Books

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

Average customer rating:

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction
Provocative, appealing and controversial
pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD

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

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Similar Items:

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
Forbidden History: Prehistoric Technologies, Extraterrestrial Intervention, and the Suppressed Origins of Civilization
They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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.

Provocative, appealing and controversial.......2006-08-02

Fomenko has succeeded to convincingly demonstrate the misconception about what "history" factually is... It is fiction and -like we can read and judge for ourselves- no science. It indeed is "make belief" only. I "discovered" Fomenko while studying the "old" history of Al Andaluz, Spain. Having found too many contradictions in available data, having seen too many forgeries as to pretend the importance of christianity for its decline, I ventured out to find Fomenko, who convinced me that we know little if anything for sure of the epoch before the XI-century. However, the integration of the Arabic-Islamic cultural history into the heavily distorted Western fails... There are some attempts to fit "the budding new religion" (Islam) into Fomenko's scheme, but they are too weak to be taken seriously and too often focussing on Turkey as the region where things started to influence the West, which is untrue at all.
Islam certainly was no "new religion" in the X-century. That the highly cultivated Al Andaluz ruler Mohammed-I could have been "mirrored" down in time into some myth about the "illiterate" founder of Islam itself is highly speculative. Nevertheless, Fomenko convinces me about the processes that were involved in forging a christian history. Intriguing and controversial as his books are, I recommend them as to rethink our current position in time and space and simply verify what was claimed. It is a "good" book, but not for bedtime reading... Mundus vult decipi, the world wants to be cheated. Fomenko's readers will understand why.

pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.......2006-02-16

Traces of white wine were found in Tutankhamen's tomb however there were no record of white wine in Egypt until the 3rd century AD, 1600 years after the young pharaoh died according to the traditional chronology. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18925395.400
It can be interpreted as a contribution towards New Chronology theory that pharaohs lived in the 3rd century AD.

Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World

Average customer rating:

A short overview of the sailing Royal Navy
Ever wondered what a scuttlebutt really is?
A Must Companion to O'Brian
Great Reference
good, but lacking in depth

Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World

Manufacturer: Running Press Book Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian
Harbors and High Seas, 3rd Edition : An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian, Third Edition
The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels
The World of Jack Aubrey: Twelve-Pounders, Frigates, Cutlasses, and Insignia of His Majesty's Royal Navy
21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey (Aubrey/Maturin Series)

ASIN: 0762415401

Book Description

From the moment that Master and Commander, the first of Patrick O'Brian's sequence of 20 novels about the 19th century British Royal Navy officer Jack Aubrey and his surgeon colleague Stephen Maturin, was published in 1970, critics hailed his work as a masterpiece of historical recreation. Called "the best historical novels ever written" by The New York Times, the books have sold more than 3 million copies. This first full-color illustrated companion to the Aubrey-Maturin series, timed to benefit from the release of the blockbuster Twentieth-Century Fox film adaptation starring Russell Crowe, explains the fascinating physical details of Jack Aubrey's fictional world. An in-depth historical reference, it brings to life the political, cultural, and physical setting of O'Brian's novels. Annotated drawings, paintings, and diagrams reveal the complex parts of a ship and its rigging, weaponry, crew quarters and duties, below-deck conditions, and fighting tactics, while maps illustrate the location featured in each novel.

Customer Reviews:

A short overview of the sailing Royal Navy.......2007-01-24

If you have read every sailing naval action book already, there isn't a lot here new. But, if not, this is a good book to have either as a reference or a coffee-table piece- it can do either, and the illustrations are certainly good.

Ever wondered what a scuttlebutt really is?.......2007-01-20

Having read the "Master and Commander" series, this was an ideal book for explaining the history and technology in that time period.

Excellent illustrations and diagrams accompany the narrative. Not wordy, just enough to keep the information from being dry and dusty.

A Must Companion to O'Brian.......2006-10-20

Currently deployed to Iraq....Having read three of his books without this companion, I can tell you that I was missing out on a great deal of the language and the history. Buy this with the Lexicon and O'Brian's series are impossible to put down!!

Great Reference.......2006-08-28

I bought a second one of these for my son, who recently started reading Patrick O'Brian's series. This is an excellent reference for anyone who wants to learn about the Royal Navy of the late 18 / early 19th century. Highly recommend.

good, but lacking in depth.......2006-03-24

I suppose I may have expected too much. I was a little disapointed in the lack of depth and detail. The various graphics, pictures, etc are great. An interesting coffee table book for O'Brian mavens and a good place to start in looking for more about the Napoleanic era of the Royal Navy.

