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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan

Average customer rating:

A life-changing experience
A must read
True, Real, Humbling
Must Read
Must Read

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky: The True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan
Alphonsion Deng , Benson Deng , Benjamin Ajak , and Judy A. Bernstein
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lost Boy No More: A True Story Of Survival And Salvation

ASIN: 1586483889

Book Description

A stunning literary survival story, hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a "moving, beautifully written account, by turns raw and tender."

Across Sudan, between 1987 and 1989, tens of thousands of young boys took flight from the massacres of Sudan's civil war. They became known as the Lost Boys. With little more than the clothes on their backs, sometimes not even that, they streamed out over Sudan in search of refuge. Their journey led them first to Ethiopia and then, driven back into Sudan, toward Kenya. They walked nearly one thousand miles, sustained only by the sheer will to live.

They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky is three boys' account of that unimaginable journey. With the candor and the purity of their child's-eye-vision, Alephonsion, Benjamin, and Benson recall by turns how they endured hunger and strength-sapping illnesses. How they dodged the life-threatening predators-lions, snakes, crocodiles and soldiers-that dogged their footsteps. How they grappled with a war that threatened continually to overwhelm them. Their story is a lyrical, captivating portrait of a childhood lost to war, and of the perseverance of the human spirit.

Customer Reviews:

A life-changing experience.......2007-10-04

I never thought that a book could move me in the way that this has. It is gripping, inspirational, horrifing, beautiful tear-jerker that will keep your jaw dropped. You will be forever changed by this true account of a tragedy that sadly many Americans do not know about. Amazing book. Make sure to have a box of tissues by your side!

A must read.......2007-09-26

I couldn't put the book down and at the end I cried. It was hard to believe that boys so young had been through so much. If your interested in whats going on in Sudan than I think its a must read.

True, Real, Humbling.......2007-09-26

This book is so powerful, these boys journey is so humbling, there is no way that you could read this book and not look at your life in a different way. The crazy thing about it is that it is ALL TRUE, this is thier account of their lives, this book has encouraged me more to want to fight for social injustices.

Must Read.......2007-08-11

I have a BA in English and taught high school literature courses for seven years before becoming the administrator of an alternative school. I consider myself well read. Therefore, when I say this was the most moving book I have ever read, I do not say so lightly. I had the honor of meeting one of the authors, Benjamin Ajak, at a recent conference. While his English is not articulate, his message is gut wrenchingly moving. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is not a summer beach romance. It is the story of the survival of the human spirit at its most base level. It is both appalling and inspiring. It is a must read. If you are not a humanitarian before you read it, you will be after you read it.

Must Read.......2007-06-27

Amazing!
This sad true account of the lives of the people of Southern Sudan is a must read.

The Hopeville Fire Department: A Boy's Tale of Betrayal by One of New England's Most Notorious Priests

Average customer rating:

Thank you Tony for sharing your story with us.
Heartbreaking, but a great book
I was amazed
Great Read!
Why are they still around?

The Hopeville Fire Department: A Boy's Tale of Betrayal by One of New England's Most Notorious Priests
Tony Lembo
Manufacturer: Prose & Pictures, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Queen

ASIN: 0979349109

Product Description

The Hopeville Fire Department is the true, first person account of a victim of sexual abuse by one of New England's most notorious priests. In the heartland of devoutly Catholic, working-class, 1970s New England, few took notice of Connecticut State Police and fire chaplain Father Stephen C. Foley racing around in a car full of teenaged boys and young men, visiting firehouses, chasing fire engines, showing up at fire scenes and pretending to be firemen. But hidden in plain sight, Father Foley was a central figure in a network of firehouse groupies across New England that, for more than two decades, used the candy of firehouse and police culture to lure boys into violent sexual initiations that left their lives shattered while the Catholic Church looked the other way. This is the story of one of those boys, and a look inside one of the most bizarre and callous cases of pedophilia ever uncovered among the Catholic clergy. It is a tale of evil and hypocrisy still unfolding in today's headlines as the Diocese of Hartford continues to pay out millions to keep the truth from being told, while providing Foley with shelter and defense against a growing chorus of victims.

Customer Reviews:

Thank you Tony for sharing your story with us........2007-08-07

We all need to be aware of clergy sexual misconduct and what happened to Tony Lembo is why. So many victims of sexual abuse silently suffer alone. We all need to be aware of this problem as this is the only way we can begin to hold accountable these pedophiles.

To think Father Foley has never been charged and is free to molest more boys is insane. Let us all wake up to this now.

