Judas Unchained

Book Description

Peter F. Hamilton’s superbly imagined, cunningly plotted interstellar adventures are conceived on a staggeringly epic scale and filled with fully realized human and alien characters as complex as they are engaging. No mere world builder, Hamilton creates entire universes–and he does so with irresistible flair and intelligence. His previous novel, the acclaimed Pandora’s Star, introduced the Intersolar Commonwealth, a star-spanning civilization of the twenty-fourth century. Robust, peaceful, and confident, the Commonwealth dispatched a ship to investigate the mystery of a disappearing star, only to inadvertently unleash a predatory alien species that turned on its liberators, striking hard, fast, and utterly without mercy.

The Prime are the Commonwealth’s worst nightmare. Coexistence is impossible with the technologically advanced aliens, who are genetically hardwired to exterminate all other forms of life. Twenty-three planets have already fallen to the invaders, with casualties in the hundreds of millions. And no one knows when or where the genocidal Prime will strike next.

Nor are the Prime the only threat. For more than a hundred years, a shadowy cult, the Guardians of Selfhood, has warned that an alien with mind-control abilities impossible to detect or resist–the Starflyer–has secretly infiltrated the Commonwealth. Branded as terrorists, the Guardians and their leader, Bradley Johansson, have been hunted by relentless investigator Paula Myo. But now evidence suggests that the Guardians were right all along, and that the Starflyer has placed agents in vital posts throughout the Commonwealth–agents who are now sabotaging the war effort. Is the Starflyer an ally of the Prime, or has it orchestrated a fight to the death between the two species for its own advantage?

Caught between two deadly enemies, one a brutal invader striking from without, the other a remorseless cancer killing from within, the fractious Commonwealth must unite as never before.

This will be humanity’s finest hour–or its last gasp.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Big improvement over Pandora's Star.......2007-10-04

After being dragged kicking and screaming through Pandora's Star, Judas Unchained was a reasonably pleasant surprise. The long, brain-numbing descriptive passages that started off each section in the previous book have been truncated to a more reasonable length, allowing the actual plot to get momentum. We no longer have the painful perspective switches where the interesting plotlines would abrubtly be put on hold while we went off to visit some unspeakably boring characters for 20 pages - events are now tied together better and focus remains on the interesting bits long enough to generate energy. Ozzie's "journy of personal exploration" or whatever the heck it was supposed to be is given a thankfully brief page-count after the mind-numbing pointlessness in the first book. Ideas that clearly weren't working seem to have been jettisoned.

There are still some fairly significant issues - too much gratuitous sex for my tastes, the characters are thinly drawn and only a few of them are much more than cardboard cut-outs or stereotypes, the book is still needlessly bloated, and the writing style is still a bit repetitive - but the book now makes for reasonably entertaining pot-boiler sci-fi, on the level with Star Wars fiction, for example. Not great, not particularly notable nor does it have any individual elements that stand out or are particularly interesting, but it's a decent light read with good plotting and a reasonable pace. Now that I'm done with the pair, if I went back in time and was given the option of reading them again, I absolutely would not do it (mainly because the first book is so awful), but if you've staggered through Pandora's Star and are interested in finding out how things work out but are having a hard time facing down Judas Unchained, while it's definitely not a *great* book, it's good enough to be engaging.

The best Sci-Fi book I have ever read........2007-08-05

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail about this book. The characters are well developed. There are plots and sub-plots. It's Sci-Fi, mystery, detective novel and more all wrapped up into one. I still find myself re-reading passages in this book almost a year after my first reading. This is my favorite Sci-Fi novel, and I've read a bunch of them. Well worth the time and money.

"Walk These Worlds with Me. . .".......2007-07-03

... or: You Should Never Put Assassins in the Refrigerator!

I'd got all the way through "Pandora's Star," and a third of the way through Peter F. Hamilton's extraordinary sequel (well, part 2 really), "Judas Unchained," before I finally resolved the issue that had long been bothering me--especially since "Pandora" had ended with a literal cliffhanger: how far into his cheek had the author put his tongue? And then I reached the scene where an assassin hides in a fridge, and suddenly I saw. Pretty far indeed.

Anyway, "Judas," however slyly, sweeps along crisply in the same multiple POV manner as its predecessor (think C. J. Cherryh w/o, thankfully, the internal monologues), with nearly all of the characters from the first volume intact and continuing on: Ozzie's still on his fantasy quest; Paula Myo is still doing her dogged police procedural thing; Mellanie Rescorai is still providing aid and comfort in her various ways; the Guardians of Justice continue to do battle with the mysterious Starflyer, which more and more folks are starting to believe in; and steadfast, stubborn, priggish Mark Vernon and his ickypoo family (twitting Kim Stanley Robinson perhaps), complete with dog, continue to pop up and annoy. (That has to be the point--Mr. Hamilton appears far too clever to have expected them to do anything but annoy.) And, of course, the intrepid heroes of the Confederation are still trying to figure out how to defeat the Primes (eek! hive mind!! Visit them at MorningLightMountain.com), and the politicians are still squabbling and conspiring.