Average customer rating:

Outlander
Revealing Glimpse Into the Mind of a Writer
Looking for a Little Extra?...
Absolutely Fascinating !!!
Wonderful addition for the series.

The Outlandish Companion
Diana Gabaldon
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander)
The Fiery Cross (Outlander)
Drums of Autumn
Voyager
Dragonfly in Amber

ASIN: 0385324138
Release Date: 1999-06-29

Amazon.com

For nine years, four books, and nearly 4,000 pages, Diana Gabaldon has entranced readers with her talent for historical authenticity, dramatic plot lines, and strong characters in the Outlander series. Her superb writing has earned a loyal audience, but after a million and a half words, even the most fervent of fans may have a difficult time trying to recall the exact details of the secondary characters, let alone the obscure ones. Thankfully, Gabaldon's The Outlandish Companion is here to help.

Part crib notes and part trivia guide, this essential handbook includes synopses of the first four novels, a character guide, notes on plot development and research, answers to frequently asked questions, and teasers for the upcoming novels--there're even horoscope charts of the central characters, a list of fan Web sites, and choice recipes for the truly devoted.

Readers looking for a fix of Gabaldon's humorous voice or insight into her writing processes and characters will certainly be more than satisfied, but those looking for the next installment of Jamie and Claire's adventures will have to wait for The Fiery Cross, the fifth book in this bestselling series, expected sometime in late 1999 to early 2000. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Diana Gabaldon has captured the hearts of millions with her critically acclaimed novels, Outlander. Dragonfly In Amber, Voyager, and Drums Of Autumn. From the moment Claire Randall accidentally steps through a magical stone that transports her back in time more than 200 years to 1743, and into the arms of Scottish soldier Jamie Fraser, readers have been enthralled with this epic saga of time travel, adventure, and love everlasting.

Now Diana Gabaldon has written the ultimate companion guide to her bestselling series, the book only she could write - a beautifully illustrated compendium of all things Outlandish. As a special bonus for those who are eagerly awaiting the next appearance of Jamie and Claire, she includes never - before - published excerpts from upcoming works in the series. And there's lots more in this lavish keepsake volume for the many devoted fans who yearn to learn the stories behind the stories:

Full synopses of Oulander, Dragonfly In Amber, Voyager, and Drums Of Autumn
A complete listing of the characters in all four novels, including extensively researched family trees and genealogical notes
Professionally cast horoscopes for Jamie and Claire
A comprehensive glossary and pronunciation guide to Gaelic terms and usage
The fully explicated Gabaldon Theory of Time Travel
Frequently asked questions to the author and her (sometimes surprising) answers
An annotated bibliography
Tips, personal stories - even a recipe or two
Essays about medicine and magic in the eighteenth century, researching historical fiction, and more

With the insight, humor, and eye for detail that has made her novels such an outstanding success story. Diana Gabaldon here gives her readers the best gift of all - The Outlandish Companion

Customer Reviews:

Outlander .......2007-06-14

This book is excellent. It helps you to remember back to previous books in the Outlander Series. It even has Claire and Jamie's astological tree.
Buy it and you will be pleased. Megan Sutherland Newcastle, Australia

Revealing Glimpse Into the Mind of a Writer.......2007-05-04

When author Diane Gabaldon published her first novel, "Outlander" in the early 1990s, she had no inkling of the phenomenon she would create. Her characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser and Jamie Fraser have appeared in a dozen different languages and millions of volumes. This delightful book is a glimpse into the creative process. Gabaldon reveals her inspiration for Jamie (a character on Dr. Who); she discusses her methods of research, devotes an entire chapter to correcting mistakes in various volumes and includes some fascinating exchanges with readers and critics. Breezy, light hearted and downright fun, the book is an absolute necessity to fans of Claire and Jamie. Th reader is treated to Gabaldon's theories about the purpose of writing and character development. She freely admits that she has no idea where a story will end up when she begins. The first book, "Outlander" was just an experiment to teach her how to write. Originally, Gabaldon planned to write a pure historical novel, but when her heroine, Claire Beauchamp stubbornly insisted on speaking twentieth century slang, Gabaldon had to create a way for Claire to appear in 18th century Scotland while sounding like a modern, independent woman. Thus, Gabaldon hit upon the time travel device. It is a unique pleasure to read the answers to the many questions that a reader can develop about a beloved series and characters.

