Product Description
Cyberpunk is the fiction of a culture saturated by electronic technology. Its vocabulary is the language of cybernetics, biotechnology, corporational greed and urban subcultures. Massively succesful in both book and film form, cyberpunk has redefined not only contemporary science fiction but also, through its capacity to anticipate "technology" and its cultural impact, analytical work in the social science and humanities. This text explores the work of a wide range of writers, setting their work in the context of science fiction, other literary genres, genre cinema and contemporary work on the culture of technology. Seven main themes are addressed: the impact of virtual technologies on identity, space and community; the interplay of technological and mythological motifs; reconfigurations of the body initiated by technoscience; issues of gender and sexuality; the siginificance of the sprawling megacity; cyberpunk's Gothic traits of monstrosity, transgresison and social unrest; and the editing of history and memory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Decent Introduction to Cyberpunk, and especially, William Gibson's work
I was hoping that Dani Cavallaro's "Cyberpunk and Cyberculture: Science Fiction and the Work of William Gibson" would offer more of an introduction to and historical survey of the cyberpunk movement in science fiction, its origins, and the seminal role which William Gibson's work occupies. For example, I found her treatment of cyberpunk's literary origins a bit too cursory, barely skimming over science fiction's 19th Century history, and acknowledging some of the mainstream and crime noir genre literary influences on Gibson's work. Much to my surprise, her examination of Gibson's literary colleagues like Bruce Sterling, John Shirley, and Pat Cadigan is also a bit terse. Cavallaro is more successful in exploring the movement's musical and cinematic influences, exploring its connections to punk music, and noting its relative success in cinema, ranging from Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (which is adapted from Philip K. Dick's novel "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?") to Robert Longo's "Johnny Mnemonic" (based on the classic William Gibson short story of the same title) and Kathryn Bigelow's "Strange Days".At best, Cavallaro's book is a barely useful, quite terse, and yet, frantic introduction (It's frantic in the sense that she tries to cover too much in such a short space.) to cyberpunk, and may be more useful to those unfamiliar with this important 20th Century literary movement.

A Great Start
This book has a lot of valuable information on the cyberpunk movement, and Gibson's critical contribution to the genre.A little more history of cyberpunk would have been welcome -- for example, the book briefly deals with cyberpunk's roots in Victorian Gothic and hard-boiled detective fiction without really going into much detail.This is nit-picky, I know, but a definitive book on the subject would deal with the movement's history.

I'd also recommend Bruce Sterling's instrumental introduction to the cyberpunk anthology _Mirrorshades_, and _Storming_the_Reality_Studio if you're really too lazy to go out and actually read cyberpunk. ... Read more

Product Description
Time Travelers gathers twenty-four tales by the most recognizable names in the genre. Included is the first time-travel story ever written -- penned by American journalist Edward Page Mitchell fourteen years prior to Well's landmark novel. Here, too, is a selection by master of future history Robert A. Heinlein, who's "All You Zombies --" involes a character traveling back and forth through time on a bizarre genetic mission. Also included amont those roming in the fourth dimension are such legendary sci-fi writers as Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Philip K. Dick, along with such contemporary voices as William Gibson and Martin Amis. Of course, there is a selection by H. G. Wells --a piece origninally writeen as part of the Time Machine but curiously excised when the book was published. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

BUENISIMA
Es lo mejor que ha escrito Gibson, tal vez incluso mejor que Neuromante y sus siguientes novelas, desde las primeras páginas uno queda enganchado en la historia. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents what you absolutely must include in a fee & representation letter, how to get fees & work from the government, & 8 points you must consider if you decide to practice from your home.Paper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Named Best Legal Publication by Lawyers Weekly USA
Lawyers Weekly USA says "For any lawyer looking to succeed in the competitive world of personal injury, it's an invaluable resource..." "This is a primer that will give you an excellent foundation forsuccess."(March 23, 1998)

Too expensive; not sufficiently helpful
This book is wildly overpriced for the quantity and quality of information it has.In fact, the book offers little that you can't get from much cheaper sources.I suggest "Winning Your Personal Injury Claim"or even "How to Start and Build a Law Practice."Questions:tkbaird@prontomail.com. ... Read more

Product Description
A day-by-day candid account of the creativity, conflict and compromise involved in the making of a smash-hit Broadway play. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Classic Theater
This book was used in college theatre classes to reveal how a play went from being written to produced on Broadway. The book is William Gibson's journal during the process and also the script for his play Two for the Seesaw. The play was a 1958 broadway hit starring Anne Bancroft and Henry Fonda. It was later made into a movie in1962 starring Shirly Maclaine and Robert Mitchum.

