Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
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History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies
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:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Average customer rating:
- Great value for the price
- Pretentious
- If nothing else, it looks good on your bookshelf.
- Loved it,
- Lousy Binding
|
Charles Dickens Four Complete Novels (Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities)
Charles Dickens
Manufacturer: Gramercy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
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ASIN: 0517053608
Release Date: 1990-10-03 |
Book Description
Includes the major works by one of the greatest names in literature. Namely, Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol and A Tale of Two Cities. This Library of Literary Classics edition is bound in padded leather with luxurious gold-stamping on the front and spine, satin ribbon marker and gilded edges. Other titles in this Library of Literary Classics series include: Charlotte & Emily Bronte: The Complete Novels; Edgar Allan Poe: Selected Works; Mark Twain: Selected Works; Jane Austen: The Complete Novels: Lewis Carroll: The Complete, Fully Illustrated Works; and William Shakespeare: The Complete Works.
Customer Reviews:
Great value for the price.......2007-08-02
Let's face it, there are better editions of Dickens out there. You get what you pay for. This is not a top of the line leather edition. For the price, though, you can't beat it. It is what it is, a reasonably priced leather edition of four of his novels. At five dollars apiece, the price can not be beat.
Pretentious.......2007-06-07
Buying books because they look good on your shelf is pretentious and phony - and this book capitalizes on that. I got this as a gift and was amazed when I read it at the number of typos in it. There is simply no way this collection was proofed by an editor - that or the editing company is one of the worst in the world.
Buy these fantastic books, but not this edition, unless you just want people to think you read Dickens.
If nothing else, it looks good on your bookshelf........2007-03-13
You would do better off buying these books individually from a different publisher.
It sounds impressive, leather bound, gilded edges, but it is very cheaply done. On the plus side, it does have a ribbon book mark so you don't have to buy your own.
But this book was poorly edited, filled with needless typos, and with all four of these books available from numerous other publishers, I would suggest to just buy it from them.
Loved it,.......2006-02-12
I'm a big fan of long drawn out novles. I've always been a fan of Dickens. This book has on eof my favorite stories by his pen: Great Expectations. His style is very personal I found it a lot like Tolkien. His ability to tell a good tale is clear as the reader becomes part of the story. Very nice volume and worth the time and money in my opinion.
Lousy Binding.......2005-12-20
I've read all but "A Christmas Carol" in this edition. I've found several typos. Moreover, the binding is becoming unglued. I estimate by the time I finish "A Christmas Carol" the binding will be totally exposed. I value permanent books (otherwise I would buy paperbacks). I suggest anyone who enjoys Dickens buy a better edition.
Customer Reviews:
David Icke is telling the truth........2007-09-11
the reason it sounds so fantastic is that the average person does not have the information. They live in a fog of network television and canned news media - all of which are owned & controlled by the ones behind the so-called 'conspiracy'.
Do the research. It's no story - it's real.
Best book I've ever read.......2007-09-11
The conclusions in this book about the nature of reality and how it's all an illusion have changed my life for the best. Icke is very thorough and well documented in trying to support his claims. I couldn't put the book down. Five stars.
Balony.......2006-11-25
Hehe, O.K. I bought the book -- it's not the first time I've thrown away money and won't be the last. After skimming through it and reading this guy's life story, which includes "voices" psychics, and god-knows what else, I can say that I refuse to waste my valuable time reading this clap-trap. Let me suggest that everyone thinking about buying this book, read THIS book first you will be doing yourself a lifelong favor.
IS DAVID ICKE STARTING TO MAKE SENSE?.......2006-09-18
It's easy to simply reject someone who says the world is run by manipulative reptilians posing as world leaders; that George Bush, Tony Blair, the British monarch, and many other prominent people are blood-drinking child-abusers who engage in secret rituals unknown to the rest of us. Despite David Icke's seemingly outrageous claims, I found some logic as well as interesting and possibly credible theories in Tales From the Time Loop. In contast to his earlier books, he has shifted his beliefs in a more positive direction. It sounds a lot like he is embracing spirituality and the immortality of the soul. He accepts the existence of the astral world, a place or state with many levels occupied by beings with numerous agendas and understandings of the universe. But he rejects reincarnation as separate lifetimes ("there is no time") or that life in a human body is a journey toward perfection. In Icke's version of reality, there is no karma, no need to make up for evil deeds or mistakes. Everything is an illusion. What is missing in his framework, in my opinion, is purpose. Why does reality exist? Why are we here playing these games?
What about the evil reptilians? Why are they here and what do they want? Icke finally gives us a reason the reptilians must sacrifice humans and drink blood. He says they have a problem remaining in this dimension and they need human DNA to keep from shifting back to their own dimension. They sometimes do shapeshift into reptiles, and he quotes numerous witnesses who have seen them shift. Icke takes pokes at the frenzy of interest in the bloodline of Jesus (theories that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and had children). He says the so-called Jesus bloodline is just part of the reptilian bloodline. In a previous book, he claimed there was no historical Jesus, so I don't know what to make of this new belittling of the Jesus bloodline.