Looking for a Little Extra?..........2007-04-04

This book is all about the extra little things you missed, never got or wanted more of in Gabaldon's novel series Outlander. The introduction is informative, enjoyable, page-turning and rather quirky in its explanation of Outlander's birth and much of the book is the same in its behind-the-creation of favorite characters; although she can go overboard with side characters that she attempts to highlight when she didn't do so in the series itself and the horoscopes of Jamie and Claire are clearly for fun alone since they only add to what any Outlander fan already knows about them. The best parts of The Companion are the language translations and pronunciations (Gaelic anyone?) of Gabaldon's bi-lingual characters' diction and the excerpts chapters that reveal future books for the Outlander series--You have to read Surgeon's Steel! The anticipation of where she's going with that little snip-it is killing me!

Defintely a must read, but not necessarily a must own since The Companion was written before her latest book: A Breath of Snow and Ashes was released, so theres nothing in it about that book and her website hints at two more books to complete the series which will leave The Companion throughly out of date for any of us who are waiting for something new.

Absolutely Fascinating !!!.......2007-02-09

This is a great book. I'm reading it after finishing all six Outlander novels.However,It only covers the first four.I find it absolutely fascinating to read about how Diana Gabaldon came to write these novels,her research,etc..I'd say it's a must have for any outlander fan.It's a beautiful book.Great pictures and illustrations.Awesome job Dianna!!

Wonderful addition for the series. .......2007-01-30

I have an autographed copy from Diana Gabaldon that she signed for me at one of the Scottish Games I attended, when this book was first released. I didn't realize at the time how useful it would prove to be. It really is a must have if you are into the Jamie and Claire series of novels...starting with Outlander. Her novels are so well written and draw on the use of past characters and incidences that you might find this very helpful and much quicker than trying to thumb through the earlier novels to locate a character or refresh your memory. It also helps with some of the pronunciations of the Scottish Gaelic names and place names. She also adds a bit of history, as she has thoroughly researched everything, in her explanations and definitions. This is a great addition to the collection, although I suppose she'll need to update it to include the characters that appear in her lastest novels.

Average customer rating:

A book that's worh living with
A vital book for anyone who writes in the English language

A Writer's Companion
Richard Marius
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Essays from Contemporary Culture
Great Writing: A Reader for Writers
Language Awareness: Readings for College Writers
The Woman Who Watches Over the World: A Native Memoir
The Things They Carried

ASIN: 0073040150

Book Description

This brief guide to writing the essay and writing across the curriculum is indeed true to its title. It offers excellent advice on developing and polishing prose, with an emphasis on style and process--all with wit, charm, and intelligence.

Customer Reviews:

A book that's worh living with.......2000-06-11

Richard Marius's handbook for writers is the best I have ever seen. It is writen with the same clarity of purpose as Strunk and White's _The Elements of Style_ but more thorough on the rhetorical dimensions of writing. His chapters, "Paragraphs" and "The Fundamental Principles of Sentences," are especially useful and entertaining to read. I must, however, point out a startling difference between the the third and fourth edition. The third is more gutsy and truthful about English Department agendum in universities. Marius's revisions for the fourth edition before he died seem uncharacteristic of the ethical principles his writing has always been known for. In short I find Marius's feelings more present and direct in the third edition than in the much softer fourth edition. To give an example of Marius's grit and honesty about the growing popularity of autobiographical writing in certain academies, I quote from Marius's preface to the third edition, which he uncharacterstically euphemizes in the fourth: "I don't care much for sappy writing where writers tell me what they feel about things rather than what they know about things. We seem awash nowadays in the rhetoric of dramatic personal experience, where writers gush over their emotions about the common places of life" (xiv). To conclude the sentiment that this review of Marius's book inspired, I quote George Steiner from his interview in _The Paris Review_ about writers who he says take "enormous risks": ". . . a book that's worth living with is the act of one voice, the act of a passion, the act of a _persona_" (51).

A vital book for anyone who writes in the English language.......1999-07-20

Richard Marius has done an excellent job with this book. In an engaging and witty style, he sets forth the dos and don'ts for writing the English language. He happily tells why certain "elementary school" rules should be ignored (beginning a sentence with a conjunction) and points out common grammatical errors ("as" verses "like" and "bad" verses "badly" are two I had to clean up). This small but dense book is a joy for anyone who needs to polish up his/her use of the English language.