Heartbreaking, but a great book .......2007-06-06

This book is well written and straight from the heart. The abuse is sickening and the method of grooming these boys is just pure evil genius--what kid can resist cruising around watching firemen work? What courage to have brought this out into the fresh air and sunlight, to refuse to keep silent and be a victim one more minute.

I was amazed.......2007-06-04

This book is easy to read, straight from the heart and interesting. I can't beleive those [...] are still free to violate other young children. I didn't realize people could act that terrible. I would reccomend this book to anyone with a few hours to sit down and read. You will have a hard time laying the book down once you start reading it.

Great Read!.......2007-05-16

This book was hard to put this book down. Unlike typical expose books on the Catholic Church, Tony tells us that he can't understand the motives behind Father Stephen Foley who assaulted him, or the Catholic Church who covered up years of Foley's assaults on uncountable victims, because that is not the point of "The Hopeville Fire Department." The point of this book was for Tony to tell his story and explain the life of a victim of betrayal and sexual abuse. Tony brings us into his life at an early age and we travel from his Catholic upbringings through his assault, to an adult coping with this horrific memory. He goes further than any media outlet ever can by explaining, in his own words, what's it like to live your whole life with a secret so humiliating, it takes 30 years to confess. I would recommend "The Hopeville Fire Department" to anyone because of its honesty and quick-read quality. This is a topic that everyone should be aware of.

Why are they still around?.......2007-04-15

This book touched me deeply. I finished the book in two parts. I'm so glad Tony wrote this book no one really knows what these priest did, only thing we hear is that the church is paying hugh amounts of money. His story blow me away. After reading this book I logged onto Tonylembo.com to find all kinds of media attention on this book. When I realized that this priest is still living the life, driving the same car I was stunned and sick to my stomach. If your children aren't safe with the priests of the Catholic Church who can we trust?

Average customer rating:

A good look back
My Perspective on "Report from Engine Co. 82"
For those wanting a career in fire, this is step one...
Firefighting on the mean streets
The Bravest

Report from Engine Co. 82
Dennis Smith
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0446675520

Book Description

Dennis Smiths worldwide bestselling account of life as a fireman in the worlds busiest firehouse, Report From Engine Co. 82, still resonates. Bringing the reader ruthlessly into the raging fires that sweep through tenements, he describes in painful detail what it feels like to fight a fire in freezing cold, to enter a collapsing building, or to save a life. Meals interrupted by false alarms, injuries ranging from a burned hand to a broken back, are all vividly portrayed in Smiths gripping day-to-day journal. After 25 years, Report From Engine Co. 82 remains the most brutally honest, poignant account of firefighting ever.

Customer Reviews:

A good look back.......2006-08-28

During the tumultuous period of the 60s when author Dennis Smith wrote Report From Engine Company 82, the book was a cry for help from exhausted, frustrated men. Men who cleaned up in the aftermath of other exhausted and frustrated inhabitants of a society stretched to the breaking point.

As I type this, a younger firefighter in a comfortable, air-conditioned fire station among a population that by-and-large respects my profession, it's easy to forget the sacrifice of our past brothers who unceasingly fought fires, city hall and the population they served, until they had forged the modern fire service.

It's an important book for new firefighters to learn how the iron men of old did the job. And for the general reader it's a testament to both a volatile period in our nation's history, and to the timeless strength and courage by which good men have always worked to keep back the chaos of barbarism and destruction.

My Perspective on "Report from Engine Co. 82".......2006-08-23

I spent 10 years in the fire service in both engine and truck companys. While I have many memories and stories to tell, the author, Dennis Smith, sums up the life of a fire fighter in an urban environment about as well as can be possibly told. Trying to balance the unpleasantries and sadness against the satisfaction of saving a life or helping a family overcome one of life's most agonizing moments is very well portrayed in this book. This is what a fire fighter's life is about folks. There is no other book that I can remember that tells it any better than this. If you're thinking of a career in a big city fire department or for that matter, if you're even thinking of becoming a volunteer fire fighter this book is a must!

For those wanting a career in fire, this is step one..........2004-10-13

Before anyone decides to dedicate their lives to becoming a firefighter, they would be wise to start their research here. Some 30+ years after it was first published, this book still shows remarkable insight into the lives, struggles, and emotions of a professional firefighter. When I started on the road to becoming a firefighter, being a volunteer and reading Dennis Smith books asserted in my mind that my life would be wasted doing anything else. For others, this may convince you that the job is not for you. It isn't for everyone. Either way, this is a very enjoyable read and worth the time and money for anyone, not just firemen and wannabe's.

