Product Description
A story for Vampire: The Dark Ages
The Earl of Galtre lies on his deathbed and his lands hang in the balance. Fearing for his immortal soul, the earl wills his lands to the Church in exchange for absolution or does he? His son produces what appears to be a valid will that designates him as the heir to his father's lands. Add the players' characters under the direction of Mithras, Prince of London, and what becomes of the situation? An unforgettable journey through the darker side of Cainite politics and morality!
Clash of Wills includes:
An easy-to-run adventure, ready to pick up and play;
A versatile setting: Drop the story into an existing chronicle or play it alone as a one-shot;
Tips for launching a chronicle using this story as a springboard.
Written by Steve Miller, developed by Justin Achilli, and illustrated by Leif Jones, with cover art by Dan Brereton. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent introduction to VtDA
I completely disagree with the other two reviewers. Clash of Wills is an excellent starting point for a VtDA chronicle. My only complaint is that's it's way too short (short but sweet :-)).

As for the plot: there are manypossible branches (the book explains what to do for each different choice),the players aren't forced to do anything, and some events may indeed takeplace wether the PCs are there or not. But that's the way I like it, Idon't want the story to be shoved down the player's throats no matter whatthey do. They will have to face the consequences for their actions (orinaction) later...

Sure, it's no story for experienced elder characters,but they should be playing something like Transylvanian Chronicles anywayto prove their salt's worth :-)

Dull...
Having been most impressed with the Dark Ages Genre in general, I was very very disapointed with this title. Linear, not well thought out... and boring to boot.

A complete dog! Dont buy it.

A nice try
If you need information on the lords of medieval England's Long Night, it's here.If you're looking for an adventure set in medieval England's Long Night, well, you might want to think twice.

This adventure is strictly linear -- the same events will occur whether the players try to counter them, try to promote them, or go on pilgrimage to Rome instead of playing this adventure.If your group prefers linear gaming, you'll probably like "Clash of Wills".If not, you will need to do a lot of editing before you run it; and it might be just as easy to write your own adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

NOT an AD&D Module
Bought this hoping it would let me run the Dragonlance set of modules - NO WAY .... theres a great deal of information in here but its not an AD&D module - there are no maps (OK there are a few maps but there sketches with zero details) and the monster STATs are woefull. If you want some background info this is great - as an AD&D module it STINKS.

Keep things in perspective....
Firstly, I am glad that the previous reviewer enjoyed the art enclosed.However, art is subjective and I have to admit that I was disappointed inthe portayals of the characters in pictures. Elmore is still my favorite DLartist. One of the reason I picked Krynn as the world I will build an epiccampaign upon is the art associated with it. If you are wanting to run theoriginal adventures, track down the modules through friends, auctions, andused book stores. But still get this book in order to expand your knowledgeof the chronicles and such. In my case I will be running a campaign that isnot going to follow the chronicles. However the heroes of the lamce will bethere doing what they always do. If the player characters encounter them,any number of things could happen. I am gathering as many resourcesaspossible in order to be prepared for whatever may come. That is what makesthis book essential. My player characters may wind up having to take overfor Tanis, Raistlin, and Tas if they cause trouble. Need better maps? Trackdown the atlas, trail map, original modules or just use your owncreativity.

Really, Really BAD
This Campaign really is bad.It is just an attempt to feed off the popularity of dragonlance books.I would recomend some other books that are more organized.Evberything is not easy to understand and is far tooboring.There is no reason someone should get this book, it is far toboring to come of use.The only good point is the map of Krynn.

Great for old-timers and newbies alike!
The Dragonlance Saga is the longest-standing TSR series ever, the archetype of "classic" AD&D.With the advent of the SAGArules system, however, and the absence of Weis and Hickman in the creativeprocess until recently, Dragonlance has taken a turn for the worse. However, this book is a great way to get back to the basics of what madeDragonlance and AD&D great back in the late 80s.Old-timers can playthe epic again in a stream-lined, comprehensive book, made new by theinclusion of SAGA-style rules.Classic AD&D rules are also provided,though I recommend giving SAGA a shot, even if you're not into the FifthAge products.Those new to the Dragonlance series can take part in whatmade it so great.The Chronicles and Legends novels have seen their thirdor fourth reprint for good reason.

I do have a few gripes about thematerial.I suggest that the referee running the adventure be familiarwith the novels and make suitable changes as he sees fit.In some ways,this adventure follows the original adventure modules more than it does thenovels, meaning that the same inconsistencies exist, even thoughDragonlance Classics does include several sections explaining how the plotwas advanced in the novels.I advise making some changes to the statisticsof the characters to better reflect the novels.If you have any of theexpansion material for Fifth Age, you can still use some of it to enhanceyour use of this product--there are simply a few adjustments to be made,which are not difficult at all.

In short, any Dragonlance or AD&Dfan looking for a quality product should seriously consider this one.Theyare few and far between.

Nostalgia
I read the Dragonlance Chronichles nearly ten years ago now, but I've just recently started playing D&D. I can tell you that this book is great no matter what angle you approach it from. As a reader it goes into detailsthat were never covered in the novels, like what happened at the Icewall.As a player and more recently a DM this book provides what are in myopinion some of the finest written D&D adventures.

And don't let theSAGA rule system turn you off, the book includes regular AD&D stats foreverything as well.

I can't recommend this enough. ... Read more

Product Description
No more excuses! The Life Bitch is here, and he has no time for whingers. If you know your bum looks big, then get it off the sofa. Steve Miller is an expert in training people in positive thinking. His approach depends on using skills that everyone has: common sense (you are fat because you eat too much - no one is fat in a famine) and a bit of determination. He is tough-talking (he calls a hippo a hippo) but warm and witty too; and he shows you - with real life examples and stories - techniques that really work. His approach is realistic, and it's all about getting real. This is not just about shedding the flab, but about becoming the person you want to be, and realising that it is in you to make it happen. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Choice Collection of Adventures, Tricks, and Traps
"Children of the Night: Vampires" is the first in the "Children of the Night" series, which also includes "Children of the Night: The Created," "Children of the Night: Werebeasts" and the out-of-print "Children of the Night: Ghosts." "Vampires" revolves around imaginative variations of that favorite bloodsucker; it is suitable for use in Ravenloft and in other campaigns, and is intended as a complementary volume to the various Van Richten's books. As with others in this series, Vampires presents 13 mini-adventures, each a story centered around an interesting individual or unusual type of vampire.

The books in this series are a great buy, presenting 13 well-written and potentially expandable adventures in a single accessory. In this volume we are offered quite a variety of creatures, some tied more or less to Ravenloft and its special creatures or cities, others from an "anywhere" background or originally from one of the other AD&D campaign worlds and dragged into the Mists of the Ravenloft Domain of Dread by evil circumstances. In either case, these adventures are readily adaptable to fit the flavor of any campaign, though the style of this first of the "Children of the Night" series seems to assume a greater familiarity with Ravenloft than the other volumes do.

