Mark of the Lion : A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure As the Dawn (Vol 1-3)

Book Description

This classic series has inspired over half a million readers. Both loyal fans and new readers will want the 10th anniversary editions of this beloved series. These editions include a new foreword from the publisher, a new preface from Francine Rivers, and discussion questions suitable for personal and group use.

#1 A Voice in the Wind: Torn by her love for a handsome aristocrat, a young slave girl clings to her faith in the living God for deliverance from the forces of decadent Rome.

#2 An Echo in the Darkness: Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.

#3 As Sure As the Dawn: Atretes. German warrior. Revered gladiator. He won his freedom through his fierceness . . . but his life is about to change forever.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing story!.......2007-10-07

An amazing story that brings you back to the foundation of your faith, as they did for me. I laughed, cried, and rejoiced with the characters as they went through their trials and tribulations. Kudos to Francine Rivers for bringing a remarkable story for generations to come!

an insight into 1st century Christians.......2007-08-27

This series was so great. Not only does it keep your attention in an entertaining way but it makes you think more about what it was like for 1st century Christians.

Great christian fiction........2007-08-24

Didn't get a lot done while reading this book, couldn't put it down. The story draws you in and you also learn alot about this time, the Roman Empire and the plight of their conquered peoples. Can be a little gruesome in parts. Highly recommend.

for reading and re-reading - books that keep on giving.......2007-08-09

Francine Rivers' "Mark of the Lion" series provides believable plots; well-crafted, fully-human characters; satisfying love stories; and practical instruction in Christian living. These books are fun to read, but they go beyond that to provide a deep satisfaction that you can't get from mere entertainment. Also delightful are her polished writing and her attention to historical details. Her careful craftsmanship delights the heart AND the mind. History buffs, romance readers, and students of practical Christian living should all enjoy these books.

Excellent novels.......2007-08-09

These books have really spoken to me. Ms. Rivers has done her homework when it comes to historical accuracy, even printing a glossary of terms in the back of the book. The story lines and characters are outstanding, and beautifully illustrate the story of God's love for us.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

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.

An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion #2)

Average customer rating:

It will blow you away.
Inspiration for Forever Changed
An Echo in the Darkness
Exquisite
As Good as the First!

An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion #2)
Francine Rivers
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion #3)
A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion #1)
Leota's Garden
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Unveiled: Tamar (Lineage of Grace, Number 1)

ASIN: 0842313079

Book Description

#2 An Echo in the Darkness: Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.

Download Description

Turning away from the opulence of Rome, Marcus is led by a whispering voice from the past into a journey that could set him free from the darkness of his soul.

Customer Reviews:

It will blow you away........2007-07-01

If you're like me, you couldn't put down the first book (A Voice in the Wind)... you will be less able to stop reading this one. Good fiction holds your interest and passes the time. Great fiction grabs you and refuses to let go...all the while inspiring you to greater thoughts and actions in your own life. You will LOVE following Marcus and Hadassah through their journeys in this book. If you haven't purchased the whole series yet, start clicking away!

Inspiration for Forever Changed.......2006-10-22

Reading Francine Rivers was an immediate encouragement to contine writing my historical novel Forever Changed, a Journey in Jericho. Her attention to detail is outstanding. Her characters are fully fleshed out. I learned much from her novels about ancient times and the thrill of the read.

An Echo in the Darkness.......2006-08-28

In Francine Rivers second book of the Mark of the Lion Series she leads you on a journey with Marcus through Jerusalem as he searches for God. Julia, Marcus' sister, also goes through a personal journey of her own as she sows what she reapt in the first book. It gives the reader a historic look at the Roman Empire without overloading you on facts. This book was a fabulous book ending the story of Julia, Marcus, & Hadassah.

Exquisite.......2006-07-13

Rivers produced another book replete with interesting characters, a compelling plot, and rich, vivid imagery. This is a story of love between people and the Lord who loves them, but that sentence does very little to describe the story. Highly recommended.

As Good as the First!.......2006-06-09

It is a rare find when a sequel is as good as the original, but Francine Rivers has succeeded admirably with her second installment of this trilogy in AN ECHO IN THE DARK. After reading the first one, I knew I had to read on, but never expected this book to be as good. I don't read a lot of fiction, but have a strong feeling there will be many books by this superb writer in my future.

God gives us each unique gifts in life, and he gave Francine Rivers the blessed gift of writing. She has recognized her gift and deftly uses it to glorify Christ by witnessing through her stories. I do not believe it is possible to read either of these first books of this trilogy without them strengthening ones faith, or perhaps even altering your life altogether. That's how profound these books truly are.