But the repitilians seem to fade in importance behind his major thesis, that we are all participating in a Time Loop in which history keeps repeating itself. Everything in the Time Loop (our apparent universe as well as the astral world) vibrates. Only Oneness does not vibrate. David found a parallel to this idea in the movie, The Matrix, which obviously impressed him much more than it impressed me. I found the Matrix movies silly stories thinly built around special effects. Despite his admiration for matrix-buster Neo, Icke criticizes the media for being purveyors of falsehood that serve the Illuminati agenda.
Speaking of history, I do not think David Icke is anti-semitic as some of his critics charge. He is absolutely correct in defending anyone's right to express their point of view, even if it is repugnant and can be proven wrong. David is not a holocaust-denyer, but he does think people have a right to deny the holocaust. If we had an intelligent, educated populace, there would be few takers for theories like "there was no holocaust" that are so contrary to tons of evidence. He also explores an interesting idea about the origin of today's Jewish population. There is some evidence that the Ashkenazi Jews (those who come from Europe) were at least in part related to a non-semitic people called the Khazars who converted to Judaism in 740 AD. They occupied territory that is mostly in modern-day Turkey. The significance of this (according to Icke) is that it refutes the idea that present-day Israel was an ancestral home to its current Jewish inhabitants.
But as the book progresses, Icke sounds more like many New Agers in proclaiming that human consciousness will shift into higher gear and can defeat the Illuminati. He gained some new insights, he says, while taking a psychoactive drug, ayahuasca, in Brazil. This was his first foray into mind-altering drugs and he tells us he received a great deal of information from a voice in his head. I believe him (this is not an uncommon experience) but I recognize that we do not know the origin of these voices. They may originate within ourselves, or they may come from spiritual entities outside ourselves. In either case, we cannot be sure what they tell us contains any actual truth.
Why bother reading Tales From the Time Loop or any of David Icke's books? I don't know if there are any actual Illuminati plotting to take over the world, but I do know the world is full of evil, with its endless wars, unrelenting poverty and destructive competition for precious natural resources. Icke's critics can be pretty hard on him, but I think his message deserves a hearing. I want to live in a world where David Icke can say and write what he believes and where I am free to say and write what I think of what he believes.
No room left for cowards..........2006-09-07
This is a great and challenging book, not for the faint of heart. David Icke presents a vision of the world which is radically different from the one which we are spoonfed from cradle to grave. Think of the courage it takes to get up on the world stage and bring forth this kind of information. People who pan Icke (and others in the truth movement) are nothing more than staid cowards, unwilling to integrate and adapt...worst of all, unwilling to listen and think these things through. Bottom line: read this book and pass it on to friends; time is running short and our freedoms are eroding before our eyes. It's time to wake up and rise to our true and magnificent human potential...and Icke is here to help on us our way.
Book Description
"ONCE UPON A TIME"
IS TIMELESS
Etienne de Brabant is brokenhearted. His wife has died in childbirth, leaving him alone with an infant daughter he cannot bear to name. But before he abandons her for king and court, he brings a second child to be raised alongside her, a boy whose identity he does not reveal.
The girl, La Cendrillon, and the boy, Raoul, pass sixteen years in the servants' care until one day a very fine lady arrives with her two daughters. The lady has married La Cendrillon's father, and her arrival changes their lives.
When an invitation to a great ball reaches the family, La Cendrillon's new stepmother will make a decision with far-reaching effects. Her choice will lead La Cendrillon and Raoul toward their destiny -- a choice that will challenge their understanding of family, test their loyalty and courage, and, ultimately, teach them who they are.
Customer Reviews:
before midnight.......2007-10-09
Before Midnight
Before Midnight is a wonderful retelling of Cinderella. Constanze or Cendrillon was born at midnight and her mother, Constanze died. Her father was away and when he found that his wife was dead. He was very sad.When he got to the big stone house he had a baby boy with him the same age as Cendrillon. He was so sad he didn't come back for a long time.
I found this a very good book! The ending you would never expect but if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise. READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!!
Entaining, just a little slow to get pulled in.......2007-09-28
I am a huge Cinderella fan, and so this book seemed a perfect fit. But the first part of the book was slow reading, and it could have lost slower less dedicated readers. In the end it was worthwhile as a retelling of the classic fairytale, I just doubt that this will become a classic on its own.
before minight.......2007-08-30
i am currently almost finished with this book and love every page! this is kind of a new twist on "Cinderella". the stepmother and stepsisters, upon realizing who she really is, welcome her with open arms. Cendrillon (main chacter) is as gorgous as her mother was. her mother died in childbirth and her father cannot bear to look at her, let alone name her. her real name is Constaze, after her mother, but she was named Cindrillon "child of cinders" by Mathilde, the woman who delievered her.
this book was awsome and i couldn't put it down, which is pretty much the way with all of cameron dokey's other books, although i have to go back and re-read some due to the fact that i could not even get 1/3 of the way through them due to school and work. i am looking forward to her next release.
