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.

Boating 101: Essential Lessons for Boaters

Average customer rating:

Nice Review but Not Enough Practical Information
Great book for those completely new to boating.
Great summary of what you REALLY need to know!
Not for small-medium power boats
Covers Everything

Boating 101: Essential Lessons for Boaters
Roger Siminoff
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071343296

Book Description

No boater should leave the dock without reading this unique guide to the basics of boating. Roger Siminoff's decades of experience are boiled down into valuable, even life-saving advice on safety aboard...navigation...anchoring...dinghies...maintenance... sailing at night...and heavy weather.

Customer Reviews:

Nice Review but Not Enough Practical Information.......2006-10-09

This book gives a reasonably good review about boating (but not about boat ownership, see below). It discusses things like safety, navigation, anchoring and docking. Much of it was based on larger sailboats although some of it does apply to boats of all sizes. I was disappointed at the illustrations and pictures that look like they date back to 1970. No color pictures.

But there was little practical advice about day to day boating, which was what I was looking for. Briefly, I wanted to know things like:
1. boat cleaning advice (what best to use)
2. when and how long to run bilge pump
3. tying knots
4. winter storage
5. basic Coast Guard regulations

So the book wasn't bad but was a bit disappointing for beginner boat owner.

Great book for those completely new to boating........2005-09-02

The title says it all...
It was easy to read and the author answers alot of questions you might be too embarrassed to ask.

Great summary of what you REALLY need to know!.......2002-09-11

You can wade through several 200+ page books and get some of the information contained in this one, but this book gives you what you really need to know (and the information is a lot easier to discern than from those big books). So many beginner's books don't really deal with what you have to know, such as docking, anchoring, rules of the road, reading a chart, use of the radio, heavy weather, etc. This is not a "how to sail book." But sailors, like all boaters, must know the knowledge of seamanship contained in this book to be safe and enjoy themselves and unfortunately many on the water do not. I've sailed for many years, have taken several classes, etc. and this is the book I recommend to everyone new to boating or for a review.

Not for small-medium power boats.......2002-05-26

Perhaps useful if you own a large sailboat, but not very relevant for a lake-bound 23' powerboat. Expected more diagrams.

Covers Everything.......2000-03-18

I took my wife and kids to Tortola this past winter, and bareboat charted a sail boat. I had read through many books on boating, but this one was by far the best. It gave me all the knowledge to enjoy my boating experience without getting into the usual trouble a amatuer would find themselves in. I would recommend this book to anyone, definatley worth the price

Average customer rating:

Adlard Coles' Heavy Weather Sailing
Peter Bruce
Manufacturer: Adlard Coles Nautical
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0713668679

Average customer rating:

an amazing book!
A Gripping Read
Could not put it down
Great story for sailors and non-sailors alike
At The Mercy of the Sea

At the Mercy of the Sea
John Kretschmer
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0071475079

Book Description

A “normal” Caribbean hurricane travels from east to west, but Lenny was anything but normal. Spawned south of Cuba in November 1999, this late-season storm defied all predictions by moving steadily east toward the Leeward Islands. Eventually building almost to Category 5 strength, Lenny squatted for two days between the Virgin Islands and St. Martin, whipping the ocean with 155 mile-per-hour winds and 60-foot seas.

In its path in the Anegada Passage were three sailboats and their unfortunate crews: La Vie en Rose, a 41-foot sloop captained by ex-army lieutenant colonel Carl Wake; English Braids, a tiny 21-foot racer skippered by would-be elite competitive sailor Steve Rigby; and Frederic-Anne, a 65-foot schooner rigged for day-sail charters out of St. Martin and skippered by ambitious young Guillaume Llobregat.

None of the men knew each other, yet they converged by fate in a tiny circle of the sea in the midst of a hellish storm no boat could withstand. And even as he battled for survival, Carl Wake lived the crowning hours of his life.

John Kretschmer's At the Mercy of the Sea retraces the journeys of these three sailors through life and across oceans. It is a taut, suspenseful re-creation that seeks to make sense of the improbable intersection of three lives at the height of a storm, and a gripping reconstruction of Carl Wake's search for meaning and, ultimately, for his soul.