I don't want to give away too much of the story, but readers here will most likely have already the first installment, so I will say that Rivers will make your heart ache for Hadassah's identity to be revealed, only to keep your incessantly turning page after page, mired in anguish and crying out for her precious soul to be rewarded. Throughout this book, as in the first, your emotions will run high as you smile, you cry, you rejoice in the glory of God as others accept His salvation.

I anxiously await the third and final installment in this trilogy, as well as exploring other works by this author. God has blessed Francine Rivers with a wonderful gift. I urge everyone to partake in that gift.

Pastor Monty Rainey

Facing the Congo: A Modern-Day Journey into the Heart of Darkness

Average customer rating:

Next best thing to a Congo journey
Gripping until the end, then it's Disheartening
"Facing the Congo" - Ten Years Later
Inferior To Siberian Dawn
I'm Glad He Made This Foolhardy Journey

Facing the Congo: A Modern-Day Journey into the Heart of Darkness
Jeffrey Tayler
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0609808265
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Book Description

Faced with an identity crisis in his work and his life, seasoned traveler and journalist Jeffrey Tayler made a bold decision. He would leave behind his mundane existence in Moscow to re-create the legendary British explorer Henry Stanley’s trip down the Congo in a dugout canoe, stocked with food, medicine, and even a gun-toting guide. But once his tiny boat pushed off the banks of this mysterious river, Tayler realized he was in a place where maps and supplies would have no bearing on his survival. As Tayler navigates this immense waterway, he encounters a land of smothering heat and intense rains, wary villagers, corrupt officials and dead-eyed soldiers demanding bribes, jungle animals, mosquitoes, and, surprisingly, breathtaking natural beauty.

Filled with honesty and rich description, Facing the Congo is a sophisticated depiction of today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country brought to its knees by a succession of despotic leaders. But most mportant, Tayler’s stunning narrative is a deeply satisfying personal journey of fear and awakening, with a message that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt compelled, whether in life or in fantasy, to truly explore and experience our world.

Customer Reviews:

Next best thing to a Congo journey.......2006-09-22

If you can't afford a trip to the Congo, this book is the next best thing. Tayler's descriptions are excellent, and they combine just the right measures of knowledge and fascinated innocence. What struck me most was how little Brazzaville had changed in the ten years since I lived there.

Gripping until the end, then it's Disheartening.......2006-06-13

Tayler makes modern day adventure to liven up a mundane existence seem almost reachable. Who doesn't fantasize about swashbuckling through adventuresome circumstances when they're sitting at their desk and doing their routine day-to-day life.

Tayler picked up and left everything to risk his own life to wake himself up, a somewhat romantic notion that only rich westerners can do. It's not until the end that he realizes that his own "rich boy" fantasies jeoporadized and compromised the native Congolese/Zairese in which he depended on for his safety. I didn't feel sorry for the author at all when he would get upset and yell at his guide Desi. Desi, who although somewhat annoying with his sermons, did save Tayler from being killed numerous times.

The poverty and everyday struggle that the Africans face in the Congo make Tayler's adventure besmirch of elitism and colonialism. The everyday descriptions of the people themselves make the book intense and rich, Tayler's adventure is secondary.

I also wondered why the author was so out of shape, you would think that he would have trained before embarking on such a physical journey... maybe if he wasn't so sluggish he actually could have accomplished his task rather than complain about aching joints so much and abort his trip halfway...

(Salt Lake City is one of the places Desi is trying to ennunciate)

"Facing the Congo" - Ten Years Later .......2006-02-04

It is not often that one has the opportunity to enjoy an excellent book, and then, have the pleasure to actually meet the author. So be it: Jeffrey Tayler is currently my houseguest in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where he began the arduous journey which resulted in "Facing the Congo" in 1995. The city has survived the devastation of civil war, 1997-2001, and is flourishing once again thanks to bountiful natural resources of timber, minerals and oil. Let's hope this will be enough to inspire Jeffrey to reprise his adventure on the Congo River and perhaps to share once again his experiences with a loyal following. A must read, not only for diplomats, travellers or tourists to the Central African region, but for the armchair "explorer" as well.

Inferior To Siberian Dawn.......2005-09-26

Tayler's story wasn't bad, it's just that the underdeveloped Congo with its many hardships made an inferior setting compared to post-Soviet Siberia. I didn't find this recounting of his journey nearly as interesting as I did the other book by him I read earlier in the year. Tayler has guts to make these one-man trips into the wildest places on earth, and I expect someday we'll just...stop hearing from him.

I'm Glad He Made This Foolhardy Journey.......2005-04-14

I've recently become a fan of Jeffrey Tayler's writing. Having just finished "Angry Wind" I quickly ordered two more of his books, including "Facing the Congo." It's quite a harrowing tale.