Dokey's Best in the Once Upon a Time Series.......2007-04-17
I definitely enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions are very elegant, and the entire feeling is moody. The way the author choose to retell Cinderella I have never seen done before, and it was an interesting take. The characters are likable and believable, and you even come to like the evil stepsister. On the down side, the heroin's relationship with the prince is unrealistic and shallow, but I will say that is somewhat typical of this series. In my opinion Snow by Tracy Lynn was better.
Cinderella as we have never seen her before.......2007-03-26
This tale has always been one of my favorite fairy tales and I have loved some of the different renditions of it like "Ever After" and "Diary of an Ugly Stepsister". "Before Midnight" is another great addition to the retellings of Cinderella. In this revision, Constanze de Brabant, or Cendrillion has been abandoned by her father Etienne because of the death of her mother. She is raised in obscurity with a mysterious boy Raoul by Old Mathilde until a noblewoman, Chantal de Saint-Andre, with her two daughters Amelie and Anastasia arrive. Chantal has married Etienne and she is now Cendrillion's stepmother, but Chantal is never told until secrets are discovered. I love the scene where they open Cendrillion's mother's room and see her portrait. Here Chantal exclaims it is so wicked of Etienne to throw away the most precious gift of all, Love. It is also in this scene that Cendrillion gets her wish of having a family at last.
I will not add too many spoilers and explain who Raoul really is and what happens at the "ball" but this tale which emphasizes the importance of embracing love and all the other feelings that come with it; is so lovingly rendered that both young and old romantics will love it.
Amazon.com
In addition to being a testament to the undeniably beatifying properties of American excess--literary, political, chemical, you name it--Hunter Thompson is the high priest of the ad hominem attack. Anyone unlucky enough to get in the way of his satirical sledgehammer will end up with soup for brains. Still, even Thompson needs a good villain to get properly lathered up; that's why he peaked simultaneously with America's 37th president, Richard Milhous Nixon. Tricky Dick was Thompson's dark-jowled, pale-calved Muse, and with his departure Thompson seemed to lose his place a bit. Swatting flies with a baseball bat.
You need look no further for this writer's best: this collection of pieces, first published in 1979, spans all of Thompson's primo era, including short pieces and selections from longer works. The Great Shark Hunt sports a few articles filed by a pre-Gonzo Hunter S. Thompson, which show flickers of passion but no real fire; the first experiments with the author's drug-fueled brand of journalism at the Kentucky Derby; and finally the gigs that made him an American institution, in Las Vegas and on the 1972 campaign trail.
Thompson's style is so unique that a reader is tempted to think that he leapt, fully formed, into Gonzohood. However, along with the crazy, careening prose itself, one of the auxiliary pleasures of The Great Shark Hunt is the map that it gives of Thompson's ascent (or descent, if you prefer) from the workaday hyperbole of sports writing to the hell-blast vigor of his later work. The drugs are, by and large, a distraction--lifestyle points that get in the way of the genuinely perceptive journalism that Thompson created. (But they are there, always, and in quantity.) If you're looking for insight into the underbelly of America, Hunter S. Thompson is your best and only guide, and The Great Shark Hunt is an excellent place to begin the grim safari. --Michael Gerber
Book Description
Originally published in 1979, the first volume of the bestselling "Gonzo Papers" is now back in print. The Great Shark Hunt is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's largest and, arguably, most important work, covering Nixon to napalm, Las Vegas to Watergate, Carter to cocaine. These essays offer brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in signature Thompson style.
Ranging in date from the National Observer days to the era of Rolling Stone, The Great Shark Hunt offers myriad, highly charged entries, including the first Hunter S. Thompson piece to be dubbed "gonzo" -- "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved," which appeared in Scanlan's Monthly in 1970. From this essay a new journalistic movement sprang which would change the shape of American letters. Thompson's razor-sharp insight and crystal clarity capture the crazy, hypocritical, degenerate, and redeeming aspects of the explosive and colorful '60s and '70s.
Customer Reviews:
The Essential Hunter Thompson.......2007-01-04
Much like Sony's "The Essential" series, which collected the greatest songs from the greatest musicians of the past century, "The Great Shark Hunt" is an anthology of the greatest of the Good Doctor's work from his peak period of the 60's and 70's.
Perhaps no other American writer captured the essence of that tumultous era better than Hunter S. Thompson. He was simultaneously of his time and above his time, and invented a new kind of journalism, dubbed "Gonzo." All objectivity was thrown out the window as the author thrust himself into the action of the stories he was reporting. Whether it was dropping acid at a police convention in Las Vegas, sabotaging the presidential bid of Ed Muskie, or running for sheriff of Aspen, Thompson's antics are legendary, and "The Great Shark Hunt" is a great way to get acquainted with the man and the writing for which he is best remembered.