The author, who like the late architect Philip Johnson "steals from everybody," continues to mix his genres well--heroic fantasy quests mix with space opera, spying, and political maneuvering, and provocative high-tech aspects. In Mr. Hamilton's conception, people can take trains (yes, trains!) through wormholes between the stars; they can be rebirthed; they can store their memories. You've seen all that before, but not handled nearly so well as here.

And then, of all things, the grand finale narrows down to an A story and a B story, with the A story turning into a chase snatched from the heart of a western movie with the good guys finding a way out of the box canyon and then riding out to head the bad guys off at the pass, while in the B story there's a race to see if the immotile hive mind can be smacked upside da haid without the good guys having to nuke the entire planet (and maybe eventually quite a bit of the galaxy's store of planets) out from under him. Good luck with THAT.

And good luck to you, dear readers.

Great thrills, great fun, and yes, it's ok to chuckle.

Notes and asides: Unlike volume 1, there's a list of characters this time (and very welcome, although the advice here is not to consult it until necessary as it manages to tip off some of the plot--don't ask!). Oh, and for grammar freaks--this time out, the publisher has supplied the author with a copyeditor who knows when to use a comma and when to use a period or semicolon--not the author's strongest point. Yeah, there's sex. C'mon, folks, this is the 21st century.

Climactic Conclusion.......2007-07-01

As good as Pandora's Star was, I found this work to be even more entertaining. Plenty of other reviews provide plot synopsis, etc. Here are aspects of this work that I didn't see as much of:

1. Overall Believability of Setting:
Hamilton's slick style pulled me right in, and a richly detailed "movie" began playing in my mind's eye almost immediately. I have read very few authors who do this so well -- Julian May being one of the few others who comes to mind.

2. Future Tech:
This work verily bristles with technology; some mundane, some wicked cool, and some worthy of making you stop and ponder. Very fun.

3. Characters:
Yes, there are loads of them, and a mind-boggling number of story threads. For whatever reason, I can't stand referring to a Dramatis Personae. Uncomfortable at first, I soon realized that though I may not immediately recognize a character thread pages later, there were almost always enough breadcrumbs in the new thread to find the link back.

With so many to juggle, Hamilton has to set-up characters quickly, and make them stick. I think he does this very well, with excellent hooks: quirks, an interesting point-of-view, a feeling for a loved one, the impact of interaction with technology, etc.

4. Entertainment Value:
A Bargain Bonanza. This book, like its prequel, Pandora's Star, are two thousand pages of great entertainment. Could make a great series on the Sci-Fi Channel.

5. Humor: Tell me, when was the last time you read Sci-Fi that actually made you laugh out loud? Give up? Read this :-)

Impossible to put down.......2007-06-27

This is an amazingly well written book. It had me staying up way too late into the evening, and I was really concerned about the characters. A fantastic conclusion to Pandora's Star.

My only gripe is that at the end it doesn't mention some of the characters that were part of the whole story. There are a lot of characters though and that must have been hard to do, but it would have been nice knowing what happened to all the key ones.

Average customer rating:

Not Free SF Reader
Feel good book that makes you long for the future
This is for both books - better than Night's Dawn
Still a wonderful universe but not so thorough as previous offerings
Potentially Good, But Overlong, Unfocused, Cardboard Characters

Judas Unchained
Peter F. Hamilton
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345461665
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

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

Ok, he's done it again. Another great book. Taking the creepy politico-mystery from the first book, and mutating through that to an out and out action thriller by the end. Just great fun. Put Mr. Hamilton down as still on the list of 'will read anything he writes'. Highly recommended. Really, really, long, and could be used as a weapon, in hardback! :)

Feel good book that makes you long for the future.......2007-07-03

There are times when the story drones on and there are times you can't put the book down because the story line sucks you in. If you want to envision what the future might look like, sit back and enjoy Peter's book.

This is for both books - better than Night's Dawn.......2007-06-25

You need to read both books together. It really is one book split into two volumes. Unlike Night's Dawn you do get to an ending (not THE ending, it is clear that this series can go on if desired). Others have filled in the major points - so here are some issues not adequately addressed in the reviews IMHO. The BIG one is the life-extending tech. Basically, barring very bad luck, you can't die permanently. Bodies are rejuvenated when they get old. If you manage to get killed, a new body is grown for you in about a year and your memory backups are downloaded. Good as new! How you can back up a person on a flash drive is not really explained in detail. Nor is the fact you could make endless copies of yourself. Unlike a conventional clone, they would be you with your memories! This is never exploited or even commented on. Peter Hamilton, in all his works, seems fascinated with society being run by large companies, "Dynasties", and "Grand Families" as superior to inefficient governments. If the heads of these organizations NEVER DIE, human society would undergo massive upheaval. Can you imagine knowing you could never work your way to the top because the top was never going anyplace?
How many people would still want to have kids if they were never going to die themselves? Surely not as many as now. Also religion is barely mentioned. Surely not having to ever meet God in person would change the world's religions!
The odd mix of tech is interesting. Gasoline and diesel powered cars are still common on less-developed worlds. One would thing the fuel cell would finally have made it 400 years from now! Trains are the major method of inter-stellar transport. There are atomic, diesel, and steam trains running around the galaxy via wormholes. Also not made clear is the expense of inter-stellar train tickets. In some cases it seems easier to commute to work across hundreds of light years than to make it a few miles across a crowded city.
Finally, why oh why would ANYONE not want to utterly wipe out MorningLightMountain? It only wants to kill all other life forms. I can't imagine you could find 3 people in the whole Galaxy that wouldn't push the button with a smile on their face.

