Books

Average customer rating:

They get better as they go
Amazing Surprise
One of the best books in the series! Outstanding!
He's done it again!
Great Installment in this Series!

Hex and the City
Simon R. Green
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Paths Not Taken
Nightingale's Lament: A Novel of the Nightside
Sharper Than A Serpent's Tooth: A Novel of the Nightside (Ace Fantasy Book)
Agents of Light and Darkness: A Novel of the Nightside
Something from the Nightside

ASIN: 0441012612

Book Description

Lady Luck has hired John Taylor to investigate the origins of the Nightside--the dark heart of London where it's always 3 A.M. But when he starts to uncover facts about his long-vanished mother, the Nightside--and all of existence-- could be snuffed out.

Customer Reviews:

They get better as they go.......2007-03-14

Although I haven't quite read all of the Nightside books yet, they all seem to get better than the previous one and this one is no exception.

Amazing Surprise.......2007-01-03

I was cruising B&N looking for an after-Christmas read when I happened upon this gem. I resisted at first because I am not a fan of sci-fi fantasies, which I presumed from the cover that this was. To an extent it is, so those of you looking for that genre don't despair. However, those of you looking for a solid mystery with well-formed characters (like you've never seen), witty dialogue, and a fast-moving plot will also be satisfied. I always like a little supernatural, mysticism, quirkiness with my mysteries, but not to the point of ridiculousness. This is much more interesting than serial rapists or senseless gory murders amongst a quaint town of typical people. This is smart, smart: psychological mystery with grit. This man is a great writer with a wicked imagination. This is not too far from this world to make sense, but far enough to fascinate and thrill. I plan to read more.

One of the best books in the series! Outstanding!.......2006-05-15

I normally rate books against others in the genre but these books are really sans genre. The only similar series is Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.

This is one of the best books in the series so far and it is the start of a Trilogy within the series. Its followed by Paths Not Taken and Sharper than a Sergeants Tooth. All are concerned with John's search for his mother's idenity. This is where he learns it.

The book starts with an amusing incident at the auction house and then the plot really begins when John takes his teenie bopper secretary Cathy to Rick's caf? for lunch. Written with good humor and nicely done. The lunch ends with John being hired by Lady Luck to investigate the origins of night side. This is not looked on favorably by a number of major players including Walker who sends the reasonable men to stop John. The book has a nicely convoluted plot with a nice climax and the usual well drawn and interesting characters. Nice balance between gore and humor with good action overall.

He's done it again!.......2005-09-21

Once again Simon R Green has failed to dissapoint with his fourth installment in the 'nightside' series. Full of unexpected twists, turns and new characters to indulge in, this fast paced little book will leave you wanting more..Like other 'nightside' books, Green fans will love the little cross references to 'mysterie' and 'shadows fall'... a fabulous little book, I cannot wait for the next installment!!

Great Installment in this Series!.......2005-07-19

Once again, Simon R. Green does not disappoint. Great read! I love all of the books in this series, and this one is the best so far! I liked how we learned more about John's mother. It was about time some light was shed upon that storyline! I really enjoyed what Simon did with John's mother's character. Very interesting. I love the dark atmosphere and all the creatures of the Nightside. This book had a lot of action in it and a pretty good bit of character development. I also loved all the new characters introduced in this book. Hex and the City is such an entertaining book! Can't wait for the next Nightside book!

Hex Marks the Spot: A Bewitching Mystery

Average customer rating:

Hex Marks the Spot: A Bewitching Mystery
Madelyn Alt
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425218708
Release Date: 2007-11-27

One Hex of a Wedding (Chintz 'n China Mystery Series)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Wrap-up
Very satisfying!
More Emerald Please
One Heck of a Good Book
Good Installment

One Hex of a Wedding (Chintz 'n China Mystery Series)
Yasmine Galenorn
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425211177

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Wrap-up.......2006-10-29

This was the most delicious final book in her series. I loved the way everything came together at the end, and the darker tone was perfect.

Read the entire series -- it's a definate winner!

Very satisfying!.......2006-10-27

I am pleased to write that this offering in the C 'n C series completely exceeded my expectations...and more importantly, made me anxious for more. Ms. Galenorn has allowed the main character, Emerald, to grow into a more realistic 21st century powerful pagan. The previous novels had left me just a bit annoyed with Emerald's somewhat self-centered personality. "One Hex of a Wedding", though, offered some credible glimpses of vulnerability and willingness to reexamine long-held opinions -- just like a real woman as she grows older and, hopefully, wiser. The cast of supporting characters is becoming more fascinating to me, and they seem to have more dimension now. Heck, I even cried at some of the truly poignant moments in the book!