In the 1990s Tayler traveled up the Congo on a freight barge to Kisangani and back down on a native canoe (pirogue). Throughout the narrative I found myself cringing at some of the descriptions and wondering why anyone would put themselves through such a trial. In retrospect it was a very foolhardy adventure. The problem was, however, once he was in the middle of it there was nothing to do but finish, dangerous though it was.

Throughout the tale, Tayler's white face provokes and incites the people along the Congo River. There's no getting around it and at times his life is in real danger. One wonders, however, how he could come to some of the decisions he made. He hires a guide he barely knows, a guide whose incompetence is maddening. The guy buys a shotgun (with $300 of Tayler's money) that doesn't work, he lets his family use all the precious drinking water to do laundry and he spouts passages from the Bible and Zaire's employment law at night or while they're paddling downriver. What a nightmare.

The lives of the Zaireans, in many cases, appear to be hell on earth. Their hand-to-mouth existence causes them to take desperate action, resulting in corrupt officials and military constantly angling for bribes, fellow barge passengers begging Tayler for anything, boldly demanding he give them money and food or, worse, trying to rob him, or (if they could get away with it) murder him with machetes. As a "mondele" (white man) he's seen with great suspicion about his motives but also as a bottomless source for riches. The people along the Congo can't believe he's not there to pilfer their country of diamonds so he's faced with hostile reactions everywhere he goes.

The conditions on the barge are horrendous. People defecate into the river that they also use for water to drink and bathe in. They live off anything that swims or crawls, including crocodiles that get their skulls caved in, electric catfish and slimy slugs and live caterpillars consumed as snacks. Clouds of mosquitos and other insects torment them as does the never ending glare of the sun and the stifling humidity.

I'm glad Tayler made this journey. His descriptions of the conditions along the Congo are quite vivid. The frustration he feels being hit up for money all the time is certainly understandable. To travel to a place like that, when he did, with $4000 hidden on his person (an absolute fortune to the Africans) can only be described as foolhardy. Thank God he survived. We, the reading public, are richer for it.

Other reviewers have mentioned his tendency to squeeze too many obscure words into his prose. I agree. On the other hand, if we take the time to look them up we might learn something. I've studied a little French so his habit of slipping some of that language into the text didn't bother me. The day-to-day slog down the river from Kisangani got just a tad tedious but I'm sure it's nothing compared to actually doing it in a boat.

I'd highly recommend this book. I still don't know why Mr. Tayler undertook this adventure (he's very lucky to have made it home) but, as I said, the result is a gripping story. I'm now on to another of his works, "Glory In a Camel's Eye."

Darkness in El Dorado: How Scientists and Journalists Devastated the Amazon

Average customer rating:

great book. period.
has anyone cared to ask the yanomami?
Ridiculous and outrageous
Factual, but a bit bias
'science' over humanity

Darkness in El Dorado: How Scientists and Journalists Devastated the Amazon
Patrick Tierney
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Yanomami: The Fierce Controversy and What We Can Learn from It (California Series in Public Anthropology)
Alanis Obomsawin: The Vision of a Native Filmmaker (American Indian Lives)
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Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples

ASIN: 0393322750

Amazon.com

Since Napoleon Chagnon set foot in the Amazon in 1964, the Yanomami Indians have been an emblem of savage primitive man, as well as a staple of anthropology classes. Chagnon's Yanomami: The Fierce People is the all-time bestselling anthropology book, and his award-winning documentaries brought images of brutish, wife-stealing, naked Indians into classrooms around the world. Chagnon, however, has been dogged by criticism and controversy for years, and with the publication of Patrick Tierney's Darkness in El Dorado, the debate has erupted, forcing what may be the most tragic and shameful chapter of anthropological history into public view. Tierney's allegations, if true, are devastating. While Chagnon made the Yanomami synonymous with aggression, Tierney charges that Chagnon himself fomented wars through his tactics of creating false alliances, giving away machetes, and staging scenes in order to substantiate his own belief in male aggression. Even worse, Tierney believes that Chagnon and his mentor, the famous geneticist James Neel, actually started the measles epidemic that decimated up to 20 percent of the tribe's population by administering a contraindicated "dinosaur vaccine" to a highly vulnerable population. Tierney paints a horrific picture of Neel and his team of scientists rushing to get their samples of blood, urine, and saliva out of the tropical heat--and Chagnon choreographing his documentary--while the Yanomami fall like flies around them.

Tierney's research is meticulous and exhaustive (and includes the discovery of sound recording outtakes never before heard). He has penned a riveting story backed by a flood of facts that condemn Chagnon and his cohorts, and those who continue to abuse the Yanomami:

In the economics of exoticism the more remote and more isolated a tribal group is, the greater its market value. As the last intact aboriginal group, the Yanomami were in a class by themselves, poster people whose naked, photogenic appeal was matched by their unique genetic inheritance. Their blood was as coveted by scientists as their image was by photographers.