A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian

Average customer rating:

It's just ok
A Sea of Information
a much needed companion to the maturin/aubrey books
Enrich Your Experience
Very helpful, makes a nice read on its own

A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian
Dean King , John B. Hattendorf , and J. Worth Estes
Manufacturer: Holt Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Harbors and High Seas, 3rd Edition : An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian, Third Edition
Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World
The Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels
H.M.S. Surprise (Aubrey Maturin Series)
Post Captain (Aubrey Maturin Series)

ASIN: 0805066152

Book Description

This comprehensive lexicon provides definitions of nautical terms, historical entries describing the people and political events that shaped the period, and detailed explanations of the scientific, medical, and biblical references that appear in the novels.

Customer Reviews:

It's just ok.......2007-06-05

I have one problem with this book (Third edition). It was not put together very well. It is missing sections "T" and "U". Instead, the publishers put the bibliography and index where "T" and "U" should have been, and then picked up with section "V". To top it off, the page numbers referenced in the index don't even agree to those in the book.

A Sea of Information.......2007-05-27

The perfect book to explain historically accurate seafaring terminology used in O'Brien's Aubrey series. An absolute must!

a much needed companion to the maturin/aubrey books.......2007-05-27

anyone reading the maturin/aubrey books knows, damn that's a different language altogether! there are a lot of words and phrases that are simply no longer in our vocabulary, not even counting the esoteric naval jargon.

i love the style of the books, like diving into another world altogether. but i understand maybe 2/3s of it. no matter, even so, i'm hooked. however, it is great to find that many companion books exist. the lexicon is one of the best ones, especially for those who love language. it's easy to read, insightful and practical.

Enrich Your Experience.......2007-04-10

Although strong enough to stand on its own, this book will also add to your experience while reading sea adventures like the Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series.

Very helpful, makes a nice read on its own.......2007-03-27

Really helps with the plethora of archaic terms used. Also enjoyed the brief summaries on individuals (Nelson, Napoleon) and events (the Glorious First of June)

A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life

Average customer rating:

Outstanding book
Great Help to Young Writers
like an old friend....
Fantastic for the Writer in You!
The Perfect Writing Buddy - Lots of Ideas and Inspiration

A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life
Judy Reeves
Manufacturer: New World Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Room to Write
The Pocket Muse: Ideas & Inspirations for Writing
The Writer's Idea Book
The Writer's Block: 786 Ideas to Jump-Start Your Imagination
Writing Alone, Writing Together: A Guide for Writers and Writing Groups

ASIN: 1577311000

Amazon.com

Musicians practice. Athletes practice. And so, too, argues Judy Reeves, should writers practice. Her Writer's Book of Days provides a "writing prompt" for each day of the year, and then some: "Write about a time someone said yes"; "Write about leaving"; "Something seemed different." The more you practice, says Reeves, the more you write. And writing from a prompt, she adds, is like having "someone provid[e] the music when you want to dance." The prompts are the backbone of this book, but its pages are fleshed out with advice, inspiration, quotations from writers, encouragement, and a profusion of literary tidbits. Write from the sense, Reeves recommends. Audition words. Take risks. And when all else fails, amuse yourself with these astonishing tidbits from literary lives: T.S. Eliot, we learn, preferred writing with a head cold; Flaubert kept his lover's slippers and mittens in his desk drawer; and Friedrich von Schiller liked to invoke his muse by sniffing rotten apples. --Jane Steinberg

Book Description

Practice makes perfect, and this book makes practice easy by providing writers and would-be writers with stimulating topics, helpful instruction, monthly guidelines, dozens of inspiring quotes, writerly lore, and tips for special writing sessions such as marathons, caf writing, and other ways to make the work of writing more creative and fun.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding book.......2006-03-14

This is wonderful for kicking of thoughts or story ideas with a suggested topic for each day. Fantastic!