If you've not read any of the previous books, this could definitely stand alone. But do yourself a favor and read the earlier four anyway. If you find yourself, like me, vaguely annoyed with Emerald O'Brien by book three, don't worry -- you'll grow to love her again in "One Hex of a Wedding", a wonderful treat of a novel.

More Emerald Please.......2006-08-14

Another great book in the Chintz & China Mystery Series. Emerald learns more about her ex-husband (and why their marriage ultimately ended) while trying to get through the wedding planner's worst nighmare that leads up to her wedding to Joe. Her maid of honor is cursed and stalked, her other bridesmaid is juggling a job and a new baby while her husband is headed off for an extended job on the road, and her daughter struggles with first love. That doesn't even include the family dynamics brought about by the wedding. Even Nanna makes an appearance. Emerald's reactions are real (why does this have to happen when I'm getting married) and fun (when a photographer tries to pair a swimsuit model with Joe for a calendar shoot). Can't wait for the next book!

One Heck of a Good Book.......2006-08-13

I have benn a long time fan of Yasmine Galenorn's books, both fiction and non-fiction. This instalment into the lives of Emerald and friends was fast and furious! Right out of chapter one she had me hooked on the fast plot and tight twists and turns of Em's wedding and Murry's freaky stalker! I love this series! The characters are well written and have developed over time. I hope this isn't the last in the series as a previous reviewer hinted at! Please write more! Well Done!

Good Installment.......2006-08-11

Overall, One Hex of a Wedding, the latest (and possibly the last?) installment in the Chintz 'n China Mystery series kept my interest throughout and was quite enjoyable to read (especially the last chapter).

Since I don't want to waste a lot of time ranting about the various aspects of the book, I'll just list some "good" and "bad" things about it...in my opinion, of course!

The Good:

**I like the fact that they finally changed the cover (it was getting a bit repetitious with the 'tea pot,' or whatever that was, theme). While I do like the change, it could have been better...the cover does not really fit the mood of the book and the bride on the cover is not all that representative of the main character.
**The story kept my interest...that's always a good thing when it comes to fiction! The author knows how to finish a chapter to make you wanna read more.
**Overall, most of the characters are well developed. (Except maybe Joe, Em's fiance, who seems like the main character from some mediocre romance novel.)
**I loved the last chapter...it was a pleasure to read. (Although, unless I missed it, there wasn't any mention of Rose's necklace.)
**The sexual references were finally where they should be in a book like this. There wasn't any "going-too-far" that some of the previous books had.

The Bad:

**This was not a murder mystery. There was no murder to be solved.
**Some of Emerald's 'psychic' impressions seemed more like common sense to me. After your friend's house was intentionally set on fire by some crazy person, wouldn't you feel something 'negative' around their property?
**The amount of bad stuff that happens to these characters can be a bit overwhelming. Is this the only way to move the story along? (This technique was much better used in the second novel, Legend of the Jade Dragon...which happens to be my favorite of all the five books.)
**The "f" word was used somewhat liberally throughout this novel. While I didn't mind it that much (since it made the dialogue more realistic), it might bother some readers who take this to be a total "cozy" mystery.
**For a woman who owns a tearoom, Emerald sure is addicted to coffee. While mentioning this obsession a couple of times throughout would not have bothered me, the fact that almost every page has some coffee reference was annoying...it made me cringe every time she would order some triple-shot-whatever coffee. I felt like I was reading an ad for Starbucks or something.
**Just for fun, here's a line from page 183: "Harlow paled beneath her exquisitely airbrushed tan." I don't know about you, but I find that sentence impossible to visualize...especially since it comes from a first-person point-of-view.

In conclusion, One Hex of a Wedding was one of the better installments in this series. And if it is the last, then it ended on a perfect note.

-Ater

Average customer rating:

Wow, what a groovy collection!
Post-Chaos Magic(k)
Inspiration in difficult times
Finally!
Possibly the beginning of a shared legacy.

Generation Hex

Manufacturer: Disinformation Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Book of Results
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Join My Cult!
Prometheus Rising

ASIN: 1932857206

Book Description

If the modern world is crumbling, then magic is what's growing up between the cracks. In Generation Hex, editor Jason Louv assembles a collection of dispatches from the edge-a generation of young adults who are inventing and imagining radically new directions for spirituality and human evolution.

Arising from the magical and occult underground of the early twenty-first century, the authors, artists, thinkers, and magicians assembled in Generation Hex collectively point the way to a future in which fanaticism and dogma have disappeared, in which human beings are free to realize their own destinies, and where the theory and practical applications of magic-the psychic ability of all human beings to engage and participate with the creative energy of the universe itself--saturate and regenerate this troubled planet.