Anthropologists have been fearful of public reaction to the Chagnon scandal, and for good reason. As Yanomami spokesman Davi Kopenawa says, "For many years now anthropologists have been saying how exotic we Yanomami are. But when we finally tell our story the world will find out who is truly exotic." --Lesley Reed

Book Description

The explosive and highly controversial National Book Award finalist that has forever changed the discipline of anthropology. Thought to be the last "virgin" people, the Yanomami were considered the most savage and warlike tribe on earth, as well as one of the most remote, secreted in the jungles and highlands of the Venezuelan and Brazilian rainforest. Preeminent anthropologists like Napoleon Chagnon and Jacques Lizot founded their careers in the 1960s by "discovering" the Yanomami's ferocious warfare and sexual competition. Their research is now examined in painstaking detail by Patrick Tierney, whose book has prompted the American Anthropological Association to launch a major investigation into the charges, and has ignited the academic world like no other book in recent years. The most important book on anthropology in decades, Darkness in El Dorado will be a work to be reckoned with by a new generation of students the world over. A National Book Award finalist; a New York Times Notable Book, a Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year, and a Boston Globe Best Book of the Year. 16 pages of b/w photographs.

Customer Reviews:

great book. period........2006-04-12

a review below states "This book should be titled 'lies and deception'. Even extreme anthropological Marxists like Ferguson and Harris - whose ideas Tierney uses - have distanced themselves from this work." i have to say its absolutely not true, I had Ferguson as a professor at Rutgers and when i asked if he could recommend any books on the subject of the Yanonami this was on the top of his list. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the perception of warfare [or the contruction of such perception]. The short explanation is, its just a great book for whatever reason. i also recommend reading some chagnon after reading this book for the contrast. but this is def a great read!

has anyone cared to ask the yanomami?.......2005-09-18

As a layman I cannot comment on the soundness of the allegations in the book, though at face value they present a riveting indictment on the fact that 500 years after Columbus the clash between imported and local mores and cultures is as sad as ever. To bring the spotlight on this subject merits a reading of the book, regardless of the controversy that surrounds it.
What is very significant is that in all the reviews I have read I still have not found a mention as to what the current Yanomami associations think about the way research has been carried out among their people for many decades, and what guidelines the Yanomami themselves would implement. The Yanomami are not children, nor are they stupid, and they have a voice. It is a pity all these academics, critics, reviewers et al have placed their priority on listening to themselves first and foremost, while ignoring the opinion of the subjects of all this alleged unethical and disturbing activity. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

Ridiculous and outrageous.......2004-10-07

This book should be titled 'lies and deception'. Even extreme anthropological Marxists like Ferguson and Harris - whose ideas Tierney uses - have distanced themselves from this work. The book contains consistent rewritings of other writers' work and deceptive misquotings (used in one situation by one author, and then trimmed and applied to another situation). The allegations that scientists and the anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon used a bad measles vaccine to experiment on the Yanomamo was dismissed by an expert on vaccines in minutes. The only interesting question concerning this book is why Norton published it, and why they continue to sell it. Astonishing!

Factual, but a bit bias.......2004-07-09

With the long listed facts, this book gives a very detail description on the happenings in the Yanomami land since its discovery. The book blames the spoiled land was due to the anthropologists who were then awarded based on the field work within the Yanomami, who are friendly and should be protected intact as from the author's opinion.

Though the anthropogists have the own accountabilities, there are authorities that could do something to prevent it from happening. However, it might be difficult as the Yanomami seems not as friendly as it was portrayed. From the kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl to the killings and wars just for more steel goods do not sound any "friendly" at all. That may be a reason for the anthropogists to treat them the way.

Nevertheless, this is dedicated book that is worth to read.

'science' over humanity.......2002-12-13

im glad this book was written for the sole-fact that all these reviews are so concentrated on supporting the name of Anthropology and "Science" that they dont focus on the cultures people have destroyed in the name of science, "progress", profit, grants, warfare, etc, etc, etc.

"all of Chagnon's work is taken in vain." so are a lot of peoples livlihoods so he gets his paycheck. you can balance what you think its more important... a man coming back to his roots to observe for the rest of us or letting the people live autonomously.