Praise for At the Mercy of the Sea:

“The tale of Carl Wake and the hurricane that was waiting for him goes straight to the heart of the greatest sea stories: they are not about man against the sea, but man against himself. John Kretschmer's book is as perfectly shaped and flawlessly written as such a story can be. In addition to being the best depiction I have ever read of what it is like to be inside a hurricane at sea, At the Mercy of the Sea is as moving a story of a man's failure and redemption as can be found anywhere in the literature of the sea. This book is surely destined to become a classic.”—Peter Nichols, author, Sea Change and A Voyage for Madmen

“John Kretschmer is a first-class seaman who is also a fine writer. Once begun, his vivid and powerful narrative is impossible to put down.”—Derek Lundy, author, Godforsaken Sea and The Way of a Ship

“At the Mercy of the Sea kept me plunging ahead to the tragic end and left me feeling humbled and lucky to be alive. I felt I knew Carl Wake, because John Kretschmer found in him an archetype—an aging sailor with an age-old dream.”—Jim Carrier, transatlantic sailor and author, The Ship and the Storm: Hurricane Mitch and the Loss of the Fantome

“Gathering his tools as a loyal friend, a master mariner, and a natural storyteller, John Kretschmer has crafted an unforgettable tale of high-seas adventure, salvation, and loss. A remarkable book, impossible to put down.”—Herb McCormick, sailing journalist

“John Kretschmer’s account of three fellow captains whose lives converge in one of history’s most erratic hurricanes builds like the storm itself. Detail after detail reveals the sailors’ personal histories, their foibles, their goals, and finally their tragic miscalculations. With expert analysis and taut writing, he draws readers into that mad storm. You can’t turn away. You keep reading until it breaks your heart.”—Fred Grimm, columnist, Miami Herald

Customer Reviews:

an amazing book!.......2007-09-23

I just finished reading this book. It sat on my book shelf for a good while. I had forgotten about it. I picked it up today and never put it down.
I live on the island of St. Maarten. One of the sailors in this book was a resident here. I am familiar with the waters around here and I lived through Hurricane Lenny, so I was particularly interested in this book.
I was not prepared however for the intensity. I feel like I lived this tragedy with these sailors. This is a well written, well researched book and one highly personal for the author, who was a good friend of one of the sailors.
I highly recommend this book. It is well worth the read and if nothing else, it will make you appreciate the raw power of hurricanes and the sea.
My sympathies go out to all the families who lost their loved ones in this hurricane.

A Gripping Read.......2007-01-09

This is a well written and gripping tale of three sailboats caught in a Caribbean Hurricane. As their paths and stories converge, the tension gets tighter. We know how it ends, but finding out how it gets to that point keeps the reader from putting it down.

Could not put it down.......2006-12-29

This is a most excellent book which will sure become a sailing book classic. It tells the story how the paths of an American, an Australian, a Frenchman and a Brazilian in three different vessels crossed each other in the eyes of hurricane Lenny. With the insight of someone who seems to have lived their lives Kretschmer sketches us why they were sailing, what they loved about sailing, and why they were there when the hurricane struck.

The story is told by someone well-versed at sailing, but one who doesn't forget to explain the technical terms to newbies, but also does not bother experienced sailors with long explanations. It seems details have been researched painstakingly.

If you have ever dreamed about sailing the oceans, read this book.

Great story for sailors and non-sailors alike.......2006-10-27

Like the other reviewers, I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to mention that I believe this book will be a good read for both sailors and non-sailors. Kretschmer doesn't assume knowledge of sailing procedures and lingo. He does a good job of explaining sailing concepts so as not to lose readers with less exposure to the jargon of the sailing world. For experienced sailors, though, the description of what the various captains went through during their ordeals is gripping and informative.

