Product Description
Deemed "one of the world's most popular and prolific adventure writers" by The Washington Post, bestselling author Wilbur Smith is at the height of his storytelling powers in Birds of Prey, a swashbuckling epic of adventure, intrigue and passion on the dangerous high seas of 1667.

As the choppy sea lanes of the African coast are rife with bloody battles over trade booty, Sir Francis Courteney and his 17-year-old son Hal embark on a seafaring quest for the treasure-laden galleons of the Dutch East India Company. But soon the horrific torture and execution of the elder Courteney catapults Hal into the role of captain. Andthe heavy burden of avenging his father's death-- along with the lusty pleasures he shares with three beautiful women-- will swiftly, irrevocably transform Hal from boy to man...

Richly detailed, breathlessly plotted, and rich with the color of the time and place, Birds of Prey is an unforgettable saga that will transport you to one of the most fascinating, action-packed eras in world history.
Amazon.com Review
Look up "classic adventure novel" in the dictionary and you'll find the strong and capable features of South Africa's own Wilbur Smith, who--in books as varied and enjoyable as River God,The Seventh Scroll, When the Lion Feeds, and The Diamond Hunters--displays an awesome storytelling ability. His latest is one of his best efforts: a richly detailed story of war and piracy on the high seas in 1667, 150 years before Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey and Maturin books. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (90)

Very nice book!
I ordered this book as used and in good condition.It was exactly as advertised.It was in such good condition that I couldn't tell that it was used.I'm very happy with my purchase.

Birds of Prey
I bought this book for pennies plus shipping still much cheaper than I could get at any store. It is in great condition and arrived in a timely fashion. Thank you.

No mystery here.What a fun read!
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this read.I usually require a good plot twist.Like, who dunnit?Or, is this person insane?Or, anything that requires me to think.Those are the types of books that keep reading fun.This book really didn't give me any of that.It was simply a scenic tour.And I loved it.

I will say that it was a bit more of a pirate story than I had expected.Had I known it was really a pirate book, I would have passed.But, I'm glad I didn't.

The storyline is great.The characters are extremely well done.The prose is flavorful.And, I can't believe I'm saying this, the action sequences are suspenseful.Yuck, I hate action and battle.But these scenes had me turning pages fast.It's a 600 page book.I'm a very slow reader.But when I finished this one is about one week, my wife said wow it must be a good one.

The mass paperback (1998) addition had it's flaws
First off, I very much enjoy all the Wilbur Smith's books I have read so far, but never discovered him until about 7 months ago. Since then, I have read all 12 of the other Courtney series books starting with Monsoon and in no particular order, including most recently, Assegai.But I left Birds of Prey for last. All were purchased through Amazon.

A few days ago, I picked up this book and as usual was immediately drawn into the story... but the paperback was flawed...and I almost cried... but seriously found this hilarious!! This paperback was brand new. It's 664 pages long and when I finished with page 600, POOF!!! the pages went back to page 25 through 56 again.. and then resumed with page 633 leaving out 32 pages... I mean, what the HECK!! So here I sit awaiting the arrival of another... Thank you Mr publisher/printer for the tantalizing treat, but unfortunately, it's not Halloween. Fortunately for me though, Amazon came through (even after my purchase was many months ago) and are sending me a new copy. You can't go wrong with an amazon purchase!! Though, I'm not sure that I can wait the two days, I'm seriously tempted to pull into the public library and see if BOP is on the shelves, which to me is a five star rating on any book.

Just keep reading!!!! It's worth it.
This book by far surpasses any other book I have read. All the books that I thought had a good story line and were written well don't even compare to this. I'm on the second book, "Monsoon", and cannot put it down (except for right now)! The characters in the story are so strong and you get to know their personalities so well, that it's as though your sitting on the ship with them and know how they will react to situations. I fell in love with Hal as I got to know him and absolutely LOVE how Smith wrote the series.
If the first book in the series you are reading is Birds of Prey (how I started), just keep reading. I hate to admit that it took me quite a while to get into the book, because I've never read pirate/historical books and it was quite boring in the beginning with how much he described the ships. So hang in there! It's definitely well worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
Rome, 262 A.D: It had been the capital of the greatest civilization on Earth. Now both city and civilization are dying. Imperial unity has shattered as separatist and usurpers squabble among themselves and greater enemies gather to swallow them all. One man stands between humanity and the Long Night, matching his savage determination against a hopeless future. He is Aulus Perennius, an Imperial secret agent as tough and ruthless as the age in which he lives. Until now, though, his enemies have all been human. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

action/adventure loosely set in mid-imperial roman period
This novel has as a backdrop the mid-3rd century roman empire.Honestly, that is almost a placeholder, as much of the story could have been set anywhere with only a few lines or name changes.

spoilers follow, read at your own risk...