Firefighting on the mean streets.......2004-07-13

This is an extremely well written and easy to read book. The narration draws you in and transports you to the streets to ride along with the author. You can almost smell the smoke...

While there are many aspect of this book that are seriously dated (such as the seventies-era street slang and some of the firefighting equipment and procedures), most of this story could still be written today. This is the gritty reality of firefighting in the toughest sections of an urban center. You can feel the exhaustion and exhileration mix together as we ride through the decaying ghetto from one fire alarm to the next. What really stands out in my mind, though, is that Smith never loses his empathy for the people of the South Bronx. Even with all the abuse he and his company endure, he still understands their plight and wishes he could make their world better.

Nothing in my experience can compare with the magnitude of serving an area like the South Bronx, but many aspects of this story still reflect my career. The commaraderie of the fire station is the same, as is the sense of duty and willingness to risk everything to save a life. This is a terrific book for anyone looking to understand what it takes to be a firefighter, especially on the busiest city streets in the country.

The Bravest.......2003-11-27

When I first read this book I was in grade school. My dad thought if I wanted to be a firefighter I might want to read this book. I sit here right know and look at the inside of the cover, which is a hardcover and there is a price tag for $4.16 from Boscov's (which is a department store).
This book brings alive the fire service in New York City in the 1960's. This was one of the most challenging times in the New York City. During this time there were riots,a serious drug abuse problem, and politically charged agendas. But through all this the firefighters of New York City still had to provide fire protection to the citizens.
How many people can say that they know how it feels to be going to a fire to only find yourself a target for rocks, bricks and beer bottles. The men of Engine Company 82 and Ladder 31 found themselves in the situation more then once. These men had to deal with the pain and suffering of people that they went to help, and found that children involved made the job even harder.
Every shift they could look forward to arsons, malicious false alarms and the uncertainty of what might happen next. Did these men do this job for the money? I can say no they did not. They did it for the love of the job. That is why most firefighters do it. Most people and even some firefighters today do not realize the history and the changes that have been in the past 40 years.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to reads a book that they do not want to put down. Once you pick it up, you will not put it down until you are finished.

Firefighters from the Heart: True Stories and Lessons Learned

Average customer rating:

Firefighters from the Heart: True Stories and Lessons Learned
Touching Stories
Walking the Walk
Firefighters from the Heart

Firefighters from the Heart: True Stories and Lessons Learned
Steve Chikerotis
Manufacturer: Cengage Delmar Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1418014230

Book Description

Welcome to the world of firefighting - the camaraderie, the challenges, the defeats, and the triumphs. Within these pages walk alongside firefighters and fire officers as they fight fires, face career-altering decisions, and learn critical lessons that forever change their perception on what it means to be a firefighter. Chicago Battalion Chief and 27-year service member Steve Chikerotis shares stories drawn from some of the most respected firefighters in the nation to convey valuable lessons on safety, risk management, education and awareness. Over 45 exciting short stories unfold each heart-pounding incident, promoting the development of crucial life-saving instincts and leadership skills as well as inviting readers to develop a sense of appreciation for the life of a firefighter.

Customer Reviews:

Firefighters from the Heart: True Stories and Lessons Learned.......2006-12-28

Excellent Read!!!!! All of the stories are actual accounts that have occurred in the field! I recommend this book to anyone who is working in the Fire Service or others looking to get a taste of crawling down the hall.

Touching Stories.......2006-11-06

This book does a very good job, and I give thanks to the author and all his scources for the excellent stories. Every story in this book serves to illistrate a point, a purpose. It tells the stories of fire fighters from all over, both big and small, career and volunteer. Some of the stories are sad, some of them happy but All of them serve the purpose just as the title says "Lessons Learned." I would strongly recommend this book to Anybody and Everybody that is interest in, already serving in, or has served in the Fire Service in some way. Furthermore this book is good not only for those previously mentioned but for Everybody else. You won't be disapointed if you purchase this book..I wasn't thus why I've given it 5 stars.

Walking the Walk.......2006-08-12

This book is a compelling glimpse into the experiences that firefighters encounter, and more importantly learn from, on a daily basis. Whether your in the fire service or just interested in learning more about it, this book is a guided tour by one of Chicago's most dedicated and admired veterans. Once you pick it up you won't be able to put it down!!!

Firefighters from the Heart.......2006-04-29

This is an excellent book especially if you are in the fire service. Every story comes out with a special meaning and best of all, very good lessons for survival and safety. The author was the assistant chief of the fire academy while I was a recruit(candidate)and he did an excellent job teaching. I'm still learning from him and will never forget every thing he taught me in the academy. Thanks Steve for being an important role model and teacher.

