Product Description

The death of her English father left Francesca alone and unprotected, with nowhere to turn but to the noble Italian family of her late mother. Adrift in a strange land, surrounded by cold and suspicious relatives who had disowned her mother on her wedding day, Francesca is determined to make the best of a bad situation. But nothing could have prepared her for the nest of dark secrets and oppressive cruelty she has been cast into. And her fate now rests in the hands of a mysterious horseman known as the Falcon, whose appearance will speed her salvation ... or hasten her doom.

Customer Reviews (17)

Wonderful Book!
This is a good book. It is also a clean book. I let my twelve year old daughter read it, she didn't put it down until she finished it. I love all her books.

5 star reviews are a mystery to me...
While the read was enjoyable and well paced, I'm confused as to the abundance of 5-star ratings for this book. I felt the plot and identity of the Falcon was far too easy to pick out from very early on. Had I been younger and less apt to figure it out, I might have enjoyed it better. I give it a four-star rating though because Stefano was pure deliciousness. I do agree that this book would be excellent as a movie, and will nurse an unlikely hope that a talented filmaker will take it up as his next project.

Even Amelia Peabody would enjoy this one
This historical romance by 'Barbara Michaels' aka Elizabeth Peters, is set during the Italian Risorgimento of the mid nineteenth century.Francesca Fairbourn is the daughter of an impoverished English father and an aristocratic Italian mother.Her parents had eloped to England in a most romantic fashion, causing her to be disowned by her family.In true romance fashion the young woman died in childbirth leaving Francesca to be raised by her most impractical father.Shortly after leaving school at 18 Francesca's father dies leaving her totally alone in the world.At that dire moment a dashing young man comes to rescue her from a 'fate worst than death'.He turns out to be her half-cousin and has come to take her back to the family home in Italy.Once there Francesca finds herself embroiled in the Italian revolution, surrounded by anarchists, mercenary soldiers, spies, traitors and dashing romantic hero.

The novel has all the standard cliches of historical fiction and could have easily been just one of the numerous trashy examples of the genre well deserving the title of 'bodice ripper', but for the skillful hand of Michaels.The characters transcend the usual two dimensional character found in romances, the twists and turns of the plot are clever even though the reader will quite possibly solve at least some of the mysteries before the last few pages.The historical background is well researched and presented in an entertaining manner.It is, however, lacking the wry humor found in other works by this author (the Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss series).

For even an occasional reader of this type of fiction this one is a great find.

This book gave me 3 lovely dreams!!!
Oh yesss! Dreams of handsome, heroic, brave, strong, romantic, dashing, yummy, etc. etc. guys! I think I'd better reread it right now; maybe I'll get some more nice dreams. Ladies, you need this book even if you have to put up with a cruddy used copy from Amazon resales. (I'll bet someone's stolen the copy from your local library!)

I have read it a million times!!!
This book is fantastic. I bought it about a year ago, and I have read it a million times. I loved the mystery behind the "falcon", and the touch of romance all around. The characters are fascinating and keep you hooked. READ THIS BOOK! YOU WILL LOVE IT! ... Read more

Product Description
In the conclusion to this highly praised series, the Final Battle ensues between the Falcons, a band of fugitive wizards committed to peace, and the Dragons, the soul-devouring necromancers wielding the enormous power of black magic. Aided by the long-banished Scarred, the unstoppable army is bent on conquest. Meanwhile, heroes Kait Galweigh and Ry Sabir struggle to destroy the sorcerer Luercas in a new Mirror of the Dead, before he destroys them -- and all of Iberia -- forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

A long winded and unsatisfying ending to a trilogy
This book lost its way following the two excellent parts of the trilogy.

Over-plotted with twists all over. I felt the characters were become thinner and less real and less convincing. The Scarred invasion led by Danya is unconvincing as is its resolution, and Rhu'hee being brought to what turns out to be summary justice by Ry
for pinching Ian Draclas's boat seems worse than bolting the door after the horse has bolted. I read it to the end but wondered why I no longer cared what happened to the charachters. Except for Crispin's daughter who is certainly the most interesting in the last half of the book, but underdeveloped.

A disappointing ending to two very enjoyable stories.