The story follows one Aulus Perennius, imperial special agent, as he is ordered to assist an unusual foreigner who carries a writ from the emperor in locating and destroying a hidden lair.You quickly find out that the lair is the province of extraterrestrials laying larvae and that the foreigner was created or sent from the future to avoid the damage these aliens would do when they hatched.The agent and his small party must journey by land and sea, facing multiple unrelated conflicts en route in order to reach the target.

The story is a bit dry;characterization is pretty typical for readers of his hammer's slammers series.Enjoyable though if you are looking for a real bona-fide roman military fiction novel, look at drake's Ranks of Bronze.

Good yarn - SciFi in Ancient Rome
A lot of our Sci-fi books look at alien invasion in the current time.What if aliens had invaded in the past and been defeated?Aulus Perennius is a roman imperial spy who is recruited by a mysterious person to help track down and destroy a small group of aliens who have landed in the Roman Empire.

Drake tells a good fast paced story within a well researched Roman Empire setting which gives the book a good authentic feel.He avoids the worst excesses of ray-gun sci-fi, while introducing comic elements such as an early christian cult who try a little too hard to worship the cruxicifiction, a displaced allosaurus who has a taste for donkeys and a nerve wracking naval battle in a hundred year old ship which is ready to fall apart.

A highly enjoyable read which won't put too much strain on the brain cells.Good fun!

Dry and halting
Alien threat from another time causes an agent of the Empire to go on a quest to save humanity. Lots of historical and fighting detail, so if you like that sort of thing, this book will probably mean more to you. I thought the characters were generally shallow and their motives for many things either too transparent or totally opaque-- it felt like a larger book that never managed to get fully developed. Too bad, because there were some flashes of interesting plot.

A Good Read
I too am suprised by the negative reviews.This is a good read combining Roman history and futuristic technology expertly. It isn't an easy thing combining two different generes but Drake pulls it off. Instead of ploddingI felt that the story progressed steadily building on top of each newdevelopment. The reader identifies with the Roman agent and therefore as helearns more so do you. For Roman buffs there is also a nice twist at theend. I never saw it coming. An enertaining read.

Well Worth the Read
While not quite as good as his most recent works--Drake keeps improving from excellent to nearly perfect--I highly recommend this title. It was the first Drake work I read, and has kept me watching for his titles eversince. Naturally, if the combination of a Roman historical setting and avicious alien threat are not to your liking, this is not the volume foryou... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

this series just gets better and better!
this is the 3rd compilation in the birds of prey series. this series just gets better as it goes along. oracle sends huntress to investigate a "commune" after several teenagers are found in superhero costumes of dead heroes after committing suicide. needless to say, this is when the fun starts for huntress. you will not believe who the villain behind it all is and why. but the great part is when said person is confronted by oracle.

I liked it
I liked it! The dialog was mostly smart and mature.... unlike in the short-lived TV series by the same name. I remember thinking to myself while watching, I could find smarter dialog on an episode of KIM POSSIBLE!I liked the bit when Black Canary and Huntress were waiting on a stakeout and the one mentions to the other how many gargoyles there are in Gotham City. Huntress explains that technically real gargoyles have waterspouts and that the statute in question is a grotesquery. Then Black Canary imitates the grotesquery, as a way of poking fun at Batman -- although the name's never mentioned in the conversation. Huntress laughs but says, "Stop! He'll HEAR you!" He's nowhere near the place, but the idea is, he seems to hear and see and know everything in Gotham City. Not all the dialog is clever, though, to wit:
Oracle: "Can you please not sit your rear on my scanner? I don't know where that thing's been."
Black Canary: "Just keepin' it warm. You should try it."

Arg.

But the series -- or at lest, this volume which collects issues 69-75 -- is better than that. Characterization is solid, pacing is good... the art is, too.

In feminist film studies, there's something called "the male gaze". The casual viewer tends to think that the camera just shows what the viewer would see in person, but it doesn't. A close-up on a women's shapely legs, for example, positions the viewer as a heterosexual male who's enjoying that sight. Comics, a primarily visual medium, has a similar structure and the depiction of the women in these stories is certainly aimed at a male audience.

