Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 (Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born)

Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 (Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born)
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The Dark Tower #2

The Dark Tower Comic 2

Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 (Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born)
Robin Furth , and Peter David
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: B000NUQWWC

Product Description

Roland has incurred the wrath of the evil sorcerer Marten, and must flee his home in Gilead with two of his young friends. But arriving in the supposedly friendly town of Hambry may be no safer, for the dreaded agents of Marten are abroad The Coffin Hunters! Though its not all completely bleak as Roland meets the woman who will become the love of his young life the beautiful Susan Delgado. Plus: Learn more about the land of the Dark Tower with exclusive bonus material!

Customer Reviews:

The Dark Tower #2.......2007-09-15

I'm giving the same review to all the comics in this series. It's too bad that King's epoch is so monumental that this comic serialization represents only a miniscule slice but for an abridgement it is excellent and,in my opinion, they've chosen the best segment. The writing is good, the art work alone is worth the purchase of the series. The insightful essays following each segment were enlightening. The down side was the back-slapping, self-gratification-fest that ended each book. If I felt any need to know how talented each of the contributers felt the others in the group were I'd go on the internet and look it up. I'm paying for a book, not an awards dinner. bg

The Dark Tower Comic 2.......2007-04-24

This was such a cool idea, and the artwork is awesome, but I have one problem with it. I kind of feel slighted that these comics are telling the story of the 4th book. I know that the title is Gunslinger Born but I still really want to get more of the story. Maybe it could have discussed what happened between the events of the 4th and the 1st novel. I was hoping there would be more story to the Dark Tower world, and, as a Tower junkie, I was a little let down.

That said, however, the comic book looks awesome and I can't wait to keep reading.

Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

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Love Triangle is Getting Tired--Put it to rest
same ole story
A Winner for the Plum Series!
lean,mean 13
For Pete's sake

Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)
Janet Evanovich
Manufacturer: Audio Renaissance
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1427201188
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Book Description

From coast to coast and around the world, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels continue to make bestselling history each summer. Her legions of fans catapult her books to the top of every list, from the New York Times, to USA Today; from the Wall Street Journal, to Entertainment Weekly, and Publishers Weekly. In the thirteenth book in the series, the stakes are raised even higher as Stephanie Plum finds herself in her most dangerous, hilarious and hottest chase yet. With her loveably offbeat family along for the ride (as well as a few new faces), there's no doubt that the Stephanie Plum novels put the 'fun' in dysfunctional, and it's clear to see why they're called 'Hot Stuff' by the New York Times and why Evanovich herself is called 'the master.'

Customer Reviews:

Love Triangle is Getting Tired--Put it to rest.......2007-10-08

The love triangle aspect of these stories is getting tired in my opinion. The humor is not as sharp anymore and with 13 books already published, I begin to wonder how fresh and witty the characters can remain over time? I hate to say this, but I think it's time to put the Stephanie Plum series to rest. The author needs to move on and begin something new and different.

same ole story.......2007-10-07

I confess I have been a cupcake since book one. So as Janet has put Morelli on the back burner, domesticated him, emasculated him and increased Ranger's mystique, wealth etc. I have been very disappointed. This love triangle is boring plus dishonest. Stephanie was less of a s...(rhymes with "butt") in this one. But she professes love for Morelli while having an emotional and sometimes physical affair with Ranger. I have no respect for Stephanie plus she's incompetent. The jokes are old, the situations are old, the series is tired and needs to end. I've heard that Janet will end the series with two books: one for the cupcakes and one for the babes. I cannot imagine more of the same. Ugh. The first 6 books were the best.

A Winner for the Plum Series!.......2007-10-05

I thought that "Lean Mean Thirteen" by Janet Evanovich was just a super winner for the Plumb series. She is one of my favorite writers and she has never disappointed me. Yes, there were some weak stories in the series, but overall Janet has been a real consistent writer and this book for me is no exception. The characters come alive in this story and the invigorating Stephanie keeps giving me one stimulating action packed adventure that is mixed with humor and intrigue. There are numerous excellent reviews, so I won't go into anymore detail about the story except to tell you that Ranger and Joe made the cut. A great read for the series.