River of Darkness
Average customer rating:

Survival takes many forms

Different and Intelligent

One-hand read

near perfection

Plot is too similar to Thomas Harris "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs"

River of Darkness
Rennie Airth
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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A Cold Treachery

ASIN: 0143035703
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

The main protagonist of River of Darkness is a Scotland Yard detective so damaged by his experiences during the First World War that his superiors worry about his ability to do his job. This may sound like Charles Todd's excellent series about Ian Rutledge, a shell-shocked cop from the same era. But Rennie Airth, a South African journalist who lives in Italy, has made his hero--Inspector John Madden--a somewhat different version of one of England's walking wounded. Madden is both gloomier (he lost his wife and young daughter to an influenza epidemic) and more pragmatic than the poetic, indecisive Rutledge.

Madden is sent to a town in Surrey where a local family has been massacred in what looks like a robbery gone wrong. He finds enough echoes of his recent battlefield experiences to conclude that the killer was just one man--most likely a former soldier using a bayonet. As for motive, it could well be perverse sexual passion, that "river of darkness" to which a psychologist introduces him. We meet the killer early on, watch him as he maintains a rigid control over every aspect of his life, then stare in horror as he periodically explodes into mad violence. Unlike Madden, this man has not been severely damaged or changed by the war; he has simply used it to channel and redirect his dark river. Airth's point--that survival comes in many shapes and sizes--gives a solid foundation to an impressive leap of imagination. --Dick Adler

Book Description

Upon its original publication, River of Darkness awed readers who look for intelligent, well-plotted psychological mysteries. This "fine, frightening piece of work" (Kirkus Reviews) introduces inspector John Madden who, in the years following World War I, is sent to a small village to investigate a particularly gruesome attack. The local police dismiss the slaughter as a botched robbery, but Madden detects the signs of a madman at work. With the help of Dr. Helen Blackwell, who introduces him to the latest developments in criminal psychology, Madden sets out to identify and capture the killer, even as the murderer sets his sights on his next innocent victims.

Customer Reviews:

Survival takes many forms.......2007-09-15

The setting for this novel is a post World War I Britain: still reeling from the combined effects of war and the influenza epidemic of 1918.

A local family in Surrey has been massacred in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong. Enter Inspector John Madden, a veteran of the trenches, who has lost his wife and young daughter to in the influenza epidemic.

This is Rennie Airth's debut novel, and provides an insight into the emotional after effects of war and personal loss together with an exploration of then contemporary psychiatric theory to try to understand, explain and predict the killer's behaviour.

Well developed characters and tight plotting make this an enjoyable, albeit suspenseful, read.

Highly recommended

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Different and Intelligent.......2007-06-12

I generally find stories that feature serial killers to follow a formula that makes the reader grow weary of the story long before the final page. This book is one of the exceptions.

The main characters are well drawn and interesting. Set in the 1921 England the author captures the atmosphere of weariness and lingering tragedy cast by the events of World War I. The story is a frightening one in its quiet rural setting where people have survived the war and are once more going about their normal lives. Into their midst comes a ruthless killer who has no conscience and who happens upon his future victims randomly but then sets about stalking them in a cold calculating way that leaves the reader unsettled.
The story is told from a number of different perspectives and by doing so the reader becomes more involved in the events as they unfold. Attention to detail is well done as are the unexpected twists and turns that the story takes. The author has created a set of characters that are alive and throughout the book remain true. From Inspector Madden to the local bobby to the maid in the artist's house all have their roles to play and enhance the telling of the story.
There is a haunting atmosphere to this tale that remains long after the book has been closed.
The book is finely crafted from beginning to end and is elegantly written with a powerful use of language.
My only disappointment is that the author has not written many more books.

One-hand read.......2007-06-10

Please do not read this book unless you can do things with one hand. The other will be holding the book because you cannot put it down,and should not. Even at the end when you are relaxing for the mop-up Rennie Airth grabs you by the neck one more time.

near perfection.......2007-03-16

Rennie Airth's River of Darkness is just plain spectacular. Great writing, great characters, great plot. Loved the second, can't wait for the third...

Plot is too similar to Thomas Harris "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs" .......2006-11-06

This book felt very familiar, and with one third of the book left I realized it was essentially the same story as "Red Dragon" (with a time sequence from "Silence of the Lambs",) by Thomas Harris. This might be entirely a coincidence, but still...it left a bad taste.

(Spoiler warning) Here are some similarities:
-Family is stalked and massacred in both books in a very similar way.
-Similar detective character in both books.
-Similary sexually obsessed psychopath in both books.
-The crux of the mystery is the mechanism by which the assasin comes in contact with the victims. This is very similar (home film development technician in "Red Dragon", family portrait painter in the other).
-Interleaving of events by which the detective visits the assasin, while the police raid the wrong house at the same time is very similar.