The Greatest Firefighter Stories Never Told

Average customer rating:

What A Great Book!
A Good Book but a Little Insensitive
Good book... the greatest? Doubtful...

The Greatest Firefighter Stories Never Told
Mike Santangelo , Mara Bovsun , and Allan Zullo
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0740728202

Book Description

The firefighters who lost their lives in the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center have become well-known-and rightfully so. But firefighters throughout America risk life and limb every day, many times without any acknowledgement whatsoever, let alone fame or fortune.In The Greatest Firefighter Stories Never Told, authors Mike Santangelo, Mara Bovsun and Allan Zullo have collected more than two dozen gripping accounts of America's bravest heroes, those who save lives every day as they rush in to rescue others. From airport firefighters to hazardous materials experts, from forest firefighters to high-elevation rescuers, from smoke jumpers to harbor firefighters, The Greatest Firefighter Stories Never Told captivates readers with its focus on the fresh and fascinating tales of real heroes and those they save.Several stories highlight some of the courageous firefighters of the New York Fire Department who were on hand during the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Already, the department's heroism has captured America's heart. These gripping, in-depth stories will put names and faces to those most deserving of worldwide recognition.

Customer Reviews:

What A Great Book!.......2006-03-13

I really enjoyed reading this book. It truly exceeded my expectations. I would recommend it to just about anyone.

A Good Book but a Little Insensitive.......2005-01-28

The first reviewer is correct in saying that this is a very good book full of thrilling stories about firefighters which I have truly enjoyed.

However, I was surprised and disappointed in the story entitled, "A Weighty Matter", where a firefighter is justly concerned about how he is going to get a woman who weighs 75 lbs. more than he does out of a burning basement in a nightclub. That he is annoyed by this is understandable given that her life and his were in the balance.

His attitude towards her weight while human would have been better left out of the story, however. The other survivors and victims in this book were portrayed with compassion and respect while this terrified, overweight woman was not. The authors mentioned that the woman never came back to thank this firefighter. My guess is that she got out with her life but not with her dignity.

I am a great fan of firefighters and appreciate as much as any civilian can the dangers and uncertainties that they face every day. I can understand the firefighter's feeling the way he did about this woman and that he only joked with her to ease the tension. I can understand the comments he may have made about her size back at the firehouse where tension is released after the dangers faced every day. And mostly, he risked himself to save her life.

I just don't feel that his feelings and attitudes should have been published in this book. She deserves more respect than that.

Good book... the greatest? Doubtful..........2004-10-13

This is a very good book, especially for those who dream of becoming a firefighter. This does little to tell the actual stories of firefighters, however. It is more a collection of tales to thrill rather than to give insight. Any book by former firefighters such as Dennis Smith would be a better read for firefighters.

Average customer rating:

Great audio book, too
Fire Lover fascinating.....
Fire Lover
TMI
exciting true crime!

Fire Lover
Joseph Wambaugh
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Hollywood Station
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Floaters
The Delta Star
Finnegan's Week

ASIN: 0060095288
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Book Description

On an October evening in South Pasadena, a horrifying wave of flame swept through a large home improvement center, snuffing out the lives of four innocent people, including a two-year-old boy. Firefighters rushed to the scene, even as a pair of equally suspicious fires broke out in two nearby stores. Silently watching the raging inferno in the midst of the heat, smoke, and chaos was a man respected as one of California's foremost arson investigators, a captain in the Glendale Fire Department ...

From Joseph Wambaugh, the critically acclaimed, nationally bestselling author of The Onion Field, comes the astonishing true story of a nightmarish obsession -- and the hunt for a brilliant psychopath who lived a double life filled with professional tributes and terrifying secrets.

Customer Reviews:

Great audio book, too.......2007-09-03

I thought that Ken Howard's reading added to the drama of this story about an arson investigator who set and then videotaped his own fires. The author paid appropriate homage to those whose tenacity finally brought John Orr to trial. The trial (transcript) was pretty much verbatim, but that is a plus because the attorneys were so eloquent.

Fire Lover fascinating............2007-04-05

Nobody does non-fiction crime reporting like Joe Wambaugh. Like The Onion Field and The Blooding, this is a non-stop read. Wambaugh's insight into human behavior and motivations is fascinating. Joe Wambaugh is an american treasure.

Fire Lover.......2007-04-04

Even though you know how the true story ends it is a page turner. The arsonist's mind is beyond comprehension. Wambaugh does a great job with this account.