Don't think that becauses vampires are so popular a subject that the possibilities are burnt out: In these adventures we are offered a scarred and wretched man divinely cursed to wander the desert in thirst, only able to briefly quench his thirst through fluid from his victims; a druidic vampiress whose thirsty habits run to tree sap; and a "penanggalan," a horrid female creature whose head flies free from her body and zooms around at night dangling a long black tail, looking for folk to drain. Demihumans and nonhumans are not exempt from the vampire scourge: Here we meet an elf originally from the Forgotten Realms who loathes all vampires--his problem being he himself has become one; an elven vampiress from Dragonlance's Krynn, whose terrible twisted face can stun or kill on sight; a greater vampiric Ixitxachitl; and a dwarven scholar, a "Vampire Sage" with unusual powers who once served the lich Azalin. In the entries specifically tied to Ravenloft are a vampiric slave who was once a Ravenloft Vistana, or gypsy; a sea vampire and his crew of undead pirates; a sadistic, permanently invisible vampire trickster; the scheming vampire niece of Ravenloft's powerful Count Strahd; a "vorlog," a vampiric monster who stopped just short of becoming undead; and a crime boss vampire with sewer alligators for friends. The cover art is good and so are the interior maps, though in general the interior art is not quite up to usual Ravenloft quality. All in all, a choice collection of adventures, tricks, and traps.

Highly recommended for vampire fans running any AD&D 2nd Edition campaign.

--Sharon Daugherty for Skirmisher Online Gaming Magazine

A wonderful addition to any Ravenloft campaign.
This book is full of short encounters with the denizens of the night.Looking for something to throw your party off track or a way to get them moving?With this accesory you'll easily be able to complete the task.In my first Ravenloft Campaign I was hesitant because I didn't think I knewenough about the realm.Using this accessory I was able to keep thecampaign fun and exiting for the players without having to jump in over myhead and end up ruining the experience for myself.I would recomend thisbook for all Ravenloft DM's and others as the adventures are designed to beeasily used in any realm.

A must have for Ravenloft DMs!
When I bought this book, I was interested, but cautious. I had never runRavenloft, and even though I knew the setting, I was afraid I didn't haveany good campaign ideas. This book changed that. The characters describedwithin are colorful, interesting, and deadly, if done right. Themini-adventures included with each character are easy to adapt to whateverDomain you set you players in and useful as guidelines if you don't want torun them as is. I can't wait for the next Children of the Night book!

Perfect Gothic Horror
This is a brillinat book for all Ravenloft DM's, and those who run other settings and have a love for Vampires. 13 adventures, each with a unique adversary, and hooks for expanding the adventure, and connecting it into an ongoing campaign, this product is the beginning of a new line for Ravenloft, and heres hoping the rest of this series follow this ones illustrious beginning.

Perfect Gothic Horror
This is a brillinat book for all Ravenloft DM's, and those who run other settings and have a love for Vampires. 13 adventures, each with a unique adversary, and hooks for expanding the adventure, and connecting it into an ongoing campaign, this product is the beginning of a new line for Ravenloft, and heres hoping the rest of this series follow this ones illustrious beginning. ... Read more

Product Description
The Grand: The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, a Photo Journey follows the river from Lees Ferry to Mile 236 with more than 300 spectacular color pictures and expert commentary. Of the millions of people that visit the Grand Canyon every year, only a handful of them leave the rim and actually get to experience the river and inside of the canyon up close. With over 30 years of experience rafting the Colorado, photographer Steve Miller presents the Canyon from the unique perspective that only a rafter can, leading you on a mile-by-mile journey to see and learn about the geologic formations, wildlife (including rafters!), flora, trailside views, and, of course, the moods of the water, sky, and the canyon walls.The Grand is published in partnership with the Grand Canyon Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing visitors’ understanding and appreciation of the Grand Canyon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Wow, What a visual trip
Wonderful photos and descriptions. I felt that I had visually rafted the Grand Canyon and since I'm going to do just that in June of '08 I'm more pumped up having seen some of the sights I'll see in person and so lets go rafting.

Awesome - Grand Canyon Pictures
I recently purchased this book for my boss who when white water rafting in the Grand Canyon. He loved the book, he related to alot of the pictures and was happy to relive the moment again.

The Grand:The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon
This is a book I highly recommend to all my friends who are contemplating a trip down the Colorado in the Grand Canyon.After spending two weeks on a raft trip in the Grand Canyon, this is one of the best guides I have seen about the trip, complete with pictures.

Magnificent!
What a treat it is to read this book! Page after page of glorious photographs beckon with their beauty. The pictures capture a wide range of scenes--from the river to its vegetation, animals and canyons. A thoroughly enjoyable book to be read and reread.

Amazing photographs
This book has page after page of remarkable, vibrant photographs.From the extraordinary landscape, to the animals that inhabit the surroundings, to people running wild rapids--this book offers more than just a glimpse into the Grand Canyon.An absolute must-have for everyone-- be it nature lovers, river runners, or if you just want to admire the scenery, I can highly recommend this book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Average
This supplement of the Fifth Age game is a little less than great.Most of the roles in the boxed set are not worth playing.The most useful thing in here is the adventure itself (if you like following the novels). ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

I don't need to read it to know it sucks!
Sorry if I discourage any of you from buying this book. But, if you're looking for a very unrelialble solution, this book is for you.

Mike LaChance
EDI Specialist

Aside from MS tech, the book has a lot to offer.
I picked this book up not because of the Microsoft-specific solution, but for the HIPAA overview. Sounds like the other reviewers already had that, but for me this is the first place I've seen it all laid out.

As for it being Microsoft-specific, I just feel obligated to point out that this book documents a very specific solution that Microsoft put together with one of its partners. So, while the "comprehensive strategies" part of the title may be a misnomer, taken in context it's not a bad document. In Microsoft's document model this would be a Planning and Architecture document, aimed at the Business Decision Maker to give them an overview and get them interested in a particular architecture. (Disclaimer, I write these kinds of documents for Microsoft.) I do think the book, which appears extracted from a P&A document fails to adequately define the audience and that could cause some confusion.

So for a high-level view of both the landscape and a particular architecture, this is not a bad book. For a "comprehensive" solution, this is probably just the first step in a long journey.

Not worth the paper it's printed on
This book contains nothing valuable.The case studies in it are superficial and tells the readers nothing about what's actually going on behind the scene. For example, in the first case, there's an explanation about mapping between X12 837 to some other formats.The example shows a screenshot of a nice GUI that allows the user to map elements of X12 to some other format presumably by using XML mapping.But where does the screen gets its information from? This example doesn't tell us anything about how to come upwith a good XML representation of the X12 837 spec.Which is the first thing that any "solutions" would have to start from.I guess it's because of the closed-source nature of everything that Microsoft is doing, that they are afraid of showing the actual processes that they went through.Furthermore, they are actually proud of a solution that employs 6 different servers? the licensing costs alone are enough to put most clearinghouses out of business.If you're looking for an insight on how to actually help someone with HIPAA compiance, don't count on this book to be anything but a waste of money and time.

Where is the "Solutions"?
How can someone write book about a solution to a national problem where all they are doing is promoting the WPC product lines and some shallow Microsoft explanation of a server that can be found for FREE from the Microsoft Website. I could not find this book in the store to check it out before buying so I had to buy it. Don't repeat my mistake. Look for a more objective view and solution elsewhere.
Is this ethical to charge money for this book??

Nothing More Than a Microsoft Sales Pitch
If you are looking for practical assistance with HIPAA compliance, look elsewhere.This is nothing but a very long adervertisement for Microsoft products. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

domians of dread is a witty metaphor that satircialy mirriors grim reality
*I have always wanted to play ravenloft campiansetting however never can find players or decent dms, EVER! but never the less this book is gold, in metaphor it satirically mirrors grim reality of culture, my childhood home felt like was stuck in the middle of a real life domain of dead, 'it's as if the land rewards evil as it sort of curses backwards to there goals at the same time' Trust me this book in metaphor mirrors a lot of things that speak to me personaly

>this book without a doubt is one of THE books in my life, that and homemade lighting by ra ford, what can you say i am a total geek but sort of a goth geek,

A Romp on the Dark Side for Fans of Fantasy Horror
Domains of Dread takes TSR's popular gothic horror Ravenloft setting and gives it a new soul: an evil one, naturally. Imagine a city whose sewers materialized from another dimension, a heart-eating mummy who retains her beauty, or a lithe and limber Frankenstein's monster as lord over his own land, and you'll start to get an idea of the new and improved Ravenloft.