Looking for a stunning Women's Fiction then check out Gathering of Cans by Robert L. Saunders. Zoie Baker, 55 is the heroine, and she feels right down to her bones that can build a swimming pool for her town by gathering aluminum cans. On this quest she stumbles on unique, cans. i.e., Nehi, Mountain Dew, etc., that sends the reader on a wondrous journey into Zoie's life. The Gold Bud can travels back to 1944 during World War II and Zoie meets Nat at the USO club. Each can delivers a fascinating story and all the characters return for a triumphal ending. Believe me this author delivers a spellbinding story with his silky and smooth prose. A fantastic story, believe me you won't be disappointed! Bye.

lean,mean 13.......2007-10-03

Great book, as always. One of those you want to go on and on and never end.
I don't get tired of the Stephanie Plum books. I always look forward to lunch time so I can read more of the book.

For Pete's sake.......2007-10-01

Can we please stop the love triangle already? Even though Stephanie is less of a s___ (rhymes with "butt") in this one, it still is a bit too "romantic novel" to me.
I gave two stars (and would have given .5 more) for the introduction of the taxidermist.
What really chaps my hide is that she has made Morelli into a lapdog and I think she did it only so she could justify Stephanie's obsession with Ranger. I think Ms Evanovich should create a nice female character for Morelli that he can marry and boot Stephanie to the curb.
The plot was thin and the characters old and stale.
Although it was better than #12. I will give her that.
Ms Evanovich, I don't mind waiting awhile for a GOOD book if you need the time to write it.

Average customer rating:

Riveting!
An Excruciating Effort in Tedium
Abundance- A Story of Marie Antoinette
Mindless Drivel
Descriptive and Beautiful writing

Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette
Sena Jeter Naslund
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel

ASIN: 0060825391
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

"Like everyone, I am born naked."

With this opening line of Naslund's compelling new novel, a very human Marie Antoinette invites readers to live her story as she herself experiences it. From the lush gardens of Versailles to the lights and gaiety of Paris, the verdant countryside of France, and finally the stark and terrifying isolation of a prison cell, the young queen's life is joyful, poignant, and harrowing by turns. As her world of unprecedented royal splendor crumbles, the charming Marie Antoinette matures into a heroine of inspiring stature, one whose nobility arises not from the circumstance of her birth but from her courageous spirit.

Marie Antoinette was a child of fourteen when her mother, the Empress of Austria, arranged for her to leave her family and her country to become the wife of the fifteen-year-old Dauphin, the future King of France. Coming of age in the most public of arenas, the young queen embraces her new family and the French people, and she is embraced in return. Eager to be a good wife and strong queen, she shows her new husband nothing but love and encouragement, though he repeatedly fails to consummate their marriage and in doing so, fails to give her the thing she—and the people of France—desire most: a child and an heir to the throne.

Deeply disappointed and isolated in her own intimate circle apart from the social life of the court, the queen allows herself to remain ignorant of the country's growing economic and political crises. She entrusts her soul to her women friends, her music teacher, her hairdresser, the ambassador from Austria, and a certain Swedish count so handsome that admirers label him "the Picture." When her innocent and well-chaperoned pilgrimage to watch the sun rise is viciously misrepresented in satiric pamphlets as a drunken orgy, the people begin to turn against her. Poor harvests, bitter winters, war debts, and poverty precipitate rebellion and revenge as the royal family and many nobles are caught up in a murderous time known as "the Terror."

With penetrant insight into new historical scholarship and with wondrous narrative skill, Naslund offers an intimate, fresh, and dramatic re-creation of this compelling woman that goes beyond popular myth. Abundance reveals a compassionate and spontaneous Marie Antoinette who rejected the formality and rigid protocol of the court; an enchanting and tenderhearted outsider who was loved by her adopted homeland and people until she became the target of revolutionary cruelty and violence; a dethroned queen whose depth of character sustained her in even the worst of times.

Once again, Sena Jeter Naslund has shed new light on an important moment of historical change and made that time as real to us as the one we are living now. Exquisitely detailed, beautifully written, heartbreaking and powerful, Abundance is a novel that is impossible to put down.

Customer Reviews:

Riveting!.......2007-10-09

I am an avid reader, and I love all Seda's books. Abundance had me hooked from the first line to the last. Beautifully written, each word was delicious! I couldn't put it down. I read Ahab's Wife with the same feeling of relief that there are still writers willing to seduce the reader with glorious words. I can hardly wait for more.