Oddly, the last story, which introduces the beautiful Lady Blackhawk to the story, addresses the issue of her being exploited for her looks in the past, and adding, "Please, tell me that's not all I have to offer, even now". Still, the story itself is very muchexploiting her looks, even as all the Birds of Prey are better than average looking women. Or at least they would be, if they were real. Certainly the stories don't depict any of them MERELY as sex objects. It's like, OK, we'll give you depictions of strong and mature female characters -- as long as we can still make them look like pin-up girls while we're doing it. It kind of perpetuates the bias of the media in general that the most important thing about women is to look terrific.

Despite these criticisms, as I said, I did enjoy the stories and I do recommend them.

Graphic SF Reader
This Birds of Prey trade contains stories that are a bit weaker than those that have come before, I think, and don't gel as well.

There is the undercover Huntress part, where she runs into Vixen.That is ok.Out of nowhere though, we have Brainiac interacting with Oracle, among other things.

It is still ok, just not as good as the rest.

Gail Simone Pens Another Winner!
Chuck Dixon created the mold when he delivered the first BIRDS OF PREY mini-series that later spawned a comic series that's about to pass 100 issues, and a short-lived television series that never quite found its wings.But I really think Gail Simone is the shining star of the series.She has the women's rap down, and she tech-savvy and seems to enjoy world-building, military hardware, politics, and history.All things that I gravitate to in storytelling.Simone is an absolute gem when it comes to creating captivating characterization.

In this last offering of issues rendered as a graphic novel, the Birds come into their own in many ways.Instead of the group just being Black Canary operating undercover with Barbara Gordon (Oracle) as backup, Huntress has been added in, as well as Lady Blackhawk.They work well as a group, and all of them are individuals with different triggers and goals.

This graphic novel concerns itself with a religious cult that has a surprise villain that I truly didn't see coming until X was on the page.Yet, X really fit.That's the magic that Simone brings to her work -- it's all a logical outgrowth of characters and situations.The later section of the book deals with the aftermath of the GANG WAR storyline that ran through the Bat books and ended in the loss of a major Robin-centric character that I still haven't agreed with.

As always, Ed Benes's artwork is lush and almost pure cheesecake -- except that he does action and body language and backgrounds so darn well.He's the perfect artist for a book like BIRDS OF PREY, and I hope he stays with the series forever.

If you haven't checked out a BIRDS OF PREY comic book/graphic novel and only have the television series to judge from, I'd suggest picking up any of Simone's graphic novels.Or any of Chuck Dixon's.But if you're wanting the deep emotion and women in turmoil, Gail Simone has definitely carved out territory of her own.I'm looking forward to more.

The Ret-Con begins
This is another complicated and finely woven story by author Gail Simone. This story involves BoP issues 68-75. And can be broken into four parts.

Part 1. involves the Birds investigating the disappearance of a bunch of kids. Oracle sends Huntress undercover to a cult in the woods of Oregon to investigate. While there she meets up with another undercover operative by the name of Vixen who is there to help her.Once again my biggest problem with this book comes down to Gail Simone's portrayal of Huntress. I am not certain whether Gail did her homework on Huntress or simply decided to arbitrarily ignore all the ground work laid out by other others such as Greg Rucka, Chuck Dixon and even Jeph Loeb did with her.But whatever the case, this is not the same Huntress.It's as if the character has been twisted and changed in order to suit the story the author wants to tell.

In the last book, Sensei & Student we saw Huntress--- a character who hadpreviously portrayed as somewhat aloof proud and uptight---now reduced to a wanton who was predisposed to having sex with a man who just treated her abominably.

Now in this story we see a character,who had previously been portrayed as such a devout Catholic. That she incorporated the cross into her costume and took the time to pray for six slaughtered men. Now professing her discomfort with Churches,And who claims that she doesn't know the distinction between cults and churches! And Huntress' anger throughout the entire story is a real turn off.Gail Simone has made no secret of being an atheist and it'sas if she's taken her own prejudices and foisted it onto the character.


Part 2. A subplot involving Oracle being taken over by Braniac, which is very interesting.

Part 3. A surprising stand alone story involving Canary finally confronting Savant, the man who kidnappedand humiliated her in the TPB `Of Like Minds'. I actually liked this story and consider it probably the best story that Gail has written. Because Canary is actually portrayed as a bit more human, and less `Pollyanaish' than she usually is. The story showed a woman who was suffered anger and resentment. Which would not be out of the norm considering what Savant had done to her.