This expanded version of Ravenloft contains a much wider geography of the Demiplane of Dread, and for the first time includes the option for playing characters who are Ravenloft natives. Included is a chronology that sets all previous Ravenloft publications, whether novels, adventures, or accessories, into context as the history of the current campaign book. Earlier Ravenloft material is also tied in, item-by-item, to each description of a land, realm, island, or kingdom (called domains) and the lord of each region. Enough background is presented so that an inventive dungeon master can proceed from the material given, while those interested in the novels and available adventures may single out which products they may be interested in buying.

Domains introduces four new character classes (avenger, anchorite, gypsy, and arcanist) as well as one new race, the half-Vistani. All changes and effects pertaining to spells, items, and character traits in Ravenloft settings are included, along with special rules applying only to Ravenloft. New sections explain the rewritten fear, horror, and madness checks for characters. However, dungeon masters will find that some of the other Ravenloft products, particularly the Monstrous Compendiums, are necessary in order to use this campaign book.

The emphasis is, of course, on creepy: many of the characters and situations in Domains will be familiar from classical horror literature, with different names of course. Vampires and lycanthropes abound; Dr. Jekyll's spiritual brother is here; and Dr. Frankenstein, as Victor Mordenheim, seems to have acquired an unwanted empathic link with his creation. Other classic characters with a delicious horror twist appear here, such as a domain lord called "Pinocchio" who led his wooden brothers and sisters on a murderous rampage.

A "nice" romp on the dark side for fans of horror and things of the night.

--Sharon Daugherty for Skirmisher Online Gaming Magazine

Ravenloft DMs - your sanity is saved!
If you are a Ravenloft DM, this book will make your life MUCHeasier. Everything you'll need for quick reference in your game ishere and INDEXED (Yes, they finally made it easy to find what youneed!) I love this book and it's made my life much easier. Watch for the "Fear, Horror, Maddness check" sections - they've made them a bit separated for each class so that can muck you up a bit the first go-round, but it's TONS better than those 50 odd books from separate box sets. If you were considering buying all of those "accessories" forget it - this book covers nearly everything you could even need. Players do not really need any books for Ravenloft, and if your DM has this one you can borrow it for the rare times you may need it.

A great resource book
I collect Ravenloft stuff so I already had the first two boxed sets ("The Red Box & The Black Box") when I bought this book. DOD goes in to more detail on the various domains and offers a nice selectionof player classes and races.The drawbaks that I have include the interiorart and the repeating of some material from other sources.The interiorart of earlier Ravenloft products is a bit more in tune with the Gothicsetting than the art in DOD.I wish the would have included a nice mapwith the book.Overall, this is a great book for anyone looking to getinto Ravenloft for the first time.

Dreadfully Groovy
I have always been interested in the Ravenloft campaign settings, but never much felt like buying each individual module just to have a good view ofthe Core. I picked up this book a couple of days ago and have not putit down since. This is a must buy for any D&D people who want to run aRavenloft game, or even just for DM's who need ideas to add a touch ofhorror to their own games. ... Read more

Product Description
There are a few persons in the history of Christianity who have more profoundly affected the faith and the church than D.L. Moody. By studying the life of Moody, readers will discover the role of faith and conviction in forging a philosophy of spiritual l ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must Read!
If you are in Christian leadership or ministry at any level, this is a must read book. Men like D.L. Moody are often forgotten in this modern age of gadgets and gizmo's. These men did not have technology and Twitter to advance their ministry. They were of a different sort, men like in days of old, who fought on their knees, lived holy lives, and gave their life away for the cause of Christ. This book will challenge, comfort, convict, and inspire you to grow and go! ... Read more

Product Description
In an unprecedented literary feat, Steve Hamilton’s debut novel, A Cold Day in Paradise, captured both the prestigious Edgar and Shamus awards. Now the bestselling author presents the third installment in his critically acclaimed mystery series: a complex, atmospheric tale that will plunge listeners back into icy, unpredictable Alex McKnight territory, where the private investigator finds himself doing a favor for an old friend – but this favor could cost him his life…

In the remote, wintry reaches of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it’s hard for a man to remember what springtime is like, let alone Spring Training. But when a former teammate tracks him down, erstwhile minor league player Alex McKnight is instantly transported back to the good old Toledo dugout, circa 1971. Unfortunately, Randy Wilkins didn’t trek 3,000 miles to the bleak shores of Lake Superior to sit by the fire with a couple of imported beers, dissecting the past, inning by glorious inning. He’s here to pitch a proposal: that Alex help him find the woman with whom he had a brief, passionate affair three decades ago. Who is Alex to deny a fellow the chance to ward off classic midlife chill by rekindling an old flame? What he doesn’t consider is that there might be a good reason the mysterious, missing Maria is more elusive than a starting position in the majors – and that his trusted old pal might not have told him the whole score…
Amazon.com Review
Alex McKnight, the burned-out former cop turned PI of Steve Hamilton's Edgar Award-winning first novel, ACold Day in Paradise, was a promising catcher who never quite made it to the majors. But his old teammate Randy Wilkins did, for one game with the Detroit Tigers that effectively ended the pitcher's career. What Randy can't forget about that game was the beautiful young woman he met the night before he blew his future in professional sports. Over two decades later, he'scome to McKnight to track down the mysterious Maria, whose memory stillhaunts him. The trail is pretty cold after all these years, but Alexmanages to get a line on Maria's relatives, who aren't exactly thrilledto make his acquaintance. In fact, they're downright hostile when Alexfinds them in a small Michigan town, and he just barely escapes with his life. But he perseveres, and ultimately makes his way to aneven smaller resort town, where the natives are almost as unfriendly. Thepolice chief is so hostile to Alex's efforts that he quickly realizes someone else is on her tail, and that there's a good reason she's been hiding out for so long. Not only that, when someone shoots Randy and almost kills him, Alex is in for another nasty surprise. His old friend isn't who he seems to be, and Alex himself may be the victim of exactly the kind of scam Randy's been running since he left the majors.

Hamilton has a well-developed sense of place, and he's good at exploringthe complexities of his protagonist. But it's Randy the reader wantsmore fully realized, even after the mystery is solved and Alex makes abeeline back to Paradise. This is a taut, well-written thriller thatfulfills Hamilton's promise as a writer to watch. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

another cold day...
Why is it that even when it's NOT winter/blizzard/ice-storm season, Steve Hamilton still manages to make Alex and his environs absolutely frigid? Alex is a reluctant private investigator who basically wants to be left alone in upper Michigan (with a cold bottle of Canadian beer). Unfortunately, someone finds Alex. His old team mate re-connects and brings Alex with him on a trip down memory lane. Some memories should be left alone. The story zig-zags back and forth (in a good way) leading us and Alex all over Michigan for answers. If you enjoy hard-boiled, tough guy tales pick up this, or any other Alex McNnight book, and enjoy. And don't forget the bottle of beer!

Third time's a charm . . . sort of
The third installment of Steve Hamilton's Alex McKnight series isn't really as great as the first two, but it still manages to keep us hanging. Our protagonist, McKnight, spends his time living in a cabin in Paradise, Michigan, and drinking Canadian beer with only a few (seemingly awkward) friends. When a man from the past, Randy Wilkins, comes by for a surprise visit, Alex begins to realize that Randy is actually here for a request. And that is to find a woman that he has left behind exactly thirty years ago. It becomes clear that this isn't a simple proposal, as we get to see that no one isn't as they seem.