Funniest book I've read since "The World According to Garp"
"The Seesaw Log" is one hilarious tale after another of how a play really gets mounted in New York.More than that, it's an uproariously funny chronicle of the author's frustration upon learning he has only a peripheral role in the production of the play he wrote.Gibson, a highly literate and articulate author, starts as a newcomer to the hydra-headed world of theater and discovers how much he hates it.His unique descriptions of his feelings and his detailed and painfully accurate impressions of others connected to the project had me laughing nearly non-stop into the night.I liked the play, but the log is probably the funniest book I have ever read.And the backstage gossip and personal revelations are just as amusing.

a must read for all playwrights
The second half of this book is the play: "Two for the See-Saw".In itself the play is fine reading but... the real entertainment is the first half of the book.We are able to discover the reality that takes place in order to get this play produced.For any "soon to be produced" playwright, aspiring playwright or just us theater lovers who enjoy reading aboutbackstage goings on, reading this book is a must.I was totally immersed into the stops and starts and changes that the playwright had to endure just to please all those involved in the process.How much of your art and soul are you willing to give up to see a production of your play? ... Read more

Product Description
In The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, noted Scottish Bible interpreter William Barclay follows the formula of The Daily Study Bible Series by first giving the text of the day's study in his own translation followed by brief commentary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

For those who don't think well
I wonder why I bought this book.In 1962 I read a book by William Barclay, something like the Mind of Jesus.At the time it seemed arrogant that someone would attempt to explain the workings of Christ's mind.It is as if God shared omniscience with this chosen person. This book was published in 1975 and it seems the connection between the mind of God and the mind of Wm. Barclay still operated.

This volume is one of a series of works under the heading "The New Daily Study Bible."This describes the depth of the work.Alas, not all of us read the cover closely enough and we waste our money. I have given up Bible study as a theologian for Bible study as a historian.The reason for getting this book is to see how a modern religious teacher would interpret a book of considerable importance to American history, the Epistle to Philemon.Because this is so important to me most of this review will cover Barclay's exposition of this tiny letter because I think the reader can get an appreciation of the whole work by examining how this epistle is handled.

The story is very simple.Paul is a prisoner in Rome and an escaped slave finds him there.The slave is the servant of a wealthy churchman in Colosse.Philemon, the master, has housed Paul in his home and is well known by him.While the slave, Onesimus, is with Paul, he becomes converted to Christianity.According to Barclay Roman law was very harsh with runaway slaves and masters were supposed to treat the returned slave as badly as possible to keep others in line.Our author extols the courage of Paul in sending the slave, though he is a Christian, back to his Christian master.He implies both Paul and Philemon are in danger of prosecution. Onesimus as a slave is not worthy of too much concern.

Barclay's explanation of why Paul would return a fugitive to his rightful master is proof apparently of that open information highway between the Scottish author and the Almighty.It is acknowledged that slavery is un-Christian.But the apostle and even Jesus could not say it was wrong because of the political and social conditions of the Roman world. Any such [slave] revolt would have been savagely crushed;slaves who took their freedom would have been mercilessly punished, and Christianity itself would have been branded as revolutionary and subversive.Given the Christian faith liberation was bound to come--but the time was not ripe; and to encourage slaves to revolt or leave their masters, would have done infinitely more harm than good.There are some things which cannot be achieved suddenly, and the world must wait until the leaven works."The sentiments "the time was not ripe," "things which cannot be achieved suddenly," and "wait until the leaven works" hardly describe a religion which, despite what Barclay thinks, was very revolutionary and subversive.Such sentiments belong more to politicians than to apostles of a God of love.I can much more forgive Lincoln for hesitating because the time is not ripe than I can excuse Paul or Jesus for not speaking against slavery for this reason.Rome was notorious for its assassinations and murders but the church did not refuse to condemn murder.I have to agree many later [19th century] preachers nit-picked the letter to death trying to prove their positions on slavery and emancipation, but if anyone bothers to read this little letter I am sure Barclay's exegesis.