A very satisfying conclusion to an exciting trilogy!
This was a great ending for an even greater adventure! I really enjoyed it - and the ending took me by surprise. I liked the sense of justice and the theology of love presented in this series. And though it was not the tale of werewolves as I had expected, it was still a richly detailed and thrilling fantasy that I really adored!

really good!
The book itself was an awesome read - the service was great, mailed out even before promised, received in great condition.I will do this again.

Courage of Falcons (The Secret Texts, Book 3
I rate this book as a four because it was exciting and the detail, and suspense was excellent.The writer keeps you guessing.You should read the whole series 1-3.They will be well worth your time.Enjoy!!

A secret gem
This is a gem of a series.A family is wiped out, and the last survivor searches for an artifact that may bring them back--but its real purpose is a prison for dead sorcerers who derive magic from the souls of others.There is the standard plot of a prophecy of a savior, and that is turned around in a rather refreshing way.The characters are memorable and I really developed an attachment to Kait.

If you are a fan of this type of genre (as I am), you'll enjoy this series.I give it only four out of five stars for a couple of reasons.Although enjoyable, it seems as if the whole thing could have been much shorter.I'm not opposed to trilogies, but when a story is stretched out over three books just to make a trilogy then it can get a little slow in places (this could have been two books).Another thing was the main character's love interest.First she gets it on with the captain of a ship, and it seemed to work really well.However, she keeps having dreams about a stranger who is chasing her.He seems like a villain at first.They meet, and she resists him.Finally, she gives in to her (and his) desires and they stay together.Suddenly, this "villain" turns out to be cool.Frankly, the poor girl's whipped, by a punk prince.By the last book, however, all of this falls into place and their romance seems normal.

Jump on this one.It's well worth the read. ... Read more

Product Description

A MASTERPIECE OF HYPNOTIC SUSPENSE from the bestselling author of Rebecca
"In du Maurier's fiction, she unflinchingly exposed hard truths."
-Times of London

Customer Reviews (11)

One among others of du Maurier's books
I can only agree with one of the reviews here, by Mark Meadows, saying it's a dull book. However, even if I read more than half of it and was rather fed up, I went through the end. *** sigh*** Why? Because of duMaurier's way of writing. Her descriptions are fabulous! And she probably kept me curious to find out the ending of this highly improbable story...
One thing I couldn't get rid of while I read: Fabbio, the principal character, is emotionally very flat, or cold, compared to all the other characters who are passionate, full of life and believable. You almost never get in his shoes and that doesn't help to fire our interest in this book.
Finally... As I adored Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel, I believe in reading as many books as I can from an author I like to recapture the pleasure and/or make a better judment of her/his writings. I don't regret reading Flight of the Falcon. So, I recommend this book ONLY if you love this author.
(For a smiliar «duMaurier feel», you should read Harwood, The Seance&Sarah Waters, The Little Stranger.)

Not Bad, Not Great but Not Bad
Even a modest effort (as measured against many of DdM's other works) by this wonderful writer more than sustains my interest. This novel takes a while to kick into gear. Even then, it's a bit labored. However, DdM's character development and descriptions of Italy more than rescue any shortcomings so that fans come away satisfied.

"He was my god, he was my devil too."
Armino Fabbio is a thirty-two-year-old courier in Genoa.He is short (at least shorter than most men), baby-faced and pleasant enough.His work at Sunshine Tours provides him a satisfactory if predictable life.But all of it comes to an end when he spots a peasant woman on the street.There's nothing unusual about a peasant roaming aimlessly on the streets of Rome, but this woman is his former servant Martha.Her death follows her unexpected reappearance, and Fabbio, afraid of police interrogation, flees to his old hometown of Ruffano.This leads to unexpected events.His new job as assistant at a university library, the same university where his late father had once been the superintendent, provides him a temporary position at the school.There he meets some interesting characters, including students from the new Commerce and Economics curriculum.He also gets reacquainted with the past.His brother Aldo, once presumed dead, is now a highly respected professor and leader of a rather strange cult.Aldo is also in charge of an annual festival.This year he intends to reenact the five-hundred-year-old legend of Duke Claudio, known as The Falcon, and he wants to make the festival as lifelike as possible.In a series of twists and turns, Armino discovers just how fantasy and reality, good and evil, play part in his past and present.