This is a clear, straightforward read: nothing is overly complex but at the same time nothing is too simplified. There's lots of humor in the beginning, so it looks like a comedic story at first, but if you've read "A Cold Day in Paradise" and "Winter of the Wolf Moon," you'll know that once we're done with the beginning, the rest is all drama and suspense. I have to admit, though, that the middle section does tend to drag, with lots of interviews and phone calls that occur throughout. And the sexual content that's found in "The Hunting Wind" looks very unnecessary. I'm sure it adds into the story, but it felt inappropriate from where it is placed. But in the end, as everything is pieced together, we're left with complete and utter shock.

"The Hunting Wind" is a quick enjoyable read, but it isn't as incredibly intriguing as the first two in the series. It would seem like the weakest in the series, but I won't ever be sure since I still have yet the read the rest of the Alex McKnight series.

Grade: B+

Plenty of twists to hold your interest
Steve Hamilton writes books that read like Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar series crossed with Lee Child.His hero, Alex McKnight, is a former police officer and one time baseball pitcher living the quiet life in northern Michigan.Out of the blue, Randy Wilkins - a former baseball teammate - turns up and asks Alex to help him track down an old flame who he hasn't seen in 30 years.The story starts slowly with what seems to be a simple "cherchez la femme" mission, but it quickly emerges that virtually no one and nothing is what it initially seems.

Steve Hamilton has created a likable protagonist (imagine a less violent, more human Jack Reacher), but his real gift is keeping the story twisting so that the reader's interest is sustained throughout.Everytime I thought I had a handle on how things would play out, it would surprise me.A nicely crafted thriller.

Make this your first
What's so compelling about this one is that it "shows" rather than tells.
The other books in the series seemed to go deeper into Alex---why he is who he is (and yes, after reading these books, Alex---just like Robert Parker's "Spencer" becomes a very real person) But this book---my favorite so far, just took me off on a wild ride; SHOWING why Alex does what he does---for friends, for the world, for principle----whatever.

The mastery of Hamilton's writing just grabs you and doesn't let go.

Start with this one would be my thought---but a mor important thought would be to just enjoy them ALL!

A great read
Hamilton does a fairly good representation of Upper Michigan and the twin cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan/Ontario and area. Clearly he has spent enough time there to cite specific locations and directions, and he captures the atmosphere pretty good, if somewhat cliche. The location lends a different backdrop to basic plotlines, and he works that backdrop into the stories in this series. A refreshing approach to a well used genre.

This is a good weekend read and very enjoyable -perfect for an afternoon by the pool or a rainy weekend at the cottage. It is a little on the 'easy reading' side of things, and not as involved plotwise as something by Ludlum or Clancy, but it is very easy to fall into the story very quickly, or pick it up again after a break. A good style for a tired mind after a busy week. I have recommended this series to others and will continue to do so as I look forward to the next book.
-Start at the beginning, as parts of the stories build on each other.

A Cold Day In Paradise 2000
Winter of the Wolf Moon 2001
The Hunting Wind 2002
North of Nowhere 2003
Blood is the Sky 2004
Ice Run 2005

... Read more

Product Description
Sure, everyone's seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. But as you'll learn in this shockingly tasteless collection of great awful movies, there's so much more to the world of truly bad film. You'll dive into the steaming swamp of such disastrously delicious movies as:

• Young Hannah, Queen of the Vampires
• Puppet Master versus Demonic Toys
• Creature with the Atom Brain
• Cannibal Holocaust
• Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter

For each movie, film buff and reviewer Steve Miller includes a list of principal cast, director, producer, a plot overview, why the movie sucked, a rating, choice quotes, interesting trivia, and a quiz.

For anyone who's ever enjoyed awful movies, this is the book to have on the couch, along with the popcorn, as the opening credits flash on the screen for Gingerdead Men 2: The Passion of the Crust. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

150 movies you should die before you see is BS
Man, this guy is a retard. Just look at the table of contents and any true fan of horror will be instantly angered. I can agree with a couple of "please avoid turkeys" but this guy lists "Suspiria" "Suspiria"?! Seriously?! Most horror fans cut there teeth on Italian horror flicks when we got tired of Hollywood's regurgitated tripe. I certainly hope he's just kidding with this list, because I can honestly say that I've seen the majority of these flicks, and would highly recommend many of them. And no, I'm not a stoner. My wife saw this at work and thought I might be interested, but after thumbing through the virtual preview above, I think I'd rather watch "Dead Alive" again than read this drivel. Mangajayce out. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A Pilot and Her Ship
Scout's Progress (2000) is the fifth SF novel in the Liaden Universe series, following Local Custom.In the previous volume, Er Thom married Anne Davis and brought Shan and her to Liad.Anne and Shan were accepted by the clan.Anne then published the work of Scholar Jin Del yo'Kera.

In this novel, Aelliana Caylon is a Scholar in Subrational Mathematics at Chonselta Technical College.She teaches a course in Practical Mathematics -- Math for Survival -- to Scout Academy students and is well liked by her classes.

Daav yos'Phelium is the Delm of Korval.He is plagued by the necessity of producing an heir as per the Code.

Er Thom yos'Galan is Daav's cousin by birth and brother by practice.He is married to Anne Davis, a Terran. They have one child, Shan.

Samiv tel'Izak is Clan Bindan.She is also a pilot.

Ran Eld Caylon is Aelliana's brother and Nadelm of Clan Mizel.He abuses Aelliana.

Jon dea'Cort is the owner of the Binjali Garage, a spaceship repair and docking facility in Solcintra Port.He is a former Scout.

In this story, Aelliana makes the mistake of disagreeing with a financial recommendation by Ran Eld.He challenges her, but their mother -- the Delm of Mizel -- thinks that there is some truth to her arguments.She orders Ran Eld to allow Aelliana to invest her quarter share as she wishes and to track the progress.

Anne comes to Daav with a question about Liaden customs.Her Terran culture takes such customs with a degree of doubt.Daav explains the Contract and the Captaincy, but she leaves still having some doubts.

Daav has decided to marry Samiv.Er Thom tries to him out of marrying her.Daav points out that he will have to marry someone sometime soon.

Since Samiv has accepted contract to pilot a merchant ship leaving soon, they will not be having a formal marriage anytime soon.So the two sign a letter of intent instead.Samiv does not react very well to Daav's conversation during the ceremony.

Daav is feeling discontented and asks Jon for a casual laborer job.All the Binjali workers are fellow Scouts.He works at Binjali to get a sense of comradery and accomplishment.

Aelliana presents the student Scouts with a practical problem with parameters defined by themselves and requires them to document the solution by the next class.Later she encounters two of her students while she is wandering the streets in thought.They invite her to their table, wine and dine her, and then take her into the new casino.

Aelliana observes the play of hands at a Pikit table.When the holder of the table invites her to sit and play, she seats herself.When the matter of stakes is raised, she puts forth her quarter share, but he is persuaded to risk his ship.

Aelliana plays skillfully and wins.The ship is docked at the Binjali Garage.It is soon registered in her name and she can take possession the following day.She drops by to see her ship and gets a personal tour by the owner of the facility.

She is pleased to see that Ride the Luck is a jump ship.Now she has to get a Second Class Pilot license and to learn Terran so that she can become independent.First she takes the test for a Second Class license and passes.

Her license will be Provisional until she has acquired sufficient hours of piloting a ship.When she comes to ask Jon to tutor her on ship handling, Daav is on duty by himself.He has a package to deliver on Outyard Eight, so he acts as her copilot as they fly to the station.