Hilarious and very perceptive.......2006-12-27
It is a pretty rare experience for me to find an author who can make me feel as though I actually understand the culture the author is describing. Many authors are perfectly capable of explaining a culture or a period in time, but I don't find many who do it simply by describing their experiences, but Hunter S. Thompson does so in this book.
This book covers a lot of American culture in the 20th century. Now, I am not a US citizen, nor have I read much US history, but I found Thompson's stories very perceptive and entertaining. Even his coverage of something that sounds as dull as Richard Nixon's presidential campaign and fall are just brilliant. This is one of those few books that has made me laugh out loud.
What I fundamentally love about this book is that it really makes me feel like I'm standing beside the author, in his stories as he tells them. Thompson has a wicked sense of mischief, which goes very well with his "Gonzo" style of journalism. I think that "Gonzo" journalism helps his stories become so vivid because Thompson makes sure that he is not separated from what's going on. In fact, Thompson is often central to the story and yet that doesn't result in the kind of ego-centric story telling one might expect.
If you have any interest in US culture, from 1960 onward, and a love for very perceptive, though often drug addled lunatics as protagonists, then I imagine that you will love this book.
Should be required reading for all classes of journalism.......2006-11-21
The Great Shark Hunt: Gonzo Papers vol. 1 is a hysterical and brilliant piece of his mordant wit, this great heir to Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce and H. L. Mencken, the Great Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.
The book covers the exciting and gut laugh-filled evolution of Gonzo from about 1963 to 1976; including his infamous article from 1970 in which Gonzo arose from his open shell and, soaring aloft, emitted the primal and insane roar; The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.
This is a very facinating era of Thompson's life and career as he slowly makes a beast of himself and his writing, probably the best social commentary since Voltaire.
Glorious Madness.......2006-10-05
This is great stuff from a fearless freak. Thompson never fails to both entertain me as a reader and educate me as a writer. He was unhinged and did not hold back. This is a great collection of dazed vignettes, crazed events, and hazed intents. The guy was out there, but it never drowned his talent. A must-read for those who want a deeper sense of the madness of our times, or who simply want a good read.
Thompson's Best. Period........2006-05-23
I've read all of Thompson's books, and nothing approaches Shark Hunt for sheer ferocity of intelligence, perception, and the gleefully lunatic Gonzo outlook. He put himself fearlessly and hilariously in the middle of his stories and thus changed both modern journalism and history itself as he rocked through some of the wildest times this country will ever see.
These are HST's finest magazine pieces from the 60s and 70s, chosen and edited by the author. His takes on Nixon and Ali and Vietnam are startlingly prescient, so dead-on in the hindsight of three decades that one begins to wonder why Thompson isn't ranked with Mailer and Capote and Vidal as one of modern America's most trenchant essayists.
He's certainly funnier than all of them put together, with a uniquely skewed stance full of outrage and insanity. Sure, F&L In Vegas gets all the attention, but that book is mainly full-on Gonzo, and, while truly classic, hardly touches this collection for depth of insight and understanding of one of
the most vital and transformative periods in American history.
The essay on Haight-Ashbury alone is worth the price of this tome; he lived there before the lunacy started and stayed through to its peak, and presents the tale as only one
who tripped through the flaked-out soul of that time could.
There are sentences in that piece that are pure poetry, some of the finest dissection the 60s ever saw...and that's just the tip of this glorious literary iceberg that melts happily from the hand into the mind.
Thompson had a style that is oft-imitated but never approached, and here we see him crafting that style as the years go by, emerging as one of the most unique essayists this country has ever produced. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that HST is the most hilariously readable of modern American non-fiction writers...and this is
his magnum opus.
If you like to laugh while you think about what really matters, this is your baby.
Not to be missed.
Book Description
From the photographer of the bestselling I Spy books, Can You See What I See? Once Upon a Time is a rhyming, search-and-find picture book--especially for preschoolers! Twelve fascinating compositions depict favorite fairy tales, folk tales, and classic stories where readers can use the picture clues to search for dozens of intriguing hidden objects in a far, faraway land filled with toys!
Customer Reviews:
Great for kids and adults.......2007-09-16
My 6 year old daughter and I loved this book. We had a lot of fun looking for the list of hidden objects in the pictures and identifying other everyday objects in the pictures. The pictures are amazing. My husband and I even found it challenging to find some of the objects, but it was a lot of fun.
Terrific books.......2007-04-06
I love this author and illustrator. Wonderful series of books. Very vivid pictures; the manner in which it's written allows the books to be enjoyed by a wide age range. I bought all books by this author!