Through critical essays and practical demonstrations of how a positive interaction with the occult, esoteric, and psychic undercurrents of human life can radically alter one's existence, the young magicians collected here provide a collective snapshot of a dramatically new way forward for global culture as it emerges from the fringes and into the mainstream, from counterculture to ultraculture.

Generation Hex offers the reader an excursion into the lives and practices of real-life Harry Potters, young men and women who practice real magic, here stripped of its sinister trappings and revealed to be what it truly is-the key to human evolution. Generation Hex provides a blueprint for escaping the suicidal rut of modern life and the radical redesign of the very essence of what it means to be human.

Jason Louv is a New York-based writer and editor. He has spent the last six years researching and practicing magic, being initiated into various questionable secret societies, traveling around the Near East, and learning how to cloud minds. This is his first book.

Customer Reviews:

Wow, what a groovy collection!.......2006-08-17

Generation Hex gives any reader an insightful slice of the personal journeys of the 14 individual contributers. While each of us has own own path to follow, the glimpse into others experiences is always an interesting view. Highly reccomended.

Durk Simmons author Strings of Connection Book One of the Witches in America Series

Post-Chaos Magic(k).......2005-12-22

As a kind of post-chaos magic text this book works well. Stephen Grasso's essays in particular are oustanding, documenting the dynamic progession of someone from within the chaos scene towards something both more pragmatically effective and personally fulfilling.

That being said, there is an equal amount of nonsense in GH. Practically every essay contains a reference to drug use as a magical tool. There's no doubt certain substances have their place in occult works, but if you read this book cold you'd tend to think they were necessary - no thanks!

Jason Louv clearly has some very noble ideals - much required in present occulture - however, there is an obvious question mark over some of the contributors in this text and their ability to inspire the next generation.

All things considered, this is a book that should be part of the contemporary magician's library, if only as a reference point to the real 'movers and shakers' in the selected reading section. Not that there isn't some vibrant magical creatures in this book - there are - but this tends to be balanced by the odd delusionary LSD tract expressing some ill-defined magical endowment.

I seriously look forward to the release of Grasso's forthcoming book.

Inspiration in difficult times.......2005-11-23

If you're looking for a book with a mind shattering new magical paradigm, this is not that book. It is also not a handbook for beginning magicians. This is the book you're looking for if you're a magician in need of fresh inspiration in a bleak and self-destructive society.

If you've established a magical practice but are wondering "OK, I'm a magician, now what?" or feel there's just "something" missing from your practice, this book is for you. If these essays have an overarching theme, it's what it feels like to be a magician.

One of the criticisms leveled at this book is that there is a lack of diversity in voices. I have to agree. Despite many of the contributors saying "I'm not a chaos magician," most of the essays in this book come from a Western, chaos-influenced perspective. The majority of the contributors are male, and all but one lives in North America.

The problem with anthologies is always consistency. There were a few articles that I just did not like. But Stephen Grasso's essays, and Chris Arkenberg's article "My Love War with Fox News" are worth the price of admission on their own.

I'm hesitant to recommend this book to beginners, though I think with some work even the most basic beginner would take something away from this book. I recommend this book to all practicing magicians. Even if you think your practice is fine the way it is, I suspect you'll find something of value in this collection.

Finally!.......2005-11-20

Finally, a book about magic from someone other than the usual suspects, saying something other than the usual. My only complaint is that the book is sometimes difficult to read because I find myself stopping after individual essays to go for long walks and digest. Some essays, I find myself stopping after almost every sentence to think about what I've just read. I particularly like Louv's writing and ideas; there's a deep-down freshness to his writing and "oh gosh!" enthusiasm that I can't stop loving.

Possibly the beginning of a shared legacy........2005-11-17

If you read this book, chances are you'll pick up an idea of what Magick is, and how you can apply it to your life.

But from my perspective, as a contributor to the project, it's not really a "how to" book. This is instead a snapshot, a cultural tapestry that spotlights what it is to come into awareness outside a commonly accepted domain. In other words, this is what happens when a generation goes "what the f***?" and isn't satisfied by any of the answers provided. So they plumb deeper, and deeper. Magick is simply a system of looking at and working with reality both open and skeptical enough to allow this process to take place.

I can't say what the end of this story is, as I said this is a snapshot and it's unclear at this point whether "we" are converging or travelling off in various interesting configurations.

However for anyone that is interested in picking up the pen, wand, or guitar to change their world (and through that, THE world), this book is a must read.