Part 4. Involves a turning point for the Birds. Where after her clock tower being blown upand a fight with Batman. Oracle decides to re-locate to Metropolis. There is also a formal invitation for Huntress to join the team. And the introduction of a new character.


That being said. This probably is my favourite BoP arc, because of the darkness and intrigue.
... Read more

Product Description
Even people with little interest in birds will stop in their tracks at the sight of a hawk soaring overhead or a falcon perched on a window ledge. Birds of prey have an aura that few other creatures have. In the acclaimed Hawks in Flight, Pete Dunne showed what birds of prey look like. In The Wind Masters, he shows what it is like to be a bird of prey. He takes us inside the lives and minds of all thirty-four species of diurnal raptors found in North America -- hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures, the osprey, and the harrier -- and shows us how each bird sees the world, hunts its prey, finds and courts its mate, rears its young, grows up, grows old, and dies. Vividly written, and beautifully illustrated by David Sibley, The Wind Masters is a brilliant work of narrative natural history in the tradition of Peter Matthiessen's The Wind Birds and Barry Lopez's Of Wolves and Men. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Raptor fans will love this book!!!
This book is a perfect blend of fantasy and factual information that is sure to entertain all who read it.If you enjoy watching or learning about north american birds of prey you will love this book.Highly recommended!!!

An accessible way to learn about birds of prey
Very informative, and a novel idea to have characteristics of these fabulous birds revealed in short stories.Sometimes, however, the anthropomorphic aspect is something of a put-off--too unreal. Beyond that small quibble, Mr. Dunne's book is a painless way to learn about some amazing birds.

Another winner from Dunne
I'm a fan of Pete Dunne. He has this way of teaching while entertaining, making memory efforts painless. This book is another winner, along the same lines as his other works. The coolest thing is that he offers hooks to trigger memory, fun stories. Critics can certainly point to heavy anthropomorphism in this volume. But I'm willing to forgive that in the interest of bringing one closer to what raptors are all about.

Dave

Gripping tales of life and death
Thirty-three birds of prey - one to a chapter - star in this book that is a blend of natural history, fast-paced adventure, and reflections on life and death. In "The Wind Masters," Pete Dunne introduces each of North America's diurnal raptors by telling a story in the life of an individual bird (from the author's imagination, of course, but biologically accurate).So vivid are these introductions that they will not soon be forgotten.

I was shocked by the gruesome, painful details described in some of the stories.Many do not have happy endings.A sharp-shinned hawk, pursuing a sparrow, slams into a glass window, and the chapter ends with her on the verge of succumbing to a brain haemorrhage.A young osprey sinks her talons into a huge fish that pulls her under the water to her death.A golden eagle slowly succumbs to lead poisoning, struggling to eat but finding her digestive system paralyzed, and choking as her stomach fills with rotten food.

But, the lives of raptors abound in exhilarating moments too, and it is these upon which Dunne focuses most of all.An arctic Gyrfalcon searches the moonlit landscape to find his mate who, he knows by instinct, has just returned from migration.A common black-hawk hunts in a stream by dangling her wing-tip in the water, attracting fish who think it is a struggling insect.A peregrine falcon successfully defends her nest from a marauding wolverine.And a group of broad-winged hawks ride thermals to travel over two hundred miles without a flapping a wing.Dunne highlights the adaptations of each raptor that make it perfectly suited to its life in the air, hence the title "The Wind Masters."

The woodcuts by David Allen Sibley are superb.Each chapter contains a head portrait of the bird on the title page, as well as a full-page illustration of the bird in its habitat later in the chapter.That's 66 illustrations in all!

I greatly enjoyed this book, and its striking images will stay with me for a long time.The only reason I withheld the fifth star is that I found some elements of the writing a bit awkward in places - such as anthropomorphism that felt strained, or long parenthetical facts that interrupted the flow of the story.Overall, though, Dunne has succeeded admirably at blending biological detail with fast-paced narrative.This is a unique and beautiful book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys natural history.

An Engaging Account of Raptor Life
The Wind Masters, by Pete Dunne, is a delightfully charming little book.His central conceit is unique--he wants to blend storytelling with didacticism, conveying dry fact of hawk existence with emotional anecdote.

In this, he succeeds admirably.