Still a wonderful universe but not so thorough as previous offerings.......2007-05-10

The conclusion of Mr. Hamilton's most recent duology. I deliberately took a long time to read this book as I do so enjoy the universe that he crafts. I was less impressed by this anthology than by his previous offerings. There were many characters (Ozzie and Paula for instance) that I felt were never adequately explored. However in a universe as rich with characters as this, I suppose everybody has their favorites and wants to see them on center stage more than the others.

(***Spoiler Alert***) Don't read further if you have not yet read this book and do not want any details given away!!

I also felt that the end portion of the book was not fully satisfying. Perhaps it was the intent, but I felt that the ultimate antagonist in this story was never properly realized. Also, the final conflict was somewhat contrived and unsatisfying.

Don't get me wrong, I fully enjoyed the entire lead up and I do not read these stories solely for the ending. But usually the ending can be counted upon to be as satisfying as the experience of getting there. So I would still recommend the books based on that alone.

Potentially Good, But Overlong, Unfocused, Cardboard Characters.......2007-03-28

First off: I'd like it better if we had 1/2-star options. Judas Unchained really doesn't deserve a 2, more a 2-1/2 or 2-3/4.

I have a love/hate relationship with Peter Hamilton's books. He's very adept at introducing interesting technology and making a faster-than-light society plausible but, as with a lot of these hard-science, libertarian SF authors, he badly needs an editor. I was skipping over multiple pages of irrelevance in both this book and its prequel, Pandora's Star. He also has far too many "main characters" who (despite 800+ pages) never seem to come alive. They all speak with essentially the same voice. And when he tries to individualize someone they come off as badly stereotyped '60s era hippies -- come on, does anyone seriously say "dude" in the real world much less the imagined future of the 24th century?

And why is Hamilton so obsessed with sex with young (or rejuvenated) women?

Hamilton's treatment of virtual immortality is hit and miss at best. On the one hand, the innate conservatism of an immortal civilization is well developed, represented and believable. On the other hand, the dynamics of the relationship between "old timers" and "first lifers" is unsatisfactory. In four centuries, for example, NO ONE has even attempted to unseat Nigel Sheldon from his position as head of the Sheldon dynasty? Perhaps the Commonwealth's continual expansion is the safety valve but even here, the government (controlled the eternal heads of these dynasties) controls it. Another point that is brought up briefly is why would anyone want to live forever if their life didn't change -- I mean the characters of a novel (almost by definition) are dynamic, go-get-'em types but most people just plod through their lives and then die. Why would anyone want to do that for lifetime after lifetime?

The aliens are OK. The problem with them (and this is true of nearly every SF story) is that they tend to be one dimensional -- they're all of a singular type and all too often they really do just act like human beings with weird make up. (This is a problem in fantasy stories, too.) On the plus side, I do tip my hat to Hamilton for not allowing the humans to save themselves with an alien "deus ex machina." Ozzie's adventures in "Wonderland" (i.e., the silfen paths) do bring him to the adult silfen and he does find out the origins of the Dyson barriers but the knowledge doesn't really help anyone defeat the Primes.

Overall, if you started with Pandora's Star, you probably should finish the journey with Judas Unchained. If you haven't started down this "silfen path," I recommend Alistair Reynolds, Tony Daniel or Iain Banks. They write similarly grand space opera but are better at it than Hamilton has proven himself to be to date.

Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future

Average customer rating:

Africa Unchained
Out of an abundant Heart...
Insightful Analysis of Africa Today
good book
Tough Love for Tough Challenges

Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa's Future
George B.N. Ayittey
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Policy & Current Events | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Development & Growth | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Economic Policy & Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Africa | History | Subjects | Books

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Regional Planning | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1403963592
Release Date: 2004-12-23

Book Description

Why haven't the poorest Africans been able to prosper in the twenty-first century? Celebrated economist George Ayittey thinks the answer is obvious: economic freedom was denied to them, first by foreign colonial powers and now by indigenous leaders with similarly oppressive practices. As war and conflict replaced peace, Africa's infrastructure crumbled. Instead of bemoaning the myriad difficulties facing the continent today, Ayittey boldly proposes a program of development--a way forward--for Africa. Africa Unchained investigates how Africa can modernize, build, and improve its indigenous institutions, and argues forcefully that Africa should build and expand upon traditions of free markets and free trade rather than continuing to use exploitative economic structures. The economic model here is uniquely African and takes little heed from the developed world; this is sure to be a highly controversial plan for moving Africa forward.

