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Good story, nice twists, well written
A so-so first book
Acts of betrayal.
Sufficiently Complicated
Terrific hard-boiled detective fiction

The Moving Target
Ross Macdonald
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 037570146X
Release Date: 1998-03-03

Book Description

Like many Southern California millionaires, Ralph Sampson keeps odd company. There's the sun-worshipping holy man whom Sampson once gave his very own mountain; the fading actress with sidelines in astrology and S&M. Now one of Sampson's friends may have arranged his kidnapping.

As Lew Archer follows the clues from the canyon sanctuaries of the megarich to jazz joints where you get beaten up between sets, The Moving Target blends sex, greed, and family hatred into an explosively readable crime novel.

Customer Reviews:

Good story, nice twists, well written.......2007-06-18

I'm just getting my head around this guy and find him quieter than the other hard-boiled dectectives (Chandler, Hammet) so more will be revealed.
I liked this book and am on to the next one. I have not been dissapointed.

A so-so first book.......2007-03-28

'Moving Target, The' is the first novel in which noir-American writer Ross McDonald introduces his most famous detective, Lew Archer. Published in 1948, in a time when noir movies was at the top, the book is just a unremarkable pulp fiction story with classic ingredients as murder, treason, much money, kidnapped and poor ladies in distress.
When you read 'Moving Target, The' you feel that McDonald was very far to develop a strong and convincing work; in fact, most of the time the reader will feel the influence of some other authors hovering above Mc Donald's style. Great authors, to be sure, as Raymond Chandler, for instance.
The story is just normal, and sometimes even full of flaws. But Archer is a good characther. In a way, his sympathy and easy way saves this book to be a complete misfire.

Acts of betrayal........2005-12-22

First published in 1949, The Moving Target is one of Ross Macdonald's earlier novels. Action packed and nicely paced, the narrative of this book is noticeably less convoluted than many of the other entries in the Macdonald canon.
As hardboiled PI Lew Archer searches high and low to locate missing millionaire Ralph Sampson, he encounters more than a few very interesting characters along the way. These include Sampson's paraplegic wife Elaine, his headstrong 20 year old daughter Miranda, Claude a bearded prophet of questionable repute and Fay Estabrook an aging film star who doubles as an astrologer.
While successfully relating this intriguing mystery, Macdonald simultaneously manages to paint a vivid picture of life in the Southern California of the immediate postwar era.
The Moving Target is an engaging detective novel that deftly brings to life the place and time in which it unfolds. Must reading for those who enjoy California noir.

Sufficiently Complicated.......2005-09-13

I enjoy ross MacDonald because the plots are sufficiently complicated, but nonetheless logical. Throughout, the story and background are credible. They are all I look for in an interesting entertainment.

Terrific hard-boiled detective fiction.......2004-10-08

When listing the greats of Noir detective fiction, Macdonald seems all too often to be left off the list. The Moving Target, with its introduction of the wonderful Lew Archer character, is a good place to begin with his writing and one of the best in the series.

The Moving Target explores a wide variety of relationships that turn poisonous-- husband and wife, brother and sister, lovers both requited and unrequited, employer and servant, and lawyers and the law. Originally said to have been titled "The Snatch" (vetoed for obvious reasons), it tells the story of the kidnapping of an eccentric oil millionaire named Ralph Sampson. Lew Archer is hired to help get him back, but he quickly begins to wonder if anyone wants Sampson to return.

While all the characters are interesting, the addicted jazz pianist Betty Fraley is particularly complex and well-drawn. A very good read.

Average customer rating:

Hard Target: A Novel
Christopher Hyde
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0688090532

Beat the Clock Kakuro: 214 Easy to Hard Puzzles with Target Time Limits (Kakuro)

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Warning: these are not simple puzzles!

