Books

Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy

Average customer rating:

"The Dominator"
Explains a great deal
A good antidote
The Case Against Donald Rumsfeld
rumsfeld - rise and fall

Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy
Andrew Cockburn
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416535748

Book Description

Donald Rumsfeld, who as secretary of defense oversaw the army, navy, air force, and marines from 2001 to December 2006, is widely blamed for the catastrophic state of America's involvement in Iraq. In his groundbreaking book Rumsfeld, Washington insider Andrew Cockburn details Rumsfeld's decisions in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and also shows how his political legacy stretches back decades and will reach far into the future.

Relying on sources that include high-ranking officials in the Pentagon and the White House, Rumsfeld goes far beyond previous accounts to reveal a man consumed with the urge to dominate each and every human encounter, and whose aggressive ambition has long been matched by his inability to display genuine leadership or accept responsibility for egregious error. Cockburn exposes Rumsfeld's early career as an Illinois congressman, his rise to prominence as an official in the Nixon White House, his careful maneuvering to avoid the fallout of the Watergate scandal, and his skillful infighting as secretary of defense under President Ford. Cockburn also chronicles for the very first time Rumsfeld's subsequent tenure as CEO of G. D. Searle (and his devoted efforts to get governmental approval for the controversial artificial sweetener aspartame) as well as his interesting behavior in secret high-level government nuclear war games in the years he was out of power.

President George W. Bush's hasty elevation of Rumsfeld as his secretary of defense proved historic, for it was the triumvirate of Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Rumsfeld who plunged America into the disastrous quagmire of the war in Iraq. Cockburn reveals how Rumsfeld's habits of intimidation, indecision, ignoring awkward realities, destructive micromanagement, and bureaucratic manipulation all helped doom America's military adventure. The book challenges the notion that Rumsfeld was an effective manager driven to transform the American military, examines the reasons that Rumsfeld was removed from office, and shows how his second appointment as secretary of defense reflects a deep conflict between President Bush and his father, former president George H. W. Bush.

Brimming with powerful revelations, Rumsfeld is sure to emerge as the must-have piece of investigative journalism as America grapples with its difficult involvement in Iraq and the uncertain path the country faces today.

Customer Reviews:

"The Dominator".......2007-05-13

The average person, like me, has always wondered what made Rumsfeld tick. This well written book explains how the former Secretary of Defense is consumed with the desire to dominate and has been like this from the beginning of his career. He is obviously a highly intelligent man but his life-long, enormous, ambitions become devastating to him and to his name in history. Andrew Cockburn goes into Rumsfeld's career in detail including his dedicated efforts to persuade the government to approve the artificial sweetner "aspartame" when he was CEO of G.D.Searle. It mattered not that this product was highly controversial. As Secretary of
Defense he will long be remembered for his arrogance and use of intimidation, among so many other faults, which brought us into a war nobody in their right mind desires.

Explains a great deal.......2007-05-12

This entertaining and enlightening book by veteran journalist Andrew Cockburn goes a long way to explaining many of the most puzzling errors and bizarre misjudgments that have bedeviled the US military during the Bush Administration. In turns amusing and depressing, "Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy" is the most useful guide yet published on the mismanagement that has all but crippled the most powerful military force in the world. One would hope that the lessons implicit in this book would be learned by future Administrations and policy makers. I'm not holding my breath.

A good antidote.......2007-05-12

An excellent antidote to the laudatory, mash bio of the man by the Neocon Midge Decter. You might call this bio the "Anti-Decter".

The Case Against Donald Rumsfeld.......2007-04-10

I am among the many people that dislike Donald Rumsfeld, so I am thoroughly enjoying this book. That said, it is far from even-handed. There is lots of background material on the man and his arrogant dismissiveness is profiled beautifully.

rumsfeld - rise and fall.......2007-04-07

despite regarding rumsfeld with great disdain, along w/neocons, I found Cockburn's writing facile and very well-researched and good summary of 35-40 years of recent US history as seen from insidious right wing side and rumsfelds role in this neo-imperialist agenda, and his botched "reform" of the Pentagon. The gross arrogance of the man and his destructive participation in the Iraq debacle was fairly and interestingly presented by Cockburn. Good read.

Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)

Average customer rating:

Star wars: Legacy of the Force book 4
Its not great
Three Stars
The Dark Side Keeps Coming
Another excellent chapter in the saga...

Exile (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 4)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345477537
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

In the Stars Wars galaxy, evil is on the move as the Galactic Alliance and Jedi order battle forces seen and unseen, from rampant internal treachery to the nightmare of all-out war.

With each victory against the Corellian rebels, Jacen Solo becomes more admired, more powerful, and more certain of achieving galactic peace. But that peace may come with a price. Despite strained relationships caused by opposing sympathies in the war, Han and Leia Solo and Luke and Mara Skywalker remain united by one frightening suspicion: Someone insidious is manipulating this war, and if he or she isn’t stopped, all efforts at reconciliation may be for naught. And as sinister visions lead Luke to believe that the source of the evil is none other than Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith, the greatest peril revolves around Jacen himself. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Star wars: Legacy of the Force book 4.......2007-06-27

Gripping story, I'm a little uncomfortable with Jacen being turned to the dark side, but am hoping it turns out to be a tempory aberation.

Its not great .......2007-06-20

I really can sum up this novel in two words.....Love Commander.I really wish the Star Wars EU guys would STOP makeing up profanity like stang,rodder and kriffing it sounds so stupid use the real deal if you must use it or better yet language has many derogitory terms that arent vulgar use those you may actually educate someone.

Three Stars.......2007-06-13

There were only two real noteworthy things that happened in Exile, Ben being sent unknown to him on a Sith test and the Skywalker-Solo (minus Jacen of course) clan coming to realize that their family being split may be exactly what the enemy is wanting. I liked Ben's test being him alone on a Sith planet where he and only he can choice which path he'll follow and struggling to survive. The second part it was nice to see the Skywalkers-Solos come to the realization. I had hoped with this being the fourth book we would have more answers about the war, the reasons behind it, about Lumyia or something instead the rest was nothing more then Jacen still deciding who his Sacrifice would be and setting up for his plan at the end of the story at painstaking slowness that by the time the it got to the point I was asleep. I hope the next book will better. More answers, more things happening and less endless slowness.