Kretschmer does an especially good job of putting together the pieces of what likely transpired during the various stages of each of the captains' journeys. Based on limited facts, Kretschmer relies on his vast knowledge of sailing vessels, weather, Caribbean locations, and the human psyche to extrapolate not only what the captains did during their last fateful days, but also what they must have been thinking. Kretschmer shows where each of the captains made their mistake, and explains the probable reasons for their decisions. He neither glorifies, nor condemns, his subjects. He shows that they are human. In the case of his friend Carl, he recreates Carl's final great achievement and, by doing this, celebrates that greatness that lies in every person, but that so often remains dormant and unseen.

The fact that Kretschmer could bring all the individual pieces of these men's lives together into a cohesive, compelling story is, I think, the real achievement of this book.

At The Mercy of the Sea.......2006-10-24

This is not a sea story, but a story that takes place on the sea. It is a story of a man searching for meaning and relevance. It is about a man, who after spending his life chasing the American Dream, realizes that the American Dream only allows you to dream. So he sets off in search of something real. His reality proved to be a nightmare.

Before I finished the Prologue, I could tell that this was a story about me. In fact, it is a story about many men just like Carl, the lead character. Men of "quiet desperation" as Thoreau so aptly put it. And before I was halfway through the book, I knew that I was going to miss Carl, even though I had never met him.

The research was painstakingly detailed and accurate. The writing style was captivating. As I read, I felt the same exhaustion, frustration and fear as those that were in the hurricane. Like a movie watcher that knows danger lurks around the corner, I felt myself pleading with Carl to go east, just go east into the Atlantic and come back when its all over.

I got the book on a Wednesday and finished it on Thursday evening. I couldn't put it down. John Kretschmer has officially crossed over from story teller to serious writer. I look forward to what he will give us next.

Rough Weather Seamanship for Sail and Power : Design, Gear, and Tactics for Coastal and Offshore Waters

Average customer rating:

Informative and interesting

Rough Weather Seamanship for Sail and Power : Design, Gear, and Tactics for Coastal and Offshore Waters
Roger Marshall
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0071398708

Book Description

Written by an accomplished naval architect, this book shows the average boater how to safely weather the fiercest storm. Rough Weather Seamanship for Sail and Power arms readers with the knowledge they need to select and modify a boat for heavy weather; understand, track, and evade storm systems; and prepare for a storm in harbor, coastal waters, and offshore. It offers ocean-tested heavy-weather techniques for both sailboats and powerboats, practical advice on surviving worst-case scenarios, and decision-making exercises that can save lives.

Customer Reviews:

Informative and interesting.......2007-07-24

i was impressed by the author's depth of knowledge and the fact he didn't purport to be a pompous know it all. he cites other mariner's experiences to make his point, and to make it a more lively read. I keep my copy nearby as a reference. think seamanship.

Average customer rating:

Timeless classic
Defining the Parameters
If it's gonna blow...
Outstanding sailing book and manual for heavy weather
Personal history of worst storms in the English Channel

Heavy Weather Sailing
K. Adlard Coles , and Peter Bruce
Manufacturer: Mcgraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0070117322

Book Description

Now, for the first time in paperback, an all-time nautical classic-the standard work on seamanship under gale conditions. With more than 100,000 English-language copies and six translated editions, it has thrilled, sobered, and instructed sailors worldwide.

Customer Reviews:

Timeless classic.......2006-12-28

Must have information for everybody sailing off shore. Scientifically researched methods on heavy weather sailing and storm tactics. Great source of information.

Defining the Parameters.......2005-08-20

Having crossed the Atlantic on my own 22' years ago, I can tell you that having read this FIRST helped me (once I got over the fright) to prepare my boat so that I could "handle" the inevitable bad weather. If you can't handle this book and all it conjures up, then you have no business being on the high seas on a small boat.

If it's gonna blow..........2003-03-07

stay the hell out of the water! That's what I gained from reading this book.

He details his exploits and the exploits of others when encountering storm after storm during sailing yacht races.

Every chapter is an encounter with yet another storm. That can wear on you after a while. Sort of like being out all day in a strong cold wind. I felt beat up just reading about it.

At the begining of each chapter I kept finding myself willing him "Don't do it! You're going to regret it!" But, there are no surprises. He gets nailed every time. The only thing that amazes me is that he's still alive.