Average customer rating:

Clint Eastwood in Graphic Novel form
Just plain awesome
A trade that stands out from the rest
Never fails.
Return with us now to those WEIRD days of yesteryear

Jonah Hex Vol. 1: Face Full of Violence
Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Showcase Presents: Jonah Hex, Vol. 1
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ASIN: 1401210953

Book Description

Jonah Hex, a mysterious bounty hunter and thinking man's killer, was a hero to some and a villain to others -- and his name was spoken in whispers. He had no friends, but he did have two companions: one was death and the other... the smell of gunsmoke.

This collection features six lushly illustrated tales of Hex's travels in the old West, dodging bullets, righting wrongs and courting death.

Customer Reviews:

Clint Eastwood in Graphic Novel form.......2007-06-24

I remember Hex from the day, this Hex looks a lot like Eastwood...but still has (some of) the spirit of the original HEX. I wish they would bring the old back in a colour compilation.

Just plain awesome.......2006-11-16

One of the most underappreciated characters in one of the most underappreciated genres in comics gets resurrected and reinvigorated thanks to the writing tandem of inker Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. A duo who worked together on a series of holiday-themed Punisher one-shots (none of which were anything if at all to write home about mind you), both writers are firing on all cylinders with Jonah Hex: Face Full of Violence, which collects the first six issues of the revamped series. Instead of focusing on one continuing storyline, Face Full of Violence contains six seperate stories all involving our favorite scarred outlaw, as he pursues kidnappers, has run-ins with those from his past, and generally takes on all comers without blinking an eye. The stories themselves are gritty and violent without going over the top in terms of gore and profanity (this isn't a Vertigo title, it's under the DC banner), but it retains plenty of attitude and a mature tone that isn't seen in mainstream comics too often these days. The art by Luke Ross and original Jonah Hex artist Tony Dezuniga is nothing short of great, making an already sweet package even, well, sweeter. All in all, if you dig old western comics or have fond memories of a man named Hex, this is a must own.

A trade that stands out from the rest.......2006-10-03

In a comic medium of decompressed stories and multi-part crossovers, Jonah Hex completely exposes an old school tradition by crafting clever, witty and meaningful stories in stand alone issues. Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Luke Ross are able to take a classic DC character, in a under appreciated genre, and captivate the audience. This collection offers readers a little taste of what the monthly title has been able to deliver on a monthly basis. Very happy that I've been getting the monthly title but this trade will sit on the bookshelf with some of my other titles.

Never fails........2006-10-03

Once again the team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti deliver with the goods. In the wake of western shows like Deadwood taking off DC has brought back probably their most prominent western character Johna Hex.

Now this is where I say something prolific and inspiring to make you want to buy the book. The truth is, it's more then worth it and even if you're not a western fan, like myself, the books still worth it. It had depth, great character moments, and the pretty art you all go crazy for.

Buy it damnit.

Return with us now to those WEIRD days of yesteryear.......2006-09-23

JONAH HEX: A FACE FULL OF VIOLENCE collects the first six issues of the new series focusing on everyone's favorite weird western bounty hunter. Jonah Hex will never win any beauty contests, but he's got more than enough speed to quickly dispatch anyone who tells him so. Thankfully, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, along with artists Luke Ross and Tony DeZuniga, take Hex back to his incarnation from DC's classic `70s series "Weird Western Tales" and "Jonah Hex" - gone are the days of the inexplicable futuristic adventurer "Hex", as well as the sleazy white trash version from Joe Lansdale and Tim Truman. If anything, this Hex is patterned more after Clint Eastwood from Hang 'Em High, and the influences show in Ross' beautiful painted art. These six issues are individual stories, and not a continuous arc, pitting Hex against crooked law officials, vengeful nuns, the Texas Rangers, and other interesting opponents. Another classic DC western character, Bat Lash, appears in issue # 3, hopefully foreshadowing more appearances by others. The stories move quickly, are to-the-point, and wrap up nicely, traits that are rare for an ongoing series these days.

I have to hand it to DC for resurrecting this classic character in his original form. Jonah Hex had really drifted off the mark over the past 20-odd years. This is a welcome return. While Western characters certainly helped to keep the comics industry alive during the dark days of the Kefauver hearings, I don't know if readers would take to a revival of squeaky-clean heroes like Hopalong Cassidy or Roy Rogers... but Hex, or Scalphunter, Cinnamon, or even Arak Red-Hand would certainly be welcome. DC has a rich stable of Western characters - it's about time they were dusted off and given the spotlight.

