will enjoy yourself going "wow" and having to stop and think. You will find yourself wanting to read passages to loved ones. Every page is very well thought out and the whole book is very well organized and thorough. The book deals with the doubts that thinking Christians have and stresses that it is healthy and faith building to deal with your doubts and not be ashamed of them. It is refreshing to read an intellectual Christian author that doesn't read like a testbook. I got my "money's worth" with this one.
Sacred Chaos: Reflections on God's Shadow and the Dark Self (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Sacred Chaos: Reflections on God's Shadow and the Dark Self (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts)
    Francoise O'Kane
    Manufacturer: Inner City Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    2. Saturday's Child: Encounters With the Dark Gods (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts) Saturday's Child: Encounters With the Dark Gods (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts)
    3. Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves Why Good People Do Bad Things: Understanding Our Darker Selves
    4. Mythologems: Incarnations of the Invisible World (Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts) (Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts) Mythologems: Incarnations of the Invisible World (Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts) (Studies in Jungian Psychology by Jungian Analysts)
    5. Pregnant Darkness: Alchemy and the Rebirth of Consciousness Pregnant Darkness: Alchemy and the Rebirth of Consciousness

    ASIN: 0919123651
    FT-DARK GODS #5 (The Secret of the Unicorn Queen, Book 5)
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • I'm going to get these books back in print! Can you help?
    • Fabulous!
    • If you know where to get this book...
    • Wonderful For All Ages!
    • Great Series
    FT-DARK GODS #5 (The Secret of the Unicorn Queen, Book 5)
    Random House
    Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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    1. Sun Blind (The Secret of the Unicorn Queen, No 2) Sun Blind (The Secret of the Unicorn Queen, No 2)
    2. The Secret of the Unicorn Queen: Swept Away The Secret of the Unicorn Queen: Swept Away
    3. The Secret of the Unicorn Queen, Vol. 1: Swept Away and Sun Blind The Secret of the Unicorn Queen, Vol. 1: Swept Away and Sun Blind

    ASIN: 0449903591
    Release Date: 1989-04-22

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars I'm going to get these books back in print! Can you help?.......2002-03-07

    I'm launching a letter campaign to get these books back. It is ridiculous what people are spending for a book that should be available to young girls and old alike. Libraries can't keep these books in stock! If you want to help me this is what I'm doing: I will mail a letter a day to the Ballantine/Fawcet press asking that they publish The Secret of the Unicorn Queen Series. I will say that there is a genuine need for these books and that they will sell. In order to prove the high demand for these books it would be great to have other people send in letters too. Anyone who is interested can e-mail me (it's a hotmail account with my name) or just write and mail a letter. This shouldn't be a herculean labor, these books are marketable and will sell, the publisher can't go wrong. (I love the cover art too-Rowena is brilliant!)

    5 out of 5 stars Fabulous!.......2000-06-30

    I read these books over and over until I was in middle school. They're great! I was a dummy and donated them to my school library of the time and they're long gone. That was over 10 years ago and I'm still kicking myself.

    5 out of 5 stars If you know where to get this book..........1999-04-12

    I read "Swept Away" years ago, and when I went to the library to check it out again, it was gone. Disappeared. I cried. If any kind soul reads this and knows where I can get a copy of ANY of the "Unicorn Queen" books, I would be eternally greatfull if you would write to me and tell me where. Thank You!

    5 out of 5 stars Wonderful For All Ages!.......1999-03-06

    I got the series from a friend and just keep readng them over and over! I love them! I just can't put them down! I woiuld recommend this series to ANY lover of fantasy! And the cover work is beautiful!

    5 out of 5 stars Great Series.......1999-02-26

    I read this series in third grade and I can still sit down and read it over and over. The six books are one of my treasured series that I will never get rid of, and it fueled many stories of my own!
    Thor: The Dark Gods
    Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    • A review from marvelmasterworks.freeservers.com: GREAT TPB!
    • Not so great a graphic novel.
    • An Attempt to Recapture the 60's. So-So Results.
    • Very Poor writing...
    Thor: The Dark Gods
    Dan Jurgens , and John Romita Jr.
    Manufacturer: Marvel Entertainment Group
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    Comics & Graphic NovelsComics & Graphic Novels | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
    MarvelMarvel | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0785107398

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A review from marvelmasterworks.freeservers.com: GREAT TPB!.......2002-07-11

    This book seems to have gotten some mediocre reviews up till now. One thing people need to remember is that this is a TPB collecting issues #9-13 of Thor, but there is alot of context to this story that isn't found in these pages. Reviewers are holding writer Dan Jurgens to a standard of creative precision that this format doesn't permit.

    Thor #13, the final issue reprinted in this TPB (an anticlimax to some, it appears) was thrilling to those who, through the first 8 issues were wondering who the heck this Marnot fellow really was! I thought the revelation was deftly handled and played to Thor's grounding in mythology.

    Marvel's rendering of Thor, as most people should know, is not strictly from the mythological background. That's just the backdrop to his heroics. One person complained he was too much like Superman. Well...that's what he was created to be! Thor was Marvel's answer to DC's Superman- an ultimate monolith of a super being. Thor is as close to untouchable and unbeatable in Marvel's universe as Supes is in DC's universe. Marvel's Superman has a lineage in Norse mythology though, not a far distant planet he is the sole survivor of.