In each of the short stories in The Wind Masters--one for each resident raptor species in the United States--Dunne manages to convey pertinent factual information about the story as a whole, while still telling tales of the trials and tribulations of individual birds.He marries science and fiction with admirable skill; I certainly feel as if I know more about the birds after reading these stories.

However, the quality of the stories as stand alone works of fiction suffers from this.Though there are innumerable moments of literary magic, Dunne's prose is at times clunky and heavy-handed, and sometimes his desire to include the information interrupts the otherwise smooth narrative flow of the story.The reader cannot forget that one of the primary purposes of this book is to inform, not just enchant.Taken out of the context of the book as a whole, these would seem much poorer for their scientific fact.

Of course, these stories aren't meant to be taken out of context, and considering their purpose, they are often truly are astounding.Dunne's anthropormorphization of these birds--the translation of their behavior into human thought, human motive--is interesting at the worst and truly breathtaking at the best.He shies away from no topic in the course of his book, and every aspect of raptor life is covered, from birth to death.In fact, death is not glossed over at all; Dunne is not afraid to remind the reader that yes, most young animals die, and yes, many raptor deaths are caused, in some way, by humans.Some of his most moving stories are the ones highlighting a bird's death.

Dunne also does an excellent job in exemplifying the similarities and differences that tie together the various raptor species.We see what traits they share and learn what characteristics set them apart.

All in all, though, and especially considering his purpose in writing it, Dunne's book is excellent.It does exactly what it set out to do, and does it with grace and style.I would heartily recommend this to anyone who is a fan of birds of prey, or simply interested in getting into the heads of these fascinating, intelligent creatures.Believe me, you won't get another opportunity like this one, short of going out and working with the birds themselves. ... Read more

Product Description
Meet the Birds of Prey: computer genius Oracle; Huntress, a formidable vigilante - plus friends including Lady Blackhawk, Katana, Judomaster, Big Barda and more! Oracle and her team - including the mysterious new recruit, Infinity - continue their investigation of the team of super-criminals working out of high-tech Platinum Flats, but the stakes are getting higher - especially for Oracle. Tony Bedard ("Countdown") and long-term series penciller Nicola Scott ("Angel") take the Birds of Prey to new heights! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What could have been
Talk about spanning the entire spectrum. In this one trade alone we go from the highly anticipated and emotionally charged reunion between two renowned comic characters infamously linked forever, to a group of incredibly lame and inane sci-fi villains not worthy of a second glance. No wonder this title lost its' readership and subsequently its' very existence. It's all over the map, recklessly bounding from one fancy to another, noticeably lacking any consistent and coherent sense of direction. Perhaps even the inclusion of the Joker was due primarily to the series' imminent demise and not the realization of the potential affording itself, especially if they had taken the opportunity and really ran with it, which sadly and shamefully they didn't. Of course what course and tone the book could have and should have employed is now a moot point, but silly sci-fi was certainly not one of them. Part of the problem could stem from the inclusion of team members with metahuman powers themselves, like Infinity and Misfit, plus the debatable decision to relocate the Birds out of Gotham and into Platinum Flats, with the specific intent of having them battle totally unconventional types of adversaries. Ultimately though, the heart of the group is non-powered individuals, which should naturally equate to confronting comparable characters. The Joker definitely qualifies and his and Barbara's much awaited rematch was deserving of center stage all by itself, with the rest of the ridiculous riff raff rightfully left by the wayside, but regrettably this was not the case. As evidenced by this trade, this title treaded some considerable water as it headed fatefully towards its' unfortunate conclusion. Maybe the time is right for these Birds to take flight and explore completely different avenues, with Barbara Gordon justly warranting top consideration. ... Read more

Product Description
In the wake of several terrorist attacks that suggest an impending Middle East holocaust, the Stony Man commandos execute a daring aerial reconnaissance over Iran and discover a hidden nuclear facility. ... Read more

Product Description
Stars of their own TV show, the most sultry and glamorous additions to the Batman family takes flight once more! As swift and powerful as any raptor, they certainly live up to their name when it comes to crime-busting! Using a corrupt businessman as bait, blackmailers capture Black Canary to extort Batman's real identity from Oracle - the scalpel-sharp brains of the Birds of Prey. Her wings clipped, Oracle has to call on the one person she doesn't want help from and whom she hates - The Huntress! This latest addition to Titan's ongoing Birds of Prey series proves you don't have to be a big man in a cape to dish out the rough stuff! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

introduction to birds of prey series
This is the first compilation of the Birds of Prey series by Gail Simone. This set introduces the inclusion of the Huntress into the BoP group. Black Canary is kidnapped during a mission gone wrong, and Oracle (Barbara Gordon)is forced to rely on the Huntress to help rescue her. Gail Simone's writing is the hook to this series. Ed Benes' artwork is fantastic (see his work on JLA). Some don't like it, but you have to remember; which demographic is the largest purchaser of comics?
I think that pretty much sums it up. I have purchased 3 books in this series so far, and will get the entire series, as well as now receiving the new volume.