Hex Signs: Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Symbols & Their Meaning

Average customer rating:

Great Information For the Christian Witch
Good informitive review of the topic.
Hex Signs:Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Symbols & Their Meaning

Hex Signs: Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Symbols & Their Meaning
Don Yoder , and Thomas E. Graves
Manufacturer: Stackpole Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Pennsylvania Dutch Designs (International Design Library)
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Pennsylvania Dutch Cut & Use Stencils

ASIN: 0811727998

Book Description

99 color illustrations 37 b/w photos 2 color maps 8 x 11

"Helps us to understand hex signs as no other work on the subject ever has."-Simon Bronner, author of Following Tradition

"A landmark in the study of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art."-Henry Glassie, author of The Spirit of Folk Art

A revised and expanded edition of the classic work on hex-sign barn decorations, offering insight into their various forms, geographical spread, European origins, evolution in Pennsylvania, and current use in tourism, advertising, and regional art. The authors explore the meaning of the symbols by examining evidence from popular writers, scholars, and contemporary hex-sign painters. Full-color photographs display the grandeur of this Pennsylvania Dutch phenomenon.

Don Yoder, who lives in Devon, Pennsylvania, was cofounder of the Pennsylvania Folklife Society and longtime editor of its serial, Pennsylvania Folklife. He was Professor of Folklife Studies at the University of Pennsylvania from 1956 to 1992 and is the acclaimed author of countless works on Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture. Thomas E. Graves lives in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, and has written articles on hex signs, gravestones, and coal culture.

Customer Reviews:

Great Information For the Christian Witch.......2006-11-11

This little gudie is great if you are interested in the Pow Wow practice of Pennsylvania Dutch hexerei. Though these writers are interested in the cultural and commercial aspects of the barn hexes, they do offer an introductory discussion of the hex marks and a brief history of its appearance in teh New World. Totally worth your time to peruse and worth your money to have

Good informitive review of the topic........2004-02-23

The authors take a pragmatic approach to the subject of the many round decorations that have graced barns and homes of Pennsylvania for hundreds of years. Especially among Pennsylvanians of "Deutch" or German ancestry, the fancy round "hex signs" are a cultural identification as well a decoration for their barns. Perhaps these signs also have magickal meaning as a ward or protection. The term "hex" means a magic spell in German, and "hexen" means witch. The authors shy away somewhat from a serious inquiry into the magickal meanings and efficacy of protection hexes. They do offer a collection of good photos of many old and new signs, interviews with current painters and discussion of those available commercially.

Hex Signs:Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Symbols & Their Meaning.......2000-03-02

"It is an excellent book on history of Pa.Dutch Hex Signs" Colorful and very informative!

Hex Strategy: Making the Right Connections

Average customer rating:

A Minute to Learn: A Lifetime to Master
The "Hex" Bible
Strategies for a simple game with many subtle possibilities

Hex Strategy: Making the Right Connections
Cameron Browne
Manufacturer: AK Peters
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1568811179

Customer Reviews:

A Minute to Learn: A Lifetime to Master.......2004-07-08

Hex is a deterministic, zero-sum, abstract board game. If you know what this means, and appreciate such games, then you will find the game irresistible. The rules are so simple that you can "see" far down the strategy tree. Draws are impossible. Hex was invented independently by two eminent mathematicians, Piet Hein and Nobel Prize winner John Nash (the latter of _A Beautiful Mind_ fame). The feel of competition that this game provides is intense; one player compared it to a "knife fight in a phone booth." The game demands your best efforts, and rewards them.
If you are talented mathematically, there are chapters which deal with the game in a way that appeals. If not, you will still love to study how the book progresses from the simplest templates to tactics to overall strategy. Annotated games are given, as well as quizzes and problems. Game of expert play are taken from the internet. Hex programs are dicussed. There is a rich treatment of the variants and offshoots of the basic game, although perhaps basic 11 x 11 hex is probably still the best of the bunch. The author creates a rich vocabulary to describe the different aspects of the game, and while the reader may have to slow his reading occasionally and ponder, he will find everything in its proper order and will find that everything makes sense. I found a useful colection of blank boards of different sizes at the back of the book which I photocopied to make studies of the games I have now in progress on the net, and thereby explore the different possible avenues of play by using pencil-and-paper diagrams. Anyone who enjoys abstract games such as chess and go will be cheating himself by not exploring the richness of this book, and the richness and challenge of this game. There are a few typos here and there, but relatively few, and not very distracting.

The "Hex" Bible.......2002-08-05

Being hex rules so simple, there are only 2 possibilities. Either you never heard about hex or you know how to play it. In the first case there are good odds that you can like this book,especially if you like games such as chess or checkers. But in the second, this book is a must. There is everything about this wondeful game, from strategy to historic notes, from variants to computer-play and algorithms, from sample games to a great reference section.
So this is THE hex book.