The Dark Side Keeps Coming.......2007-05-22

Another Splendid addition to the Legacy of the Force series. Basically, the story continues with Jason getting deeper into the dark side. Young Ben however is starting to find out that it's not all that good to be bad.
More interesting stories all evolving around different caracters and the War, including one where Ben is tested to see if he really is dark side material. While entertaining, remember the book is still just a segue to the next book. But that is expected in such a long series.

Another excellent chapter in the saga..........2007-05-21

Excellent chapter in the new storyline. The author does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the characters, both old and new. True to Star Wars form, the storyline builds to an exciting, multi-layed conclusion. You can almost hear the familiar theme music playing as you read it! I will be eagerly anticipating the next novel in the Legacy storyline.

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 5)

Average customer rating:

Easily One of the Best Star Wars Books: An Excellent Read!
Great
A Must Read for all the Wrong Reasons? (Spoiler Alert)
Not the best Star Wars book but I'm reading just to find out what happens.
I hope these Fett interludes are going some where

Sacrifice (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 5)
Karen Traviss
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345477405
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Book Description

Civil war rages as the Galactic Alliance–led by Cal Omas and the Jedi forces of Luke Skywalker–battles a confederation of breakaway planets that rally to the side of rebellious Corellia. Suspected of involvement in an assassination plot against Queen Mother Tenel Ka of the Hapes Consortium, Han and Leia Solo are on the run, hunted by none other than their own son, Jacen, whose increasingly authoritarian tactics as head of GA security have led Luke and Mara Skywalker to fear that their nephew may be treading perilously close to the dark side.

But as his family sees in Jacen the chilling legacy of his Sith grandfather, Darth Vader, many of the frontline troops adore him, and countless citizens see him as a savior. The galaxy has been torn apart by too many wars. All Jacen wants is safety and stability for all–and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.

To end the bloodshed and suffering, what sacrifice would be too great? That is the question tormenting Jacen. Already he has sacrificed much, embracing the pitiless teachings of Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, who has taught him that a strong will and noble purpose can hold the evil excesses of the dark side at bay, bringing peace and order to the galaxy–but at a price.

For there is one final test that Jacen must pass before he can gain the awesome power of a true Sith Lord: He must bring about the death of someone he values dearly. What troubles Jacen isn’t whether he has the strength to commit murder. He has steeled himself for that, and worse if necessary. No, the question that troubles Jacen is who the sacrifice should be.

As the strands of destiny draw ever more tightly together in a galaxy-spanning web, the shocking answer will shatter two families . . . and cast a grim shadow over the future.

Customer Reviews:

Easily One of the Best Star Wars Books: An Excellent Read!.......2007-06-27

This is easily one of the best Star Wars books. First, it is a highly enjoyable read, which is not always the case with the Star Wars books. Second, there is major plot development so this is not just another adventure. Third, the characters are three dimensional rather than cliche stereotypes so the story becomes more believable. Fourth, there is story line development in a new direction: that of Boba Fett and his planet/people. Fifth, the author understands violence, something many authors do not. This makes the action scenes more credible. One negative is that Jacen physically heals himself significantly faster than other Jedi apparently can at the end of the story and that aspect does not seem credible. Nonetheless, the Star Wars universe overall is much richer with Karen Travis writing about it. A Highly Recommended Read!

Great.......2007-06-27

This book was a chilling next installment in the series. Great plot. If you are thinking of purchasing any Star Wars books in the near future, I would recommend grabbing this series.

A Must Read for all the Wrong Reasons? (Spoiler Alert).......2007-06-25

Boba Fett becomes a dotting grandpa and effective leader of the his fellow Mando? Mara Jade killed by her own nephew, Jacen, who becomes a full-fledged Sith Lord?

Yes, it's all true. The Skywalker-Solo family is irrevocably changed.

Traviss' book, Sacrifice, is quite good overall. The other reviewers do a better job of the nitty-gritty type of review than I want to take the time to do. As a fan, I will mourn the loss of a great character in Mara Jade. I always thought she was one of the more enjoyable Expanded Universe characters: complex, tough, adventurous, and very intelligent. I assume Jaina will step up to take her place, as hinted at in the book itself, but that may be inevitable since now she will also be out to get her brother for killing their aunt.

Traviss does a very good job of relating and examining the inter-family dynamics of a famous Star Wars dynasty being ripped apart. She also does a very good job of describing Boba Fett's change of heart toward his family and "friends" as well as his strong leadership of his people. Clearly there will be a confrontation between the Galactic Alliance and Boba Fett's resurgent Mando in the volumes to come.

In short, if you're a Star Wars fan, you have to read the book. Yep, you have no choice. A main character is killed off. Gotta' read the book. A main character goes over to the Dark Side. Gotta' read the book. Am I wrong to think it was a mistake to kill off Mara Jade? Heck, I still wish Chewie was around! He would have pulled Jacen's arms off by now.

Not the best Star Wars book but I'm reading just to find out what happens........2007-06-22

This review will touch on the book, and then the series itself.

The book was, in my opinion, too long, slow and inconsistant. A lot of things happen, with the eventual death of three major characters (of this series), Ben discovering Jacen is Sith, and a lot of focus on Fett becoming a leader of his people, but most of it is towards the end, or the last third of the book.

Many characters are not given the normally astute intellect they are usually written with either. For instance, when Mara has a bath with Leia, in other books, Leia would be looking into the meaning of Mara's questions, make the correct deductions, grab Han and blast out into space in the Falcon and perhaps contact Luke for help. Instead, Leia gets a few lines and that's it.

Similarly, Luke is portrayed as a bit of an easily mislead dummy.

I feel that this series is taking much too long to get into Jacen's path into Sith-hood, and the resolution. The original series did the whole rise and fall and redemption of Darth Vader in 6 movies/novels. The Star Wars Legacy series isn't even half way there yet. The New Jedi Order series also took too long. I have a bad feeling that the publishers are trying to milk Star Wars for all they can and are stringing it along.