Average
The quality of paper is very bad, artwork of ed benes is very ordinary and nothing special. You can easily skip this "first" volume and go to Sensei and student (quality of paper is also very bad, but artwork is better and story is far more interesting). This comicbook is 7 years old so maybe I shouldn't have expected much...

A Great Girl-Power Volume
Yep, I'm a feminist that reads comics. I first associated with the three leading ladies through Batman, Justice League Unlimited, and other random sources online and via Cartoon Network. Huntress is her lovable, violent self, while Black Canary is every bit as fiesty and fun as she always is. Ladies, just because there is cheesecake doesn't mean you can't read it! This stuff is full of empowering, well-written female characters and I highly encourage you to pick it up. Gail Simone, now writing Wonderwoman, is a fantastic writer that emulates the ways of womanhood perfectly; "700 sit-ups a day." She captures the essence of feminism and strength while the artist keeps the story appealing to men as well. It is rare that something this good comes along in the history of women protagonists and while I love Supergirl, her skinny blonde self can't hold a candle to these fierce ladies!

The storyline is quite nice
This book begins with a mystery for the birds of prey to solve. The plot is well written and the art is not bad. Though the superheroes are not dressed that appropiate for teenagers (i thnk), but it's a good read if you're interested in girl power and things like that.

Overall, this book is quite interesting and suspense was accumlated throughout the book. In my opinion, I really did enjoy this read and I hope whoever that is going to read this will enjoy this book

Sisters doin' it for themselves
I'm currently reving up for a review of the recently released DVD set of the television series of this extremely underrated DC comic property and I thought I'd share my thoughts on the source material first."Birds of Prey" follows the post-Killing Joke exploits of Barbara Gordon: former Batgirl and current paraplegic.Most crimefighters would slow down after receiving a bullet in the spine.Babs kicked it up about ten notches.Commissioner Jim Gordon's daughter became The Oracle, the world's most powerful hacker able to bend nearly every electrical system and network on Earth to her will.She's the go-to girl for any number of superheroes and vigilantes -including The Dark Knight himself- when they need an all-seeing eye for backup.Justice League co-founder Dinah Lance aka The Black Canary was down on her luck and aimless until she got a special delivery in the form of a pair of earrings. These put her in contact with Oracle and the two have been partners ever since.Canary does the legwork and travels around the world performing acts of espionage and rescue while Oracle runs the show.The two never even met face-to-face for a very long time.Those were the old days.Now, Dinah and Barbara are close friends and the danger is right in their own backyard.Gotham's got a new player who fancies he can out-think The Oracle and out-fight The Black Canary and he's got a grudge that needs serving.

Contrary to the "Volume 1" title, this is not even close to the beginning of the BOP storyline (it compiles issues 56-59 of the series and there were several stand-alones prior to issue 1), but this the best that I've read so far and a fantastic place to start for anybody who's curious about DC's finest superheroine team.The art is beautiful, the writing top-notch with loads of humor and a whole heap of bada$z on top of it.Women will enjoy the quippy girl-talk and female independence theme and men will love the violence and gorgeous character art.The villain in this arc is Savant, an incredibly talented wannabe vigilante inspired by Batman who -after being severely reprimanded by The Caped Crusader in an inspired moment that flawlessly illustrates the difference between a true hero and a self-absorbed attention hound- decides to take his frustrations out on the one person who knows everything, The Oracle.Having captured Black Canary after a hell of a fight that leaves Dinah without her powerful sonic Canary Cry, Savant offers Barbara a deal: her partner for Batman's identity.Entering the storyline at this point is hot-headed Gotham loose cannon The Huntress, daughter of a slain mob boss and crimefighter extraordinaire.Barbara has always had an odd dislike for Huntress, but she's forced to put that aside and invite her into the fold for Dinah's sake.Savant does have one weakness: a kind of time dyslexia where he knows what has happened, but he has no idea WHEN.An interesting trait.So in addition to great art and fantastic dialogue the story is strong and the cast of characters is great.Sold yet?