Yet another wonderful Walter Wick creation!!.......2007-01-20
Whether you choose to go with his 'I Spy' collection or this 'Can You See What I See' collection (or both!), you simply can not go wrong!! I have yet to see anyone (from my three year old niece to my 73 year old father!) not become engrossed in Walter Wick's works. We currently have ALL of the two collections, and I continue to buy more as gifts! Simply wonderful books for quality time with the kids, or quiet time for the adults as the children devour the beautiful pages on their own.
*Just a note--if your kids are 'pre-readers' they will need help with knowing what to look for--but you can give them three or four items at a time and then sit back and read something else for yourself! So, these books help with their learning to read, their observational skills, AND their memory skills--lol--not to mention YOUR memory skills when they ask, 'what was the third thing you said to look for?' Oops.... :-) 'Uh, let mommy see the page one more time..... lol....'
My children's all-time favorite books.......2007-01-19
If you want to spend some quiet time with your children at the end of the day, you can't go wrong here. The idea is to search for hidden items in each picture. The depth of detail in each scene is just amazing, and the pictures themselves are fascinating in their own right. There are plenty of easy finds to amuse a toddler, yet a wealth of subtle puzzles to challenge the older kids and adults. You have to see them to appreciate the rich detail that goes into each page. You can search for hidden items from the list on each page, or better yet, explore the pictures yourselves to find much more. Take turns and challenge each other.
We have all the "Can You See..." and "I Spy" books (also photographed by Walter Wick). These classic books never grow old, we find yet more hidden details each time we open them. Definitely keepers.
Not for those of us with OCD..........2007-01-10
This book overall is a lot of fun. However the last puzzle asks you to find "two witches" and try as we might we have only found one. Now for most kids this would not be an issue , but for my VERY thorough five-year-old it has become quite a problem (as it is the ONLY item in the book we can't find). So, if you have one of those kids who has to finish everything they start...beware!
Book Description
This haunting first collection of Annabelle's memories are filled with frightening stories and dark fairy tales about her various owners . Featuring the first 6 issues, as well as some other spookirific surprises, including an introduction by Tommy Kovac (Skelebunnies, Stitch and Autumn) as well as a guest page by Jhonen Vasquez and other SLG creators.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting story...okay illlustrations.......2007-10-07
The front cover was what made me buy the book, but once I got it and started reading it, the story was good but the illustrations were hard to make out. Sometimes all I could guess of what was going on was a couple of think black lines and some text. The story is what you should really buy it for, with the all the darkly funny, twisted fairy tales, but if you're more into the illustrations, it'd be best to look elsewhere.
Hoe Hum.........2006-12-22
It's not a bad book the imageries good, the stories somewhat interesting. But something is missing. It's worth buying but you may need both volumes to feel fully satisfied. If you like her artist style it's worth it for the pictures, but there is something lacking in the over all completed product that makes it hard for me to give it a higher rating.
Fairy Tales Back to Their Dark Roots.......2006-01-30
Before Disney changed things and made everyone think Fairy Tales are all about Bambis and fuzzy bunnies, Fairy Tales were dark, disturbing, and always had a meaning. Serena Valentino attempts to bring those fairy tales back to their dark roots, with art by FSc. And, for the most part, she succeeds. Each tale is dark and disturbing, and the each story is told with decieving simplicity. The dialogue is also simple; so simple that it feels juvenile, like something a high schooler might write during study hall (ok, perhaps that's a bit too severe...). Also, Valentino's original stories, such as the first story with the lesbian vampires, are simply not as strong as her own twists on such well known Fairy Tales as Cinderella and Snow White. And lastly, even though I feel FSc's art is strong and vivid, there are a few moments where the drawings are very sketchy, as if the artist simply forget to put the finishing touches on those frames. All in all though, Nightmares & Fairytales is more hit than miss, and is a good read for anyone in the mood for a dark comic.
Cute evil.......2006-01-19
I read the first comic when it was first released, and I fell in love with the artwork almost immediately. The writing is very lovely, some of the stories--especially in volume 2--are brilliant, but it can also fall a little flat at times. But the art, however, is what draws me to this series over and over again. FSc is a fabulous artist, she incorporates a vague anime sensibility couples with swirling, magical images. The characters--especially Gwen--are adorable, the worlds are filled with beauty, and there is an overabundance of cuteness.
I wish ALL fairy tales were like this.......2006-01-14
This is not a funny book. Er, not not-funny as in poor humor, but not funny as in it's not supposed to be a gut-buster. Not funny as in not bought to make you laugh, like Squee or Lenore would be. It is also drawn in a more manga-ish style than Dirge or Vasquez' stuff. It has some very cool stories, most are gorey spin-offs from fairy tales. It is told through the eyes of a little doll. Again, it's not supposed to be funny but it is fascinating. The drawings are sometimes vague and hard to follow, and the characters all look a bit too similar to easily disifer, the first few storues were a bit too confusing, and I had to carefully re-read certain part to get what was happening, but it's a good book. Definately worth figuring out.