This tale leads the betrothed Daav to regret his coming marriage.Ran Eld abuses Aelliana even more, but doesn't learn about the ship from her.Samiv find herself liking Daav after all.

The story ends with unresolved questions.The long overdue sequel is Mouse & Dragon.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Lee & Miller fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of alien cultures, personal conflicts, and persevering women.If anyone is not familiar with this series, the initial volume is Agent of Change.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Above-average romantic space opera
This is a separate novel set in the Liaden universe (not part of the Agent of Change arc), but it still involves Clan Korval, most powerful family unit on the planet. The focus this time is a generation earlier, the story of Daav yos'Phelium, delm of Korval, andAelliana Caylon, mathematician and victim of a cruel and overbearing brother. (Daav and Aelliana will later become the parents ofVal Con yos'Phelium.) Aelliana quite unexpectedly wins a spaceship in a card game and becomes liberated, step by step, as she passes the hurdles required of prospective pilots. She's added in this by Daav, who likes to unwind by doing common repair work at a facility run by his old Scout comrades, and whose clan affiliation she doesn't discover until the very end. We get to see the less glamorous side of the highly stratified and stylized Liaden society through the eyes of a lesser family that largely depends for survival on its ability to place its daughters in contract marriages for the purpose of producing children -- something demanded of every male Liaden. It's primarily a love story, and there's a flavor of Jan Austen here, or perhaps Cinderella. Not as galaxy-spanning as some of the other Laden novels, but not bad at all.

Jane Austen meets Space Opera Romance...
This the second of the Liaden books is mostly about Liad and Liaden culture. Liadens are ruled by the code and the code sets forth the behavior to be expected by all from Council of Clans, delms, nadelms, members of clans, and clanless. So it's a bit more like a Regency love story than a modern day one. Yet it is of another culture and another time.I could often hear the cadence of Jane Austen in the speeches.

Here Daav yos'Phelium knows that he must produce and heir and he's contracting a marriage with a women he doesn't particularly like but one that meets all the clans requirements.His intended contract wife, Samiv tel'Izak is to finish out her work contract before beginning her contract with Korval.Daav finds himself at loose ends and applies to Jon dea Cort for work at Binjali's repair.

Aelliana Caylon teaches a survival mathematics course to scouts. She's a brilliant mathematician but in the clan house treated as a simpleton with no grace, manners, intelligence at all by her brother the nadelm of clan Mizel. She's been beaten by him before and his now realized that if anything happened to the delm things could indeed get worse. She wins through an unlikely series of events a Class A jump ship. With a pilots license she could run away and be free of clan. The ship is kept at Binjali's.

Daav ends up her co-pilot.The men and women of Binjali's teach her much and she eventually gets her license and can leave.But then there is Daav.

The lovers meet and misunderstand, separate, realize their love, find clan law and custom separating them. But, it's a romance so you can probably figure out what will happen to them.It's the how it happens that is what makes the book worth reading.

Steve Miller and Sharon Lee have developed fully-realized characters and a richly textured world and society.It's will worth your time if you like romance and SF.

Escape Science Fiction
This book is mainly background for the Laiden universe; however, it is a great way to escape from the stress of an everyday world. It will also givee you insight into the agent of change series that is core to the Laiden univrese. It is an excellent read for a rainy day or to kill time in a plane terminal between flights. Give it a try!

Absolutely Wonderful - I Loved It!
Aelliana Caylon learned the hard way that she was powerless in her Clan.At first, she tried to defy her brother, Van Eld, when he attempted to exercise his authority over her as the next Delm, but after her first and only contract marriage to Van Eld's abusive friend, Aelliana no longer rebelled.She learned to feign meekness and remain quiet except when she was teaching her advanced math class to the irrepressible pilots in training at the academy.She had value at the university and was readily acknowledged as one of the most brilliant mathematicians of her day.When one of her pilot students convinced her to play a game of chance at a new gaming palace, Aelliana used her math skills to beat the cardshark and found herself the proud owner of a ship - and her chance to leave Liaden forever...

But before Aelliana could leave Liaden, she had to get her pilot's license.Luckily, she was docked at Binjali's, where the pilots were irreverent and surprising, but genuinely friendly.Before she knew it, Aelliana found herself adopted in to a kind of family where her skills were valued and her opinion was asked.She quickly found herself looking forward to her lessons with Master Pilot Daav, who challenged her to become more and to take risks.What she did not know was that her quirky co-pilot was in fact Daav yos'Phelium, the Delm of Korval and arguably the most powerful man on the planet.She also did not know that Daav was in negotiations for a contract marriage or she never would have let herself fall in love with him....

Scout's Progress is the second book in the Liaden series after Local Custom, where we are first introduced to Daav.It was written after books 3-5, however, so most call it a prequel.I found this book to be just as well written and intriguing as Local Custom.I think that the Liaden universe is fascinating and every time I get my hands on one of the books, I am riveted and cannot stop reading until I am finished.All of the characters are interesting with quirks and strengths and weaknesses.I particularly enjoyed Daav's weird sense of humor and how he likes to play the game of life on Liaden.There are some who say that this is simply a romance with science fiction trappings and I would agree that the romance is very important to the plot, but I would also say that it is the characters and the world building that keep me reading, not the romance, although I enjoyed that as well.If you enjoy science fiction or space opera and have not yet read this wonderful series than you are in for a real treat!I cannot recommend this series highly enough! ... Read more

Product Description
Fleeing the scene of his latest mission, Val Con yos'Phelium finds himself saving the life of ex-mercenary Miri Robertson, a young Tarren on the run from interplanetary assassins. Thrown together by circumstances, Val Con and Miri struggle to elude their enemies and stay alive without slaying each other-or surrendering to the unexpected passion that flares between them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Expendable Liaden
Agent of Change (1988) is the first SF novel in the Liaden Universe series.It is set in a future where there are several known variations of Man and a few truly alien species.The Liaden are organized into Family Lines and these Lines into Clans.The Council of Clans rules all Liadens, but the Captain serves all Clans.

In this novel, Val Con yos'Phelium is a Liaden.He had been a First-in Scout, but now is a spy.

Miri Robertson is a Terran.She had been a mercenary, serving with the Gyrfalks.Then she left to become a bodyguard.Now she running from the Juntavas.

Twelfth Shell Fifth Hatched Knife Clan of Middle River's Spring Spawn of Farmer Greentrees of The Spearmakers Den, The Edger is a Clutch.He is about seven hundred years old and is a T'carais of his people.Val Con is the adopted and younger brother of Edger.

In this story, Terrence O'Grady is brought before Jaeger of the Terran Party and accused of being an impostor.He is beaten a little and loses his glasses.When the glasses are returned to him, Terrence throws them to Jaeger and jumps out the window.

Behind him, Val Con hears an explosion.He hurries even faster away from party headquarters.On the way, he notices five men firing at a woman.

Val Con takes out three of the men and Miri shoots the others.They both leave the area before the police arrive.Miri takes Val Con to her safehouse.

Miri tells him that the men were Juntavas.Her former employer had left the organization with embezzled funds and the Juntavas are trying to terminate him.Naturally, Sire Baldwin didn't explain his situation in quite this way.

When the Juntavas attacked the house, her employer fled the scene.Only a few of the staff survived the attack.Now Miri is also being hunted by the Juntavas and both she and the criminals would dearly like to get their hands on Sire Baldwin.

They recuperate overnight, but Miri doesn't want Val Con hanging around with her.He leaves, but soon notices the men surrounding the house.He returns to find Miri again under attack.This time Val Con takes Miri to his safehouse.