At first, The Flight of the Falcon is rather dull.It starts out well, but the storyline is very slow-paced and you have to have some patience with it.It is nevertheless a fascinating novel.Character study is big in this story.The author develops the psychological aspects of the characters so well that their complexity is wonderful.I won't discuss what these complexities are, for that would ruin the fun of reading it for yourself.Another great thing about this book is the atmosphere.The portrait of The Temptation of Christ (which I think isn't based on a real portrait) and its implications play a major role in the story, only as backdrop.It is, in truth, the main theme in this book.The beautiful descriptions of Italy, deep character study, and the sinister and suspenseful plot turn this into an amazing gothic tale.I think this is one of Daphne du Maurier's most accomplished if underrated efforts, a reminder of why I've enjoyed her suspense novels the most.(Her other novels are great and not to be missed though.)So what at first was a near miss to me became a fascinating and unputdownable read.This would cover a number of book club discussions.If you love Daphne du Maurier, then you cannot miss this book.

"No one could walk by night for fear of the of Falcon's sudden descent into the city
....when, aided by his followers, he would seize and ravage...."

Oooh, I just love Du Maurier, she always delivers the goods. Armino Fabbio is working for Sunshine tours and while in Rome with his beef and barbarians (Americans and Brits) he comes across a down and out woman at the steps of a church, a woman who reminds him of someone from his childhood. Taking pity he slips her some money, but she later ends up murdered and Armino blames himself - if it hadn't been for the money no one would have robbed and then murdered her - or so he reasons. Distraught over the woman's identity he takes a holiday from his job and heads north to the city where he was born and where he recalls the murdered woman - Ruffano. Once there he finds himself and everyone around him being manipulated by a master puppeteer, who like Lazarus has returned from the dead.

Outside of that I'm not going to tell much more as I'd ruin it for the rest of you - read it for yourself. Du Maurier slowly builds her story into one heck of a climax as Armino finds himself in the midst of rival student factions and campus politics, all of which culminates in the final plot to recreate the "flight" of The Falcon, the first Duke of Ruffano, for the city festival - but will this flight end as disastrously as the first one? Despite a bit of a slow start, the finish was a nail-biter and she keeps you guessing until the very end. 4/5 stars.

You either get her or you don't....
I don't mean that to sound judgmental--there's nothing wrong with you if you don't like her, but she's kind of got her own gestalt that either you love or just leaves you cold.

Some of her books I don't care for: I found _Rule Britannia_ downright dopey in parts.And I do prefer her historicals to her more contemporary settings--such as _Scapegoat_ and this one.

However, she has this gift of being able to completely immerse you in the world of the story, and that counts for high marks in my book.Armino is a bit of a rootless drifter, but that's part of the theme of the novel--return, roots, identity. Another theme to be followed with profit to the reader is that of reliving history, both personal and larger.Armino discovers his brother, whom he'd thought dead, is in fact very much alive, and apparently plotting mass riots at the University in his hometown (another thematic debate--modern business majors versus ancient liberal arts).What to do when you suspect your dearest brother is unhinged?

There's a mystery to piece together beyond the hook--who actually killed the old lady on the church steps, and the climax keeps you nearly breathless. And it passed my own personal 'cry test' (I cried at the end).While '60s Italy isn't my favorite place to visit in fiction, I'd follow DuMaurier anywhere, and know that I'll turn that last page with regret. ... Read more

Product Description
Sequel to Condor One and Talons of the CondorPresident David Windsor's former Secret Service agent, Shane Thompson, is now a permanent partner in his life, and David is determined to see Shane receive the respect he deserves as the First Gentleman.Assigned the codename "Falcon," Shane will be taking on the traditional duties of the First Lady as David, codenamed "Condor One," continues his administration.But the tests of the Presidency are still looming as David faces both domestic and foreign political challenges. Just doing his job could mean extreme danger for himself and Shane, the man he loves most in the world—the man David wants to marry, despite all the press and attention it will bring them and the possible repercussions on a run for re-election. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

hope this isn't 3 strikes and done
i am not a political animal.reading 3 books with a political backdrop says volumes about Simpsons writing.Would be nice to follow them into retirement or follow the new president and her 2 sons.

Addressing the Issues

Simpson, John. "Condor and Falcon", Dreamspinner Press, 2010.