If that's the kind of book you like, you'll love this one. Me, I'm staying on shore.

Outstanding sailing book and manual for heavy weather.......1999-03-20

This is my favorite sailing book. It is not only an excellent manual for coping with heavy weather, but also an entertaining drama for armchair sailors. This book includes descriptions of actual experiences and technical supporting material and research, covering everything from boat design to weather to foul weather gear. Every sailor should read this boat before setting out offshore.

Personal history of worst storms in the English Channel.......1998-12-03

Crusty limey who sailed the the waters of the British Isles & North Atlantic. Visceral first-hand descriptions of small vessels through 50+ years of the foulest weather. Detailed storm tracks. Practical life-saving techniques with pro& con discussions. This is the book that makes "Perfect Storm" look like an afternoon squall.

Sailors' Secrets: Advice from the Masters

Average customer rating:

five years equals five stars
Excellent tips for novice or experienced sailor
GREAT for the inquiring sailor

Sailors' Secrets: Advice from the Masters
Mike Badham , and Robby Robinson
Manufacturer: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0070390886

Book Description

With pithy, often iconoclastic advice on all aspects of seamanship and boat maintenance, Badham and Robinson have distilled in this book the seagoing experience of hundreds of the world's sailing experts. The result is the nautical equivalent of an experts' forum, including instructive and sometimes humorous and sometimes biting advice on: boat maintenance; understanding weather; safety at sea and storm strategies; gear and outfitting; sailing well; piloting; engine troubleshooting; simple solutions to complex problems. From Meade Gougeon on maintaing your boat to Buddy Melges on sailing it well, Walter Greene on taking it to sea, and Steve Callahan on coming home again, the insights shared here were developed over millions of sea miles.

Customer Reviews:

five years equals five stars.......2000-11-22

I cannot tell a lie. Along with Michael Badham, I wrote SAILORS' SECRETS. Aside from learning the tricky placement of the apostrophe (for "sailors'" to make it plural) in the title, the toughest part was "what to put in and what to leave out" after five years. We went after under-known gems of wisdom and expertise from sailors who had been there. We got them, by the boatload. It's a bit hard to use the index and/or the table of contents diasl up a particular reference. Maybe that's because, after five years of interviewing sailors, assembling biographies, doing illustrations, collecting permissions, and organizing the work into "commandments," for the average guy, I (we) found it hard to pour still more time into refining and cross-referencing our opus. Other than that , however, SAILORS'SECRETS has stood the test of thousands of readers and the passage of another five years with superior results and reviews. Trendy as sailing can be, our book hits the basics of racing, cruising and boat owning that aren't likely to go out of date.

Excellent tips for novice or experienced sailor.......1998-11-18

I thought I knew a lot about sailing but this book is so jam packed with good ideas and tips that I've read it from cover to cover. The style is simple and the range of ideas comprehensive. If you have a sailor in your life, this is an excellent present.

GREAT for the inquiring sailor.......1998-07-08

This book povided us with many helpful sujestions and ideas on various subjects. It is great for the new-commer to sailing AND the experianced sailor. Recomended to anyone who is willing to improve!

Average customer rating:

A harrowing visit to Tornado Alley
Not Free SF Reader
Fun eco-cyberpunk
Not a future to look forward to
hack this storm

Heavy Weather
Bruce Sterling
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 055357292X
Release Date: 1995-12-01

Amazon.com

Why hack computers when you can hack nature? Sterling's Storm Troupe lives in a post-greenhouse world ravaged by monster storms and finds itself hacking the ultimate storm: the F-6 tornado. No one in the Troupe, not even it's brilliant, driven leader, guesses the real nature of the F-6 or the shadowy forces unleashed in its twisting fury. Not until it is too late...