Great Help to Young Writers.......2006-01-29

This book is an excellent tool for the young writer. It gets you writing every single day with all kinds of helpful prompts. Also in this book are helpful hints, looks at how other writers work, quotes, and exercises. This is by far the most useful book on writing I have bought thus far. I highly recommend it for writers who want to write everyday, but struggle with it and don't want to keep an actual journal. Through these exercises, I have had more story ideas this month than I did all of last year.

like an old friend...........2005-04-14

This book is one of my favorites. The author has such a friendliness about her writing, as if she is holding a conversation with you over a cup of coffee.
Her writing prompts are creative and lively, and will get you writing.
I love the quotes. Just about every page has a quote from a well known writer about writing.
Judy has plenty of advice in this book. She also fills it with hers, and others writing experiences.
Although the book is arranged so that it follows the twelve months, it doesn't have to be read that way. Many times I've just flipped to a page and started reading. I always came out of it inspired and ready to write.

Fantastic for the Writer in You!.......2005-01-26

Every writer should have this book in their Library. The prompts can be used in any way but I like them as they are planned out by date. If you enjoy prompt writing or are just in need of extra support this is a fantastic book.

I do not recommend buyin her Kit as it is very similar to this book. And this book is the Gem to complete your Journal topics.

The Perfect Writing Buddy - Lots of Ideas and Inspiration.......2004-12-08

I am always on the look out for quality writing books which will inspire me as a writer and that I can recommend to others to inspire their writing as well. Judy Reeve's well received book is successful on both counts - exceeds my hopes and expectations in every way (except, perhaps for the unusual color choice of orange for a highlight color in the layout of the book.)

The book is simple to understand and implement. Each month of the year has a guideline, some interesting content with fun facts like James Michener started writing at age 40 and easy to follow tips of the month.

There is a writing prompt for every day of the year. No writer would be lost for ideas with this book close at hand. I can see myself using it and re-using it and re-using it.

Reeves comes across as a writing buddy sharing thoughts and guidance in perfectly reasonable and re-readable doses.

A Gravity's Rainbow Companion: Sources And Contexts for Pynchon's Novel

Average customer rating:

Full of Spoilers.
Look for the 2nd edtion
The worst companion except for all the others
Yer gonna need this
Useful and well-done, but at a price...

A Gravity's Rainbow Companion: Sources And Contexts for Pynchon's Novel
Steven C. Weisenburger
Manufacturer: University of Georgia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0820328073

Book Description

Adding some 20 percent to the original content, this is a completely updated edition of the indispensable guide to Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. Steven Weisenburger takes the reader page by page, often line by line, through the welter of historical references, scientific data, cultural fragments, anthropological research, jokes, and puns around which Pynchon wove his story. Weisenburger fully annotates Pynchon's use of languages ranging from Russian and Hebrew to such subdialects of English as 1940s street talk, drug lingo, and military slang as well as the more obscure terminology of black magic, Rosicrucianism, and Pavlovian psychology. The Companion also reveals the underlying organization of Gravity's Rainbow-how the book's myriad references form patterns of meaning and structure that have eluded both admirers and critics of the novel.

The Companion is keyed to the pages of the principal American editions of Gravity's Rainbow: Viking/Penguin (1973), Bantam (1974), and the special, repaginated Penguin paperback (2000) honoring the novel as one of twenty "Great Books of the Twentieth Century."

Customer Reviews:

Full of Spoilers........2006-12-08

Why does Weisenburger decide to randomly drop spoiler after spoiler into his annotations? The companion was extremely helpful but the first time I read GR I realized I had to hide this companion about halfway through the novel. I cannot figure out why when describing a simple German phrase (adequately and with illuminating context to the specific situation, mind you) Weisenburger surrenders plot points that don't surface until the last part of the novel. It ended up happening almost every other episode. It was infuriating. So beware. Probably wait until your second time through to use this useful but endlessly frustrating companion.

Look for the 2nd edtion.......2006-11-22

There are two editions of this book. The first was published in 1988. The second was published November of this year (2006). It contains twenty percent additional material and some corrections. Double-check. Both editions have identical titles but the covers differ.

The worst companion except for all the others.......2006-02-21

So you've decided to try and tackle GR. The novel is certainly worth the time and frustration that can sometimes accompany reading it. As far as this companion goes, I usually had it with me while reading GR but certainly did not feel lost without it. The problem is that while Weissenburger does a lot to explain the myriad historical allusions contained within GR, there is very little in the way of literary analysis or deep engagement with any of the interesting ideas and themes. (By contrast, J. Kerry Grant's companion to Lot 49 does a much better job in this respect.) I imagine one could always read the abundance of essays on GR to get such information, and Weissenburger is only a mere mortal. But still, I would have appreciated a companion that was slightly more provocative than one that simply points out references to a type of pudding traditionally eaten by soliders in the Crimean War (not an actual reference in the book, so purists lay off). In other words, the companion sometimes helps make sense of things or provides a few interesting points, but does little to truly enrich your appreciation of the novel as a whole.