Customer Reviews:

Africa Unchained.......2007-05-09

This book, in a word is: Remarkable! God created "All Men Equal", and suffice to say, African's wherever they are in the Diasporia, are, apart of the Human Family. We all know the history of Colonialism/Slavery; however, Africa, through the Post colonial period has had about a little over 40 years to work toward: Social Stability, Nationhood, Systems of Government-that works, and developing strategies of amalgamation/unity and [Order] Social Order, that would ensure, development in all phases of social acceptance, and a recognition that Africa is ready to join the Nations of the Industrial Revolution. Sadly, Africa, has not reached the rate of development that is required and that other continents under Quasi-Colonialism have achieved. This has always troubled me. This book tells in stark terms, why the Sub-African Continent continues to lag behind the Universal Determinants. This book puts the blame on African Leadership and in details supports it's thesis with inexplicable evidence. Sure, it speaks of the lingering vestiges of Colonialism, but, the emphasis is on the modern leaders who have "shortchanged" Africa's [Greatest Resource]...the People. This book, was the "cornerstone" for my research and understanding of the chronic problems of Africa's Underdevelopment. The Premise in my view is this: If Africa remains in it's current state, the Peoples of African Descent around the Globe with find Freedom and their proper place in the World of Division of Races and Ethnicity, wanting. I recommend this book to all scholars and those who seriously long for the remedy of how to resolve and solve and find the Social Solutions to Africa's problems. Africa remains: The sleeping giant!

Out of an abundant Heart..........2005-11-12

He put's his faith on africa's young up and coming "cheetahs", and so do I. I feel empowered by George's bare knuckle rumble in the jungle with the political elite and can't wait to join this fight.
They'll fight dirty, and we'll fight smarter and faster and with a good old man like George to show us the tricks, we shall overcome.

Insightful Analysis of Africa Today.......2005-10-30

This is the most brilliant text on Africa I have read, and I don't say that lightly. With almost 500 pages of small text, it's not exactly a breeze to get through, but it is worth every second spent. The author unapologetically describes the mess that the "Hippo" generation following decolonization made, and how it ruined the continent. His prescriptions, which amount to `Africans must solve their own problems in their own way, growing out of African traditions', is right on. I hope that anyone interested in Africa reads this book.

good book.......2005-09-30

this is a great book. IF we have more people like George that tell the truth about Africa like he does in his book, maybe, just maybe we will be able to transform Africa.

Tough Love for Tough Challenges.......2005-03-30

For too long written off as irrelevant to international affairs except as the stage for proxy conflicts during the Cold War or the recipient for the world's charity, Africa is nonetheless poised to play an increasingly important role in the global community of the 21st century. Within the decade, West Africa alone will provide more than one-fourth of North America's petroleum imports, surpassing the entire Middle East. The continent also boasts the world's fastest population growth: by 2020, there will be an estimated 1.2 billion Africans-more than the combined populations of Europe and North America. Yet despite the dynamic potential implicit in these natural and human resources data, Africa remains the world's economic basket case: per capita GDP is barely $575 while thirty-two of the thirty-six countries classified by the United Nations Development Program are to be found in Africa.

Why this apparent contradiction? Defying the conventional wisdom that has long infantilized Africans by blaming colonial exploitation, superpower rivalries, intergovernmental aid agencies, impersonal market forces-anyone and everyone external to the continent-Dr. George B.N. Ayittey, himself a son of Africa, points his finger at the causes closer to home: the "vampire states" and "coconut republics" whose undemocratic and illegitimate rulers have done more harm to their own people than any external agents. In short, Africa Unchained is an unusually frank truth speaking to power-or rather, a dose of tough love for the tough challenges faced by the nations and peoples of the continent.

Unlike many works on Africa, however, Dr. Ayittey's does not end on a pessimistic note. Rather, he points the way forward by looking back at the continent's own rich history of freedom: free enterprise, free markets, and free trade, by free people organized in free societies. The road ahead, he correctly points out, lies through the past-recovering the authentic, acknowledging the baleful. A provocative thesis, to be sure; but it is one which deserves to be considered by scholars and policymakers.

-Dr. J. Peter Pham, author of Liberia: Portrait of a Failed State

The Phoenix Unchained: Book One of The Enduring Flame

Average customer rating:

The Phoenix Unchained: Book One of The Enduring Flame
Mercedes Lackey , and James Mallory
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0765315939
Release Date: 2007-10-16

Book Description

New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory first teamed up to write The Obsidian Trilogy, set in a wondrous world filled with magical beings, competing magic systems, and a titanic struggle between good and evil. That world proved so popular with the creators and readers alike that Lackey and Mallory have returned to it with The Phoenix Unchained, Book One of The Enduring Flame, the opening volume of a new epic fantasy trilogy.After a thousand years of peace, much Magick has faded from the world. The Elves live far from humankind. There are no High Mages, and Wild Mages are seen only rarely. Bisochim, a powerful Wild Mage, is determined to reintroduce Darkness to the world, believing that it is out of Balance. Tiercel, a young Armethalian nobleman, is convinced that High Magic is not just philosophy. He attempts a spell-and draws the unwelcome attention of Bisochim. Tiercel survives Bisochim's attack and begins trying to turn himself into a High Mage. Next in line to be Harbormaster of Armethalieh, Harrier instead finds himself regularly saving Tyr's life and meeting magickal people and creatures. To Harrier's dismay, it seems that he must become a hero. In The Phoenix Unchained, Harrier and Tiercel begin a marvelous journey to uncover their destinies. Along the way, they meet a charming female centaur, several snooty Elves, and the most powerful dragon their world has ever known.