Rivers of Blood, Years of Darkness: The Unforgettable Classic Account of the Watts Riot,

Average customer rating:

A compelling ground-level report

Rivers of Blood, Years of Darkness: The Unforgettable Classic Account of the Watts Riot,
Robert E. Conot
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Customer Reviews:

A compelling ground-level report.......2002-01-14

Conot was the first person given access to many of the reports of the uprisings, and he interviewed 1,000 people and got written statements from 500 others. He weaves all these together into an as-it-happens narrative in which the events unfold on the level of the individual actors, from the people caught in the middle at street level, to the governor and his officers. In doing so, he created a sociologically significant page-turner.

Compass of the Soul: River into Darkness #2 (River Into Darkness, 2)

Average customer rating:

An Excellent Conclusion
Thoroughly enjoyable book...
Chasing the Fox that isn*t......
Good writing, characters you care about, a page-turner
Excellent, but not up to Russell's previous level

Compass of the Soul: River into Darkness #2 (River Into Darkness, 2)
Sean Russell
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Beneath the Vaulted Hills : The River into Darkness
Sea without a Shore (Moontide Magic Rise)
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The Initiate Brother Book One
Gatherer of Clouds (Initiate Brother)

ASIN: 0886779332

Book Description

In his quest to destroy all magic in the world, the last great mage, Lord Eldrich, has sent Erasmus Flattery to find and eradicate Anna, the leader of the Tellerites, a group of finatics desperate to preserve the magic--including the key to immortality--Eldrich wants to eliminate. Torn by his resentment of Eldrich's manipulations and his strange loyalty to Anna, Erasmus willl undergo a magical and spiritual journey which will cause him to question all he believes to be true...and rock the foundations of his world!

Praise for The Moontide and Magic Rise duology:

"This is lod-fashioned high adventure, complete with ancient ruins, a mysterious white falscon, a beautiful duchess, her homicidal brother, superstitious sailors, sea battles, miraculous rescues, and eager middshipman, and a sinister doctor."-- Locus

"A spectacular beginning of what is sure to be a successful fantasy series."-- Publishers Weekly

"Russell has wrttten a winner."-- Starlog

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Conclusion.......2001-03-15

This second 'book' in the River into Darkness series would not rightly be called a sequel. The two books are in truth one, split most likely for some reason of publication. They are both exceptional books, but in no way are they stand-alone. I recommend them enthusiastically, but buy both.

They are as one 'book' the sequel to the Moontide and Magic Rising series (World Without End/Sea Without Shore), and are completely stand-alone from that other series.

This second book grabs the mystery right where the first left off, and for those who felt the first book lacked enough 'magic' to make it fantasy, this book attempts to add more--though just a pinch. As in the Moontide and Magic Rising series, this book delves more into the idea of 'other worlds close at hand yet infinitely far away', and even gives us a glimpse of these worlds.

The characters become more ambiguous; much to the appreciation of this reviewer, who found an entirely new and realistic depth lent to them. The villain is given even more humanity, and more justification for his 'evil', one of the heroines has more suspicion cast upon her own motives, and the entire plot thickens.

I believe Russell is something of an original in the contemporary fantasy scene; I read a review somewhere comparing his world to the world of Sherlock Holmes. I think this a very apt comparison. Russell's Europe is a slightly dark and gothic Europe, with the pomp and manners of the court spread throughout society, yet also with mysteries beyond mortal ken springing up in the most unlikely of places, and strange ties binding everything together.

I would recommend this book whole-heartedly to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, with twists and turns perpetrated by believable and passionate characters. There is something of a dearth of action in these books, and the 'magic' is incredibly subtle, but to me this merely adds to the flavor of the world, in a wonderfully pleasing manner.

Thoroughly enjoyable book..........2000-02-12

I read the Compass of the Soul and its predecessor in under four days. This story was more important to me than sleep, as I stayed up late each night to find out what would happen. The characters were layered and believable; their motivations complex. I will disagree with a previous reviewer, just a difference of opinion on one point I liked her review, I appreciated the way magic was portrayed in this book. Eldrich was shown to be powerful through others' deference, through subtle aspects of light and shadow, in essence through his intense presence. If magic would have been displayed more openly, I think it would have detracted from the mood that the author was trying to set--the sense of mystery. I believe this choice was made to underscore the fact that magic was soon to pass out of the world. Or to use an illustration in the book...the tide of magic was ebbing. Ultimately, I enjoyed reading a book where the author didn't write to the lowest common denominator, and assumed his readers could think.