The back also has trade art from Vasquez and Dirge, which I found a very pleasant suprise.
Average customer rating:
- Delightful
- Half Magic - Review
- Half Magic
- Half Magic
- Half Magic
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Half Magic
Edward Eager
Manufacturer: Odyssey Classics
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Binding: Paperback
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Seven-Day Magic (Books for Young Readers)
ASIN: 0152020683 |
Amazon.com
Edward Eager has been delighting young readers for more than 40 years with stories that mix magic and reality. Half Magic, the most popular of his tales about four children who encounter magical coins, time-travel herb gardens, and other unlikely devices, is a warm, funny, original adventure. The title refers to a coin that the children find. Through a comical series of coincidences, they discover that the coin is magic. Well, it's not totally magic--it's only (you guessed it) half magic. That means there's a certain logic to the wishes one must make to generate a desired outcome. Imagine the results emerging from inaccurate efforts: half invisible, half rescued, half everything! Half Magic is never too cute, and with just enough emotion to complement the magic, this classic is sure to hold a special place in any child's library. If you love Half Magic, its sequels--Knight's Castle, The Time Garden, and Magic by the Lake--have also been reissued in lovely hardcover editions, complete with N.M. Bodecker's original illustrations and covers by Quentin Blake. (Ages 8 to 12)
Book Description
Since Half Magic first hit bookshelves in 1954, Edward Eager’s tales of magic have become beloved classics. Now four cherished stories by Edward Eager about vacationing cousins who stumble into magical doings and whimsical adventures are available in updated hardcover and paperback formats. The original lively illustrations by N. M. Bodecker have been retained, but eye-catching new cover art by Kate Greenaway Medalist Quentin Blake gives these classics a fresh, contemporary look for a whole new generation.
Customer Reviews:
Delightful.......2007-09-28
This book was delightful. It was recommended to me by my aunt and I was not disappointed in the least! Funny and inventive. Can't wait to read Eager's other books.
Half Magic - Review .......2007-07-09
This is quite an enjoyable uncomplicated story with characters that are singular in their personalities. The story flowed from one chapter into the next. This is great book for young readers!!
Half Magic.......2007-04-20
Is Jane's theory of magic real?
Jane found a quarter lying on the ground, so she picked it up and wished that there would be a fire nearby. After a few minutes her wish came true. Did the fire just happen by accident or did the quarter do it?
The main characters in the story are Jane, Katherine, Mark, and Martha. Jane is the oldest and smartest. She is also a nice girl.
Katherine is hard to explain because she doesn't show herself that much. She is a shy, but very sweet girl. Mark is the only boy in his family, he is a brave boy, but sometimes he wishes he had a brother. Martha is the youngest in the family and can't stay stare into space doing nothing then she will get bored and will want to go on an adventure.
Jane is very secretive about her quarter because she thinks it is magic, but is it? Will they ever know what Jane is hiding from them? Later in the story their mom meets Mr. Smith. They like Mr. Smith but Jane has other thoughts about him. Jane doesn't want Mr. Smith to marry her mom because she doesn't want anybody to replace her dad. She loves him and misses him a lot. Will their mom get married to Mr. Smith? This is a fun, exciting, and adventures book. If you like magic this is a perfect story for you. It doesn't let the book down. So don't just sit there, go to a library or a store an get your hands on Half Magic.
-Kelsey Bischot
Half Magic.......2007-04-17
Half Magic is about these kids who have to spend the summer with their baby sitter, and it is very hot and they have nothing to do. So, on the way to the library, they find something on the side walk that is magic. The kids have discovered things that were odd and are excited about what will happen next. So read and see what will happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes things that will appear randomly.
Half Magic.......2007-04-13
Half Magic by Edward Eager is an okay book that I would recommend to people that get entertained easily. It is about these four children who find a magic stone. But there is a catch to the stone. It only grants half of the wish that they wish for. So they half to wish for twice as much as they really need. And with each wish, the stone wears down more and more. Some crazy stuff happens to these kids. But I will tell you about them later.
I told you there was four main characters, the children, but I am only going to tell you about Jane and Mark. Jane is mostly happy all the time, but in a couple parts angry, and she acts like she is really loving to all of her siblings. She is the oldest of the four children, she is one of three girls, and she is the only one with really long hair. She is very adventurous and outgoing. She is fun but sometimes boring, and she is stubborn sometimes. She really acts like a lady, and she is always neat and tidy. And now, on to Mark. Mark is probably the smartest kid that any of the four children know. I think he feels superior to every one else. And he is very confused about the whole stone concept. He is the second tallest out of all of the children. He is the only boy out of the children, and has short hair and wears glasses. He is smart, somewhat nosy, and he acts very mature. He behaves smart, he is sometimes silly, but he is always mature.