Addressing the Issues

Amos Lassen

I do not usually read e-books but I decided that if I wanted to know what was happening to David Windsor who I met in two of John Simpson's previous books, the only way I would find out was to do so by using the technology of e-publishing. I sat back at my desk and began to read.
"Condor and Falcon" continues the story of the "Talons of the Condor" series. We saw that democratic candidate for the United States presidency, David Windsor, has been accused by being a homosexual and he feels that people deserve the right to know the truth and so he comes out. This did not affect his election and citizens voted him into the highest office of the land. Of course, there were assassination attempts against him and Windsor fell in love with CIA agent, Shane, who was assigned to him during his campaign. Shane is also involved in trying to avert a war in the Middle East.
When this book opens we learn that Shane has resigned from his CIA position and is now a security advisor. He also now shares the president's life totally and has moved into the White House taking on the responsibilities as "The First Gentleman".
This is an "Imagine If" novel. We get to read about a gay president and it seems so possible. Windsor takes on Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and uses his Presidential powers to nullify it.Military men who refuse to conform to the new policy are relieved of their positions. Windsor also looks at other issues but especially concentrates on those of concern to our community.
It is wonderful to get a personal look at the life of a gay president and Windsor assumes the role of narrator telling his story in the first person. It's a good read that will make you think that everything is possible. If only it was true.

A deliciously fun and interesting story. I loved it!
"Condor and Falcon" is the continuation of (and probable end of) the "Condor One" and "Talons of the Condor" stories. In the past stories, David Windsor, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Presidential elections, is accused of being homosexual during the final debate. Stating that the people have a right to know, he unashamedly and proudly admits to being gay, and a war-weary nation elect him President. Several assassination attempts are made on him, both by U.S. citizens and foreign countries, he has fallen in love with the Secret CIA agent (Shane) assigned to him during his candidacy, has assigned Shane as his personal bodyguard, and is working to prevent a full-scale world war in the Middle East.

In "Condor and Falcon", Shane has given up his position in the CIA and accepted a position as a security adviser. Shane has also officially moved into the Presidential Bedroom, and is being referred to as "The First Gentleman" and taking on the responsibilities of The First Lady. President Windsor addresses issues such as the Defense of Marriage Act, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", ending the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and moving the country to energy independence.

First, the negative.... the dialog from the main character is a little too formal and dry. You read lines like "you have many desirable physical qualities" during Windsor's marriage proposal to Shane. Windsor tends to speak rather stiffly, even during relaxed moments, and at times it doesn't convey the strong emotions he is supposed to be feeling during intimate moments. That's about the only negative quality, and I'm not sure it's really negative. It grew on me after a while, and I now find it to be an endearing quality of the character.

Now, the positives (and there are many)...

The story is a liberal's wet dream. The reader gets to experience many things in the story that we've often dreamed of. It's wonderfully fun to read about a gay President. Though I'd never considered it, I found myself reading about how the President's partner/husband/spouse/SO fills the traditional role of the First Lady. It's deliciously fun to hear the reactions of the religious right and imagine their vein-bursting rage as a gay man's homosexual partner is not only filling the role of First Lady, but being generally accepted by the majority of Americans. For a gay man, there's a wonderful fantasy enclosed in these pages. President Windsor basically states that Shane is his partner and he fully expects him to be treated no differently than any of the wives of past Presidents.

President Windsor then addresses Don't Ask, Don't Tell, using his Presidential powers to nullify it. Generals of the armed forces are asked if they will carry out his orders, and if they refuse, they are relieved of duty and a replacement who will carry out his orders is found. Windsor addresses all issues facing Americans, but pays attention to all of the issues addressing gay individuals. He has the power to do this, and unlike previous "pro-gay" Presidents, does what should have always been done.

He has a firm hand in dealing with the tensions in the Middle East. During a few scenes where tension builds and military confrontation occurs, the story becomes even more energetic and interesting. Windsor's stance with hostile nations is strong and firm, and he carries out actions that we realize are fantasy, but we still wish could be real.

The part I like best of the book is that for a little while, you get to watch the personal and public life of a strong, determined, gay President. It's written in the first person, and it's Windsor narrating the events to you. It's enjoyable and easy to read, maintains a good level of interest, and is nicely paced. Suspenseful scenes are mixed in with relaxing, and even surprisingly sentimental, scenes. The overall effect is that you get a feel for the life of this character.