Chasing the Fox that isn*t.............1999-06-27

I have eagerly awaited the second half of this set, only to suffer the same frustration as before. Sean Russell paints his Georgian-Victorian world with much detail, a world where magic is slowly, inexorably dying. His fault is that he almost never shows that magic. Eldritch, the last true mage--ever distinct from mundane humans--is quite long lived, has disturbing dreams, yet this appears to be the extent of anything we the reader can tell. Much of the book is taken with Erasmus Flattery, Eldritch*s former student, in pursuing Anna, who would resurrect the magical arts, and in Eldritch*s pursuit of him. The undercurrent of *other worlds* runs thru the book; as in Sea Without a Shore, there is a brief glimpse of that realm, along with one of a Hiroshiman cataclysm. What's difficult is that up unto the very end, the magic arts are firmly kept *offstage*, it is difficult to understand what everyone is seeking for, or warning against. A map would have been useful as well.

Good writing, characters you care about, a page-turner.......1998-10-30

Russell's fictional world feels a lot like the 19th century England of Sherlock Holmes. It feels familiar rather than fantastical, yet great and deep mysteries lie just below the surface. Russell draws characters with depth and breadth, people we care about. Even his villains are real people for whom we have sympathy. Indeed, it is difficult to decide which side you are on in this centuries-old struggle. I have diffculty putting any Sean Russell book down. If you like his others, you will like this one.

Excellent, but not up to Russell's previous level.......1998-08-24

I, for one, eagerly awaited the release of this book. Russel does a workman like job drawing this preqel to a conclusion in his usual and enjoyable style. While an excellent book, I found that this was more formulaic, as if he was somehow hampered by having both the beginning and the ending predetermined by his previous works. There was less of the mystery and intrigue we have become accustomed to: the reader actually knows what is going to happen! However, Russell certainly provides some additional answers and background on the world, characters, and mages he has created.

Beneath the Vaulted Hills : The River into Darkness

Average customer rating:

Amazing
uniquely satisfying
Excellent Find!
Intriguing Beginning to a Masterful Fantasy
A bore

Beneath the Vaulted Hills : The River into Darkness
Sean Russell
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0886777941

Amazon.com

Sean Russell writes for people who prefer books to movies. No snappy dialogue or nonstop action sequences, just a mesmerizing tale, multifaceted characters, and lyrical descriptive prose. Beneath the Vaulted Hills is the first part of Russel's River Into Darkness series, which is itself a two-part prequel to Russell's Moontide and Magic Rise series. Each series stands alone, despite some characters in common.

Both series are set in the first half of an alternative 19th century. In Beneath the Vaulted Hills, Lord Eldrich, the last Mage, seeks to suppress all knowledge of magical powers. Two young men, Hayes and Kehler, and the beautiful Countess of Chilton have discovered clues to a possible trove of magical lore. It's concealed in a labyrinthine cave system behind a mysterious "crypt" linked to Teller, a renegade mage apprentice who founded a society to preserve magic. Erasmus Flattery, once a student in Eldrich's household, knows how dangerous the Mage can be, but finds himself joining the investigation. Both the Tellerites and Lord Eldrich follow, determined to control their discoveries.

Russell has the rare ability to immerse his readers so completely in his tale that reaching the end feels like waking from a particularly vivid dream. Fortunately the second volume of the series, The Compass of the Soul, continues it. --Nona Vero

Book Description

The last of the world's great mages, the enigmatic Lord Eldrich has dedicated his life to eradicating all remaining vestiges of magic in the world. But the fanatical Tellerites--followers of a long-dead mage-apprentice--oppose Eldrich, desiring the hidden knowledge of the magical arts and with it the coveted key to immortality. Drawn into this conflict against his will is Erasmus Flattery, who as a boy dwelt with Eldrich, and is still haunted by the memories of what transpired during his stay with the mage. Now Erasmus must lead as expedition to search for a secret taht has remained hidden since the time of the first Mages!

Customer Reviews:

Amazing.......2007-01-07

In the Sean Russell's book Beneath the Vaulted Hills, he arguably creates one of the deepest fantasy stories ever contrived in a long while. Throughout the book Russell's style is unparalleled as he weaves an enchanting tale about a European-esque world. Reinventing the overly done concept of magic and mages, while setting it to an engrossing fictional world, creates an amazing atmosphere that will keep you on the edge of Russell's every word. Sean Russell continues to best himself though as he also creates memorable characters with gripping inner conflicts with actually believable personalities. Russell, in writing such a fine novel, proves himself worthy to sit in the Pantheon of fantasy greats with the likes of Tolkien and the lot.