TMI.......2007-03-18

Too much information. The story line gets bogged down and lost in Wambaugh's microscopic details. Too bad. Could've been an interesting read.

exciting true crime!.......2006-12-20

"Fire Lover" is an very exciting and well-written true crime book by Joseph Wambaugh, the author famous for writing "The Onion Field". The descriptions of fires, vehicle chases and other action sequences are so clear and thrilling you really feel like you are there. It drew me in from the very beginning, with an extremely realistic account of three simultaneous and deadly fires in Pasadena, California businesses on October 10, 1984. Clues eventually lead to arson investigator John Orr as the arsonist in these and a series of other fires. Orr, it turns out, was a legend in his own mind who used the fire investigation as the basis for a poorly written book. I was glad that Wambaugh did not neglect Orr's early life. I always want a true crime author to answer the question "why", and there was more information about Orr's background than I had expected. Fascination with fire is a big indication of psychopathology. I did a little skipping, though. Emphasis on the scenes inside the courtroom got a little tiresome. Well-written and very vivid, "Fire Lover" is by far one of the best true crime books I have ever read.

Fire in the Desert: The True Story of the Craig Titus-Kelly Ryan Murder Mystery

Average customer rating:

Wrote this book prior to a jury verdict
Fire in the Desert
The Pre-Trial Rough Draft
Unbiased, Straight Facts
Big Rip-Off

Fire in the Desert: The True Story of the Craig Titus-Kelly Ryan Murder Mystery
Glenn Puit
Manufacturer: Stephens Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Doctor's Wife: A True Story of Marriage, Deception and Two Gruesome Murders (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
Lethal Embrace
Die, My Love: A True Story of Revenge, Murder, and Two Texas Sisters
Under the Knife: A Beautiful Woman, a Phony Doctor, and a Shocking Homicide
Shattered Bonds

ASIN: 1932173749

Book Description

On the morning of December 14, 2005, Las Vegas police and firefighters were called to the desert outside of Las Vegas. A 2003 Jaguar was in flames, and inside the trunk of the vehicle was the badly burned body of a young Las Vegas woman named Melissa James. The 28-year-old had suffered a horrifying fate -- she was restrained, her face was covered with duct-tape, and she was set on fire.

The disturbing discovery prompted a massive police investigation, and within hours, detectives were standing at the front doorstep of two of the nation's most recognized fitness celebrities -- Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan.

Titus is a past place finisher in the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding competition, and his antics appropriately earned him the nickname the "Bad Boy of Bodybuilding." Meanwhile, his elegant wife, Ryan, is widely recognized as one of the premier womens' fitness competitors in the country.

But within the week, the two would be known as something else: murder suspects in the death of James, who was their live-in personal assistant.

* Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter and true crime author Glenn Puit has the inside scoop on the evidence gathered by Las Vegas police against the couple.

* Fire in the Desert serves as an evidentiary handbook for those following the case, providing a detailed legal analysis by Las Vegas courtroom experts.

* The book offers an independent examination of the fitness couple's sordid lifestyle, their actions before and after their personal assistant was found dead.

Customer Reviews:

Wrote this book prior to a jury verdict.......2007-08-07

Mr. Puit is a very thorough journalist and a great writer, however many attorneys in Las Vegas felt that his book was premature because a jury had not yet decided the case.

However, the information provided in the book gives the reader the sense that a guilty verdict is inevitable. As in Mr. Puit's other book "Witch" he leaves some questions open for the reader to decide. In this book, we are left to ponder whether both the Husband and the Wife are responsible for the murder or whether the Husband is more culpable and the wife merely a pawn of her Husband's will.

Fire in the Desert.......2007-06-27

Very, very well written book. My son grew up with and hung out with Craig. My kids claimed that Craig was cocky and arrogant but I never saw any of this. He was a good kid. However, after reading this book, I became firmly convinced that success brings out the worst in some people. His downfall can be roughly compared to the careers of Denny McLain and Mike Tyson. As a Born Again Christian, I pray for Craig and Kelly often. I feel like one of my own kids has, "bit the dust".

The Pre-Trial Rough Draft.......2007-03-13

I'm sure there will be a final draft from this writer about the Titus-Ryan murder after the trial is over.

If you want to see a lot of raw data without much commentary or background, this book is definitely worth a look since it includes complete interviews and short summaries of official police reports. The manuscript is rife with weird indentations and sloppy typos, but you get the facts of this lurid and disturbing case.

I'd tell you to wait for the final draft but this book is definitely worth reading for a review of what's going to show up in the upcoming trial. Unless you live in Las Vegas and have access to regular reports, you'll at least this need this book to get an idea of the twists and turns going on right up to today!