Average customer rating:

My son LOVES this book
SPEECHLESS......
More Simpsons Comics for the Buck!
Oh My God, This is Funny!
This Is Comedy!

Simpsons Comics Unchained
Matt Groening
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

The Simpsons | Series | Teens | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060007974
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Book Description

Simpsons Comics Unchained is chock full of four comics containing the zany antics of TV's first family –Simpsons fans will continue to go wild.

Attention, citizens! Lock your doors and windows! Run for your lives! The Simpsons are busting out the bindings of their biggest and best book yet, and no one is safe from their maniacal comic madness! See Grampa Simpson embark on a new career as El Grampo, a modern day Zorro for the senior set, whose anarchistic shenanigans start to cramp the similarly–inspired protests of his grandson, Bart Simpson (a.k.a. El Barto). Behold the destructive power of censorship as Homer Simpson and the Comic Book Guy fight for their right to free speech and their very lives. Envison a local celebrity, Krusty the Clown, who comes to dinner and refuses to leave. Witness Mr. Burns' power mad scheme to undermine the economy of Springfield by paying his employees in jelly donuts. Observe a town caught in the thrall of an international media sensation, unable to separate themselves from the television chronicle of the life of one man䇯mer Simpson. These stories and many more can barely be contained in the new comic collection...Simpsons Comics Unchained!

Customer Reviews:

My son LOVES this book.......2007-01-09

My son loves the Simpsons and wasn't too into reading. I thought what better way to get him into reading than buying him books about his beloved Simpsons. Sure enough he sat down with it and read it cover to cover without getting off the couch.

SPEECHLESS.............2005-11-08

This book literally left me speechless.
Once you start you literally can't stop.
I picked up the book and until i read
every last word of this amazing
"extravaganza of laughs" couldn't put it down.

This thrilling tale just gave and gave
and didn't ask for anything in return.

I absolutely,positively enjoyed every aspect of this book because it was full of jokes,laughs and skits.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF HUMOUR YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!

PS: I GIVE A STANDING OVATION TO THE CREATORS OF THIS "EXTRAVAGANZA OF LAUGHS".

More Simpsons Comics for the Buck!.......2002-12-06

This book is jam-packed with Simpsons Comics! It is 174 pages; 30% bigger than most Simpsons Comics books! And the quality of the comics has not gone down one iota. Here's what you get in this book:

"The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth": Springfield's top three nerds, Doug, Gary, and Benjamin (Homer hung out with them in the TV episode "Homer Goes to College") are finally forced to leave the secure confines of college to venture into the real world. They end up in Homer's garage. Soon, they become millionaires after creating a violent computer game. While pursuing investment ideas, which includes a sci-fi motion picture that may be too scientifically correct, they leave their business in the hands of Homer. Good idea? What do you think?

"The Absent-Minded Protester": Grandpa is tired of being ignored, so he tries a new way to express his ideas that makes Bart proud.

"Dullards to Donuts": Mr. Burns' research lab produces a donut with powerful addictive qualities. When Burns cuts off the donut supply to his employees, they will make any concession to get them back. The proceeding trial includes appearances from conservative talk show host Birch Barlow (his followers are called "Echo Drones"), Lard Lad, and the mob.

"Sense and Censorability": As punishment for doing a lousy job on his oral biographical report, Bart has to present an historical research project with Homer! When they find their sources from the "Adults Only" section of the comic book store, Watch Out!

"Sideshow Simpsons": With Krusty's sidekicks on strike, Krusty shoots his prime time network special from the Simpsons' house.

"In Search of the Lost Donut Holes": Cute and clever short that has advertising icon and donut connoisseur Lard Lad and friends traveling to "dimensional gateways" through the universe in search of the missing donut holes. Comic includes slogans, editor's notes, and "Brain Glazer" puzzles.

"Bart Simpson and the Krusty Brand Fun Factory": Bart, Ralph, Barney, Nelson and their choices of "legal guardians or parole officers" win a tour of Krusty's new cherry soda factory. Bart chooses to take grandpa so Homer goes with Barney posing as Barney's mother. But, wait. Someone tries to hack into the computerized factory with his prison laptop! Why, it's Sideshow Bob!

"The Homer Show": Taken from the Jim Carey movie, a group of TV execs find Homer the subject of a plethora of videos sent to the Funniest Home Movies program. They plan on creating a 24 hour a day TV show around him, but must get the entire town to cooperate.

"Slobberwacky": Old fashioned style poem featuring many Simpsons characters.

Oh My God, This is Funny!.......2002-10-07

This book is so funny! As I read it, I had a hard time not laughing my head off, while rolling on the floor. Yes, its that FUNNY! Its big too, 7 or so comic strips, and each strip is like 20 big pages, its like reading a book, but better. If you want a good laugh, get this book NOW! The one thing bad about this book is: NOTHING!!!

This Is Comedy!.......2002-05-09

This delightful 7 comic collection Is a tremendous sucsess for the Simpsons. #'s 36-42 are some of the funniest comics. I recomend it to everyone who likes a comedy.