I hope these Fett interludes are going some where.......2007-06-20

Every time the book got intresting it go into a Fett intrlude hope its going somewhere otherwise pages are being wasted that could other wise be used to expand the plot. Ok so Maras killed I expected a more epic battle from a main character. It was a cheep way to kill her especially since Jedi can neutralize poison with the force. So far while entertaining it looks like they are going to take 9 books to tell a trilogys worth of story.

Betrayal (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

It was good but alot of the same ol same ol
One of the best
Excellent
Another Star Wars Series
Evolution Of Star Wars

Betrayal (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 1)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Outbound Flight (Star Wars)

ASIN: 0345477340
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Book Description

This is the era of Luke Skywalker’s legacy: the Jedi Master has unified the order into a cohesive group of powerful Jedi Knights. But as the new era begins, planetary interests threaten to disrupt this time of relative peace, and Luke is plagued with visions of an approaching darkness. Evil is rising again–out of the best intentions–and it looks as if the legacy of the Skywalkers may come full circle. Honor and duty will collide with friendship and blood ties as the Skywalker and Solo clans find themselves on opposing sides of an explosive conflict with potentially devastating repercussions for both families, for the Jedi order, and for the entire galaxy.

When a mission to uncover an illegal missile factory on the planet Adumar ends in a violent ambush–from which Jedi Knight Jacen Solo and his protégé and cousin, Ben Skywalker, narrowly escape with their lives–it’s the most alarming evidence yet that sparks of political unrest are threatening to ignite into total rebellion. The governments of numerous worlds are chafing under the strict regulations of the Galactic Alliance, and diplomatic efforts to enforce compliance are failing. Fearing the worst, the Alliance readies a preemptive display of military might in a bid to bring the rogue worlds in line before an uprising erupts. The designated target of this exercise: planet Corellia–renowned for the brash independence and renegade spirit that have made its favorite son, Han Solo, a legend.

Something of a rogue himself, Jacen is nevertheless duty bound as a Jedi to stand with his uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, on the side of the Galactic Alliance. But when the wary Corellians launch a counterstrike, the Alliance’s show of force–and a secret mission to disable Corellia’s crucial Centerpoint Station–give way to an armed skirmish. Once the smoke clears, the battle lines are drawn. Now the specter of full-scale war looms between a growing cadre of defiant planets and the Galactic Alliance that some fear is becoming a new Empire. And even as both sides struggle to find a diplomatic solution, mysterious acts of treachery and sabotage threaten peace efforts at every turn.

Determined to root out those behind the mayhem, Jacen follows a trail of cryptic clues to a dark rendezvous with the most shocking of revelations . . . while Luke grapples with something even more troubling: dream visions of a shadowy figure whose Force power and ruthlessness remind him of Darth Vader–a lethal enemy who strikes like a dark spirit on a mission of doom. An agent of evil who, if Luke’s visions come to pass, will bring untold pain to the Jedi Master . . . and to the entire galaxy.

Customer Reviews:

It was good but alot of the same ol same ol.......2007-06-20

The book was good I liked what they did with Ben mainly because he reminded me of my best friend in highschool. The plot was ok but weve seen this type of plot about a million times in the Star Wars universe. Another thing I hate is the fact that the writers give out high military rank like it was jolly ranchers or something. Itd be like me showing up for basic training and the DI saying "Dude we heard about how you thrashed that guy in 5th grade so your going to be a general." YEAH RIGHT leading an Army, especialy a secret police force aint like dusting crops boy! Theres rules, regulations, SOPs, logistics, and all types of need to know stuff that even a jedi wouldnt be familiar with stuff that could kill. So stop treating the military like any jerk off the street could do it.

One of the best.......2007-06-14

I just finished this novel today. IMO, it is one of the best of the SW EU novels. I place it in the top five (along with Zahn's original Thrawn trilogy and Stackpole's "I, Jedi").

"Betrayal" is one of the few recent EU novels that has that mix of drama and comedy that made Lucas' original trilogy so good.

Jacen's fall to the Dark Side is very much in character; it's obvious if you've read the NJO series that Jacen would eventually follow that course.

A great read.

Excellent.......2007-05-07

The book is great. It really opens this new book series well, though it's a bit of a tear jerker towards the end.

Another Star Wars Series.......2007-05-07

A great first book to introduce a series of novels in the Star Wars environment. Luke & Mara Leia & Han and the children battle a new threat to the G.A.

Evolution Of Star Wars.......2007-02-26

I am not a fan of Star Wars books. I tried getting into the other books which basically all came down to......terrible danger, close calls, all is well in the end. I was a mild fan of the New Jedi Order Series. I liked that they were trying something new and that they had enough courage to change the universe.

This book seems to take the universe in a bold new direction. No longer is it black & white, good vs evil. This book builds up momentum and leads to an ending that will leave you staring at the pages for a few moments. Possible re-reading entire pages to make sure you read it right. An well-written book that is a great jumping point into a new series.

If you read the New Jedi Order books (Even if you did not like them) you owe it to yourself to give this book a read.

Tempest (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Tempest is very well written.
OK but not for the casual SW fan.
Tempest Review
Well Written enjoyable if at times slightly out of character
Great Condition & Timing

Tempest (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 3)
Troy Denning
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345477529
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Book Description

Forty years after the Battle of Yavin a dangerous new era in the Star Wars epic begins–the revelations are shocking, the stakes desperate, and the enemy everywhere.

As civil war threatens the unity of the Galactic Alliance, Han and Leia Solo have enraged their families and the Jedi by joining the Corellian insurgents. But the Solos draw the line when they discover the rebels’ plot to make the Hapan Consortium an ally–which rests upon Hapan nobles murdering their pro-Alliance queen and her daughter.

Yet the Solos’ selfless determination to save the queen cannot dispel the inescapable consequences of their actions, that will pit mother against son and brother against sister in the battles ahead. For as Jacen Solo’s dark powers grow stronger under the Dark Jedi Lumiya, and his influence over Ben Skywalker becomes more insidious, Luke’s concern for his nephew forces him into a life-and-death struggle against his fiercest foe, and Han and Leia Solo find themselves at the mercy of their deadliest enemy . . . their son.