This time the Juntavas come looking for recent arrivals to the planet.Val Con and Miri get away again and find Edger and his brothers in the lobby of the building enjoying the entertainment.They all return to Edger's hotel.

This tale involves Val Con and Miri in various efforts by the Juntavas and the police to capture them.They find other friends in unexpected places.Then they flee the planet.

Val Con is an agent for Liaden in this novel.His personality has been overlaid by a pattern called the Loop.It displays the chances of achieving his mission and of surviving.But it also drives him against his will.

This volume is the first in the series by publication date, but it is something like the fifth by internal chronology.The Liaden Universe timeline is confusing.Moreover, this novel should -- but does not -- have a direct sequel!

Val Con finds himself loving Miri and she reluctantly feels the same.The next installment in this series -- Conflict of Honors -- concerns another within the Clan Korval.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Lee & Miller fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of armed conflict, paranormal talents, and true romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Reasonably intelligent romantic space opera
This semi-sequel to _Conflict of Honors_ is set about eight years later in the Liaden universe and focuses on Val Con yos'Phelium scheduled to become head of Clan Korval, cousin of Shan yos'Galen, skilled pilot, "First-In" Scout (responsible for investigating newly discovered worlds), and now a spy unhappily in the employ of Liad's extremely secret Department of Interior. The Department adheres to a program of racial purity and Liaden supremacy, and they neither like nor trust the Korvals. He becomes involved, quite happenstantially, with Miri Robertson, a Terran (except she's not) from a "ghetto" world, an ex-mercenary sergeant and ex-bodyguard who is on the run from the Juntavas, a kind of interplanetary Mafia. The romance element this time, unfortunately, is somewhat overwritten, but you can *bleep* over some of the mush in favor of the authors' delightful depiction of the "turtles," a truly alien race with whom Val Con has a deep and extensive history. The adventure proceeds apace!

Not Free SF Reader
Pretty ordinary secret agent type on the run story.The fun bit is that he gets probability calculations of his likely demise along the way.Basically, Lee is no Fleming or Ludlum.

Should appeal more to those that like a romance/action story in a different setting.

Terrific Book
This is another fine book in the Liaden series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. In this book, Liaden Val Con rescues mercenary Miri Robertson and the two of them go on the run together, although for different reasons. The romantic tension between them is palpable, but it never detracts from the compelling plot. The authors continually find new ways to depict culture clash as with each new book they bring a different outsider into Liaden society. This is a good, fun book in a good, fun series.

title is incorrect
this book is "Agent of Change" (not chance!) and was the first published of what is know a 6 or 7 book series.
The authors now have a different publisher than originally.
The series (in chronological order)
Pilots Choice (2 stories in one); Conflict of Honors (Shan's story); Agent of Change (Val Con and Miri); Carpe Diem (immediadely next) Plan B and I Dare
A Really Good series
Frances Morrison ... Read more

Product Description
The foremost guide to foes in the Star Wars universe. Ultimate Adversaries is a sweepingcollection of fully illustrated villains, creatures, and droids from all eras of the Star Wars universe. Gamemasters can choose from a host of new and familiar foes, including pre-generated enemies, to enhance their campaigns and challenge their players. This title includes characters from all of the Star Wars films and from the expanded universe of other products. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Rounding out the GM's toolbox
Ultimate Adversaries is primarily a tool for the Gamemaster.I also like to think of it as the companion piece to the Galactic Campaign Guide.Where the latter book focused on the planning and development side of running a campaign, Ultimate Adversaries gives the GM a variety of the actual villains and creatures that might inhabit the setting.

Chapter One: Villains begins with detailed descriptions of 47 non-player characters. While we have received large numbers of NPCs from other sourcebooks before, the ones presented here are considerably more detailed.Each character has a picture, and in addition to the usual background and basic description, each NPC profile also lists goals, preferred tactics, and roleplaying tips.Also included are notes on how the GM can transplant the NPC into each of the main eras.These characters run the entire range from troublemaking dilettantes to psychotic bounty hunters and desperate con artists. Levels are from 2 to 15 (challenge code B to G), with most falling around level 6 or 7. This is a tough crowd, but only a few of them actually fall into the high-level supervillain category.Some of the characters aren't even bad people, but each NPC's unique motivation and personality sets the stage for opposition to the heroes.Though there are a few clichés, it is the extensive setup for each character which earns the title "Ultimate" and which should be most helpful in providing memorable encounters.

Because each character is completely ready-made, the GM can easily take whichever NPC he likes and insert it directly into his campaign with minimum preparation.Some GMs won't like that method, preferring instead to create everything from scratch.Not everyone has the time or ability to do that though.For the GMs who fall into that category, this section is a boon.

Chapter One also includes a brief section on ready-made generic organizations, including mercenary companies, crime syndicates, and resistance movements.By selecting from a broadly similar type, this allows the GM to introduce encounters with a new organization while eliminating most of the paperwork.

Chapter Two: Creatures is by far the largest section of the book.Basically, this is the Monster Manual for Star Wars.Over 80 creatures are presented, from the mighty Krayt Dragon to the tiny Voorpak.Most of this is new material, but a number of creatures from earlier sources like the Alien Anthology and NJO Sourcebook make revised appearances.Every creature has a full description and labeled picture.Challenge codes range from A to H, with the majority around a rating of D.Also included are a number of new templates, including Enlarged, Shaped, and Sithspawned.With so many options a GM should have no problem giving his players plenty of creatures to fight.

Chapter Three: Droids briefly describes 8 new droids as well as 3 Separatist droid vehicles, including the Hailfire Droid.Also included at long last is a table of specific traits which may be applied to any droid produced by one of the 22 major droid manufacturers.

Finally, the Appendix lists new combat techniques, weapons, armor, equipment (including several pieces of droid-specific equipment), one new vehicle, and two new starships. Also included is a reprint of the Transfer Essence force skill, reprints of the feats Multidexterity, Multiweapon Fighting, and Sith Sorcery, and a table listing all opponents in the book by challenge code.

As a side note, Ultimate Adversaries is probably the best-looking, most well-organized, and error-free Star Wars RPG product yet.The artwork is truly top-notch, particularly the character portraits.The layout is tasteful and information is easy to locate. Furthermore after a few readings I saw a mere handful of typos.

My single complaint is that there could have been a greater variety of high-level villains and creatures.This could have been easily accomplished by eliminating some of the content reprinted from other sources.

Overall, Ultimate Adversaries performs exactly as advertised.It has the potential to be an extremely helpful tool for a new or moderately experienced GM due to the prepackaged nature of some of its material, but veteran GM's may be turned off for the same reason. However in my opinion even veterans should consider it for the Creature section as well as its general wealth of ideas.The casual player could certainly use the book as a spur for new ideas too, but this is not advised if your GM plans on using it himself!Ordinarily I would give Ultimate Adversaries a 5, but because it is directed at a limited audience, I am instead giving it a very strong 4. ... Read more

Product Description
Proper planning and effective management of your trade show presence are the keys to trade shows uccess for every business.Loaded with real-lifeexamples and brimming with practical guidance on how top Ian and execute a trade show marketing effort, How to Get the Most Out of Trade Shows includes expert advice on:

• Selecting the right trade shows to attend
• Setting show objectives
• Designing effective booth displays
• Attracting prospects to your booth
• SelIing on the floor
• Following upon leads

Customer Reviews (13)

ok
Not too short and not too long. detailed and specific. it makes sense, informative, and entertaining.