An Excruciating Effort in Tedium.......2007-10-03

How is it possible that there can be such diverse opinions on one book? It must be the reader...

And let me be the first to say that I am a very harsh critic. I don't adore everything I read and what satisfies me most is when an author gives the reader insight into a character's emotions.

Although Sena Jeter Naslund constructs beautiful sentences throughout this fictionalization of the life of Marie Antoinette she's certainly no storyteller.

I found this novel to be exactly how I remember history class, beyond boring. There is no life in these historical figures, the story is told only through the unfolding of historical facts. And it is a painfully long, 545 pages. My only pleasure is that I borrowed it from the library rather than wasting my money on a copy of my own.

If you are looking for a novelization of the life of Marie Antoinette, I would recommend The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson.
While you would have to suspend belief that such an account could exist, a hidden diary that details her life for nearly twenty years, you will be rewarded with insights into her heart and the deep feelings she has for her family and the people she loves.

Abundance- A Story of Marie Antoinette.......2007-09-21

This was an excellent read! There is evidence of lots of research in the retelling of the story. It begins when Marie is fourteen and on her way to marry Prince Louis. Through actual letters written to her mother in Austria, you are told about her inner feelings and frustration at not having her marriage consumated! It brings the French Revolution to life. You are able to see all the squandor, the poverty, the grandour, the arts, hear the music and smell the city. If you enjoy Historical Fiction, put this book on your list.

Mindless Drivel.......2007-07-31

Ms. Naslund has done the impossible - she's made Marie Antoinette boring! She is portrayed as floating aimlessly through her life while thinking kindly, flowery thoughts about everything from her handkerchief (which has too much lace and not enough fabric to blow her nose on) to her little plum colored shoes (that served her so well.) I promise you, when Marie Anotinette was standing on the scaffold, she was NOT trying to decide if the color of light is "more silvery or gold". By the end of this book I was ready to put my own head in the guillotine just to stop the pain.

If you want exceptional research and well-written biography, read Antonia Fraser's "Marie Antoinette: The Journey". If you want page-turning historical fiction, try Victoria Holt's "The Queen's Confessions".

Descriptive and Beautiful writing.......2007-07-18

I just wanted to leave a note that I absolutely love this story, and recommend it to anyone intrigued by Marie Antionette and anyone who loves incredibly descriptive writing. I wish I wasn't almost done with it!

Average customer rating:

King Blazes Old Trails
A Blaze from the past
A good melodrama
Blaze, we hardly knew ye
I like this book.

Blaze: A Novel
Richard Bachman
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born

ASIN: 141655484X
Release Date: 2007-06-12

Book Description

The last of the Richard Bachman novels, recently recovered and published for the first time. Stephen King's "dark half" may have saved the best for last.

A fellow named Richard Bachman wrote Blaze in 1973 on an Olivetti typewriter, then turned the machine over to Stephen King, who used it to write Carrie. Bachman died in 1985 ("cancer of the pseudonym"), but in late 2006 King found the original typescript of Blaze among his papers at the University of Maine's Fogler Library ("How did this get here?!"), and decided that with a little revision it ought to be published.

Blaze is the story of Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. -- of the crimes committed against him and the crimes he commits, including his last, the kidnapping of a baby heir worth millions. Blaze has been a slow thinker since childhood, when his father threw him down the stairs -- and then threw him down again. After escaping an abusive institution for boys when he was a teenager, Blaze hooks up with George, a seasoned criminal who thinks he has all the answers. But then George is killed, and Blaze, though haunted by his partner, is on his own.

He becomes one of the most sympathetic criminals in all of literature. This is a crime story of surprising strength and sadness, with a suspenseful current sustained by the classic workings of fate and character -- as taut and riveting as Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

Customer Reviews:

King Blazes Old Trails.......2007-10-10

King (aka Bachman) agains provides a masterful tale. With King, the story, not the ending, is the focus (the joy is in the journey not the destination). Blaze is no different. It is wonderfully told and then just sort of ends. While not a "traditional" horror story, Blaze has a nice rough edge to it that will satisfy both mystery and horror story lovers.