Customer Reviews:

Tempest is very well written........2007-05-10

Tempest, the 3rd book in a 5 part series is very well written. The plot flows evenly. The biggest complaint I have is that Luke, at least in this series seems to be "Lost in Space". He appears weak and ineffective and as "Grand Master" of the Jedi he is a collossal failure, his & Mara's failure to contain Jacen and bring Ben Skywalker back is Mind boggling. Are you telling me that the power that Luke and Mara have between them can't overcome Jacen is unfathomable. It almost appears that Luke is being marginalized or on the verge of being written out of existence. After all, HE IS the main character in Star Wars along with Han and Leia. The story line is good but I'd like to read more of Luke and for God's sake lets bring Lumiya out into the open so that we can hate her properly.

OK but not for the casual SW fan........2007-05-07

This book was fine, the writing was good, but to it felt like the plot was treading water in the middle. If you aren't really into the SW universe, this book might not be for you. There are a number of characters that the causal SW fan might not have come across in the book. The writing is good enough that you can go on reading without knowing their history, but they do complicate the enjoyment of the book for someone not immersed in the SW scene.

Plus, just a personal peeve, but I couldn't figure out who the woman on the cover was supposed to be.

Tempest Review.......2007-04-12

One of the worst Star Wars books i have ever read, and i've read all the novels.
Bloodlines was just as bad. Betrayel was good, i really like Aaron Allston.
I'm getting very sick of Jacen, in particular. Enough said- ann

Well Written enjoyable if at times slightly out of character.......2007-03-27

What seems to characterize the Legacy of the Force series is the fact that the characters act in a manner that is out of character for them and that the main characters from the expanded universe really need to learn how to communicate. Denning does another fine job with this addition to the series. I liked the fact that so much of the book focussed on Tenal Ka, but overall I did feel like the book jumped around too much. Denning's characterizations were not as strong as in his other additions to the series, but they were intriguing nontheless. It just seems as if some of the situations our characters find themselves in are so blantently manufactured that is occassionaly drags the reader out of the story. My main gripe is that I simply cannot see the characters, particularly Jacen acting in the manner that they do. I know the series is all about Jacen becoming a Sith Lord but still... Another problem I had is that all of these writers focus on their favorite characters. For example, Boba Fett, so crucial to the story in the previous book does not appear at all. That is a problem in consistancy. Is the book fun to read, well-written and enjoyable? Yes, but is doesn't capture the magoc of some of the earlier Star Wars books.

Great Condition & Timing.......2007-03-09

The Book was received in excellent condition and in a timely manner.

The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam

Average customer rating:

A son on his father's Vietnam service
A writer of great talent - Tom Bissell
A Subject Greater Than the War Itself
An Excellent Father/Son Story...
Embarassingly bad and embarassing

The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam
Tom Bissell
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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House of Meetings

ASIN: 037542265X
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

In April 1975, as Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese Army, John Bissell, a former Marine officer living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was glued to his television. Struggling to save his marriage, raise his sons, and live with his memories of the war in Vietnam, Bissell found himself racked with anguish and horror as his country abandoned a cause for which so many of his friends had died.

Opening with a gripping account of the chaotic and brutal last month of the war, The Father of All Things is Tom Bissell’s powerful reckoning with the Vietnam War and its impact on his father, his country, and Vietnam itself. Through him we learn what it was like to grow up with a gruff but oddly tender veteran father who would wake his children in the middle of the night when the memories got too painful. Bissell also explores the many debates about the war, from whether it was winnable to Ho Chi Minh’s motivations to why America’s leaders lied so often. Above all, he shows how the war has continued to influence American views on foreign policy more than thirty years later.

At the heart of this book is John and Tom Bissell’s unforgettable journey back to Vietnam. As they travel the country and talk to Vietnamese veterans, we relive the war as John Bissell experienced it, visit the site of his near-fatal wounding, and hear him explain how Vietnam shaped him and so many of his generation.

This is the first major book about the war by an author who grew up after the fall of Saigon. It is a fascinating, all-too-relevant work about the American character–and about war itself. It is also a wise and moving book about fathers, sons, and the universal desire to understand who our parents were before they became our parents.

Customer Reviews:

A son on his father's Vietnam service.......2007-05-30

It has been a generation since the last American soldier left Vietnam, after almost 15 years of substantial involvement in the fight to defeat the army of North Vietnam and insurgent forces. Some 3 million Americans served, 800,000 of them in combat. The names of more than 58,000 of this country's dead are etched into the stark, granite walls of Washington's Vietnam War Memorial.

In his compelling new book, THE FATHER OF ALL THINGS, journalist Tom Bissell, born in 1974, brings that painful era to life in a rich and emotionally resonant narrative constructed around the trip he took to Vietnam in November 2003 with his father. John Bissell, a Marine combat veteran, arrived in Vietnam in April 1965 and served there until he was wounded in a booby trap explosion in late 1966. Acknowledging the humility that any writer must feel approaching a subject that has been covered in more than 30,000 books, Bissell sets for himself the task of recounting "an emotional experience interwoven with established historical facts of the Vietnam War." It is, he writes, "a book about war's endless legacy."

The book is loosely and somewhat idiosyncratically organized into three sections. The first interweaves an account of the last, desperate days before the fall of Saigon with Bissell's imaginative recreation of his father's dismay as he watches those events unfold in his home in Escanaba, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The second, and longest, section poses a handful of queries, such as "Could the United States have won the war in Vietnam?" and "What was the Soviet Union actually attempting to accomplish in Vietnam?" using them as the framework upon which the book's main narrative structure is constructed. The final section, entitled "The Children of the War Speak," contains brief snippets of interviews with Bissell's anonymous contemporaries on all sides of the conflict, reflecting on the ways in which the war's legacy affected them and their families.

Bissell is a gifted writer, whose prose is enriched by a talent for selecting arresting details that will fix the scenes he describes in the mind's eye. In one gripping section near the end of the book he describes the visit he and his father made to Cu Chi, an area that featured an elaborate network of tunnels from which guerrillas launched fiendishly ingenious attacks against American soldiers based there. Another emotionally powerful portion is Bissell's terse recounting of the My Lai massacre in March 1968, which most readers will find chilling in its harrowing detail.