The places these kids go to are crazy and amazing. They go to an old town, where everybody talks funny, and there are knights in armor everywhere. Another place they go to is a desert. It's sandy, hot, stuffy, and they can't see anything beyond five feet. The mom takes the stone on accident and wishes she was home, but she was only half way there, so she ended up in the middle of no where at like eleven at night. All there is there is a road, some bushes, and a car that gives her a ride to her house back home. But most of all of the adventures happen at the children's house. You will have to read the book to find out what happens to the children in these places, though.
Half Magic by Edward Eager is a mediocre book that I would suggest this book to mature readers that have nothing to do on a Saturday night but read a book. Have fun!
Average customer rating:
- Wow!
- The Magic Flute, made more magical
- "The Magic Flute" Retold
- Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan...
- Poorly Done
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Sunlight and Shadow (Once Upon a Time)
Cameron Dokey
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
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Golden (Once Upon A Time)
ASIN: 0689869991 |
Book Description
A new spin on "The Magic Flute" by an acclaimed author!
In a time when the world was young and many things were quite commonplace that are now entirely forgotten, Sarastro, Mage of the Day, wed Pamina, the Queen of the Night. And in this way was the world complete, for light was joined to dark. For all time would they be joined together. Only the ending of the world could tear them apart. In other words, in the days in which my parents married, there was no such thing as divorce....
Thus begins the tale of Mina, a girl-child born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight.
In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride.
Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....
Customer Reviews:
Wow!.......2007-09-02
I have to admit, I was skeptical when I picked up this book. I don't really like romances, and I wondered if I'd be bored. I figured I'd read a chapter and put it down. I was sure wrong about that.
Cameron Dokey's got an amazing way with words and how she weaves them together: It's magical and the story flows together brilliantly. I just couldn't get over how likable she made the characters: ALL of them, not just the "good guys." The "bad guys" are not all bad, nor are they hopeless, and problems are resolved in interesting ways. I couldn't tell you who my favorite character is (though I lean toward Lapin, who is Mina's best friend and defender, player of the bells.) They have depth and their feelings are interesting, not dull or run-of-the-mill, and these characters do not have any yawn-ish conversations, either.
The story is fun and easy to follow, but it's not simple, as in predictible. In order to prove his love, Prince Tern (how cool of a name is that?) agrees to "Boss of the Day" Sarastro's conditions of a very interesting set of trials: And Sarastro's daughter, Mina goes with him. Ever wonder how mourning doves came to be? Clever Cameron Dokey tucks this into the trials that Tern and Mina endure.
I won't give away anything about the ending other than to say it is very satisfying, on more than one level. I will definitely pick up another Once Upon a Time book by Cameron Dokey!
The Magic Flute, made more magical.......2007-08-13
The Magic Flute isn't one of the classic Grimms' fairytales, so I wasn't at all familiar with it and failed to recognise it in the blurb. The story looked intriguing nonetheless: Sarastro, "Mage of the Day", and Pamina, "Queen of the Night", have a daughter who spends her life with her mother until she is 16 - whereupon she must leave to live with her father. The blurb then promises treachery and betrayal when Pamina lures a prince into a deadly agreement to win Mina as his bride.
Cameron Dokey puts a new spin on this story with first-person accounts from different - and very likeable - characters - mainly Mina, but also an orphaned girl who is brought up by Sarastro, Gayna; Lapin, a boy who owns a magical set of bells (not a flute), and Tern, the prince. Through their voices you get a glimpse of how they think and of how fate unfolds.
This is also a story of opposites. Night against day. Mina against Gayna. Mina with Statos and Tern. Gayna with Statos and Lapin. Love against hate and treachery. And of course, good against evil.
While everything seems quite separate at first, all the threads do wind together in the end quite satisfyingly. Everything that Sarastro does is based on trying to outwit a prophecy about Mina. The only problem is that, careful as he is, he may not have all the cards in his hands.
The tone of the book was refreshingly modern even though it is set in "a time that was young and many things were commonplace that are now forgotten". Sarastro and Pamina don't speak to each other, so Mina grows up wondering what her father is like. Sarastro tears her from her mother when she is just shy of 16, breaking the original agreement and causing a great deal of defiance on Mina's part. Gayna is hopelessly in love with Sarastro's guard Statos, but he's not interested in her. It makes absorbing reading.
And in the background there is Lapin, whom I count as my favourite character. He inherits a set of magical bells which can call your true love to you. While he practices listening to the music of his heart, he ends up calling birds instead. Lots of birds.
What Lapin and Pamina do after Mina has been stolen away by Sarastro is ingenious, and entirely within the rules of the game. I felt the blurb was totally misleading when it claimed that Pamina had lured Tern into a set of deadly trials. Sarastro set those trials, and Tern agreed to rescue Mina of his own free will.
Of course everything ends well and all live happily ever after. The story is shorter than I would have liked but it's very easy reading but sticks with you for a long while after. That's the best kind of story to own.
"The Magic Flute" Retold.......2007-07-09
"Sunlight and Shadow" was the first book in the "Once Upon a Time" series that I read. It wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it.