If you're on the fence, I would still recommend buying the companion, especially if you can find a used copy. But don't feel that this is indispensable or anything. It's flawed but, unfortunately, for the time being it seems to be the best there is.

Yer gonna need this.......2005-09-13

Yep. Very well put together collection of stuff you'll need -- even if you think you don't -- to get through Gravity's Rainbow proper. Sure you can fly solo, naked, hungry ... but this gives you a bit of support as you swim through. Just a few pivots and landings to catch your breath. Although not essential, it can help. Fer sher.

Useful and well-done, but at a price..........2005-07-18

An extremely useful and interesting companion to GR. Perhaps not essential, but certainly helpful in getting much more out of this fantastic novel. There are different ways to use the Companion - I ended up reading an episode in GR and then reading the accompanying pages in the Companion, which worked pretty well though it obviously breaks the natural flow of the novel. I like the fact that Weisenburger generally does not attempt to provide detailed interpretations - the sheer length of the novel fortunately prevents the flood of over-interpretation and academic nonsense that, for example, sometimes fills companion books for shorter novels (e.g., The Crying of Lot 49). Weisenburger's thoughts on timelines and the overall structure are enlightening.

I do have one major complaint: for reasons I'm sure Weisenburger would try to defend but that I don't understand at all, he "gives away" rather early in the Companion the events described in the very last episodes in GR. We're talking major spoiler here! Although there are numerous hints throughout GR leading up to this, the picture doesn't become clear until the very end. Unfortunately, Weisenburger blows the surprise very early on and personally I really resented this.

A minor complaint: As mentioned in other reviews, Weisenburger commits a number of errors when explaining some of the science and math. Often, these explanations just weren't necessary and in some cases work only to deflate the book's magic. As one of a number of possible examples, consider the extraordinary balloon ride episode, in which Slothrop witnesses the earth's shadow moving across the land. Weisenburger chimes in with a discussion as to whether or not the cited speed of the shadow is realistic, and also informs us that of course shadows can't break the speed of sound! Useless over-analysis of the type that explains why generation after generation of students are turned off to literature when forced by professors with too much brain and not enough heart to dissect great books in the classroom.

The Cambridge Companion to Proust (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Average customer rating:

Slightly uneven, but overall a solid introduction to Proust

The Cambridge Companion to Proust (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521669618

Book Description

The Cambridge Companion to Proust provides a broad account of the major features of Marcel Proust's great work A la recherche du temps perdu (1913-1927). The specially commissioned essays, by acknowledged experts on Proust, address a wide range of issues relating to his work. Progressing from background and biographical material, the chapters investigate such essential areas as the composition of the novel, its social dimension, the language in which it is couched, its intellectual parameters and its humor.

Customer Reviews:

Slightly uneven, but overall a solid introduction to Proust.......2002-07-02

This is an excellent and helpful introductory set of essays by leading Anglo-American Proust scholars that will prepare any beginner for working his or her way through Proust's masterpiece. As in any anthology, some of the essays are more rewarding than others. Many of the pieces provide a stellar introduction to Proust and Proust's world, while some (especially some of the later essays in the volume) are as impenetrable as some of Proust's own longer and unfathomable sentences. Nonetheless, anyone unfamiliar with Proust will come away well prepared to read and study Proust's masterpiece. A word of warning: if it is important to you not to know plot details (though Proust is hardly about plot; it isn't the destination in Proust, it is the getting there that counts) before reading a book, then you might want to consider skipping this. Personally, I believe that Proust is one of those rare authors about whose tale one needs to know as much as possible before reading.

The volume is apt to be of less value to Proust scholars, or even serious readers who have read the biographies by either Carter or Tadie, or the critical works of Roger Shattuck, or others (both Carter and Shattuck have essays in this volume). The best essays in the collection tend to be those that are more introductory in nature. The weaker essays tend to be those that are more specialized and focused on specific issues in Proust.

Overall, however, I encourage anyone needing an introductory work on Proust to consider spending some time working through the essays in this book.