uniquely satisfying.......2003-05-08

This was my first Sean Russell book and, like most of my favorite books, just came out of left field.
Rather than give details of the story, let me describe the reading experience.
Fantasy is so often placed in 'mud and thatch' medieval settings, which in reality leaves little to work with. Swords, fire, magic, horse-riding and running from the enemy are all one can play with. Ok, maybe elves and castles. Groveling beggars populate the masses.
Russell picks the perfect setting here. Elegance, style, pre-industrial but post-literate, old enough to have a shadowy history but young enough to be just awakening to the excitement of the 'renaissance'. I would place the culture as somewhere between 1700 and 1800, though there are obvious deviations.
As a sub-genre this might be called Alternate History Fantasy, as the environment is very 'real', almost contemporary, and magic is very, well, magical, and rare.
The energy of the characters following the 'magi' reminds me of contemporaries studying the Sphinx, though in fantasy something real can actually develop. This story is probably 80% academic mystery, and the depth of the plot and the mostly standout characters swirling around the unknown make for uncomparable fun.
The book diverges halfway through, and this is what really captures me.
I use to be a spelunker and Russell seems to have actually done some himself, because the second half of his book is so intense and real that he fully captures the sheer rigurousness and challenge of negotioting a real cave system. The combined sense of isolation, claustophobia and mystery that is unique to caving is captured perfectly, and really makes you feel like you've journeyed somewhere, rather than the few miles that in reality one has moved. (one does not journey lightly underground for long: bone-sucking chill, nowhere to go to the bathroom that somebody might not crawl through later, one must pack extremely light, you can't build a fire, its almost impossible to adequately respond to an medical emergency, etc)
Lots of good, intellectually-paced dialogue and very atmospheric.
All four are worth reading, but 'Vaulted' was my favorite. Hardly a cliche in the whole series.

Excellent Find!.......2003-01-01

This is one of the best finds in my reading for 2002. A great introduction to Sean Russell's great stories and deep plots it has everything a great story needs. After reading this I couldn't help myself but get his other books and I am not dissapointed! If you like fantasy or science fiction then this book is a must.

While the characters are slow to be introduced it is a problem every writer faces and is well made up for by there human-like qualities in a world completely believable. Great work Sean Russell!

Intriguing Beginning to a Masterful Fantasy.......2002-07-11

Beneath the Vaulted Hills is a beautifully-conceived fantasy tale. Written by Sean Russell, author of the Moontide and Magic Rise duology, the story follows Erasmus Flattery-a man of science once fostered in the home of Lord Eldrich, the last of Farrland's magi. Erasmus is called upon to aide his friend, Samual Hayes, in escaping capture by both men of the Admiralty and a group of mysterious strangers.

Erasmus, haunted by demons from his past, has spent his life seeking knowledge of the arcane. His relationship with Hayes brings him closer than ever to realizing his goal. But he is not the only player in this game of intrigue. The Tellerites, a band of renegade magi long thought dead, seek knowledge now known only by Lord Eldrich. Eldrich, a figure of mystery and legend, more feared than admired, will stop at nothing to remove the last vestiges of magic from the world before he, too, is forced to leave. Each character has a role in the story, and the dramatic, cliff-hanger ending leaves the reader wondering which characters move the pieces, and which are the pawns.

The concepts of empiricism and natural science, strongly woven throughout Beneath the Vaulted Hills, are rarely considered in fantasy works, and the setting-a late-medieval society, empowered through the use of the recently-developed cannon-is one not often explored by fantasy writers. Nevertheless, Russell manages to instill both personality and believability into his characters and their countries. Fans of both science and magic will delight in Russell's work.

A bore.......2002-02-15

I purchased this book based on all the good reviews, however, I was very disappointed in this book and could barely finish it. I found the characters to be very vague and unfriendly. I did not care for them nor cared what happened to them. I found myself knowing as little at the ending of the book as I did at the beginning. I realize that this is only the first book however, my interest was never sparked and I have little curosity in the outcome of the story. I, for one, will not be searching for the next book in the series.

Average customer rating:

could have been better with a bit more set up.

River of Darkness
James Grady
Manufacturer: Little, Brown & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 044651554X

Customer Reviews:

could have been better with a bit more set up........2004-08-22

Imagine that James Bond were no longer needed for Her Majesty's Secret Service so they decided to eliminate him so that he couldn't embarrass them later. This is sort of the premise of this book, except that Jud Stuart is not nearly as suave and debonair as Bond and he works for the American government.

Stuart is a special forces soldier recruited by the CIA during the Vietnam war. He is involved in action in Laos, Iran, the USSR, Washington D.C. and Central America. Finally, he's had enough and decides to use his connections to smuggle drugs into the U.S. and pocket the cash for himself (and eventually becomes a marked man due to nebulous connections to the Iran-Contra scandal).

The first 100 pages or so of this novel are confusing due to a large amount of flashbacks with little or no setup. Once all of the characters are established this is much more tolerable. The flashbacks themselves are very interesting since they involve Stuart's secret missions. The rest of the book, however, is not nearly so interesting.

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