    And here's the main reason this collection gets 5 stars from me, and it's something no other reviewer has yet touched on: the art of John Romita, Jr. Absolutely breathtaking...astounding...I was motivated to turn each page to see what next amazing artwork he would conjure up to tell the story. And tell the story he did! I am a somewhat jaded comics reader by now, but his battle scenes were gripping- I just couldn't put this book down! His visuals of the Dark Gods are stunning, and the first battle between Thor and Perrikus is some of the finest battle scenes this comics fan has ever seen on printed comics page. There is a scene where Perrikus does something to Thor that one would have never thought possible, and it is so shockingly rendered that I felt the despair and heartbreak and shock Thor and the rest of the Norse Gods must have been feeling at that moment.

    I'll not go into it more, but leave the glory of reading this particular run of Thor comics to you. It's some wonderful stuff.

    2 out of 5 stars Not so great a graphic novel........2001-11-21

    I have noticed before that Marvel doesn't do a very good job with writing fantasy-oriented comics, except maybe for the Dr.Strange mythos. They just seem to be much better suited at writing sci-fi oriented stuff such as the X-Men, SpiderMan, Daredevil, Punisher, Wolverine, Deadpool, Nick Fury, you know the drill. So when I picked up this Thor graphic novel (which is the first Thor story I have read by the way) I didn't know what to expect. And lo and behold, I was disappointed.
    You see, in fantasy novels and ancient Norse myth, Thor was always portrayed as a relentless, mighty, rough, and sometimes vicious warrior-god, kind of similar to Conan from Robert E. Howard's Conan fantasy novels.
    But, sadly, in this Thor graphic novel, he is portrayed almost as a cheap ripoff of Superman. And I was very shocked at this, because this book was written by one of the best writers in the Superman mythos, Dan Jurgens. So, as you can tell, I was very dissapointed in this Thor title.

    3 out of 5 stars An Attempt to Recapture the 60's. So-So Results........2001-02-16

    It is clear to this reviewer that Dan Jurgens has attempted to revisit the earliest roots of Thor, journeying back into mystery and attempting to revive the grand and epic tales that Jack Kirby with an assist from Stan Lee wrought during Marvel's heyday. Does he succeed? Well, almost but not quite. There is an honest attempt to recall the glory that was Asgard, but ultimately it falls just short and reminds the reader of how far the mighty have fallen. Still, by attempting to recreate the essence and persona that Jack Kirby instilled into the Thor mythos and not merely rehashng the hackneyed plots that have permeated this title for the past 30 years - the story remains a worthwhile if vaguely unsatisfying effort. The art similarly tries to recapture the techno-style of Jack Kirby and manages to compliment rather than distract from the story, but it won't fool you into thinking that the King has returned to pencil the book.

    2 out of 5 stars Very Poor writing..........2000-07-05

    I really did not care for Jurgen's Superman stories, his writing on Thor is not much better. Here he builds the story all the way up to what is supposed to be an explosive climax, and it falls flat in the last ten pages of the story. I really miss the days when Walt Simonson worked on Thor. He treated Thor like a mythological character. Something the current writer does not do.
    God in the Dark: Through Grief and Beyond
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • God in the Dark
    • This book connected me with some of my deepest emotions.
    God in the Dark: Through Grief and Beyond
    Luci Shaw
    Manufacturer: Zondervan
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
    Social Services & WelfareSocial Services & Welfare | Poverty | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
    Lung CancerLung Cancer | Cancer | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
    FaithFaith | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
    Internal MedicineInternal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books | Cardiology | Critical Care | Endocrinology & Metabolism | Gastroenterology | General | Hematology | Hepatology | Infectious Disease | Nephrology | Neurology | Oncology | Pulmonary | Rheumatology | Urology
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    4. Life Path: Personal And Spiritual Growth Through Journal Writing Life Path: Personal And Spiritual Growth Through Journal Writing
    5. Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation

    ASIN: 0310208904

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars God in the Dark.......2007-08-13

    "God in the Dark" was given to me 3 weeks after the death of my husband by a grief counselor. For 3 days I immersed myself in its contents and cried many tears on every page since it mirrored what my husband and I had experienced.The author is a superb writer. However, it was not until the second reading (several months later) that I found great value in the spiritual elements of this book. Her ability to see God at work in nature, and her expressive selections of poetry, spoke clearly to me that God continues to love and care for his children in all situations, even death of a loved one.

    5 out of 5 stars This book connected me with some of my deepest emotions........1998-05-18

    Luci's generosity in sharing the process of her grieving during the terminal illness and after the death of her husband can be a source of inspiration and encouragement, particularly for Christian people, who have experiences losses of their own. I would recommend it wholeheartedly, and I fervently hope that Zondervan will reprint it....It is definitely needed.

    Books:

    1. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    2. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    3. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    4. History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
    5. House of Lim, The: A Study of a Chinese Family
    6. Hyperion
    7. In Green's Jungles: The Second Volume of 'The Book of the Short Sun' (Book of the Short Sun)
    8. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Dover Thrift Editions)
    9. Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On: Trusting God in the Tough Times
    10. Kit's Wilderness (Readers Circle)

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