A Blaze from the past.......2007-10-08

Blaze is a man whose appearance and intelligence were forever altered during his childhood by a violent and drunken father. Although a gentle and tender man, Blaze is a con artist, mostly due to the influence of George, a swindler, and someone he admires and trusts. George's death does not alter Blaze's dependence on George. He continues to hear George's voice instructing him to complete a con that they had discussed prior to George's death. Kidnapping for ransom is the idea, but, when Blaze falls in love with his tiny victim, the scenario changes.

Once again, King creates characters we care about. Even the tiny baby has a vivid personality! Settings are clear and alive, brimming with action. Although I don't consider this to be as good as King's more recent novels, I am glad he revived Blaze. The little twist at the ending of the story is unforgettable.

A good melodrama.......2007-10-04

In "Blaze", a hulking criminal drifter nicknamed Blaze follows through on his late partner's plan of kidnapping the son of a very wealthy couple for the ransom. Blaze is very mentally challenged thanks to his father's beatings so he makes mistakes that quickly put the police on to his trail. He is, however, bright enough to keep the child safe and develop a bond with the tyke. Oh, there is one other bit of troubling news; Blaze still talks to his dead partner, George.

Everyone in the world knows by now that Richard Bachman is actually Stephen King. He pulls Bachman out when he wants to write a Jim Thompson style crime thriller or something else that would be outside the norm for Stephen King. "Blaze" is a novel that has been around for awhile. King always felt it just wasn't good enough so it was never published before now. Now, however, he finds it may be interesting as nostalgia, and it is. It's also interesting to see King developing his early skills.

As a story it is Ok, a reworking of the Lindbergh kidnapping by way of "Of Mice and Men". If you're expecting something along the lines of "The Shining" or "Pet Semetary" than this isn't for you. It is a study of a basiclly good person driven to the unspeakable by the horrors of parental abuse and the neglect of the state orphanage system.

As a character I guess Blaze dose OK, I liked him and, although the conclusion is a predictable, he is still a likeable loser, even if he isn't the huggable kind. He has a violent temper that is best not to arouse. Aside from him there really isn't any other characters. There is George (a bully who could control Blaze) that is refered to constantly, but he is a figment of Blaze's imagination. There is John from the orphanage, and he is also likable. One wished better for him.

It is a good book, but more of a curiosity than anything else.

Blaze, we hardly knew ye.......2007-10-04

I truly wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. This is probably the first Stephen King book in years where I wasn't aware of its existence until I received it in the mail. With such little fanfare, I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this at all but was surprised to find that not only did I enjoy it very much, it was actually quite moving.

Definitely worth a read as the story of Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell Jr. was a very simple, yet touching tale of a dim-witted grunt of a man who decides to follow through with a kidnapping plot that his deceased partner began to set up with him before his death. What follows is an intensely readable tale that ends just like you might think it will but leaves you satisfied.

I'd recommend this book to any King fan and anyone who is curious about King's more grounded, less fantastical side.

I like this book........2007-09-07

I finished this book this morning and I must say, it was good. This is reportedly the last book that will be written under the Richard Bachman pseudonym. Stephen King King did a good job on the revision of this story. I would recommend this to all king fans.

Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born

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Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born
Peter David , Stephen King , and Robin Furth
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Darkest Evening of the Year

ASIN: 0785121447
Release Date: 2007-11-07

Book Description

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." With those words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King's Roland - an implacable gunslinger in search of the enigmatic Dark Tower, powering his way through a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic. Now, in a comic book personally overseen by King himself, Roland's past is revealed! Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by long-time Stephen King expert Robin Furth (author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance) and scripted by New York Times bestseller Peter David, this series delves in depth into Roland's origins - the perfect introduction to this incredibly realized world; while long-time fans will thrill to adventures merely hinted at in the novels. Be there for the very beginning of a modern classic of fantasy literature! Collects Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #1-7.

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Recommended
A Fool No More
How can I like this more than Philippa Gregory's Boleyn stories??
The Queen's Fool: A novel
WONDERFUL

The Queen's Fool: A Novel
Philippa Gregory
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743246071

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A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love.

It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of "Sight," the ability to foresee the future, is priceless in the troubled times

of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward's protector, who brings her to court as a "holy fool" for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up in her own yearnings and desires.

Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen's Fool is another rich and emotionally resonant gem from this wonderful storyteller.

Customer Reviews:

Recommended.......2007-09-14

This is the first Philippa Gregory novel I've read, and I chose this one because of the slight fantasy of the main character's "sight" that she uses to foretell events. This aspect I would have enjoyed had the author used it more; however, then it would be even more of a fantasy than historical fiction. Regardless, the story held my interest and I liked the characters.

A Fool No More.......2007-08-27

Another drama of the Tudors by Philippa Gregory. I enjoyed this one more than "The Other Boleyn Girl" because the main character had spunk and independence, unusual for a girl in those days. Although a vassal to a Lord with his own agenda, she developed a deep love for Queen Mary and was a loyal friend to her through all her suffering. For the first time, I got a clear picture of the conflict between Mary and Elizabeth before and after the death of their young brother the King. Both made huge mistakes but were strong women to be reckoned with. Hannah serves both but is still her own woman. Very exciting events unfold as the balance of power shifts back and forth between these two woman and their supporters. Adding to the drama is the fact that Hannah and her family are Jews passing as Christians during a time when heretics were burned at the stake.

How can I like this more than Philippa Gregory's Boleyn stories??.......2007-08-07

I don't know how it's possible that I liked "The Queen's Fool" even more than "The Other Boleyn Girl", and "The Boleyn Inheritance" which I loved. I think it's partially the addition of Hannah Green the young jewish girl escaping the Spanish Inquisition and becoming the Queen's Fool, telling the story. Having Hannah tell the story introduces how great an effect all the european countries and their politics have on other European countries.

I am sure it is also the fact that these stories build on each other, with characters whose families and circumstances are already familiar from the book before. I encourage you to read in sequence - and I encourage you to READ these stories and learn some history. Even if it is couched in some fiction, you still learn and this way is so much more fun. My friends are now as hooked as I am -- this many people can't all be wrong.

The Queen's Fool: A novel.......2007-08-02

Intriguing! Great descriptions of the Tudor court in a suspense filled, exciting time in history. Had me hooked.

WONDERFUL.......2007-07-19

Ms. Gregory's The Queen's Fool is as beautifully written as her other historical fiction novels. We continue the story of the Tudor line in England, but instead of being guided through a queen's view or a princess's view, we read through the eyes of Hannah the Fool. Hannah is a wonderful character who grows from an apprentice tomboy to a desirable woman. We pick up the story from Henry VIII's last wife to see his son, Edward IV, on the throne. Edward, ruled through the Duke of Northumberland, dies and the throne is shoved into the hands of Jane Grey (Northumberland's relation). The victory is short-lived, because Mary (Henry VIII's first and only child with Katharine of Aragon) raises an army to fight for her as Queen. Though she wins, it is not long before her sister, Princess Elizabeth (Henry VIII's first and only child with Anne Boleyn), conspires to take the throne. Hannah is thrown in between the half-sisters and must use her Sight as a gift to help both women. The story line is filled with historical fact, tweaked enough to give a well rounded account of The reign of Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. WONDERFUL!

The Adventures of Tintin: The Broken Ear / The Black Island / King Ottokar's Sceptre (3 Complete Adventures in 1 Volume, Vol. 2)

Average customer rating:

Little disappointing
San Theodoros, Britain, Syldavia
Immature Mother
A rich part of this bilingual Canadian's heritage
A trio of solid Tintin adventures from the late 1930s

The Adventures of Tintin: The Broken Ear / The Black Island / King Ottokar's Sceptre (3 Complete Adventures in 1 Volume, Vol. 2)
Herge
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316359424

Customer Reviews:

Little disappointing.......2007-02-07

The quality of the printing is far from perfect. It smooches on several pages.Also, I read the French version first and the English one is, in my opinion, rather lame. A lot of work would need to be done to improve it.