Unbiased, Straight Facts.......2007-02-27

Fire in the Desert is a great pre-trial book of the events that caught the medias attention with two professional body-builders. Glenn Puit does not fill the readers head with his bias or his spin on things, but rather gives a straight up account of all known events that led to the death of Mellisa James. It is a great guide for all true crime lovers especially those interested in watching the trial on court tv.

Big Rip-Off.......2007-02-04

This book is 224 pages long of which 58 pages are question and answer testimony with police and suspects. These pages could be condenesed into about 20 pages of narative by a good author. The book is published in a double space format and if printed in the usual format would be less than 100 pages. Moreover, there are 16 blank pages(not numbered) designed to make the book look thicker. It was rushed to publication before the trial so the author can write another rip-off book after the trial. I will not buy it!

Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire

Average customer rating:

Blowout!
Still Learning
Resubtitle : One of the Versions of the Storm King Fire
A disservice to the memory of his father and firefighters
We hiked Storm King...

Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire
John N. Maclean
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Natural Disasters | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Young Men and Fire
The Thirtymile Fire: A Chronicle of Bravery and Betrayal (John MacRae Books)
Jumping Fire: A Smokejumper's Memoir of Fighting Wildfire
Fire and Ashes: On the Front Lines Battling Wildfires
Fire and Ashes: On the Front Lines of American Wildfire

ASIN: 0743410386
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Amazon.com

Colorado and its neighboring states battle thousands of wildfires every year, scrub and sagebrush blazes often ignited by lightning strikes in the dry, hot days of summer. A vast, intertwined firefighting infrastructure combining local resources with agencies like the Forest Service and the BLM, reacts to these flare-ups as if going to war--and in theory, the coordination and communication ensures that fires are fought in the most efficient and safe manner possible. But while most wildfires in Colorado end up costing just over $60,000 on average with no loss of life, the catastrophic South Canyon fire of 1994 burned for 10 days, at the ultimate cost of $4.5 million and the lives of 14 firefighters. OSHA would later describe the coordinated action flatly as a "management failure," and concurrent investigations would reveal a tangled web of jealous rivalries, bureaucratic bungling, and severe morale problems. (One of the early on-scene supervisors would later tell investigators, "Leadership in this state sucks.")

John Maclean (son of Norman Maclean, who wrote both A River Runs Through It and an award-winning account of Montana's deadly 1949 Mann Gulch fire) skillfully unfolds that summer's foreboding blow-by-blow. Fire on the Mountain weaves together a tense narrative of almost cinematic action, starring ballsy cowboy smokejumpers, frustrated federal middle managers, seasoned "hotshots" flown in like commandos, pissed-off tanker pilots, and well-intentioned but spin-wary politicians. Maclean's well-sketched personalities bring the action on the ground convincingly to life--and knowing up front that many of his main characters won't survive South Canyon makes this tragic tale that much more compelling. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

THE DRAMATIC TRUE ACCOUNT OF THE SOUTH CANYON
FIRE -- THE DEVASTATING FOREST FIRE THAT TOOK THE
LIVES OF FOURTEEN FIREFIGHTERS

In this acclaimed bestseller of investigative journalism, John N. Maclean chronicles the deadly 1994 Colorado forest fire that was wrongly identified at the outset as occurring in South Canyon. This misidentification was the first in a string of seemingly minor human errors that would be compounded into one of the greatest tragedies in the annals of firefighting as fourteen men and women firefighters -- experts in their field -- lost their lives battling the South Canyon blaze.

This stunning reconstruction of the fire and its aftermath, drawn from Maclean's exhaustive research and countless interviews, reveals fascinating insights into what went wrong, and how so many top-notch firefighters fell victim to nature at its most unforgiving. A page-turning adventure narrative brimming with action and intensity, Fire on the Mountain offers a powerful and indelible profile of a special breed of people who put their lives on the line as part of their daily jobs.

Customer Reviews:

Blowout!.......2005-02-03

It started with dry lightning storm starting 40 new fires in the Grand Junction District with 5000 lightning strikes on Storm King Mountain before the fire and a total of 9,000 strikes total.

The BLM case is that other fires threatening homes required resource immediately and the South Canyon fire was not number one on the priority list; furthermore, BLM relied on County Helicopter support and availability from Western Slope Fire Coordination Center. The author tells about a tactic used by Blume where Blume would travel to Western Slope Fire Coordination Center identified which helicopters were on the pad, return to office, and place a call for the resource; the resource could not be denyed; games people play. What was needed to prevent such games was a join network of State and Fed with a central command hierarchy that could give stronger coordination during a crisis.