The rest of the book has the same simplistic scriptural elucidation.Simple is not a problem, simplistic is not the way to examine anything that is important to you.Be warned about this book.

I do not say that the author should paraphrase "Comrade Jesus Hath His Red Card," although early Christianity was a radical movement.What I object to is the position Barclay takes that certain sins are so politically and socially ingrained in society, it would be disruptive for the truth to be pushed.To quote some religionists, "The SAFE truth shall make you free."

Good analysis of the life of a Christian
In his series of New Testament Commentaries, William Barclay gives us a commentary on the "Pastoral Epistles" and Philemon.1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles because Paul had written them to encourage and advise two pastors in Early Christianity.They give advice concerning the character and conduct that Christians should have, specifically the character and conduct of a church's pastor.

Where Barclay's strength lies is in the meticulous analysis of the text.Paul tends to pack a lot in his sentences; Barclay picks the sentence apart and brings things into clearer view.While he does an admirable job discussing Paul's world in the light of the times (when slaves outnumbered free men, when women were neither to be seen nor heard, etc.); how Paul's words can be applied to a modern, slave-free, woman-respecting society; and spends a great deal of time analyzing Christian conduct.

While the commentary is generally good, it wasn't much that I hadn't heard or read before.It can be argued that this was Barclay's intention.Since he translated the entire text from the original Greek, quoted many other Bible verses and Paul's pagan contemporaries (to illustrate the thinking of the day), etc., he could have written a pretty good commentary series intended for Biblical scholars.Instead, he wrote one for the regular chruch-goers.

I do have to throw in one comment concerning the inerrancy of the Bible.Barclay speculates that Paul may not have written the entire epistle, but rather that someone found one of Paul's old letters and re-wrote it to address the Gnostic heresy in the Church.This speculation is dangerous as it encourages one to pick apart the Bible and throw away the parts that he/she doens't like.It makes the Bible subjective ("I don't like that part about no murder.I don't believe the Holy Spirit wrote that, so I'll ignore it.").The Holy Spirit doesn't need an editor; It will have what it wants in the Bible and make sure that any "false teachings" are not included.

In all, this is a pretty good commentary.It gives a thorough, Biblical analysis of the conduct of Christian pastors and lay-people.It also gives a healthy view of the historical period in which these letters were written.

Springboard for further exploration
This installment of The Daily Study Bible Series covers the Pastoral Epistles and the letter to Philemon.William Barclay has given us a good devotional study firmly rooted in biblical scholarship.

Scholars have disputed Pauline authorship of the Pastoral Epistles (I and II Timothy, Titus). Barclay's introduction covers the issues involved well.He takes a middle position where a later teacher expanded genuine Pauline fragments.Unfortunately, he does not expound this view in the commentary itself; he is silent about which sections are genuine and which are later.Since "we are still hearing the voice of Paul" (13), it probably did not occur to him to make the distinctions.Barclay's introduction to Philemon includes an interesting if speculative account of how this short letter became included in the New Testament.

The commentary itself is best described as expository.Barclay does not only analyze the Greek text.Using exhortation, anecdotal stories, and other sources, he also suggests what these texts might mean today.From a strictly academic viewpoint, this commentary will seem superficial. For the popular audience for whom Barclay has intended this work, it should serve as a springboard for further study.Barclay provides a list for further reading for this purpose.

Though this book is a good introductory work overall, the reader should be aware of a couple points.The first relates to these epistles' stances on women and slavery.Any casual reading of the letters will strike the reader as bordering on misogyny and condoning slavery.Barclay places these tests in the situation of the Roman/Greek world in which Paul wrote them.He makes a valid point that doing almost anything else would be scandalous (with women) or even dangerous (with slaves).To his credit, he says those circumstances no longer apply.However,considering the history in which these texts were and are used, I have to think he soft-pedaled these issues.After all Christianity is supposed to be "light for the world" (Matt. 5:14, NJB).

The other issue concerns Barclay's treatment of other religions.When Barclay mentions them, he almost invariably creates straw men of them.He makes at least one anti-Semitic accusation without evidence.Against these straw men, Barclay over idealizes Christianity.Even granting this work is now more than twenty-five years old, Barclay should have been above that.