It's wonderfully fun and very enjoyable. It certainly has weaknesses, but it's still interesting and fun. When I had finished it, I found myself thinking about it later and feeling good. It's great when a story does that to you. I strongly recommend this. ... Read more

Product Description
Barfleur, 1120.Sabin FitzSimon, bastard son of an earl, has acquired a reputation for wildness and trouble only matched by his abilities as a warrior.But when he is caught seducing the King's favorite mistress, not even his fighting skills can save him.Beaten by the King's soldieries and left behind in the Norman port, it seems that his notoriety has finally gotten the better of him.

Upon his eventual return to England, Sabin is given the opportunity to rebuild his career and salvage his reputation: The knight Edmund Strongfist is leaving for the Holy Land to offer his sword and services to the King of Jerusalem, and he wants Sabin to join him.

Accompanying Strongfist is his young, beautiful, convent-educated daughter Annais.Sabin, he warns, is to keep away from her.Being grateful for the chance that Strongfist has given him, Sabin does so, but not without a feeling of regret as he observes her spirit and courage, and enjoys her beautiful harp playing.

The Holy Land brings its own shares of trials for Sabin.If he succeeds in keeping his distance from Annais, he has less success with Strongfist's new wife, and the consequences prove to be painful.The land is suffering from constant warfare and following the capture of the King, Sabin is forced to take command of the fortress of Montabard and marry its recently widowed chatelaine.Now there is all to play for...and all to lose.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

It Just Didn't Thrill Me
This is the third novel I've read by Elizabeth Chadwick.I recently read 'The Champion' and awhile ago read 'The Greatest Knight'.

This story starts out a bit on the slow side.I was ready to give it up at a hundred pages but thought perhaps I should give it one last try.I did and found the story had taken an interesting turn with a rivalry between two characters that added tension to the story.Unfortunately the tension didn't last.

Sadly these characters seemed flat and stereotypical and the story just wasn't that interesting to me.It reminded me a lot of Roberta Gellis' Rosylnde series but not as well done.

I also thought there was a bit of redundancy with the descriptions I found a few too many things like a puppy and too many jewels the size of bird's eggs.

I don't think this is Chadwick's best.I really enjoyed 'The Champion' and I'm looking forward to reading more of her novels.But sadly this one just didn't thrill me.

Among my favorite of Chadwick's books
I have read several books by Elizabeth Chadwick this year. She always impresses me with her ability to weave real history with created characters, and with how she brings an entire era to life. This book is no different, in fact I think its among her best.Her story is rich in detail, with scenes that stab at your heart.But don't be fooled; this isn't a silly romance.There is enough battles and intrigue to satisfy most HF readers, with plenty of tension as well(I must admit I had my heart in my throat for the last few pages) I highly recommend this book, esp if you have not read any of her books yet.

A tale of adventure set in the Holy Land
Every now and then I come across an author that simply ruins a literary genre for me. This time, it's been the historical novel world, and Elizabeth Chadwick is the culprit. For the last year, I've been steadily working my way through her backlist of titles, carefully spacing the books out so that I won't burnout on them, nor will I run out of something new to read of hers.

This time, the selection was The Falcons of Montabard, a tale set mostly in the lands that were called Outremer -- beyond the sea -- by Europeans, and what we think of as the Holy Land today. Many adventurers made journeys there for different reasons -- some to make religious pilgrimages to pray at Christian holy sites, others to carve out wealth and lands from themselves. And for quite a few, it was a convenient place to go in case things were getting a bit too uncomfortable at home.

Such is the case for young Sabin FitzSimon, a young man of illegitimate birth and a bit of a hell-raiser at King Henry's court. When the story opens, he's with his half-brother, Simon, in the port town of Barfleur. To bide the time and waiting for his ship to be made ready to sail, Sabin is dallying with Lora, a pretty young courtesan with the court. Unfortunately, she's also the King's latest mistress, and their sexual encounter is interrupted by some soldiers who take Lora away and beat Sabin into a bleeding pulp. Between that and his brother being drunk, they miss their ship -- which is a good thing.

For that ship is the White Ship, a magnificent galley built by King Henry I of England to be his flagship, and it sinks not far out from Barfleur, taking all but one person to their deaths. It's a nasty shock for Sabin, who watches as Lora's body is brought back to shore, and he is consumed with guilt over her death. It's a sobering experience, made worse when he returns to his family's home in the north of England. But it's a poor homecoming -- his father has died many years earlier, and for a bastard there's nothing to inherit.

Another man, Edmund Strongfist, is discovering that there's little to be found in England as well. One brother has remained in Outremer, and the other remained in England. And Edmund has his daughter's future to consider as well. Annais may be a knight's daughter, but without land or wealth, there are not very many prospects for her either.