Strategies for a simple game with many subtle possibilities.......2000-08-01

While I had heard of the game of Hex, until I read this book, it had been of little interest to me. My interest in games like this extends very little beyond the analysis of strategies. In most cases, I find detailed treatments of tactics to be uninteresting and rarely complete an article much less a book. However, this time I read it completely and not just because I needed to for the review. I am not sure whether it is the game itself or the writers explanation, but my interest never wavered throughout. While many of the questions regarding the best next move had clear solutions, there were times when I did not believe that the given move was the appropriate one. However, once I read the explanation, there was no doubt.
It is this feature that most likely kept my interest. Some of the strategies are obvious and easily seen. The point where my interest was really generated was when the subtlety of play began to become evident. Seemingly foolish moves are suddenly understood to be brilliant ones that force the conclusion. It is easy to prove that every game must have a winner and also that there must be an optimal strategy that will guarantee victory. The problem of course is that the next best move that guarantees victory often appears as one of little consequence.
This is the first book about games that I have read from cover to cover in many years where my interest never wavered. I tackled most of the problems and came away with a deep appreciation for the game and the difficulty of play. It is strongly recommended.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

Average customer rating:

The Man With Half a Face
Jonah Hex is the Josie Wales of comic books
Go Ahead Make My Day
Great early/mid-seventies western comics!
wierd western tales

Showcase Presents: Jonah Hex, Vol. 1
John Albano , Arnold Drake , Michael L. Fleisher , Robert Kanigher , and Gil Kane
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 140120760X

Customer Reviews:

The Man With Half a Face.......2007-02-05

While it's always nice to read a good book, perhaps the greatest pleasure comes from the books that exceed your expectations. I'm not a huge fan of western comics and prior to reading Showcase Presents Jonah Hex, I knew nothing about the character. My only guess, based on his last name, was that there may have been something supernatural about him. I was wrong, and was delighted to find that this book, from which I expected nothing, turned out to be far better than I would have thought.

Jonah Hex is a bounty hunter in the post-Civil War West. Although he fought with the Confederates, he soon became disillusioned with their cause; he wasn't much happier with the North, however. Along the way, in a way that's left unsaid (at least in this volume), he was hideously disfigured and rather embittered at the same time. A great gunfighter (in fact, deadly with almost any weapon), he sullenly wanders from town to town, seemingly with no interest other than money.

What makes Hex such a wonderful character is that he has more depth than he lets on. As mercenary as he often acts, he actually has a moral code. His callous attitude is really more of an emotional wall that keeps some obvious pain hidden. He knows that he will never have a normal life and sometimes that bitterness seeps through.

Of course, it also helps that the stories are almost all well-written. Hex may be almost unbeatable as a gunfighter, but he is often manipulated into bad situations. Typically, at the end of a Hex story, there are few people left alive, and most of the dead deserve to be (at least in Hex's mind).

The only negative to this book is that it is not all Hex. The last fifth of the book features other characters in stories that are best forgotten. Maybe in another context, these stories may be passable, but after the excellent Jonah Hex tales, they are a major letdown. Nonetheless, I am giving this book a full five stars because most of the Hex stories are that caliber. Even if you're not a fan of western comics (as I am not), this is still one collection worth reading.

Jonah Hex is the Josie Wales of comic books.......2006-10-19

I grew up reading these tales of Jonah Hex, and I always considered him the Josie Wales of the comic books. The only complaint I have about this collection is that it is in black and white instead of color, but if you like westerns, you will love Jonah Hex!

Go Ahead Make My Day.......2006-03-24

Jonah Hex, DC comics 1970's version of Clint Eastwood's Man with no name character from the Good, The Bad and the Ugly, was a staple in the DC universe. Howeever it also played outside the DC comics realm (Superman, Batman, Justice League, Wonder Woman) as did such characters as Sgt. Rock, The Haunted Tank, and the Losers.He appeared in All Star Western and Weird Western Tales before getting his own book.

Hex was a bounty hunter. His stories weren't the John Wayne All American type of Western. He was an anti hero hero. You can see many old western style stories stolen and adapted within the Hex collection, from such Westerns like The Man who Shot Liberty Vallence, Shane, the Shootist, Sante Fe, The Searchers and Red River

Also in this collection towards the end of the book is the back up tales of Outlaw, DC Comics's jesse James style book. Some with great art from Gil Kane, showcasing his artistic skills.

This volume only touches the Hex comics history, with any hope there will be a volume two and three and so on. One can hope that DC is smart enough to also release a further volume of Western Characters like Scalphunter, El Diablo and of course the loveable rogue Bat Lash in a separate collection

It nice that DC Comics started to release its older comics and unique series in a black and white format similar to Marvel Essentals

Its a great collection for anyone who like the Hex Legend

Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

Great early/mid-seventies western comics!.......2005-11-16

"He was a hero to some, a villain to others, and wherever he rode people spoke his name in whispers. He had no friends, this Jonah Hex, but he did have two companions: one was death itself... The other, the acrid smell of gunsmoke..." - the intro that ran on the title page of several stories in this volume.