Beat the Clock Kakuro: 214 Easy to Hard Puzzles with Target Time Limits (Kakuro)
Jim Bumgardner
Manufacturer: Ulysses Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569755523

Customer Reviews:

Warning: these are not simple puzzles!.......2007-01-26

I have gone through a few other kakuro books before trying this one. The other books never even came close to the difficulty of these puzzles. It took me a while to get into the spirit, but now I'm totally in love with this book. These are puzzles you can really sink your teeth into.

Complete .50-Caliber Sniper Course : Hard-Target Interdiction

Average customer rating:

Very good, but contains some mathematical errors.
A great resource for long distance shooting
Hard-Target Interdiction
A MUST BUY!
To: The reader from Ft. Bragg

Complete .50-Caliber Sniper Course : Hard-Target Interdiction
Dean Michaelis
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1581600682

Book Description

Nowhere are the big guns covered in more detail. Before Sgt. First Class Dean Michaelis (Ret.) wrote the book on sniping, he wrote a first-of-its-kind program of instruction for the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course. A member of the 1st Special Forces Group, he taught students everything they needed to know to succeed and survive. Now he brings that information to you, covering every aspect of the sniper's art: the history, equipment, skills and missions. He also includes reproducible forms, a military-issue .50-caliber cartridge tip color guide and his exclusive Program of Instruction for Special Operations Hard-Target Interdiction Course. An invaluable resource for military and civilian shooters alike.

Customer Reviews:

Very good, but contains some mathematical errors........2002-12-24

This book is, overall, very good. The tactical and fieldcraft information is superb. Highly technical shooters should be aware that the information presented on "The Mil" on page 122 is erroneous. The correct values are: (1) There are 6283.2 mils in a complete circle; (2) 1 mil = 3.438 MOA; and (3)1 mil @ 100 yards = 3.600 inches. Use of Michaelis' values will put you off by 0.225 MOA (2 inches at 900 yards).

A great resource for long distance shooting.......2001-02-06

I read this book primarily for two reasons: (1) learn how to adjust for all factors in order to be on target with the first shot in varying conditions and at varying distances not known in advance of ranging, and (2) get an idea of specific makes and configurations of long distance rifles, optics, and related equipment so that I could make an intelligent selection. This book has been remarkably good in these two areas. It does present the information you need to know to dial in your shot accurately and adjust for changes in temperature, altitude, distance, and so on before you take the first shot. I've been pleased with the results using Dean's book and data tables. I've also used his reviews of rifles and optics to make purchases that I've been happy with.

If you have questions in any of these areas, this is a excellent book. Much of the book will be useful to you. The title does not fully reflect all the information contained in the book, though. It contains tons of useful information whether you shoot the big 50s or just 308s and 338s.

As far as other parts of the book of interest to real snipers or wannabes, such as target selection, evasion, etc, I have no expertise to judge, although I found the chapters an interesting read. My personal theory of combat is "when they're in range, you're in range" and therefore I'd just as soon stick to shooting paper targets or fresh venison.

Hard-Target Interdiction.......2000-12-14

The book contains a lot of information, much of it good background info and a good read for people with an interest in the subject matter. However, I would be careful about characterizing the work as a "Complete .50 Caliber Sniper Course" or anything approaching a "Hard-Target Interdiction" protocol. It is neither, in my view.

Anyone having with so-called "designated marksman" experience(using current politically correct language)knows full well that there is no one as necessarily self-confident and as self-reliant as the sniper. These attributes alone preclude the application the "cookie-cutter" or "formula" approach taken in the book.

As regards interdiction, the effort will be short-lived and unsuccessful given a presumption of an untalented target. In the real world, combatants are often relatively equally resolved, talented, and eqipped and success and failure are separated only by a greater level of paranoia and prevailing circumstances, with the target having the home town advantage. A successful effort, followed by an unsuccessful evasion (capture), may be expected to result in the sniper's swift execution and an unsuccessful mission.