Book Description

Bruce Sterling, one of the founding fathers of the cyberpunk genre, now presents a novel of vivid imagination and invention that proves his talent for creating brilliant speculative fiction is sharper than ever. Forty years from now, Earth's climate has been drastically changed by the greenhouse effect. Tornadoes of almost unimaginable force roam the open spaces of Texas. And on their trail are the Storm Troupers: a ragtag band of computer experts and atmospheric scientists who live to hack heavy weather -- to document it and spread the information as far as the digital networks will stretch, using virtual reality to explore the eye of the storm. Although it's incredibly addictive, this is no game. The Troupers' computer models suggest that soon an "F-6" will strike -- a tornado of an intensity that exceeds any existing scale; a storm so devastating that it may never stop. And they're going to be there when all hell breaks loose.

Customer Reviews:

A harrowing visit to Tornado Alley.......2007-09-07

The year is 2030, and the world is in a state of political, economic, social and environmental chaos. Things have literally fallen apart. Everything is for sale, and life is cheap.

Some choose to retreat into hacking or drugs, or sit in front of the television absorbing manipulated news and information. Others, like Dr. Jerry Mulcahey, lose themselves in the pursuit of knowledge. Mulcahey, who has dedicated his life to the study of weather, is chasing the ultimate storm--the F-6 tornado. If his theories are correct, an F-6 would contain enough energy to make an atomic bomb look like a firecracker.

Assisting him in his work is a rag-tag group of disciples, collectively known as The Storm Troupe. Together, they watch the skies over America's Tornado Alley, waiting for the cataclysm to take shape. The Troupe itself is watched by weather groupies and opportunists, and by members of a shadow government, who wait for the storm to pursue their own agendas.

Sterling tells a great story with vivid and memorable characters. His vision of the future will enthrall, disturb and entertain you at the same time. While all this may sound familiar in the advent of the movie Twister, remember, Sterling got there first, and did a much better job with the material.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A story about a team of storm chases, and their dictatorial, totally
obsessed leader, and their struggles to survive and make a living.

Also of interest is that in this society commercial banks are
extinct dinosaurs, as a system for person to person encrypted,
government and corporate proof financial transactions has been
invented, totally cutting out the middle man and law enforcement in
general from tracing money.

Fun eco-cyberpunk.......2007-06-08

I enjoyed reading this book. A lot. There were a few glitches, like a mysterious creepy subplot that doesn't really explain or resolve itself. Perhaps these were just anti-linear story techniques or something. But generally the book is well written, the characters are interesting, and the mix of ideas is one I have not found elsewhere. I hope to see more writers pursue this direction.

Maybe I've got some major blind spot, but I haven't seen apocalyptic, dystopian, cyberpunk type science fiction seriously or centrally address climate change - which this book does, in an appropriately pessimistic, cynical, but still entertaining way. Interesting thoughts on the collapse of standard currencies, militarization of police and civilian life, treatment-resistant diseases, and so on. Fun stuff.

Not a future to look forward to.......2006-08-27

Bruce is one of those Texas SF authors I've seen and heard at Cons since the late 1970s. His style in public has always been to hold forth and fulminate, which can make for interesting and invigorating policy discussions but which sometimes get in the way of his fiction-writing. But he's pretty much gotten it right with this one. It's set in the 2030s, in the aftermath of several worldwide eco-economic disasters, most involving the total loss of water in places like West Texas and Oklahoma, without which they have become real deserts. In the foreground of the story is the Storm Troupe ("Storm Troupers," get it?), a dozen-odd tornado-chasers led by Jerry, a highly charismatic mathematician cum atmospheric physicist who, after hundreds of hours in VR simulations, is predicting an F-6 storm a whole order of magnitude beyond anything we've ever seen. Jerry is also in a deep relationship with a young woman whose brother, Alex, an intermittent invalid, is one of the most interesting characters I've seen in quite a while. Sterling is in his element here, bombarding the reader with techno-jargon from several disparate disciplines while describing in detail the handbasket the world has gone to hell in. High adventure of the geeky variety.

hack this storm.......2005-09-24

Weather challenged everyone before the 20th century: if you lived in Kansas, how did you know what weather was coming toward you over the plains? Naturalists developed anemometers, wind vanes, barometers, rain gauges, and thermometers to collect measurements over time of the weather at particular locations. In the early 19th century, statisticians sought to interpolate among enormous numbers of measurements of wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature, barometric pressure, and rainfall to figure out what the atmosphere plans for us in terms of weather. Only when we distributed accurate clocks along railroad routes could meteorologists integrate this data into weather maps that showed the development and decay of weather systems over time and geographic space. In the 20th century, with aircraft, more complex statistics, and computers, we developed measurements and models of weather systems in 3-dimensions. (See, for example, James Fleming's Meteorology in America.)