San Theodoros, Britain, Syldavia.......2006-11-17

"The Adventures of Tintin: Volume 2" contains three more adventure comics by Herge, in a handy sized hardcover book. Here, we get "The Broken Ear" (1937), an adventure in a civil-war torn part of South America, "The Black Island" (1938) a chase through Britain, and "King Ottokar's Sceptre" (1939), featuring a plot against a "Syldavian" king. A few well known Tintin characters first appear in these stories. General Alcazar first appears in "The Broken Ear", Dr Muller appears in "The Black Island" and Bianca Castifiore sings her first song to Tintin in "King Ottokar's Sceptere". They're all exciting, intriguing adventures, my favorite in this bunch being "The Black Island", mainly for the chase sequences and the island's "beast".

The text and pictures are a little smaller, but it's easy enough to read, and the detail of the pictures is maintained. It's really great value too. Here on amazon you could buy two or three of these for one normal sized hardcover Tintin. That's 5-8 more adventures for the same price!

Definitely worth picking up if you're interested.

Immature Mother.......2006-11-10

I've always enjoyed reading the Adventures of Tintin. The 3-in-1 hardcover books are good on the budget but the dimensions are smaller than the individual paperback books. Some of the storylines are a little dated and the jokes do get somewhat repetative. The later stories tend to get "silly" with characters falling down and running into things more often than the older stories but I think that's what made my 9 year old daughter enjoy them since she doesn't really follow the stories very well. If you like Tintin, you'll want to buy all of the books and you will reread them.

A rich part of this bilingual Canadian's heritage.......2006-09-09

Volume 2: The Broken Ear (1937), The Black Island (1938), King Ottokar's Sceptre (1942). This is the second instalment of my reviews of each of the seven volumes.

The famous slogan, "for young readers 7 to 77", already validated by the previous three adventures, is further endorsed by what follows.

The Broken Ear takes us to the Amazon, in South America of course, where we meet the Arumbaya Indians, General Alcazar, and, well, just read it. I don't want to give spoilers. This adventure is another outstanding one, and very well translated. In the English version, the Indians' talk, apparently in some mysterious language, is understandable if read out loud. Already five continents visited in four stories!

The Black Island, which takes place in England and especially Scotland, is not up to the usual Tintin standards (one central theme is revisited and far better handled in a later adventure), but a Tintinophile would certainly not want to miss it.

King Ottokar's Sceptre, however, is a magnificent creation. We meet the Castafiore (= "chaste flower") for the first time, a soprano with an ego that would make Callas suffocate, the only major female character in the entire series, and a truly amazing personage. But the real achievement is the creation of an entire fictional kingdom (Syldavia, and a rival neighbouring nation, Borduria, also fictional) with a `reproduction' of a tapestry giving its history, and an adventure that would be meaningless without it. This is a huge achievement for a 62-page children's comic book.

A trio of solid Tintin adventures from the late 1930s.......2005-09-09

Volume 2 of "The Adventures of Tintin" brings together a trio of stories by Hergé from the late 1930s, right before World War II. This is noteworthy because at this point Hergé is refining his attention to cultural detail in these stories, but also starting to get more fanciful and away from what is happening in the real world. You will still find allegorical elements in these stories, but none of the events ripped from the headlines that you saw in previous tales such as "The Blue Lotus."

"The Broken Ear" is from 1937 as our hero and his faithful companion Snowy go it alone through a series of perilous episodes, although there are brief appearances by the Thom(p)sons and Professor Calculus. The title defect belongs to an Arumbaya Fetish at the Museum of Ethnography which is stolen and then mysteriously returned. When Tintin notices the sacred tribal object now has two perfect ears and our hero is quickly in full Sherlock Holmes mode. However, Tintin is not the only one in search of the real fetish as his path starts crossing that of a pair of mysterious figures. After a series of incidents involving the search for a talking parrot, everyone finds themselves on a ship bound South American way for the Republic of San Theodoros, which happens to be where the Arumbaya tribe lives along the banks of the River Coliflor. There Tintin becomes involved in the political turmoil of San Theodoros and eventually gets around to traveling up the jungle river to find the Arumbayas. Meanwhile, poor Snowy finds that his tail becomes a sore point time and time again. In "The Broken Ear" the mystery takes something of a back seat to the repeated perils faced by Tintin. I went back and counted them up and on average Tintin faces death or severe physical harm once every three pages in this 64-page story, which might be a record for our intrepid reporter.