The real world is a cold and harsh one. That which is needed to survive in the world into which the author takes his reader cannot be taught the way he strives to teach it and success and survival cannot be achieved with the insights and tools he provides.

Read the book, enjoy it for what it is - a good read on a subject that is, for most, an esoteric one in which many have an interest and there isn't too much around to read.

A MUST BUY!.......2000-07-16

If you are interested in long range shooting and you like ballistics, GET THIS BOOK! I am in the process of moving up from a light-class system to a medium/heavy-class system, and this book had ALL the information I needed to get started. As for the use of theodolites versus lasers, I disagree with "Bragg"! I know from personal experience that lasers are very easy to detect on the modern battlefield. I'm looking forward to learning more about the use of a theodolite as supposed to a laser on longer distances. If you have any questions about this review or related topics feel free to e-mail me:

ballistics@usa.com

To: The reader from Ft. Bragg.......2000-03-14

First, did you read the book, or is this purely a personal opinion. I would invite you to contact me to discuss your opinion. The reality is that nearly ALL sniper instructors in the military, current and past, did NOT see combat experience. I have a pretty good idea who this is, but why don't you step up and put your name to your review like the others did?

Book Description

From the time that President Ronald Reagan "declared war" on drugs in 1982 through today, the United States increased the military's role in interdiction and made illegal drugs a central component of U.S. foreign policy. Despite these actions, international drug trafficking has become the world's largest criminal enterprise and the United States is far and away the number one market for illegal drugs. The United States' so-called war on drugs is a failure that has actually contributed to a growth in the drug trade. An overview of the U.S. antidrug policy is first provided, followed by an in-depth examination of the major criminal organizations that have been involved in trafficking, focusing on how these so-called hard targets got started, their organizational structure, their operations and how law enforcement worldwide has responded to their growth. The social, political and economic effects of drug trafficking are then explored. A concluding section assesses the impact of U.S. policy on the worldwide drug trade and puts forth what has been learned from this failed agenda.

Customer Reviews:

Well researched and engaging.......2002-06-18

Ron Chepesuik connects all the dots. He documents the enormous reach of the drug trafficking cartels throughout the world. Moreover he explores other solutions, such as treatment, prevention and education. He makes no endorsements but suggests that changes must be made fighting the war on illegal drugs worldwide. An excellent book worth reading.

The Zone Set Books 1-4: Hard Target, Blind Fire, Hunter Killer, Sky Strike

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The Zone Set Books 1-4: Hard Target, Blind Fire, Hunter Killer, Sky Strike
James Rouch
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P8X87Y

Product Description

The Zone Set Books 1-4: Hard Target, Blind Fire, Hunter Killer, Sky Strike

Is being a hard target enough? (security measures against violent crime): An article from: Security Management

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Is being a hard target enough? (security measures against violent crime): An article from: Security Management
Lloyd F. Reese
Manufacturer: American Society for Industrial Security
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Security Management, published by American Society for Industrial Security on March 1, 1994. The length of the article is 658 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Dept of Justice statistics show that eight out of every 10 people can become victims of violent crime. Nevertheless, corporate security programs continue to rely on technology instead of security personnel. Although police have a duty to protect communities, they are not charged with a specific duty to protect individuals or facilities. Security departments should undertake an analysis of crime rates in their areas and surrounding metropolitan areas. The use of armed security personnel to guard against risk could outweigh the liability risk associated with it.

Citation Details
Title: Is being a hard target enough? (security measures against violent crime)
Author: Lloyd F. Reese
Publication: Security Management (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 1994
Publisher: American Society for Industrial Security
Volume: v38 Issue: n3 Page: p102(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

State Department: Targets For Hiring, Filling Vacancies Overseas Being Met, But Gaps Remain In Hard-to-learn Languages

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State Department: Targets For Hiring, Filling Vacancies Overseas Being Met, But Gaps Remain In Hard-to-learn Languages
Jess T. Ford
Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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