There are also strong political overtones in this story that were echoed in The Dark Knight movie about the danger of one person having unlimited power to intrude on other people's privacy.Barbara and Dinah clash over this as Oracle seeks to dispense her own justice using files on corruption in high places that she stole from Savant's blackmailing operation.Due process or swift justice?It's a great debate and one more thing I love about this book.Black Canary is my favorite comic superheroine, Oracle is a truly unique and powerful character in ways Batgirl could never be, and Huntress is just hardcore.The Birds of Prey make for a great team-up comic and I strongly recommend "Of Like Minds" to anybody who isn't opposed to the notion of girls who kick tail.This is as good as comic books get. ... Read more

Product Description
Watching birds of prey has never been easier, more informative or more enjoyable! With the ''Birds of Prey of the Midwest Field Guide,'' you have everything you need to learn about and identify flying predators found in North Dakota and Kansas, Michigan and Kentucky--and everywhere in between. Modeled after the acclaimed line of ''Birds of'' field guides, this user-friendly book is organized for efficiency and features full-color photographs, gee-whiz facts and more. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The following text is from the back cover:
LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS OF PREY
ARTHUR CLEVELAND BENT

The all-inclusiveness of Bent's volumes on North American birds has made them classics of our time. Arthur Cleveland Bent was one of America's outstanding ornithologists, arid his twenty-volume series on American birds, published under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, forms the most comprehensive, most complete, and most-used single source of information in existence. No ornithologist, conservationist, amateur naturalist or birdwatcher should be without a copy; yet copies are increasingly hard to come by. Now, however, Dover Publications is republishing at inexpensive prices the entire series, beginning with the two-volume set on birds of prey.

In these two volumes, the reader will find an encyclopedic collection of information about more than a hundred different subspecies of hawks, eagles, falcons, buzzards, condors, and owls. Not a group of general descriptions, but a collection of detailed, specific observations of individual flocks throughout the country, it describes in readable language and copious detail the nesting habits, plumage, egg form and distribution, food, behavior, field marks, voice, enemies, winter habits, range, court ship procedures, molting information, and migratory habits of every North American bird of prey from the ubiquitous barn owl to the extinct caracara of Guadalupe Island.

Completely modern in its approach, the study was made with full recognition of the difficulties inherent in the observation and interpretation of wild life behavior. For that reason, not only the reports of hundreds of contemporary observers throughout the country were utilized, but also the writings of America's great naturalists- Audubon, Burroughs, William Brewster-of the past. The complete textual coverage is supplemented by 197 full-page plates containing close to 400 photographs of nesting sites, eggs, and the young of important species at various stages in their growth.

Unabridged republication of 1st (1937, 1938) edition. Index for each volume. Bibliographies of 403, 520 items. 197 full-page plates. Total of 907pp. 53/8 x 81/2. Paperbound.

A DOVER EDITION DESIGNED FOR YEARS OF USE'
We have made every effort to make this the best book possible. Our paper is opaque, with minimal show-through; it will not discolor or become brittle with age. Pages are sewn in signatures, in the method traditionally used for the best books, and will not drop out, as often happens with paperbacks held together with glue. Books open flat for easy reference. The binding will not crack or split. This is a permanent book. This is a permanent hook.
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Product Description
Biologists Noel and Helen Snyder provide an introduction to the biology and conservation of the thirty-four species of diurnal raptors found in North America. These are the hawks, kites, falcons, eagles, and vultures. All are from the order Falconiform-carnivores with hooked bills adapted for tearing animal tissue apart, capable of soaring flight, and possessing visual acuity that far surpasses that of humans and other vertebrates.

Written for the layperson, this book is a visual pleasure as well as a serious study. A variety of photos provide glimpses of the natural history and behavior of these birds.

Also recommended: Pheasants, Eagles: Masters of the Sky, North American Wading Birds, Bluebirds Forever, Hummingbirds: Jewels in Flight, Love of Loons, Owls. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book
Es un excelente libro que sirve de guia de referencia para la identificacion de las aves de presa, ademas de la ubicacion de las mismas a nivel mundial; por otro lado, las ilustraciones son extraordinarias, enverdad es una obra que vale la pena.