Unchained Eagle: From Prisoner of War to Prisoner of Christ

Average customer rating:

Integrity of a Hero and the Grace of God
An Engaging and Inspirational Book
a book you can't put down- Unchained Eagle
From Hanoi to Palm Desert
Lessons from an Everyman's Hero

Unchained Eagle: From Prisoner of War to Prisoner of Christ
Robert G. Certain
Manufacturer: ETC Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope

ASIN: 0882801511

Customer Reviews:

Integrity of a Hero and the Grace of God .......2007-02-13

This dynamic memoir is written with much candor,humor,and passion. The author allows us to see deep inside his heart to experience the pain, the joys,the thoughts and the emotions as this living account of God's mercy and grace come alive.

The author responded to his own internal compass that was instilled in him by his parents as a child. This was a faith that held steadfast in the face of evil and death. This revealing biography will take you through the fog and friction of war,the deprivation of a prison camp,his calling of God to the priesthood;balancing married life,children,ministry and Air Force responsibilities that will transform you in unexpected ways.

An Engaging and Inspirational Book.......2007-01-30

From the time that I started reading the first page of Unchained Eagle until I finished reading the last page, I was completely absorbed in the account of Father Certain's life as a military officer and church leader. His story is an inspiration to those of us who lived through the Vietnam era and who are also engaged in our churches. He has provided special insights into the trama that the war experience caused for many military personnel, especially whose who were prisioners of war, and has described a strategy for addressing our personal and spiritual problems through our faith in God and support from God's servants. I highly recommend Unchained Eagle as a must-read autobiographical work.

a book you can't put down- Unchained Eagle.......2007-01-10

A well done account of the authors feeling and thoughts from being shot down in a B-52 to becoming and being an Episcopal priest. He gives detail but he makes it so readable that I found it a real page turner. A very interesting look at how the author deals with his Post Traumatic Stress from his ordeal. I recommend it.

From Hanoi to Palm Desert.......2006-12-28

It is very rare for me to take a book of this nature.I was glued to it from cover to cover. Unchained Eagle is not just a re-count of events made only for vietnam veterans or for episcopelians,has been written for all who want to keep his/her believes against all obstacles in life.
Unchained Eagle shows us the true price of freedom.

Lessons from an Everyman's Hero.......2004-03-31

Robert Certain's biographical sketch is more than the story of one Vietnam POW who survived his ordeal with strength, honor and integrity. It is truly the story of one man wrestling with his call to serve, first as a Navigator over targets in Vietnam and then over flocks of Christians seeking God through the Church. Fr. Certain's tale cuts to the core of what it means to serve and serve faithfully. Beyond the loyalty to his oath as an officer Certain presents a compelling story of his loyalty to his devoted wife who stands by him during his time in the Hanoi Hilton and then, how his faith in God made him give himself over to Christ.
For those who knew the times and appreciated what our Veterans did for their nation it is a compelling tale. For those born after the Vietnam War Robert Certain's book will help you capture the times and trials of this troubled period through the eyes of one who lived it vividly. Every veteran can share in his fears, hopes, joys, adventures and ultimate victory over his captors. Every Christian can find their own path to redemption by accompanying Fr. Certain on his journey from Prisoner of War to Prisoner of Christ.

Unchained Memories: True Stories of Traumatic Memories, Lost and Found

Average customer rating:

Brilliant Work - Brilliant Book
The secret life we keep inside
An important book for many reasons.
Excellent and Informative
An Incredibly Important Book...

Unchained Memories: True Stories of Traumatic Memories, Lost and Found
Lenore Terr
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Neuropsychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Psychotherapy, TA & NLP | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0465095399

Book Description

A widely consulted and quoted authority on trauma takes up the controversial topic of repressed memories, presenting seven riveting cases of people whose lives changed forever when they reclaimed forgotten memories.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant Work - Brilliant Book.......2007-07-26

I must say that this book is one of the most helpful, brilliant, and critical pieces of work, I have come across. To the survivor who had to repress or dissociate their trauma, Dr. Terr combines deep compassion with scientific evidence, to help the trauma survivor validate their unchained memories, when they come alive... If you are reading this, Dr. Terr: I salute your brilliant, compassionate work that has helped me on a very deep level. A MUST READ! -Rebecca

The secret life we keep inside.......2007-03-01

Terr's book is an astonishing look at the secret life we live inside our unconscious mind. Meticulously researched, thoroughly explained, this book should be required reading for every serious student of human motivation, psychology, criminology, and social science. I am both a therapist and a writer, and found high adventure and thought-provoking science in Terr's true-life accounts of traumatic memory. This is an invaluable resource, a unique contribution to the field of human understanding. Readable, engaging, and powerful!

An important book for many reasons........2005-11-07

In 1990 Lenore Terr was a hero for helping Eileen Franklin uncover the repressed memories of her father killing her best friend. Terr's testimony was seen as a victory over "False Memory Advocate" Elizabeth Loftus who was an expert for the defense.

George Franklin was convicted and sent to prison in 1990 due to the details of his daughter's "repressed memories." It is important to note however, that advances in DNA technology led to DNA tests in 1996 which cleared George Franklin, showing that he could not have been the murderer. He was released from prison.

Today this book stands as a great example of the functions and dysfunctions of memory, and the incredible danger in putting faith in anything "retrieved" via hypnosis.