Foregoing any attempt either to glamorize his father's service or to demonize the vast majority of the soldiers who fought there on all sides, Bissell nevertheless portrays his father as a fundamentally decent man, reporting that John Bissell's fellow Marines even nicknamed him "Nice Guy." Like most American soldiers, he was compelled to fight by a sense of duty to his comrades rather than to some at best vaguely understood mission to stop the spread of Communism throughout Southeast Asia. If anything, Bissell is much more judgmental about himself than he is of his father, subtly questioning whether he would have had the courage to do what his father did. One darkly comic scene describing Bissell's attempt to fire an AK-47 at a shooting gallery is likely to have readers wondering the same thing.

The book could have benefited from a map tracing the route of the Bissells' journey, as well as some photographs in addition to the few family snapshots sprinkled throughout the first section. These shortcomings are counterbalanced by a useful bibliography featuring annotations by Bissell on some of the secondary sources he relied upon in this work.

At a time when the United States is embroiled in another unpopular war, the temptation to draw facile parallels with the debacle in Vietnam is almost too great to resist. For the most part, Bissell doesn't succumb to that temptation, perhaps because most thoughtful readers already will find themselves struggling to suppress the echoes of incompetence and bravado from that era that haunt us to this day.

THE FATHER OF ALL THINGS is an intensely personal book that expands outward in concentric circles from the intimate relationship between father and son to the broadest concerns of historical and geopolitical thought. "War is appetitive," Bissell writes. "It devours goodwill, landscape, cultures, mothers, and fathers --- before finally forcing us, the orphans, to pick up the pieces." If this book finds the audience it deserves, it will remind those who lived through that era of the price war exacts, and may help educate those who did not to that grim and timeless reality.

--- Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg

A writer of great talent - Tom Bissell.......2007-05-07

I've read everything I can find by Tom Bissell. His writing is mesmerizing: a medley of travel log, memoir, novel, and psychological study. I think he is inordinately talented.

With this memoir, his depiction of growing up in Escanaba, Michigan, resonated deeply with me, since I grew up there too and knew his family before he was born. I think he described it well, though his was a dark impression. His honest searching and critical mind were very moving to me.

My heart went out to his father, though a young man, saddled with supporting a wife and child, two siblings, his mother and mother-in-law in his early twenties. The Bissells were peceived as very wealthy and above the ordinary worries of most of our families. They were like the Magnificent Ambersons, and we didn't know the half of it.

I also admired his retrospective on the Vietnam War. It was very well researched and presented with lucidness and poignance. I'm not much of a history reader, but the author had my full attention and understanding.

Some day this writer is going to win lots of prizes. Thanks, Tom Bissell, for a wonderful book.

A Subject Greater Than the War Itself.......2007-05-05

"The Father of All Things" is the latest brilliant offering from one of America's great young writers.

Whereas Bissell's first book, "Chasing the Sea," alternated between his (sometimes humorous, sometimes painful) return to Uzbekistan after a failed stint in the Peace Corps and a deft history of Central Asia and the ability of its peoples to repel or outlast any and all outside powers' tries at conquest, "The Father of All Things" plumbs the depths of one family's experience in the Vietnam War, and the reverberation that war has had on the children of veterans on both sides.

To his credit, Bissell shares more of himself in the memoir sections of the book than he does in "Chasing the Sea." His relationship with his father is one of soft reconciliation after years of -- if not literal, then certainly emotional -- separation. There are courageous and heart-baring passages that would've been clumsy in the hands of a less-talented author, and you can see the warmth that Marine Captain John Bissell has for his son, even when he's teasing him about being a Communist when they go to Vietnam together, almost 40 years after John's last visit, when he was one of the first combat troops on the ground.

Yes, why another book about Vietnam? As Bissell himself states in his brief author's note: "More than thirty thousand books on Vietnam are currently in print. Why another? one might (and probably did) ask. . . . This is not really a book about the nation of Vietnam, or even the Vietnam War. It is, instead, a book about war's endless legacy. . . . When war begins, leaders inevitably frown as they promise courage and bravery, guarantee tragic sacrifice, yet vow, all the same, to see it through. What any war's igniters rarely admit are the small, terrible truths that have held firm for every war ever fought, no matter how necessary or avoidable: 'This will be horrible, and whatever happens will scar us for decades to come.' Indeed, even necessary wars can destroy the trust of a people in their leaders, just as war destroys human beings on both sides of the rifle."

To ask questions of one's government is not treason -- it is one of the highest form of citizenship. And if one's government cannot supply satisfactory answers to its citizens, it is their duty to endlessly question that government. To say this book -- or the author himself -- is anti-American couldn't be further from the truth, and proof is in the pages. Bissell has reported from both Afghanistan and Iraq, and there's a particularly harrowing passage in the book where, trapped in Mazar-i-Sharif in the early days of the 2002 American invasion, he uses a fellow journalist's satellite phone to call his father. He gets cut off in the middle of the conversation and his father, believing his youngest son has been kidnapped by the Taliban, is suddenly thrown back into his own war.

Not only does Bissell do a superb job of honoring his father and the generation of young men who fought and died in Vietnam, he also, with "The Father of All Things," salutes the 20- and 30-somethings of contemporary America, the brothers and sisters of Bicentennial Babies, who are currently fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq because, as it did with their fathers in Vietnam, their country called them to their duty.

Bissell well understands the sacrifices a military man makes, as he lived with them in the form of his father. Yes, this book is about war, and specifically about the Vietnam War and its shadow, but to read it so narrowly misses the point: This is a book about a son trying to understand his father because he loves him.

An Excellent Father/Son Story..........2007-04-06

There are thousands of books written on Vietnam. This one stands out due to its personal touch. The relationship between Bissell and his father is handled delicately and respectfully. They disagree about the war, but work to learn more about each other on this trip to Vietnam, where Bissell's father fought, led, and was changed forever. There's so much good stuff here. For those not wanting a hard-core history book...but are interested in some key questions any of us have about the war, in a section of the book Bissell actually presents formulated questions and addresses them efficiently and interestingly ("Why were the leaders of South Vietnam so corrupt and incompetent?" "Why did officials at all levels of the U.S. military and government lie so often during the war?" "Could the United States have won the war in Vietnam?"). The Mai Lai massacre is also addressed effectively, without political bent. Still, this book is about a father/son relationship...and how that relationship was forever altered by the War. There are no cheesy moments on this. In fact, you get a sense that the author becomes even more confused with his father as the journey moves forward.