In the Holy Land, they all find fortune, if not emotional satisfaction at first. Both Edmund and Sabin are skilled fighters, and Sabin has a rare skill in the art of politics. And Annais finds herself married to the lord of Montabard, Gerbert, who is a devoted husband, but there is also Sabin to consider, with whom she has a strong bond of friendship. Or is really something deeper that she can't admit to?

Along the way, the reader is treated to battles at sea, the daily life in Jerusalem, battles with the Muslims who are trying to take back Jerusalem, and a look at an exotic culture that is very different than what the reader might expect from depictions from Hollywood. There are several elements that I really do enjoy from Ms. Chadwick's novels. One is that she never, ever talks down to her readers; instead she weaves plenty of authentic details, without going into the pit of explainitis, and she knows that a good novel depends on creating characters that interest the readers. Another delightful touch is that she knows how children behave, and write them up accordingly, without turning them into miniature adults, or precocious brats. As a result, her novels are rich and are wonderful to read. Most of all, it's her interest in the subject and time period that really shine through, and I for one, am captivated every time I pick up one of her novels, and always wanting more.

This earned a solid four star rating, and for those interested in the Crusading period of medieval history, well worth the time and effort to find.

Just A Good Quality Adventure
I've read quite a few Elizabeth Chadwick novels now, and i have loved them all and would give them all five stars (if i bothered to review them all... i may get around to it eventually!)

Falcons of Montabard didn't have as high a star rating as all chadwick's other novels (even so, four stars is still very good!) so i was a bit unsure of what to expect in this novel.I'm very glad i made the effort!

i read this book over about three weeks in fits and starts but really enjoyed the whole story line.Sabin is a great character who redeems himself in the Holy land and Annais is a likeable heroine also.There was enough intrigue and adventure to keep me reading and i really liked the realistic love interest and development between Annais and Sabin.It's nice to see a wife who loves her first husband but then finds happiness again with Sabin and i liked the fact that Gilbert (her first husband) was a likeable character rather than a 'villainous tyrant' like they so often are.

All in all i thought this was a great book and would recommend it to any hisotrical fans.Some of the other reviewers found it lacking but i can personally say that i found it entertaining and well worth my time

Medieval bad boy turns into a great man
This is the story of Sabin FitzSimon, the illegitimate son of a deceased Earl, who has earned himself quite a reputation for his bad boy ways.Having never had the love of a mother and with the only parent he has ever know dead, he is left in an awkward situation in a family in which he is basically an outsider.He covers his pain with his outlandish behavior causing his step-mother, who never showed him any warmth to begin with, and her new husband to expect the worse of him...and he is happy to oblige.

Sabin tests his luck one too many times by bedding the King's favorite mistress.This earns him a severe beating, gets him thrown out of the King's service, and off the ship that is bound for home.Ironcially, this turns out to be a good thing as the ship ends up sinking killing all on board.Arriving home in disgrace, it is decided that he will accompany a family friend on a crusade to Outremer (part of the middle east that today includes Israel, Palestine, and a few other countries)to give him one last chance to straighten out.He ends up in service to Baldwin, the King of Jerusalem and in charge of Montabard, a great fortress in an unstable part of the region and charged with protecting Annais, the daughter of the man he came to Outremer with.Given this new start, Sabin decides to make the best of it and proves that there is more to this bad boy than an uncanny ability to seduce women and get himself in trouble.

This was an exciting novel to read.There were lots of battle scenes, harrowing moments, and many touching ones too.I appreciated the exotic setting and the way Ms. Chadwick describes daily life from the food, the heat, the pests, the clothes, to the music makes the reader feel as if they were right there in the story.

Sabin's character was beautifully written as he transforms from boy to man before the reader's eyes.I didn't think Annais, the heroine's character was as good.For a heroine, she seemed rather run of the mill.I did love Mariamne, a wealthy widow who is given by the King to Annais's father in exchange for his service.She was complex and multi-faceted.It would've been nice if her character had been included in more of the story.