Steve's wisdom and wit can help you create the ultimate trade show experience
It is a great book for those who need guidance on how to get the most out of this marketing tactic.He provides practical advice, show examples, templates, etc. which helps an exhibitor understand what is needed for this face-to-face marketing experience.

And all of it is presented with his great humor!One must have humor to deal with all the bumps in the trade show road.

www.letstalktradeshows.com

Yippie, Another Trade Show
Marketing professioals rarely cheer at the thought of doing trade shows, but they are a necessary part of their job.This book does a great job of providing a step by step thought process for achieving better success.

While you may already be doing many of the things suggested in the book, the book makes you see the big picture of getting more done and tracking the results.

Good Book
You'll learn some valuable lessons from this book. I think you should buy several books on the subject in order to get more information. Each book will teach you something different, which will broaden your understanding of the field.

An absolute must for the tradeshow exhibitor
I can't think of any other book investment I made that has paid off as much as this book. This book has much information to turn the clueless into a master tradeshow exhibitor. It has clear instructions that are easy to follow with planning timelines, checklists, etc. As costs are climbing and competition increasing, it's very important to squeeze out as much juice from the tradeshow as possible. This book will definitely give you an edge. ... Read more

Product Description
Like the Dungeon & Dragons(r) Monster Manual, this product contains detailed statistical information that will give Gamemasters new options for nonplayer characters to include in their campaigns. The species descriptions also afford players opportunities to play the aliens as player characters.This is the ?rst collection of fascinating aliens and creatures from the Star Wars galaxy. It contains statistics and other information that will be fundamental to any Star Wars campaign, as well as be useful to any other campaign that uses the d20 system, such as the Dungeons & Dragons game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Alien Anthology vs Ultimate Alien Anthology
I own a copy of this... and i own a copy of the Ultimate Alien Anthology.I can say that despite popular opinion... the smaller Alien Anthology is still something i use quite often.Why?

Alien Anthology has several species that you could use, more than enough for any campaign that i would write.Granted i do like the larger selection the Ultimate Alien Anthology offers, the smaller version has more than enough for me and more than I'll probably ever use.It also has creatures, non playable species that the Ultimate Alien Anthology doesn't have.It also has guidelines on how to create your own creature and descriptions of creature skills and feats.Granted the Ultimate Alien Anthology has 180 species, pretige clases, new skills and feats, it doens't have predators, herd animals, vermin and scavangers.

Don't misunderstand, the Ultimate AA is a very very good resource for any GM, right up there with the Arms and Equipment Guide.The Ultimate AA lists out the species like they do in the book, with personality desriptions, sample names, adventurer types and whether or not Force users exist among the species, which the Alien Anthology doesn't.But if you are running an adventure and need a preditorial cat, the Ultimate Alien anthology will tell you how to hunt one, which speices hunt them, which prestige class to get to tame then, feed them, hunt them, breed them... but won't tell you a thing actually telling you what a preditorial cat is.It has speices ranging from the Space Slug to the Vornskr.And there aren't any repeats either... those mentioned in the RCR are not in the AA, creatures mentioned in the Power of the Jedi, Darkside, NJO or other source books are not in the Alien anthology.So is it still worth getting?Yes.I use it more often than my Ultimate Alien anthology because it is smaller, easier to navigate, easier to read, has more variety (not just playable species) and still a large selection of playable species.

If you are a GM you should own this and the Ultimate Alien Anthology.It maybe a marketing ploy, but it is still a vital piece of my campaign writing.

Wait for the Ultimate Alien Anthology
If I could describe the Alien Anthology in one word, it would be "utilitarian."Granted, there is a whole lot of information here about a wide range of races, most of which are suitable as PCs.There is also a nice section on creatures and creature creation which encompasses about 1/3 of the book (actually, I found this to be the most useful part).

However, I walked away from this book feeling decidedly unimpressed.Perhaps it was the artwork and layout.The book is so neat and "clean" that it's practically sterile, and comes off feeling quite bland and uninspired.You definitely don't see the level of quality that was heaped on similar products such as the Dark Side Sourcebook or the Revised Rulebook.

Furthermore, I was hoping to see much more attention devoted to species-specific feats, equipment, and prestige classes.There just isn't much of that to be found here.

In short, it's my opinion that any potential buyer will be best off waiting for the release of the Ultimate Alien Anthology.The Ultimate book supposedly won't have any creatures, which may still prompt you to buy the original, but it promises to have a much more comprehensive list of races, gear, feats, and prestige classes.

At first I was tempted to rate this book at a 2, but I'm going to give it a 3 because of the excellent creature section and because there actually is a lot of information to be found here.This book is definitely the 1987 Honda Civic of Wizard's Star Wars line- it gets you where you need to go, but it does so with a minimum of style and flair.

The Star Wars Monster Manual
Wizards of the Coast has gotten a lot of bad flak for their take on the Star Wars Roleplaying Game.I, for one, have been very pleased with most of the books so far.Alien Anthology is no exception.This book contains full-color illustrations and information necessary to run many of your favorite Star Wars aliens as characters including Duros, Zabrak and Gand.It also includes information on other alien creatures such as Banthas and Womp Rats.

You also get creatures rules/classes, new prestige classes, Challenge Codes for multiple creatures and a table listing the ages for all the aliens (similar to that in the Core Rulebook).

All-in-all a very useful book for any Star Wars gamer. ... Read more

Product Description
The true story of the Tara Grant murder.

To their suburban Detroit neighbors, Stephen and Tara Grant were happy as could be. But their marriage, plagued by resentment and extramarital affairs, was held together only by their children. Until the night Stephen snapped, strangled and dismembered his wife, then disposed of her body piece by piece in the very park his children played in. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A Class Murder-A Sociological Study
The book is disturbing. It should be an interest to anyone in the social sciences field. The old movie "Joe" from the 1970s was in the suburbs and according to my freshmen sociology professor at Michigan State University he said `not realistic' that an upperclass family man would kill in rage, like Joe did. Well Steve Grant proves that theory wrong. Well that was 1970 this was 2007. It happened.

I lived near the area during my boyhood years. I often biked by the area, our school bus went down where her home was. We picked up kids there and dropped kids off. I watched this subdivision begin and grow as I did the nearby Metropolitan Park Stony Creek and the two years plus it took to dam the Stony Creek River to become Stony Creek Lake.

If I had to live in the area again, I might choose to live in Carriage Hills where Tara and Stephen made it their home and hopefully a nice area for the children to be raised and schooled.

It is ironic that neither Tara nor Steve worked for the Big Three Automotive companies, though Steve's job probably involved indirectly automotive work. But the author brings out that their friends did, working for Chrysler Corporation for example. There probably was animosity toward the good life these well paid autoworkers had with their high incomes. This had to be magnified by the six figure salary his wife had, where he made 30,000 plus a year, and really not a figure to be that depressed about. But depressed he probably was, so much that he felt that his life was meaningless compared to others.

That is the theme I get. If you compare your life to others, you ALWAYS lose. You have to live your own life and be your own man/woman.

The authors I believe did a great job in conveying this. Sure it had little about Tara. I don't know much about her, her job, her children, though I believe their lives deserve to be theirs, and their time will come when they come to grips with what happened when this tragedy happened.

The author went into a bit of detail mentioning he made a left turn from Mound Road to 28 Mile Road, and of course the San Diego reader isn't going to know where this is, unless he Googles it. I knew and it helped me read this book in just short of four days. The mention of nearby stores, like Meijer, and the author mentioned it was a competitor to a store like Wal-Mart in the Midwest. I knew that, but they told this to the San Diego person. I like this. And they didn't dwell on it.

I will give this book 5-Star because it kept my interest and I believe if I had been the San Diego person I would still have liked it, though it would have taken me five days to read it, being unfamiliar with the area.