Yo tenia la obra, fue un regalode cumpleaños, pero lo preste y nunca me lo devolvieron y he estadobuscandolo los ultimos tres años. ... Read more

Product Description
Understanding the Bird of Prey is probably the most comprehensive gathering of data on birds of prey ever assembled. The text is masterfully written in language that is easy to follow by Nick Fox, a leading professional raptor biologist, breeder and falconer. The text covers the biology of birds of prey, their captive management, breeding, training and rehabilitation. All sections have been critically reviewed by top international specialists for scientific accuracy. Over 290 technical drawings and 150 colour photographs aid the reader in the pursuit of understanding birds of prey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Poor Shipping
I cant fault the company for having the book in stock and sending it off quickly but there shipping agent (whomever they use)and the information they provide of where your package may be is not up to standard. The book was ordered on the 15Dec with standard shipping hoping I would get it before Christmas as the info they provided gave it a possibility of arriving anytime from the 22 Dec, however there was no tracking facilities available on Amazon to track the package. When I requested information I was sent an email informing me to contact them if the package didnt arrive by the 29 Dec.What's the point there is nothing they could do. The package finally arrived on 14 Jan. By all means use the company but dont use standard shipping and dont expect much help with information from the company to track your package.

Get a Understanding of your Bird of Prey
Enhances the relationship between You & Your Hawk/Falcon, along with having a Great Sponsor,in learning this Science/Art of Falconry!

Recommended for Raptor lovers
I've done my best to read quite a few books in the subject of raptors, both in the wild, in falconry, and in other captive situations.I like Nick Fox's book because it covers a broad range of subjects in easy-to-understand detail, is well-organized, and has plenty of attractive picture--which aren't essential but are, in my opinion, enjoyable.I recommend Understanding The Bird of Prey above any of the other hawk books available on Amazon for those particularly interested in falconry, and captive raptor management (including behavior). ... Read more

Product Description
Learn about and identify Minnesota's birds of prey using Stan Tekiela's field guide. The full-page, color photos are incomparable and include insets of winter plumage, color morphs and more. Plus, with the easy-to-use format, you don't need to know a bird's name or classification in order to easily find it in the book. Using this field guide is a real pleasure. It's a great way for anyone to learn about birds of prey in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Love this guy's field guides!
The system that Stan Tekiela uses for his field guides is clear and easily understandable.You can easily find the bird you saw and identify it! This book is great for beginners, but adds fun and interesting facts that everyone can enjoy. I have had all kinds of field guides for more than 25 years; and now that I have discovered these, I reach for them first every time."Birds of Prey of Minnesota" works just as well for Wisconsin and other surrounding states.In fact, we have pretty much the same birds of prey here in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.The tips that Stan gives for telling one species from another are second to none. He chooses points of identification that are easily visible. What can I say, I love this book! ... Read more

Product Description
All the day-flying birds of prey seen in North America. Peterson FlashGuides are the most compact and convenient field guides ever made: slim as road maps and ideal for hikers, bikers, canoeists, or anyone who wants to travel light. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A quick easy to use identification guide
This Flashguide delivers exactly what you would expect. The information found first hand is the most important details needed to identify hawks. Raptors in flight are hard to identify and the guide permits to see themajor differences between species. I would recommand it to anyone startingin birding or having difficulties identifying these beautiful birds. Also,the format is practical in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
Kids may want to try comparing their eyesight to that of preying birds. A golden eagle can see an 18-inch rabbit from two miles away, and owls are able to see at least 10 times better in the dark than we can. Just keep away from those sharp beaks and talons!

Zoobooks, the 59-book animal series - the "everything you wanted to know but didn't know who to ask" guide to the world's most fascinating creatures. Each exciting edition of Zoobooks is packed with current scientific facts, striking photography, beautiful illustrations and unique activities that teach children about animals and the habitats in which they live. With innovative publications and products, Wildlife Education, Ltd. has enriched the lives of children, parents, and educators nationwide for 20 years. All titles are offered in library-bound hardcover and soft-cover styles.Zoobooks, ideal for the knowledge-hungry 4-11 year old! ... Read more

Product Description
This remarkable book provides a comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of raptors. Since many conditions of ill-health result from bad husbandry, management and breeding practices are also explained in detail. A number of hitherto unknown diseases and new surgical techniques are presented and the sterilisation of falcons is described for the first time. ... Read more

Product Description
All about birds of prey: a 40-page color portrait of eagles, haws, owls, falcons, ospreys, kites, and a condor or two. Close-up: a focus on nature. ... Read more