Therefore, it is logically that criticism would surface directing its anger at unclear procedures between state and federal agencies delayed deployment and usage of firefighting resources like failure to by the state too put out the fire because it had not cross its zone. Furthermore, criticism centers on these delays causing the small Storm King fire to expand from 30 acres to 50 acres to a crisis. When the smoke jumpers arrived at the fire scene they were startled at the size of the fire, however their "can do" attitude may have contributed to this underestimation of the problem. Brains are critical to fire survival and not just brawn. Smoke jumper could not be expected to back down from their jobs. Therefore, management must be held accountable for the disaster and their failure to recognized a crisis emerging and don't point the finger at the smoke jumpers. The reviewing commission says, "Twelve of the 18 Watch Out Situations were not recognized, or proper action was not taken" indicating that the firefighting crew was careless.

The smoke jumpers, BLM/Forrest service misjudgment could have been avoided by putting out the fire sooner. Immediate plane drops of retardant and helicopter support could have contributed significantly. Red mud retard was delivered by plane too late. The difficult wind currents made flyovers difficult caused by sudden drops in air pressure threatening to put the plane wing into the mountain.

Lack of immediate support delayed blue hat crews from arriving at the fire sight. Good black areas were too far from the fighting crews and super human efforts by the blue hats was not enough; the second group were able to power out to I-70 into safety.

"On July of 1994 had been a drought year and a time of low humidity. The fuels were extremely dry and susceptible to rapid and explosive spread. None of the groups recognized the dense oak spread as a potential for a blowup. A blow up is the perfect combination of fuel, high winds, and specific terrain topology. Cucou was monitoring the weather conditions on July 6: he predicted a cold front with winds of 45 mph passing through the fire zone around 3:30-4:00 pm. The weather information came in advance but did not trigger and evacuation. "A major blowup did occur on July 6 beginning at 4:00 p.m. Maximum rates of spread of 18 mph and flames as high as 200 to 300 feet made escape by firefighters extremely difficult."

On the west side the fire crossed the original fireline so BLM/Forest service started a second fireline further downhill on the east side of the ridge.

"At 3:20 p.m. a dry cold front moved into the fire area. As winds and fire activity increased, the fire made several rapid runs with 100-flame lengths within the existing burn. At 4:00 p.m. the fire crossed the bottom of the west drainage and spread up the drainage on the west side. It soon spotted back across the drainage to the east side beneath the firefighters and moved onto steep slopes and into dense, highly flammable Gambel oak. Within seconds a wall of flame raced up the hill toward the firefighters on the west flank fireline. Failing to outrun the flames, 12 firefighters perished. Two helitack crew-members on top of the ridge also died when they tried to outrun the fire to the northwest. The remaining 35 firefighters survived by escaping out the east drainage or seeking a safety area and deploying their fire shelters."

The smoke jumper elite were burned, a forbidden taboo; their story shows their incredible determination to survive; they lived their on the edge and lives with each other represented a close family bonds; the Storm King blowup was similar to the Mann Gulch blowup and no correlation translated to warn against a repeat occurrence; McKay was a hero; the escape routes were too long and steep with the worst part of the path achieving a 55 degree incline as the blue hat pace dropped to 1 per hour as the fire increased its velocity to 5 miles per hour; "the Prineville Interagency Hotshot Crew (out-of state-blue hats) was not briefed on local conditions, fuels, or fire weather forecasts before being sent to the South Canyon fire."; carry tools and equipment on the escape route reduced the pace and every second made the difference between reaching the ridge and death.

The book is captivating.

Still Learning.......2004-07-31

Great reporting, decent literature although granted, few of us will ever match his father.
I know/knew many of the principals on this stage and what struck me was how well he captured them. Over and over, I'd read of another friend and easily picture them saying or doing what was in print, but now became very real.
I'm amazed by how much I missed after the official report and talking with some of those that were there. Mr. MacLean's book has rounded my education well. My oldest started fire fighting four years ago and I required reading of the report and this book so that he would understand the multiple levels that mistakes are made at.
To those that complain about faultfinding; how much fault has been found with "Fire on the Mountain"? Have there been any lawsuits, settlements or retractions? If none, then please list flaws so we can judge the validity of disputed items.
The only major flaw I saw in this book was failure to deal aggressively with the two jumpers who were not carrying fire shelters. Should have been at least a few pages devoted to that.
There is a huge reason for this book. The failing of management to report on and effectively deal with management's errors. This book fills part of that void.
Mr. MacLean, would you please do a book on Los Alamos and the Cerro Grande Fire? I was there for a couple weeks. The mistakes of the prescribed burn that got away would only be an appetizer to leads us to the corruption/incompetence of the Lab. That Lab is a far more important issue than wildland fire safety.
Whatever else, thank you for this book.