The Terr vs Loftus battle has definitely shifted in the last decade. Terr's books are frequent finds on the shelves of used book stores, while the works of Loftus must be purchased new.

Excellent and Informative.......2004-07-10

I finished the book yesterday and my copy is now highlighted and bookmarked. This book is a compelling read on trauma and its effects on memory. Terr writes about her interviews and court cases with several adults abused/traumatized as children. The cases are fascinating and dispersed throughout the book are studies, findings, and a great deal of information about how the mind works and what happens to thoughts and memories when trauma surrounds them.

An Incredibly Important Book..........1999-12-30

I have written about the same subject, i.e. Traumatic experience in childhood and repression in my review on Lenore Terr's other book, " Too Scared to Cry ".

Unchained Memories is a very important work, as it shows different real-life cases. After reading the book one can make their own judgement about whether repression is a real phenomenom. ( I know from first hand experience that it is real and that we can repress old petrifying experiences that are banished from everyday conciousness.) Please read this book and try and raise your awareness about what is real and what isn't real in the world. There are so many myths being promoted by those in positions of power that for many people it is hard to tell what is real and what isn't.

If the world and it's peoples continue to drift into this anaethetized fog they will perish. Denial, Lies, Deceit, Manipulation of the Truth and Abuse of Power seem to be winning in the world, but the victory of those that keep pushing the suppression of the real root causes of society's problems will be a hollow one.

One day, gentleness, honesty, loyalty, compassion and inner peace may transcend the " power " energies of the world.

Awareness - Peace - Love - Unity in Diversity

Average customer rating:

Poorly written, some interesting details

Crappy

For The Alice In Chains Fan/General Reader

Get real!

another worthless AIC bio

Unchained : The Story of Mike Starr and His Rise and Fall in Alice In Chains
Johng Brandon
Manufacturer: Xanadu Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Composers & Musicians | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Entertainers | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0933638108

Book Description

Finally -- a book that uncovers the many mysteries...and much of the mystique of Alice In Chains. From "Rooster" to "Man In The Box" to "Down In A Hole" this band had a dark, raw knack for creating a Grunge Music sound that will stand the test of time. Read about its story from the beginning through the eyes of founding bass player, Mike Starr. The early poverty, the music, the fame, the women, the fans, the dangerous drug addictions, and the unfortunate decline. The story is told by Mike Starr, his family, and several of his close friends. It includes exclusive stories about: Sean Kinney, Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, Nirvana, Pauly Shore, Matt Dillon, Van Halen, Pearl Jam, and Evel Knievel.

It explores the question "How likely is Alice In Chains to make a comeback?" This book is a must-read for any Alice In Chains or Grunge Music fan.

"Unchained..." is the compelling story of Mike Starr's roller-coaster ride that packed more thrills and experiences into a few years than most people could have in 10 lifetimes. Find out: how Alice In Chains was first discovered, why 3,000 girlfriends weren't enough for Mike Starr, who punched out Kurt Cobain in Brazil, why heroin kills you when you overdose, why you'd rather be dead than quit, and what happened when Alice In Chains' lead singer, Layne Staley, insulted the Ku Klux Klan on stage in the heart of Louisiana. Hint: it wasn't pretty.

Customer Reviews:

Poorly written, some interesting details.......2005-01-07

I always wondered why Mike Starr & AIC parted ways & this book does shed light on the subject along with some intersting details about Mike's past, growing up in Seattle & how he began playing in bands. However, I have read better material from high schoolers. This book was written in a very poor fashion, repeated certain facts/stories over & over & bored us with some really uninteresting details (like interviews with Mike's friends who had nothing to do with AIC) This book is only interesting for the absolute die-hards, but chances are when you're done with this book (after about 45 minutes) you'll have regretted spending money on it.

Crappy.......2004-09-09

I love Alice In Chains. But this book was a joke.

Could Mike Starr be favoured any more???

Again, I love AIC, but this book does NOT shed light into anything significant. Poorly written/researched.

For The Alice In Chains Fan/General Reader.......2003-12-13

I got seriously involved in Alice In Chains when I turned that specific age in my life where nothin matters, I think it's called "Adolescence", but now, having owned almost every type of memorobilia about the band, I anxiously awaited the release of this book. I felt it would be an overview of only Mike, but you can tell from reading that it is so much more than just that. It tells of the other members, including both bassists, and how it has changed the members' lives in the road paved by the band. But what will shock you about this book is the recurring references to the drug called "heroin". Some, in reading, have called it incomplete and disorganized, and in some senses, it is. But if you read the book with an open mind and try to understand what is being said, you will find it is much more than just a story about a classic "time-bomb band". It is a story of a musician's rise and fall in a band, long story short. The book's layout is not "bad", it's just very complicated and often hard to understand. This book can be read in one of those long rainy evenings (seemingly how it is supposed to be read), but it can be one of those books to read a little and think about. The other reviews on amazon help to better judge the purchase of the book, but I recommend getting it. It's not a five-star book in my opinion, but it is a very intimiate and internal view of the band from a member's standpoint.