More good stuff - the bibliography in the back, with Bissell's commentary on certain books, is a valuable resource for further reading. Also, the final section, with extensive quotes from other sons/daughters of Vietnam veterans (from all sides of the war) provides a final, satisfying close to the book. Highly recommended.

Embarassingly bad and embarassing.......2007-03-25

I'm a Vietnam veteran (Army, 1968-69, Company Commander and ARVN adviser), glad to have had the opportunity to serve there, and in 1999 took my son, then 26, back with me. We had a fantastic time and it was a real eye-opener for him. I was never prouder of being his father than on that trip.
I feel very, very sorry for Mr. Bissel whose son has turned out to be such an unperceptive, unfeeling ingrate. This is an inaccurate and poorly written book of no substance and will be popular only with the antiwar lefties who have not had a change of thinking in 40 years, even after the sad sagas of the boat people and the Killing Fields in Cambodia. An overdramatized view into an ugly and ignorant heart. Avoid.

Bloodlines (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Bogged down by Prequel events
Not bad but not great.
The best of the LOTF series
Another good entry in the series.
Not an exceptional addition to the SW Extended Universe

Bloodlines (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 2)
Karen Traviss
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0345477510
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Book Description

A new era of exciting adventures and shocking revelations continues to unfold, as the legendary Star Wars saga sweeps forward into astonishing new territory.

Civil war looms as the fledgling Galactic Alliance confronts a growing number of rebellious worlds–and the approaching war is tearing the Skywalker and Solo families apart. Han and Leia return to Han’s homeworld, Corellia, the heart of the resistance. Their children, Jacen and Jaina, are soldiers in the Galactic Alliance’s campaign to crush the insurgents.

Jacen, now a complete master of the Force, has his own plans to bring order to the galaxy. Guided by his Sith mentor, Lumiya, and with Luke’s young son Ben at his side, Jacen embarks on the same path that his grandfather Darth Vader once did. And while Han and Leia watch their only son become a stranger, a secret assassin entangles the couple with a dreaded name from Han’s past: Boba Fett. In the new galactic order, friends and enemies are no longer what they seem. . . .

Customer Reviews:

Bogged down by Prequel events.......2007-06-14

I wasn't really impressed by Betrayal (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 1), the first chapter in the new Star Wars: Legacy of the Force saga. I thought that the idea to set Jacen Solo down the path of the Sith was a poorly conceived - not to mention overused - idea that would ruin what has been until recently one of the best characters in the Star Wars Universe. Still, I decided to give book 2 - Bloodlines - a try, hoping that the series could still be salvaged.

Bloodlines focuses alternately on Jacen Solo's continuing embrace of the dark side of the force as well as the dying Boba Fett's search for something that will prolong his life, and perhaps give it meaning. The main reason I've been reading these post-movie novels is so that I can still get some enjoyment out of the Star Wars Universe without being reminded of those godawful prequels, but the story in Bloodlines draws heavily on the events of Episodes II and III, and that's just not a good thing. Jacen's story closely mirrors Anakin Skywalker's (though thankfully without the soap opera dialogue) and Boba Fett's character has been changed so much as a result of Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition) that he's gone from being a cool, enigmatic character to a whining daddy's boy.

Well, you do the best with what you're given, and to her credit Karen Taviss manages to keep the story moving along pretty well. I couldn't really bring myself to care for Boba Fett, but Jacen's storyline, particularly the impact it has on the people around him, is worth following. I did find the author's use of current events quite interesting. If George Lucas made thinly veiled criticisms of the Bush administration in Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition), then Tavis rips the veil away completely here. The draconian tactics used by Jacen on his quest to become a Sith (translation: Evil), such as extraordinary rendition, "alternative interrogation methods", and just about everything he employs against "the terrorists" on his own home world are taken "Law & Order-style" from today's headlines.

I must be a glutton for punishment, because I think I'll stick with this series long enough to give Tempest (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 3) a shot. Maybe Troy Denning can turn the series around.

Not bad but not great........2007-06-13

Ok Ive never really beeb a Fett fan, I cant understand how a creation that barely qualified as a minor character in the movies can win such a following. The whole im tourtured thats why im so dark theme has been way over used in movies and books in the last few decades. The Jedi keep over looking the whats right in front of thier noses and keep alowing them selves to be used as pawns by big government. Mara just doesent seem to get ..well much of anything not at all like the intelligent highly trained woman she used to be. Luke suspects Jacen is bad news but does nothing but argue with Mara about she seems to think Jacen is the best thing since sliced bread. Id really like a original plot.. but all you get is the same story told a different way. Despite all the flaws I did like the book it like the other Star Wars novels are what i like to call comfort reading fun enough to make time pass in between real reading.

The best of the LOTF series.......2007-06-10

Bloodlines is by far the best of these new novels (and I have read them all including the newest one, Sacrafice). Traviss is one of the finest EU writers so far and her handling of Boba Fett is outstanding. Some don't like Fett, but I for one find him very interesting. To see him actually take on some human emotions and find a lost relative is terrific. However, the best part of this book is the slowly and menacingly turn of Jacen to the dark side. It is not a quick thing as we saw with Anakin Skywalker. It takes years and much pain, anger and sacrafice to become a sith lord. While it is in Sacrafice that he actually does it, it is in Bloodlines where the seeds are set. Han SOlo plays a major role in this book which is always great and his new "comrade" is a great twist and one that is not obvious and for that reason surprising. Leia has become a true Jedi knight and she is powerful which is very cool. I am disappointed in Luke thus far. I guess the Vong war changed him for the worse as he seems to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and wants to find the good in everyone rather that take care of business. I long for the day when he activates the lightsaber and kicks butt. This mught be a integral part of this storyline, though, as Jacen rise to sith can only be done with Luke not getting what is happening. I just find it hard to believe that despite Jacen's skill at hiding his presence, Luke doesn't act stronger. Maybe that will change later on (in fact it does a bit in Sacrafice). Traviss is the bomb and I can't wait for her thrid installment. Go and get Bloodlines, it is one the best Star Wars novels along with Courtship of Leia, New Rebellion, The one with Xizor between Empire and jedi, Outbound Flight and The Last Command (3rd of the original Zahn series). By the way, Rogue Planet is also an outstanding book that I just read

Another good entry in the series........2007-04-30

One of the recurring themes in the Star Wars universe is the constant tug-of-war between good and evil. Over and over, we are presented with likable characters who embrace their dark sides. I suppose some might find it repetitive; I personally find it rather allegorical--and it makes for some great stories.