The story is a retelling of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute", but it still manages to be original. The author puts some nice twists on an old story that was interesting and pretty original to begin with. It can be a little confusing because there are several narrators who switch without much notice, but it's not too hard to figure out. The plot has nice pacing, and the book is just the right length.
Best of all, she gives life to characters who were previously flat and stereotypical. The characterizations are nothing really special by themselves (still better than the stereotypes, but they're pretty typical of this kind of book), but it's interesting to get insight in the the characters' thoughts about events.
The writing was well-done. The romance was all right, but it seemed a bit shallow. But it was good for love at first sight, which was what it was in the opera. The author did a good job with it considering her resources. She does include a few themes about life in general, but they were nothing we haven't seen before.
I was not familiar with "The Magic Flute" before reading this, but it was a good way to introduce myself to it. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was still worth my time.
Very mediocre for a Magic Flute fan..........2007-04-11
I was excited about this book because "Magic Flute" is one of my favorite stories. However while I did find myself enjoying it, I am not sure if I really appreciated this particular feminist take on it. Sometimes I think that a feminist take on an old beloved tale is great, however there are other times where it just distorts the story. I think that Nights Daughter by Marion Zimmer Bradley probably has a better attempt at having a feminst take on the story. And for an even better treat, score a copy of the Ingmar Bergman production of Magic Flute through netflix or your local library.
Poorly Done.......2007-03-11
The good side of this book is the writing style. It is moody, and the descriptions are interesting. On the other hand, the characters are shallow and not rememberable. The story is confusing, unbelievable, and jarring. The author attempted to tell the story from five different points of view without clarifying when this switch between people was made. The character's voices are not distinguishable from one another. The author draws you out of the main story line several times to tell you pointless back stories on other characters. Dokey's novel Beauty Sleep has the same flaws. Her best in the Once Upon A Time series is The Storyteller's Daughter and Golden.
Customer Reviews:
Fairytale lacking conflict...........2007-10-07
I love reading retelling of fairytales...but this was all 'tell' and very little 'show'. It was a cute story, if you don't have anything better to read. I kept waiting for some sort of climax or real conflict, but the climax was more of a molehill rather than a mountain.
A feel-good novel........2007-09-26
Sweet but with enough tension between the characters to avoid being gooy. Interesting twist on the fairy tale.
Golden, another beautiful book by Dokey.......2007-09-19
After not being able to belong in her mothers heart, Rapunzel is taken in by Melisande, a sorceress that Rapunzel's dad took rapunzel from. Having no hair, Rapunzel must always wear a kerchief to hide herself from everyone so they do not make fun of her. The town starts to believe that there is a bad omen and want to run Melisande and Rapunzel from the town. There do we start to find out the secrets that Melisande holds in her heart and to see if Rapunzel's is as strong as Melisande believes it is... for Rapunzel's sake.
This is a beautiful retelling of Rapunzel. It doesn't show Melisande as the evil sorceress but as a caring one. The one that we "hear about" in books is actually a wizard, not a witch. Nice twist there. There are several twists and turns that I enjoy in this book.
I must disagree with the first reviewer. The ending isn't all that predictable for in other stories in this series you think one thing will happen (When it comes to relationships) and something else happens (Before Midnight anyone?) So I was going to throw the book across the room if what I thought was going to happen happened.. But it did not. This is another fine work by Dokey.
repunzal.......2007-08-30
loved this verson of the classic fairy tale! repunzal is actually born bold and raised by a witch who has a beautiful dauther locked in a tower. the girls quarrel and fight over how repunal will free the daughter, but in the end, repunzal gives her name up and chooses a new name for herself. this is one of the best books about retold fariytales that i have ever read.
Rapunzel.......2007-07-25
In this unusual retelling of the story of "Rapunzel", Rapunzel is a girl who was born completely bald. Her mother, upon seeing this, decides that she cannot love her daughter, and so Rapunzel grows up with the sourceress, Melisande. Everything is well until Melisande tells Rapunzel that she has a daughter, Rue, who is under a curse, and asks Rapunzel to free her . . .
I really enjoyed the creative spins Dokey put on the story. You're not quite sure what to expect. The characters are interesting and realistic. And I especially liked the romance. The themes of the nature of love and magic are fresh and make you think. The pacing is good, except I thought that everything wrapped up a little too quickly. It's not a long book so you won't get bored with it, but it still has depth.
I've read six books in the "Once Upon a Time" series, and "Golden" is one of the best. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
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- How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches
- Hug
- In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing
- In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing
- In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
- Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
- Later Novels and Other Writings: The Lady in the Lake / The Little Sister / The Long Goodbye / Playback /Double Indemnity / Selected Essays and Letters (Library of America)
- Live Your Road Trip Dream: Travel for a Year for the Cost of Staying Home
- Love, Lies and Liquor (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)
Books Index
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