The protagonists of Heavy Weather use nothing as handy as a thermometer, but rather a combination of modern and futurist tools, most of which require developing a personal knack to master. In addition to supplying a story, the extreme weather of the southern plains also serves as a metaphor for stormy relationships and the battle that one protagonist, Alex, wages with his own body, whose mysterious debility has seemed to control his life's purpose until he chooses to focus on helping his sister's troupe of roving weather hackers to understand the region. Medicine employs instruments much like those used to measure weather, but that reduce Alex's body to a mapped system that then does not respond to therapies as doctors project.

This is a complex book, gratifyingly over the top in areas, and mundane in some aspects of character development. Sterling's novels show that he is intent on examining basic interpersonal relationships, such as parent-child, lovers, siblings, colleagues, and civil society in extreme settings. As with all his books, his protagonists are heroes who are less than heroes, sometimes improbably sweet or strong.

In light of the mysterious, powerful weather on the U.S. Gulf Coast this fall, I especially recommend this book. As I listen on the radio and TV to the reasons that the public and officials give for not acting appropriately in the face of enormous risk, I think about the 500-year transition much of the world has made away from a mystical and toward a science-based understanding of "why things happen." Clearly, the science of hurricanes has not been heard by many of those who are most at risk of losing life and property, as well as by many of those most favored by position or education and bearing an enormous responsibility, as experts, to act to promote public safety.

Four stars only because I wish this Sterling book were longer, with more development of his settings and technologies. It might be a characteristic of the cyberpunk label that intriguing terms get plopped in the text with little explication, their meaning derived from narrative context. However, many of these terms stick like burrs and travel with me into conversations; they are very pithy. I can't complete the metaphor of comparing extreme weather to the characters because that would give away too much. Suffice it to say that there's an end to every storm.

Heavy Weather Tactics Using Sea Anchors and Drogues, Second Edition

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Better than the last one

Heavy Weather Tactics Using Sea Anchors and Drogues, Second Edition
Earl R. Hinz
Manufacturer: Paradise Cay Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Instructional | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0939837609

Book Description

Anyone sailing a yacht or a motor vessel out of the sight of land needs to be prepared for the worst that the weather can throw at them. Just as self-steering systems and autopilots have given the offshore seaman another pair of hands to steer the boat, so sea anchors and drogues have provided another means of handling threatening seas. Heavy Weather Tactics: Using Sea Anchors & Drogues is a classic; the last word on a subject of very great concern to leisure boaters and professional seamen alike, providing the reader with in-depth advice and analysis about:

• How deep water and coastal waves behave
• How to deploy a sea anchor or drogue, and how it works
• Different designs and their merits
• What size of drag device is needed for a yacht, multihull, motorboat, fishing boat or working craft
• Sea anchors for life rafts
• How to make a makeshift sea anchor from whatever is at hand

This is the most detailed study available of a highly effective strategy for dealing with severe weather. Anyone putting to sea in a yacht or power driven vessel should carry a copy on board.

Customer Reviews:

Better than the last one.......2007-02-16

I continue to be a Buffett fan, even through his attempts to vary his music and style. His last CD, The Far Side of the World left a lot to be desired from classic Buffett fans. This CD is much better as it recaptures some of the island flavor that we all buy Buffetts stuff for. I don't want to hear Jimmy do rap or sing the blues, I buy Buffett to hear the calypso poet sing about boats, beaches and tropical islands.

The Blandings Omnibus (Something Fresh Summer Lightning & Heavy Weather)

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The Blandings Omnibus (Something Fresh Summer Lightning & Heavy Weather)
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Hutchinson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0091792355

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