This time it's Jacen Solo's turn to travel to the dark side. It is chilling to see how easily and how quickly he embraces malevolence--all the while trying desperately to convince himself that he isn't following in his grandfather's footsteps.

But it's 13-year-old Ben Skywalker who emerges as the book's most compelling character. Torn between his admiration for Jacen and the tenets of his Jedi heritage, he begins to discover that one rarely has to choose between black and white; rather one is faced with varying shades of gray.

And then there is Boba Fett. Faced with his own mortality, filled with regrets for what might have been, and still the galaxy's best bounty hunter.

I really enjoyed Karen Traviss' "Republic Commando" books and I had high hopes for "Bloodlines". I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed.

Not an exceptional addition to the SW Extended Universe.......2007-04-29

First off, this is the only Star Wars Extended Universe novel that I have ever failed to finish upon starting; I made it through about three-quarters of the novel, and finally put it down.

Why? The prose was irritating. Not unreadable, but irritating. One of the previous reviewers mentioned the use of 'Traviss-isms', and I agree with their presence.

As long as the story stayed on Jacen and Ben, it was okay - but therein lies the problem. It didn't stay on Jacen and Ben, instead drifting to a character who has become a favorite for Traviss (and whom she reportedly begged to be allowed to be put in), Boba Fett. WHY is this guy in this novel? At this point, Fett should be quite old, and in some of the earlier stories dedicated to him it was indicated that he was re-tiring from the business, and even the need for a new liver is no excuse - after a lifetime of being easily the best bounty hunter in the galaxy, Fett should be far from the need for enough money to get the mechanical alternative to a liver in the SWverse's advanced medical science.

Essentially, although a number of fans liked him, I hated Fett's sequences. They felt like a sheer waste of space, simply because the author wanted to write another Fett novel.

Inferno (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 6)

Average customer rating:

Inferno (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 6)
Troy Denning
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Star Wars Republic Commando True Colors

ASIN: 0345477553
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Average customer rating:

Not what I hoped for, but about what I expected.
A Disappointing Character Assassination
Great

Betrayal (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 1)
Aaron Allston
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345477359
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Book Description

“[Betrayal] blasts off a new string of adventures starring beloved Star Wars familiars . . . this new installment should please Star Wars fans.”
–Publishers Weekly

Honor and duty collide with friendship and blood ties as the Skywalker and Solo clans find themselves on opposing sides of an explosive conflict.

When a mission to uncover an illegal missile factory on the planet Adumar ends in a violent ambush–from which Jedi Knight Jacen Solo and his protégé and cousin, Ben Skywalker, narrowly escape with their lives–it’s the most alarming evidence yet that political unrest is threatening to ignite into total rebellion. The specter of full-scale war looms between a growing cadre of defiant planets and the Galactic Alliance that some fear is becoming a new Empire.

Determined to root out those behind the mayhem, Jacen follows a trail of cryptic clues to a rendezvous with the most shocking of revelations. Meanwhile Luke grapples with something even more troubling: dream visions of a shadowy figure whose Force power and ruthlessness remind him of Darth Vader. If Luke’s visions come to pass, they will bring untold pain to the Jedi Master . . . and to the galaxy.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I hoped for, but about what I expected........2007-06-12

I had mixed feelings about picking up Star Wars: Legacy of the Force - Betrayal, Aaron Allston's kickoff book in a new series of post-New Jedi Order adventures. On one hand, the lengthy New Jedi Order series was the only thing saving my interest in Star Wars after the abominable prequel trilogy systematically wrecked most of what I held dear about all things Star Wars. That series' writers blazed a risky new path across the Star Wars Universe and further developed classic characters like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, while thrusting newer characters like Mara Jade and the Solo children into the spotlight. On the other hand, the Dark Nest Trilogy - the first set of books to come out after the New Jedi Order's cataclysmic finale - was just not up to par, what with it's morally ambiguous Jedi Knights and the antagonists being a bunch of evil bugs. Still, my fondness for the characters and hopes for a bold new Star Wars saga led me to give Betrayal a chance. After reading it? You guessed it - more mixed feelings.

The Good: Rejoining the adventures of these characters is like putting on a pair of comfortable old shoes, and Allston has enough experience with the cast to keep them all "in-character". I hadn't read much about Ben Skywalker, but found his character quite compelling. There's still a lot to develop, but his character feels a lot like how the young Anakin Skywalker should have been.

The Bad: I hate to say it, but Luke, Han, and Leia are getting a bit old, and I have to wonder if it's time they were "retired" to supporting roles. The action sequences that seemed so plausible in those early Timothy Zahn books just aren't as convincing when you consider the advanced ages of these characters. Also, Han and Leia's attempts to play both sides of the Corellian/Galactic Alliance conflict seemed way out of character. And the constant use of GA as an abbreviation for Galactic Alliance, especially in dialogue, was just plain annoying. If you have to cut it short, how about just calling it the Alliance?

The Ugly: I don't want to give away the ending, but Jacen Solo's decision at the end of this book is just infuriating. Not only does it call into question everything we know about the character, but it's a definite case of "been there, done that". It's time for some new ideas, folks.

The Verdict: Betrayal is nowhere near as promising a start as Vector Prime (Star Wars: The New Jedi Order, Book 1) was to the New Jedi Order, but it's still an improvement over the Dark Nest books. I have several concerns about the series' direction (obviously), but I'm at least interested enough to pick up the next volume, Bloodlines (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force).

A Disappointing Character Assassination.......2007-05-28

It's well written, somewhat well structured, with a few problems.