The Cambridge Companion to Charles Dickens (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
Average customer rating:

Good guide to what's new with Dickens

The Cambridge Companion to Charles Dickens (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

19th Century | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0521669642

Book Description

The Cambridge Companion to Charles Dickens contains fourteen chapters by leading international scholars that cover the whole range of Dickens' writing. Separate chapters address important thematic topics: childhood, the city, and domestic ideology. Others consider formal features of the novels, including their serial publication and Dickens' distinctive use of language. The volume as a whole offers a valuable introduction to Dickens for students and general readers, as well as fresh insights, informed by recent critical theory, that will be of interest to scholars and teachers of his novels.

Customer Reviews:

Good guide to what's new with Dickens.......2003-10-09

This provides some interesting critical essays of recent scholarship on Dickens work. A must have for any student of Dickens.

The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Average customer rating:

One of the best anthologies I have ever read

The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521016576

Book Description

Science fiction is at the intersection of numerous fields. It is literature which draws on popular culture, and engages in speculation about science, history, and all varieties of social relations. This volume brings together essays by scholars and practitioners of science fiction, which look at the genre from different angles. It examines science fiction from Thomas More to the present day; and introduces important critical approaches (including Marxism, postmodernism, feminism and queer theory).

Download Description

Science fiction is at the intersection of numerous fields. It is a literature which draws on popular culture, and which engages in speculation about science, history, and all types of social relations. This volume brings together essays by scholars and practitioners of science fiction, which look at the genre from these different angles. After an introduction to the nature of science fiction, historical chapters trace science fiction from Thomas More to the present day, including a chapter on film and television. The second section introduces four important critical approaches to science fiction drawing their theoretical inspiration from Marxism, postmodernism, feminism and queer theory. The final and largest section of the book looks at various themes and sub-genres of science fiction. A number of well-known science fiction writers contribute to this volume, including Gwyneth Jones, Ken MacLeod, Brian Stableford Andy Duncan, James Gunn, Joan Slonczewski, and Damien Broderick.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best anthologies I have ever read.......2006-09-04

Anthologies are notoriously inconsistent. Most contain several essays considerably below the level of the best pieces and many contain a few utterly miserable ones. On the downside, no essay in this collection truly stands out; on the upside, there really isn't a weak entry in the volume. I honestly cannot think of another collection of which I can make that statement.

Whether you are a serious fan of Sci-fi or a casual reader seeking an introduction to the field, this collection will prove invaluable. I fall somewhere between those two categories. Over the years I've read a few hundred Sci-fi novels and seen most Sci-fi films that have been made, but it has never been my main source of reading or film viewing. I've read rather a lot of the historically important works such as Mary Shelly, Henry Kuttner, H. G. Wells, Olaf Stapleton, and David Lindsay, but I've never attempted anything like a comprehensive reading of the classics. And I have ready very little that has been published in the past fifteen years. Still, I found that I learned an enormous amount about the field from this book. I learned about several historical works I had not previously known of, got a better understanding of the state of the genre from one decade to another, and learned a great deal about trends in the field in the past couple of decades. I also learned something about the various literary critical reactions to the genre. For those in the academy, it is a helpful introduction to the scholarly take on things.

The book is also great at pointing the way to other books. I kept a sheet of paper beside me as I read. I have already bought a few critical books on Sci-fi based on mentions of them in this volume, while I also have compiled a list of a number of novels that I plan on reading.

The essays in the book are broken down into three separate sections. The first section deals with the history of Sci-fi, from precursor works to the magazine age to various decades after. The second and most academic section deals with various academic approaches to Sci-fi, including Marxist, feminist, postmodernist, and queer theory. The final and most wide-ranging section covers a variety of themes such as gender, race, hard science fiction, alternate history, space opera, film and TV, and religion. The writers are mainly English and mostly academic, though several are also writers of Sci-fi. Even the writers, however, are fully qualified academics. For instance, one of the more scholarly entries is that by Brian Stableford. Though most of the essayists are British, American Sci-fi has so completely dominated the genre that it automatically demands priority. If anything, I was somewhat surprised by the absence of some European writers. There is, for instance, very little discussion of Stanislaw Lem, though several deserving British writers do receive attention.

In addition to the very good essays there is also a very interesting (though certainly not exhaustive) list of chronology listing some significant novels, short stories, movies, and television series. There is also a good bibliography at the end of the book, though I wish it had been annotated.

I highly recommend this collection to anyone interested in Sci-fi either in a casual or more dedicated fashion. In all honestly I have to say it is one of the most successful volumes in the Cambridge Companions series that I have read.

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