While this wasn't my favorite Chadwick, it was still an amazing book with lots of excitement, very well written, and I highly recommend it to any lovers of historical fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
Oriel, a strong and remarkable young boy taken into captivity as an infant by a cruel man, decides to escape from his life of hardship and betrayal and takes Griff, his loyal companion, with him. Reprint. K. SLJ. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (45)

Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one.
I first read this book when I was young, maybe in second or third grade, and at first I didn't understand a lot of what it had to say. Make no mistake, this is a children's book, and is an enjoyable experience for a kid of any age. The older you get though, the more there is to read.

Wings of a Falcon is apparently (I've never read any of the others) part of a larger set of novels dealing in this world, but it stands well on its own. It's the story of two boys, Oriel and Griff, who escape from the only home they can remember in the search of something better. The best part of this book is perhaps the friendship between the two boys/men. It is compelling and develops over time as the two change and grow. Any other plot points would give the story away; suffice to say, the last tenth of the book is a surprise to many people, but I have come over time to think of it as a good one.

The only warning I would give parents is that this book can be a little tough at times, and is perhaps better for children above six. Despite this, the book is well worth the read, and it is perhaps my favorite of all Voigt's books, if only because it made me think when I first read it, and makes me think even now.

Bears multiple readings well!Excellent book.
I'm on the fourth or fifth reading of this book, and I learn new things about the characters each time I read it.My life experiences have made the story richer, as I can better relate to the events and characters, and I am just as excited to see what happens next as that first time I cracked the thing open.
I can understand the reviewers that are critical of the story telling method and plot devices, since the plot and voice are highly unusual.Nothing is laid out for the reader, and the plot is thick and involved.The characters are fallible, so it would be easy to view them as unsympathetic.They are, however, very realistic in their thought and fears.The reader may feel uncomfortable with the questionable morals (or amorality) of the lead character, as well as the seeming uninvolvement of the secondary character.
After having read this book multiple times, I can safely say the characters are deeper than those in most of the books I've read.There are many things left unsaid, and many things the reader must infer.The author does not give anything away.You just have to be willing to think deeply about the text.It's not a light read by any means.If you are looking for something easier to swallow, with a more traditional progession of events and likable heroes, steer clear of this one.

Brilliant Text! Illuminating Perspectives. Original Style.
Cynthia Voight has a rather unique style. Her writing can be a bit hard to pierce at first, because she makes use of an uncommon style of allegory. In this tale, we get a glimpse of what its like to live without an identity and to be given one. Through, literary fiction author's book provides a rare glimpse into the world of the masculine, the world of men and boys.

Though female, I couldn't help but think that the author did her research asmuch of what she writes thematically alludes to what real life is for those of us who are male. And though there are some clearly fictional elements, the truths in the tale ring universal.

As you can see, I didn't reveal any plot points, since I think one owes it to the reader to discover this on her own. But, I will say this: this book is not for everyone. If you want the traditionally scripted story where there's a clearly determined ending and everything is happy go lucky with the main characters as they struggle to obvious obstacles, then this book is not for you. In fact, it may be a bit frustrating. But, if you enjoy reading literature of all types and have an open mind to how a story is weaved together, then you'll enjoy this book. I surely did.

There's a Very Good Reason This Book Is Out-of-Print
This book was, sadly, one I'd been looking forward to for awhile.I'd had to finally track it down through inter-library loan, as it's long out of print and very obscure, so I was thrilled to finally get it.The book is the third book in Voigt's 'The Kingdom' series, which started with 'Jackaroo', continued with 'On Fortune's Wheel', and then was concluded with 'Elske: A Novel of the Kingdom'.Of these books, 'Wings' is the only one that is out of print.I wondered about that, and thought it might be that, of all four books, it is the only one with a male protagonist.But I was eager to read it to compare it to the other books in this fantasy series.Alas, it was pretty much a textbook case of 'How Not To Write a Novel', or more precisely, 'How To Completely Alienate Your Reader By Defying Recognized Rules of Storytelling'.


It's a shame, since I think it's obvious Voigt had a lot of important things to say about the societal roles of men and women in this book, but her 'message' is completely overshadowed by the reader's shock and dismay at the way the story slaps you in the face with the ending.A slight point-of-view shift would have been all it would have taken to make this story work.Some editor definitely dropped the ball with this one.Too bad.But despite that, this book is worth reading for fans of the other 'The Kingdom' novels, since this book really ties 'On Fortune's Wheel' and 'Elske' together.In fact, a lot of 'Elske' doesn't become clear until you've read 'The Wings of a Falcon' first.So, it's worth checking out for fans of 'The Kingdom' novels, but for anyone else, not so much.There's a very good reason this book is out of print.