Let's get one thing out of the way: though this Showcase Presents collection is entitled "Jonah Hex", that's not entirely true. In fact, Hex shares this volume with Outlaw (DC's take on Billy the Kid), plus one other western tale. The thing that links "Jonah Hex", "Billy the Kid: Outlaw" and the "bonus" story together is that they all appeared in the same series: "All-Star Western" (which was retitled "Weird Western Tales" shortly after Hex began appearing, not by coincidence).

So, in reality, this book's title is a misnomer. It might have been more accurate to call it "Showcase Presents: Weird Western Tales", since all the stories are from that series (again, with some of them from before the "Weird" moniker was attached to the book). I suspect that was the original plan, but marketing wisely decided to put the most recognizable name on the cover, in part to create synergy with a new Hex monthly comic that is just launching.

Of course, that does nothing to diminish the contents, which are great seventies-era westerns. They offer three distinct takes on the Old West. Hex was a stark departure from the straight-laced "Roy Rogers"-style westerns and "western superheroes" that had dominated the genre in comics for decades (and I say that with affection for both those kinds of western comics). "Billy the Kid: Outlaw" is more of a conventional action-adventure western, with just enough of an edge to make it interesting. And the final tale, "Night of the Snake" is just a fun story by some very good creators that fills out the volume. But looking at them one at at time:

Hex showed obvious influence from Sam Peckinpah and Clint Eastwood westerns, though Hex's stories didn't go quite so far with the depressing themes and nihilist overtones as many seventies movies. His stories were about halfway between Steve McQueen's "Wanted Dead or Alive" TV series and the aforementioned films. That's the best way I can find to describe the tone of the stories. Either way, nothing was quite as clean as in other western comics. That much was certain!

Jonah Hex was not a classical western "good guy", but rather he was one of the first anti-heroes in comics. He led a hard life, and it left him scarred physically, emotionally and even spiritually. Hex was a man with a shattered soul, who did a very unpleasant job (bounty hunting) because he literally had nothing else. No family. No friends. No home. No good reputation. Even his face was horrifically scarred such that most people couldn't bear to look at him. And then, there was a great irony that lay at the core of Jonah Hex. He was a brutal killer, a loner with a deserved reputation that made everyone fear him as much as they feared the devil himself, yet deep down, Jonah was a kind soul who routinely risked his life to help others, even as he talked tough. He was desperately alone and routinely opened himself up for hurt because he allowed himself to get attached to people. And very often, these people he encountered ended up being the real monsters, instead of the scar-faced "devil" Jonah. At the end, Hex almost always rode away alone, numb to his existence. The reader could feel Jonah's isolation and pain. That's not what the stories are about, but this is the subtext that makes the tales so exceptional. It makes us care about Jonah, so that his tales are not just standard pulp western fare.

These stories were done by a stellar group of creators. Hex's original creative team was writer John Albano and artist Tony Dezuniga, both of whom were deserving of far greater acclaim than they ever achieved.

Later, Michael Fleisher took over the writing credit and propeled Hex to even greater heights, staying with the character for decades. Other contributions of note include a story by Arnold Drake (of Doom Patrol fame) and a story drawn by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (DC's "it" artist at one time in the late seventies).

"Billy the Kid: Outlaw" was written by the great Robert Kanigher, who is most famous for his war comics (Sgt. Rock, Unknown Soldier, etc), but Albano wrote several of the latter Outlaw stories (In "real world" time, just before creating Jonah Hex! Was Outlaw wrapped up specifically to create a spot for Hex? Could be!). Dezuniga did most of the artwork, but legendary creators Jim Aparo, Neal Adams and Gil Kane all contributed excellently.

The final story was something of a Gil Kane special. He wrote and drew the story, with Denny O'Neil doing the dialogue over his story and Dezuniga inking (an interesting, if odd combination of styles).

All in all, a satisfying package. I just hope no one snatches it up expecting 560 pages of Jonah Hex, because Hex is really only about 70 percent of the book. That might diminsh their enjoyment, which would be a shame, because this book is a winner when taken as a whole!

And material like "Outlaw" will likely never get reprinted any other way. Kudos to DC for finding way to get good stories without marquee appeal back in print. Is this an experiment for future volumes? Could we see more of DC's legendary backups reprinted as filler for other Showcase volumes? I would vote for that! It would be a nice bonus to separate Showcase from the color Archives in terms of content. If I own a color hardcover of Superman, I might not buy his Showcase volume of the same stuff (speaking hypothetically. I'd really buy it anyway). But throw in some classic sixties backups from Action and Superman, and it makes it extra-special! So I hope the non-Hex material starts a trend.