Get real!.......2003-08-08

You know, a real artist would have more to talk about than getting laid. Mudslinging is rampant in this book. It seems like stabs from a desperate soul who could no longer play with the bandmates he cherished. I don't think this book is accurate. Even Mike Starr himself pulled out at the last minute on this one. I don't think we'll ever know the realtory on this great band.

another worthless AIC bio.......2003-03-15

I read this along with Angry Chair, another worthless bio piece on AIC. There is absolutely nothing in this book that held my interest. Let me save you some money: Mike Starr rose to fame in AIC, played a lot of shows, had sex with a lot of women, tried heroin, got hooked, quit AIC, tried to get back in the next day, was denied, spent the next decade trying to kick heroin. The end. The author's writing isnt as bad as the Angry Chair's author, but he definitely should not wait for the Nobel committee to call. He also made lots of historical mistakes about bands like Pearl Jam was Mother Love Bone with a new singer and then Mad Season was Pearl Jam with Layne Staley on vocals. I'm not even a hardcore fan of these bands and I know he's wrong. He also quoted Starr mentioning "Ingve Nomstein." How can you write a book about metal and not know the name of everyone's favorite cheesy metal guitar hero Yngwie Malmsteen?

Unchained Voices: An Anthology of Black Authors in the English-Speaking World of the Eighteenth Century

Average customer rating:

A Scholarly Masterpiece

Unchained Voices: An Anthology of Black Authors in the English-Speaking World of the Eighteenth Century

Manufacturer: University Press of Kentucky
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0813108845

Amazon.com

Many of us know of the poet Phillis Wheatley, the first black woman to publish a book in the Americas, but many of her contemporaries in America and in England remain obscure. This anthology, compiled by Vincent Carretta, a professor of English at the University of Maryland, goes a long way toward rectifying that omission. Here, Carretta collects the work of nearly 20 black writers from the late 1700s. Some, like Ignatius Sancho, a black Londoner who corresponded with important figures of his day such as the author Laurence Sterne, and Olaudah Equiano, an early black abolitionist who created the slave narrative, are well known. Others, like the poet Francis Williams, or Johnson Green, who served in the Revolutionary Army, and whose confession before his execution in 1786 for burglary is included here, are less so. This is an important collection but, while Carretta provides an introduction and footnotes, one wishes he had provided brief biographies for each of the contributors.

Book Description

New Expanded Edition!

This powerful anthology of black authors in English-speaking 18th century nations provides a narrow but necessary focus, assembling a comprehensive presentation of notables whose writings have reflected the experiences of blacks around the world. Themes of liberation, freedom and personal frustration in the effort abound.

Customer Reviews:

A Scholarly Masterpiece.......2000-05-07

Vincent Carretta's _Unchained Voices_ is a masterful anthology of black writers of the 18th century. This compilation--which includes well-known authors such as Phillis Wheatly and Olaudah Equiano, as well as more obscure writers like George Liele and Belinda--is invaluable to scholars of early American, African, and African-American literature. From criminals to Indian captives, the writers in Carretta's anthology illustrate the diversity of the African experience in the English-speaking world of the 18th century. Carretta's introduction and notes are brilliant, his attention to detail and tireless scholarship a model for other academics. While an excellent book for classroom use (I assign it in my survey courses of African-American literature), this anthology will also appeal to readers interested in beginnings of African-American literature.

Average customer rating:

Read it all nite
Truely awe-inspiring.

Unchained
Mac Gober
Manufacturer: Kenneth Copeland Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1575620413

Customer Reviews:

Read it all nite.......2006-06-05

about three years ago, I picked this book up, and I couldn't put it down. And I have read it several times since. I let several people read it. Some of them have even got their own copies to give out to others. It may sound corny, but I laughed, I cried, and grew in my love for all those who are still lost. Jesus is real, and this man proves it. Jesus is powerful, and He proves it right here in this book. God's love for you never gives up as long as there is breath in your body. in this book, Mac proves how God loves all of us so much, no matter how dirty we get.I am convince that most of us don't even really understand the passionate love of God for us. I have seen Mac Gober speak in person, just last nite and today in fact, for probably the fourth time in my life, and he is just so sincere and genuine, funny, very smart in the knowlegde of the Word of God. He loves Jesus, and he loves people because Jesus loves them! And he knows without Jesus we are NOTHING! Sin ruins us, but Jesus set us free! Mac Gober is a reflection of the work that Jesus came and did on earth!!!! He is a Leader! Check out Canaanland!!

Truely awe-inspiring........1999-01-23

I could not put this book down from acknowledgements. Mac Gober's story is written so that christian or non-christian can enjoy,or maybe identify with something said in the book. I gleened much from this book. A friend of mine at work loaned me the book to read, about a week after Mac Gober had spoken at his church. I had intentions of going to one of those meetings. Had I read this book first I'm certain I would have made good on those intentions. "Unchained" was certainly a perfect title. Mac Gober gets his message across that No-One is beyond God's reach, and that God is not mad at a sinner. I am very thankful that this book fell into my hands. I plan to buy more copies of this book, one for myself and at least one to pass around to friends. When you find something worth reading such as this book you just want to share with others. One statement alone "Some People Want to Clean the Fish before they Catch the Fish" was just one of the meaty parts of this book.

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