To the people that said the money should be spent on the children of Tara. I agree they suffered and this story is about their parents. But I think this book is an excellent sociologic study into suburban America. We need to understand what is meant to be suburban and how that is affecting our culture and our cities and rural areas. With this understanding we can make this a better society for us all.

BORING BOOK!
I have read a lot of books and I prefer books that I find hard to put down. This book I found hard to read and actually skimmed through most of the beginning. It was pretty boring and poorly written (IMO). I only read it because it was on my kindle and I had paid for it. Trust me when I say you can find a better/more interesting book to read.

I could not put it down
I purchased this book for a cross country flight.I was finished before we crossed Texas.It is a very compelling and well written account of the events that took place in Michigan.The authors Miller and Billups did a thorough job of researching the events and participants and presenting the facts in a very readable manner.At times I felt their research was more exhaustive than the original detectives on the case.This book is a must buy for any "Law & Order" fan.

GoodAnd Adequately Salacious
When it comes to true crime, my reading is cyclical at best. I think this may be based strictly upon how much blood and gore I can take before I bottom out. Right now I have 20+ true crime paperback tomes sitting on my bookshelf. So why did I grab this one and stick with it? I remember following this on the news. It was initially a local story that picked up a lot of steam and got a steady stream of coverage from the national media. The elements were compeling. A highly compensated and mostly absent wife and mother disappears. Her seemingly inept and unmotivated husband offers up an alibi which smells like two week old carp fermenting in the fridge. Things heat up when body parts turn up in a suburban Detroit park and evidence turns up in the garage that point the finger at the husband.
The victim is Tara Grant. Portrayed as a wholesome gal who grew up on Michigan's UP and was sort of everybody's little sweetheart/all-american gal, the facts seem to indicate that there are at least two Tara Grants. The more recent Tara is a successful business person who gladly leaves the hubby and kids home while she spends most of the work week managing a project and living the single life. Tara seemingly likes the situation to a certain extent, but what she doesn't like is her husband Steve who appears to be the antithesis of Tara.
Steve is unmotivated and unsuccessful and is apparently just fine with Tara bringing home the bacon and supporting a pleasant lifestyle. What he really doesn't like is Tara's dominant personality and screetching. It comes to a head when Tara unequivocably lets her feelings be known and she wants to excise him from her life and payroll. She's tired of his ineptitude and views him as a dead weight. An ensuing argument leads to Steve killing Tara and then carving her up to destroy any evidence. Mix with this the invariable perky foreign nanny/au pair and infidelity and you have the perfect bad murder.
If the actual facts were tragic and gorey, the husband was an almost comic murderer. His actions and more specifically his attempts at avoiding the long hand of the law were pathetic at best. With the wolves at the proverbial door, Steve tries to cut out and heads for NW Michigan and a state park where he attempts a suicide of sorts that only ends with apprehension and severe frostbite.
I suppose someone could have come up with a crime novel that paralleled the facts of this case, but why bother when it worked well in the true crime category. In the end the real victims here were the Grant's son and daughter. It was a 'can't put down' sort of read. I felt guilty liking it that much because there were plenty of real victims, but here I am recommending it. It's not Ann Rule or Patricia Cornwell caliber, but it is a good read.

Murder in the suburbs
Interesting read about a seemingly happy couple who are living the dream with a beautiful home, children, money and a nanny.Behind the scenes are a selfish man and woman. Boo hoo, poor Stephen the stay at home dad, feels his wife demeans him while Tara seems unhappy with the way things are in her marriage.Divorce, maybe?No.Stephen decides to kill Tara and dismember her, burying her body parts in the snow.But all this happens after Stephen decides to play house with the teenage Nanny.Does his love for the nanny lead him to murder or is it his wife's devotion to her job that does him in? ... Read more

Product Description
Iron Man stuck in time and Dazzler stuck in space! Elektra lives, Yellowjacket dies! The FF if they never got powers and Nova if he never lost them! Mortals, mutants, and monsters - plus early yet brief resurrections of Phoenix and Captain Marvel, along with many other alternate oddities! All part of Marvel's sixth collection of quantum continuity! Secrets of past, future. and sideways revealed! Featuring Howard the Duck, Obnoxio the Clown, Aunt May, and more! Collects What If? #33-38. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent what if Stories
This volume might contain 6 different issues but in reality contains a total of 11 different storylines and thats not including the Humor issues stories (it counts as one).

For 1 price you get:

#33: What if Dazzlerhad become the herald of Galactus?/What if Iron Man was trapped in the time of King Arthur?

#34: Humor (a bunch of funny what ifs)

#35: What if Elektra had lived?
*Also Contains "What if Yellow Jacket had died?

#36: What if the Fantastic 4 had not gained their powers?
*Also contains "What if Richard Ryder had not lost the power of Nova?"

#37: What if Beast truly became a Beast?/What if if The Thing continued to mutate?
*Also contains "What if the Silver Surfer lost the Power Cosmic?"

#38: What if featuring Daredevil (set in a possible future) and Captain America

So when buying this, look at it as if you were buying 11 issues instead of 6. Each of them will keep you intrigued and wanting to more. ... Read more

Product Description
This book shows the reader how to maximize their efforts at trade shows and exhibit sales.What are the reasons why exhibit staffers fail at trade shows? First, they're often imitating the wrong behavior!The odds are you have worked trade shows before. Do you remember the very first show you ever worked? Think back to that time and ask yourself a simple question: who taught you how to work that first show? The answer is, most likely no one. No one taught you how to prepare for that totally foreign environment. Nobody explained to you the major differences between working out in the field and working an exposition.Let's think about some of those differences now: You have only a short amount of time to interact with attendees. An average quality encounter at a trade show lasts only 13 minutes, barely long enough to introduce yourself out in the field.You have hundreds, even thousands of strangers walking by your exhibit, with the competition right down the aisle. Hardly conducive to an ideal private meeting with an important, new prospect or long-time customer.The buyers come to you, which can be good news or bad news. The good news is that large numbers of legitimate buyers can be walking the aisles of the show, more than you could possibly ever see in a few days out in the field. The bad news is that those buyers may be hidden by an equally large, or larger, number of non-qualified buyers. You've got to go through the process of culling them out.There are many more differences between working a trade shows versus selling the field, and these are important to consider. But if no one taught you these differences and no one taught you how to work the show, then how did you learn? Odds are you learned by watching others.Other exhibitors and other fellow staffers.Here's the big question, though. Who taught them? Kind of makes you think, doesn't it? This book will teach you how, why and when to maximize your efforts for successful trade shows and exhibit based meetings.

Customer Reviews (2)

A great kids book
This book is thin with wide margins, big print and short on creative ideas. It offers only common sense simplistic ideas (ie: wear a name tag) that anyone could figure out on their own.No innovation here.

Exhibiting Short-Course
The purpose of a trade or consumer show is to bring people together to do business. Yet may companies pay a large amount of money to display and wind up making few sales. If you ever work a show, or are in charge of staffers who do, then you need this book.

The 88 tips and ideas are concise and easy to understand. They are categorized into nine chapters. The authors do not waste your time with fluff. For a detailed description of the book's coverage, click on Table of Contents in the left-hand column of this page.

Steve Miller is the author of How to get the Most out of Trade Shows. A consultant, trainer and speaker, he has written over 150 articles on trade shows.

Charmel Bowden is a writer, speaker and promotion expert who has organized exhibits and trained trade show staff.

As the author of Book Fairs: An Exhibiting Guide for Publishers, I can testify that these two know what they talking about.DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com. ... Read more