Resubtitle : One of the Versions of the Storm King Fire.......2004-01-19

Gee -- this isnt the fire I remember fighting!! How eloquent and backbiting a report from someone who wasnt even there and who, while researching this book, appears to have devoted most of his time to the federal offices groups. To spend so much energy on the inability of politicos to get along when a fire is truly fought on the ground... And the truly amazing players, the local fire officers and firefighters who stepped up to the plate after the firestorm (prior to the arrival of the overhead team)and saved homes and each other -well, John you missed it, you missed most uplifting part of the story. So this isn't the "true" story of Storm King; it is one version, by someone who wasnt even there.

A disservice to the memory of his father and firefighters.......2003-09-12

Norman Maclean, himself a former firefighter and woodsman, wrote an excellent account of the Mann Gulch fire. His work was tempered by the distance of time, benefit of age, and experience in the woods. This is obvious through his interaction with the survivors and his search for what happened on that hill.

In contrast, John Maclean's account of the South Canyon fire is riddled with accusations, contradicitions of his own statements and interpretations, and a generally muckraking tone. There is searching for truth and then there is searching for animus. I wish he had left this story to those with a little more time in boots than in Chicago.

Punctuation seemed OK - 1 star is generous.

We hiked Storm King..........2002-11-20

It was the hardest hike I have ever done for a few reasons. The book very accurately depicts the conditions of the mountain and the fire fighters working the fire. It's such a moving story about those that were lost on Storm King and their last day. Have Kleenex handy, but definitely read this book.

To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire

Average customer rating:

My friend escaped because he had been on the waiting list to attend this school.
A story that needed to be told
never forget
Gripping and tragic
Great historical account of a terrrible school disaster

To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire
David Cowan
Manufacturer: Ivan R. Dee
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

The Fire That Will Not Die
Fire in the Grove: The Cocoanut Grove Tragedy And Its Aftermath
The Circus Fire
Triangle: The Fire That Changed America
The Sinking Of The Eastland: America's Forgotten Tragedy: America's Forgotten Tragedy

ASIN: 156663217X

Book Description

The story of one of the deadliest fires in American history that took the lives of ninety-two children and three nuns at a Catholic elementary school in Chicago. An absorbing account...a tale of terror. --New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

My friend escaped because he had been on the waiting list to attend this school........2007-06-24

Overnight he lost all of his playmates and the sight of him made the mothers of his dead friends cry. Later he became a surrogate child of these lost mothers who would hold him for long periods of time as if he were a doll. My school like almost all schools of that time was torn down because it had wooden stairs. We still put disturbed children next to normal students who become their victims.
This event and Three Mile Island caused massive waste. To prevent another child from trying to get a shorter day by setting a fire, we lost those old treasured buildings. We have now wrecked the environment to avoid nuclear fuel. A few people can kill some of the gentleness and trust in a civilization.

A story that needed to be told.......2007-06-19

How could this happen? What happened as a result of this tragedy? These were the questions I had when I started reading this book.

The author goes into much depth on the geographical layout of the school, the classroom locations, the class sizes, the culture of the school and teachers, the neighborhood, and other items that give you insight on this tragedy. Many factors contributed to the fire and you need to know them all.

This is a very moving book and it's hard to read for long periods of time because you have to take a break and reflect.

never forget.......2007-05-27

Was a great gift to a good friend, he was a teenager when this tragic event happened, was the most heartbreaking book he's ever read, but was glad he did.

Gripping and tragic.......2007-05-14

I read the book during my training as a volunteer firefighter, which helped put things in context for me-- even without that, however, I defy anyone with a heart to read this book without crying.

The authors' diligent work in researching this tragic event is evident throughout the book. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the admirable historical research and thoroughness of the authors, this is not a subject that lends itself to clinical detachment. The stories of innocent lives ending in pain and families-- indeed, a community-- destroyed, is moving, but not for the faint-hearted.

Great historical account of a terrrible school disaster.......2007-05-13

As a Professor of Fire Science I am constantly seeking out books having to do with great historical fires in American. These books are to be used as course research papers by my students and typically are not available via the library network. I trust many of my students are buying their copies from Amazon.com a name that can be trusted.

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