Scholarly work presented in easy to read format
I have found Barclay's Daily Bible Study Guides of the New Testament the best in-depth commentary of the bible books.He presents scholarly analysis in very easy to read passages.Reading this book in particular greatly increased my understanding of Paul's extraordinary letters to Timothy and Titus on Christian leadership principles. ... Read more

Product Description
A history of the domestic chaplain to the nobility and gentry between 1530 and 1840, this work examines the work and role of domestic chaplains during this period, when they were regulated by law. It also considers the connections between chaplains and key events in British history, such as the Restoration. Chaplains often made a hidden, but important, contribution to the religious life of the nation. Their work was not chronicled in the usual records of the Church since they often operated outside the supervision of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. In this text, the status and the growing range of activities undertaken by domestic chaplains during the 16th and 17th centuries is explored. In particular, the nature of the chaplain's relationship with a patron is given special emphasis. Chaplains could be companions and spiritual guides, but they could also demonstrate the status or condescension of the patron. Drawing on a wide range of sources, this book reconstructs the secular and religious duties of a chaplain. It advances an explanation for the decline of the domestic chaplain during the 18th century, and the extinction of chaplain's rights to hold two livings in 1840.There is also an analysis of the role of women's chaplains, of Catholic chaplains, and the political influence of chaplains during the turbulence of the English Civil War and Restoration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Best Novel of the Twentieth Century
The easy way with which the great French novelist leads the reader into a realistic mysterical world , can only be described as brilliant. The world of Meaulnes is magical, but not in the modern, cheapish,"Celestine" way. This is the quality of Alain-Fournier. Natureplays an important role in the story. The adventures of Meaulnes can not beseen apart from the beautiful woods that always surround him at hisjourneys.The story is told by a friend of the main character,Meaulnes.

Meaulnes tries desperately to find the girl he once saw at amedievalesque party in the middle of the forest, upon which he stumbled bycoincidence. Alain Fournier manages to surround the two boys with a worldthat is as riddling and magical as it seems real and authentic. The questof Meaulnes bears strong resemblances to Proust's "recherche",and is in fact a 20th century, personalized, search for the holy grail.That is not an easy theme for a first novel. As Alain-Fournier succeeded sowonderfully, one can only speculate what the world has missed -Alain-Fournier died at age 28, defending his fatherland France.

A metaphor for adulthood and the loss of innocence
In Alain-Fournier's richly written but thinly veiled book of lost innocence we can find a connection to our own lives and mourn the loss of love and innocence that we have experienced along with the characters, all the while losing ourselves in the striking language of the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1908.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Product Description
Benjamin Hoadly (1676-1761), Bishop successively of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury and Winchester, was the most controversial English churchman of the eighteenth century. He has unjustly gained the reputation of a negligent and political bishop, and with this publication, Gibson attempts to reappraise the legacy of this influential man.It was Hoadly's sermon on the nature of Christ's kingdom that sparked the Bangorian controversy which raged from 1717-1720. His sermons, books and tracts poured from the press in huge quantities and were widely read by Anglicans and Dissenters alike, yet his commitment to the ideology of the Revolution of 1688 and to the comprehension of Dissenters into the Church of England earned him the antagonism of many contemporary and later churchmen. This book is the first full-length study of Hoadly to be published, and is a powerfully revisionist study.Hoadly emerges as a dedicated and conscientious bishop with strong and progressive principles. He asserted the right of individuals to judge the Bible for themselves without the shackles of ecclesiastical authority and sought to establish a liberal enclave in the Church to re-attract Dissenters. He also restored a strongly Protestant commemorative view of the Eucharist to the Church.But it was not simply his ecclesiastical work which made him such an important figure. Hoadly's stout defence of rationalism made him a founder of the English Enlightenment. His views on the nature of political authority also drew heavily on John Locke, and Hoadly was responsible for bringing Locke's views to a wide audience.It was his commitment to civil liberties which made him a progenitor of the American Revolution whilst his writing on the nature of civil authority was acclaimed by John Adams as a source of American liberties and of the US Constitution. He also advanced sincerity of belief over the right of the State to impose penalties for the failure to conform. In these principles he presaged the future direction of both religion and society. ... Read more