After Traitor, Jacen Solo became something of an enigma. A brutal fighter willing to use questionable means to accomplish his goals. Towards the end of the New Jedi Order, he'd ascended to a new understanding of the force, something only his brother and uncle had ever done. When the Dark Nest trilogy came about, Jacen had spent the last 5 years traveling the galaxy and studying the force from different perspectives. When he returned to the Jedi, he was capable of things even Luke Skywalker couldn't do. He was tough, smart, and misunderstood by his fellow Jedi.

Which leads to my first problem with Betrayal. Jacen's still misunderstood, still powerful, and still smart, and he believes he's the galaxy's only hope to avert war. To do so, he makes a series of choices that make complete sense to the reader, but because the company decided he has to be the villain of the series all common sense is thrown out and the Jedi detest everything he does.

Which leads to the second problem. Jacen meets Lumiya, a Sith, who claims to be reformed and wants to help him save the galaxy. To do so, she takes him as an apprentice. Now, this had me drooling in anticipation. A 9 book series of Sith Jacen versus Luke and the old order, all to save the galaxy! And for the first 2/3 of the book it seemed I would get this.

And then the whole he-has-to-be-the-bad-guy syndrome kicked in. Suddenly Jacen was weak, stupid, and, out of nowhere, a murderer. Everything he ever was for the last several books was thrown out the window, all so we could have a Clone Wars redux with Jacen taking on the Anakin Skywalker role.

But it wouldn't be complete without a cliched monologue that ends the story, and it's a corker: Lumiya cackling over how she turned a Solo, and will soon have her revenge! Just pathetic.

Any hope one might have that this story would improve--this obvious "we can sell more books with a Sith Solo!" marketing campaign--have (with the publication of four more novels) been dashed.

Great.......2007-05-02

Really fits well in the star wars universe!!!!!!!!!

May the Force be with Aaron Allston

Weapons of Legacy (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)

Average customer rating:

Great Idea, Horrible Implementation
A Weapon Earned
Great Book
Fundamentally flawed.
Capable but strange

Weapons of Legacy (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)
Bruce R. Cordell , Kolja Raven Liquette , and Travis Stout
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786936886
Release Date: 2005-07-14

Book Description

The ultimate guide to magic items-especially weapons-of rich heritage. Weapons of Legacy™ provides a wealth of information on magical weapons with rich histories. The book includes many pre-defined weapons, outlining their names, history, powers, stats, necessary rituals for unlocking their powers, and adventure hooks. How the weapons can gain power is discussed, as well as the feats with which they might be used. Also included are discussions of other magic items such as magic armor, rings, and staves.

Customer Reviews:

Great Idea, Horrible Implementation.......2007-02-01

Weapons of Legacy

Good: The idea of weapons that "power up" or that you keep through an entire campaign is a great idea. Now the fighter doesn't need to dump his weapon every few levels; he can hang onto it and it gets better as he does. The items have some great history and background, with plenty of plot hooks to use in a game.

Bad: The system sucks. It forces you to shoot yourself in the foot for these items - BIG TIME. I'd never choose one for a starting character; you could buy better items with starting gold and you wouldn't have the minuses these items incur nor find yourself dumping levels, XP and gold to improve the items. They just aren't worth it. I've seen plenty of 3rd party publishers do these types of items hundreds of times better.

A Weapon Earned.......2006-07-14

Reading though the Weapons of Legacy book is a pleasure. It has good but short background tales of the exploits of each item. The weapons described might seem underpowered to certain types of gamers, but if anyone has ever played a game in which they had to truly work, think and fight their way to earn a weapon of power then those players will understand the reason for this book. Weapons of Legacy does not give power gamers a source of weapons to rip opponents to shreds. Instead it sets up scenarios to allow a player to become worthy of a legedary tool of incredible abilities. Any DM who has ever made their players struggle for a mere +1 weapon will apreciate the complexity of having to discover the various rituals that unlock ever increasing powers of amazing weapons. I would recomend this book to any DM looking for side quests, minor adventures or a way to expose an advanced player to a new way of earning a legendary status.

Great Book.......2006-03-26

This book gives the player and DM alike options to place great items in the game that have a standard format in which to build. Also it gives the DM options ot make a trademark item that a key villian or hero might have. I would recommend using the items in this book in moderation because they are pretty powerful.

Also do not let the title fool you, it does not only give you options on weapons but a variety of items from rings to armor.

Fundamentally flawed........2006-03-21

This book, while pretty as always, falls way behind WotC's usual standard. The amount of actual content in here could have filled a Dragon article and then it was packed with 50 so-so examples.

Please note: In order to use a legacy item, you must take a feat at 5th level. NO character gains a free feat at 5th level. 1st, 3rd, 6th, etc. So this sets back the rules by a level, which are subpar compared against the magical weapons available at those levels anyway. Am I the only one who noticed?

Capable but strange.......2006-02-20

Gives many examples of Weapons, most of which are useful.
Gives no/few examples of Rings/Armours/Rods/Staffs/Shields

Doesn't really think out a lot of the bonuses, also I question a lot of the penalties one has to take to use a Legacy weapon. About the only table worth taking is 4-1, or 4-2. Sure its a minus three to your saves, and a minus 2 to your attack power, and a whole SLEW of HP. The rest of them are so painful they aren't worth taking.

Also all the caster "Tables" the ones your suppost to use if your a caster but losing caster levels and spell slots left and right doesn't make any sense. No matter what feats and wizardry skills its not worth it. Those could have been more thought out.

Also I question the fact that in some cases the lowest tables, A, D, and G. Seem to be a lot better than the B, E and H tables just from the way they interact with things. I do fully agree that the top end capability you can add to your Legacy item is quite powerful, the I table is filled with many useful things the you wish you could have picked two of them. What I wish/want was if they're was some way to trade lower level slots to get you the capacity to get two I table skills. Also some way to get either more or less slots if you take a less dangerous or more dangerous tables of the legacy grid.

The rules for weapons and fighters/barbarians/paladins/rangers. Are very well thought out and are very powerful. Yet for anyone other class they need heavy modification to be workable. In a Caster heavy campaign like the one I run and participate in its a very low value book.

Books:

Books