By the way, as with all Showcase Presents volumes, these stories are reprinted in (quality) black and white. Don't let that worry you one iota. I'll be the first to admit that losing color can negatively affect comics at times, especially when dealing with traditional four-color superheroes, but the starkness of black and white works very well here. The reason is two-fold. First, the realistic subject matter works well without color; there are no garish comic-book costumes that require color. Second, the artists involved here are particularly talented, and the lack of color only serves to enhance their amazing line-work. You get to see just how good guys like Dezuniga and Kane really are!

And at a great price.

Recommended

wierd western tales.......2005-11-13

If you want to read a Sergio Leone movie in graphic art form, Hex is the book for you. Most of the stories are a step up from your ordinary western fare. Its like Shane/ The Man With No Name or Gary Cooper riding across these pages. For a comic written in the early 1970's it takes on topical issues and doesn't hold back.This is not the Vertigo version of Hex but it provides one with a wonderful feel of after the civil war Americana. Most of the line work of the artists work well in this black and white format. I only found two stories where it seemed the source material didn't scan well. You get 500 plus pages of very entertaining reading and its well written. Five stars for DC. Their version of Essentials blows Marvel away. Better paper and the pages are numbered and the bindings doesn't fall apart after one read. My only complaint is how long before volume two ???

Hex: A Ruby Murphy Mystery (Ruby Murphy Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
Estep is great, as usual....
Mighty fine read
A Great Summer Read
No Rhesus Sardonicus

Hex: A Ruby Murphy Mystery (Ruby Murphy Mysteries)
Maggie Estep
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Bloodlines: A Horse Racing Anthology

ASIN: 1400048370
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Book Description

Having drifted through thirty-three years of life, Ruby Murphy has put down roots in a rootless place: Coney Island. A recovering alcoholic who is fanatical in her love for animals and her misanthropic friends, Ruby lives above a furniture store and works at the musty Coney Island Museum. One day, Ruby is on the subway heading into Manhattan when the train stalls between stations. An elegant blond woman with a scarred face strikes up a conversation, and a misunderstanding between the two women leads to an offer Ruby decides she can’t refuse. The woman needs her boyfriend followed, and she thinks Ruby is the woman to do it—and do it right.

Ruby’s life has been flat and painful lately. The Coney Island Museum isn’t doing much business, Ruby’s live-in boyfriend has moved out, and her best friend Oliver is battling cancer. Ruby agrees to follow the woman’s boyfriend, Frank, a man who works at Belmont Racetrack and seems to hang out in odd places with bad company. Ruby soon finds herself pushed headfirst into horse racing’s seamy underbelly. This is a dangerous world where nothing is as it appears, and people and horses seem to have limited life spans. When Ruby finds herself staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, she begins to have second thoughts.

Only now it’s far too late.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2006-10-16

I've read a few of Maggie Estep's books and I found Hex to be rather disappointing. I like her writing, but her story telling is somewhat lacking. I like it when I want to keep reading to find out what happens next but with Hex it was a little painful - there wasn't much suspense or action until the very end. Hardly any of the chapters actually moved you through the story. A lot of the scenes were unmotivated and sort of lagged on. Estep also writes from different character's point's of view and this is more annoying than illuminating.

Estep is great, as usual...........2006-10-10

I liked this a lot, but I'm not sure about her doing the mystery genre...I loved emotionl idiot and mech. animals , so I had to try the mystery...I just love her for her characters.

Mighty fine read.......2004-10-20

Fine, tasty, terrific reading. A new series and pithy. Difficult to describe but it has to do with a Bach-crazy happenstance personal detectitive with lots of of interesting friends ... and horse racing. More than that, you need to learn for yourself. Terrific reading!

A Great Summer Read.......2003-08-14

A chance meeting in a subway launches Ruby Murphy into the behind-the-scenes world of horse racing as she investigates a wandering boyfriend for a mysterious blond. Ruby is a likeable character and she wanders a part of New York City not often depicted in fiction. In between her adventures, she takes yoga and piano lessons and neglects her real job at a Coney Island museum near her home. The story is told in several different voices, a technique that adds richness to the story. I hope there are more books starring Ruby Murphy.

No Rhesus Sardonicus.......2003-06-23

A lively foray into the life of the stubborn and irrepresible Ruby Murphy. Her peculiar outlook on this bittersweet dumbshow, her wide-armed acceptance of all that is mean-spirited and foul is inspirational. I will gambol with Ms Estep's maniacs anytime.

Average customer rating:

GURPS Deadlands: Hexes
Michael Suileabhain-Wilson
Manufacturer: Steve Jackson Games
ProductGroup: Book
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