For the most part I do not like the early Tintin adventures where there is a lot of slapstick and every other page our intrepid reporter hero is either holding a gun or having somebody hold a gun on him as much as the latter adventures. However, "The Black Island" is certainly the epitome of this type of Tintin adventure and Hergé really pours it on pretty much from start to finish. This might be slapstick but it is nonstop slapstick from Tintin trying to stop the Thom(p)sons from arresting him to Snowy getting the better of a gorilla (but not a spider). Tintin might end up unconscious more often in this story than all of his other adventures combined. The beginning is simple enough as Tintin sees a plane land with engine trouble. Noticing it is an unregistered plane he offers to help and is immediately shot (do not worry, the bullet only grazes his ribs). Of course Tintin wants to get to the bottom of this mystery but it is hard to collect clues when people are trying to kill you and you have no clue why. Besides, in this one Tintin gets to wear a kilt, not to mention a bonnie bonnet as the titular piece of property happens to be in Scotland. All things considered "The Black Island" has got to be the funniest of Hergé stories.

In contrast "King Ottokar's Sceptre" is an adventure in which our intrepid hero gets to do a lot of deductive reasoning. Certainly there are more actual clues than Hergé usually includes in his mysteries, which means you really have to pay attention as you play along this time. Tintin encounters Professor Alembik, who studies seals (no, silly, not the friendly little animals but the things you stamp into wax on official papers). This seems a harmless career choice but Tintin finds that both he and the good professor are embroiled with secret agents and a plot against the King of Syldavia. It turns out there is a major loophole in the laws of the monarchy, for if H.M. King Muskar XII, the present ruler of Syldavia, were to lose possession of King Ottokar's sceptre, he would lose the right to rule and have to abdicate. This would work to the advantage of the bad guys across the border in Borduria, where everybody seems decided Eastern European and probably pro-Communist or at least very much into Socialism, so it is up to Tintin and Snowy to save the day. They are aided in this endeavor by Thomson and Thompson of the C.I.D.; to be precise, they endeavor to aid. There is also Tintin's first meeting with Bianca Castafiore in this very solid offering from Hergé. This is an actual mystery, where clues need to be solved and mysterious developments need to be explained.

Some of these early adventures of Tintin have engendered criticism because of the way Hergé draws a Negro in caricature and I certainly do not want to suggest that a white male European was not representative of the inherent racism of his culture, but I would point out that Hergé, like Edgar Rice Burroughs writing at roughly the same time, relied heavily on stereotypes for many of his characters and that you will find "good" and "bad" types for every race and ethnicity Tintin encounters. Certainly the South Americans Tintin encounters in San Theodoros, with their heavy accents, fiery tempers and tendency towards extreme violence, are central to any such critique. But Herge also displays some sensitivity towards the native tribes of the area that is rather enlightened. If Tintin engaged in slurs or derogatory comments towards anyone, that would be something different, but our hero only thinks in terms of "good" and "bad," not "white" and "black". Anyhow, you can read these stories and decide for yourself where you stand on this issue.

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Cell: A Novel
Stephen King
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Witness Stephen King's triumphant, blood-spattered return to the genre that made him famous. Cell, the king of horror's homage to zombie films (the book is dedicated in part to George A. Romero) is his goriest, most horrific novel in years, not to mention the most intensely paced. Casting aside his love of elaborate character and town histories and penchant for delayed gratification, King yanks readers off their feet within the first few pages; dragging them into the fray and offering no chance catch their breath until the very last page.

In Cell King taps into readers fears of technological warfare and terrorism. Mobile phones deliver the apocalypse to millions of unsuspecting humans by wiping their brains of any humanity, leaving only aggressive and destructive impulses behind. Those without cell phones, like illustrator Clayton Riddell and his small band of "normies," must fight for survival, and their journey to find Clayton's estranged wife and young son rockets the book toward resolution.

Fans that have followed King from the beginning will recognize and appreciate Cell as a departure--King's writing has not been so pure of heart and free of hang-ups in years (wrapping up his phenomenal Dark Tower series and receiving a medal from the National Book Foundation doesn't hurt either). "Retirement" clearly suits King, and lucky for us, having nothing left to prove frees him up to write frenzied, juiced-up horror-thrillers like Cell. Stay tuned for more from the hardest-working retiree in the business with Lisey's Story, coming in October 2006. --Daphne Durham

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