The Lord of the Rings it's not, but still fantastic!
The Wings of a Falcon is the third book in a series of highly acclaimed heroic adventures that began with Jackaroo and continued in On Fortune's Wheel. This book was written by Cynthia Voigt who is a renowned author of books that revolve around the heroic theme. Although relatively difficult at places, The Wings of a Falcon shouldn't be missed by anyone who is remotely interested in a book that illustrates friendship, courage, and loyalty.

As a boy with no name, no family, and no love, he only knew how to obey and stay loyal to the sixth Damall. Under cruel and unreasonable treatments, he remained strong and eventually earned the honorable position of seventh Damall. Just when everything is set, he escaped the Damall's island with his only friend Griff, the falconstone called Beryl, and a name. From war torn cities to steep steps of the snowy mountain, he and Griff conquered numerous challenges and after each exhausting day, their hearts slowly began to unite as one. When fate brought them to the mysterious Kingdom, a devastating tragedy struck and Griff's responsibility and unwavering loyalty will be severely tested.

The book is very well written and it is obvious that the author imputed a lot of energy on small details that would enhance the final product. There are definitely enough cleverly used sensory details to give readers a clear picture of the subject, and even better, the sensory details never bogged down the pace of the book and readers would never feel overwhelmed by hordes after hordes of figurative languages. The characters featured in this novel all have distinct personalities and complex ambitions, and at no where in the book did the author just simply introduces a character. All characters came into their roles mysteriously and some character's true backgrounds are never revealed. The different parts of the book are all connected to each other seamlessly, and the book flows along smoothly. With crystal clear sensory details and complex character build-ups, the Wings of a Falcon also has a twisting plot that will puzzle and surprise even the most advanced readers.

It is hard trying to pick weak points from such a wonderful book, but The Wings of a Falcon isn't perfect. The most evident flaw is probably the fact that the book is a bit too difficult to understand at times, and the twisting plot would constantly confuse readers. Some of the things in this novel should be filtered out to make it more exciting and less repetitive, and some moments should be emphasized more to make it stand out and memorable. The author could have added some funny moments to make this book more entertaining and the unexpected ending could depress and disturb some readers. But these are just minor pitfalls that are barely worth mentioning in front of all the strong points of this book.

Overall, The Wings of a Falcon is a fantastic book that tells about courage, friendship, and loyalty. While it definitely has some problems, its unparalleled depth, engrossing details, and clear descriptions are more than enough to overshadow it. With a whopping of nearly 500 pages and about 30 chapters, it will be both a long and entertaining read. Some of the strong points mentioned above could be view as weak points and the weak points could be viewed as strong points. It all depends on what kind of reader is reading this book. In the end, this epic novel is strongly recommended to everyone who will not get easily confused and depressed by disturbing masterpieces. ... Read more

Product Description
Vowing never to fall in love after her mother dies of a broken heart, Lady Martine agrees to an arranged marriage to a nobleman, but Sir Thorne Falconer, who is coordinating the match, falls in love with Martine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Let Down
I normally like Ryan's books, but, I was very unhappy with the
ending to this book. Don't get me wrong, it is an "EXCELLENT"
book until you get to the ending.She could have added another
chapter to finish it out. I felt kind of let down that she didn't continue a little more in the story of Martine & Thorne.
An Epilogue would have been nice to take you from all of the
fierce violence & action to a more comforable time in their lives, possibly back at the castle with their first child as heir.Call me a romantic, but, I guess that is why I read Historical Romance. Even a few more pages would have been nice.

Wonderfully different and absorbing.
I like it that this isn't another wimpy romance story.Both Martine and Thorne had to face several challenges which made them stronger and better people.

A road less travelled. . .
I found this to be a very interesting book.For a romance it didn't really get to me on an emotional level all that often, but I have to admit that despite all of the years I've been a romance novel addict, I've neverread one quite like this one.Ryan gets bonus points for originality andchosing to take her plot down roads less travelled. It wasn't emotionallygripping for me, but I was impressed by the writer's ingenuity.

Still Ihave to confess I found Ryan's Secret Thunder more emotionally satisgying.

Patricia Ryan is one of the best!
I really enjoyed Falcon's Fire, one of Patricia Ryan's first books. Themain characters, Martine and Thorne, are warm and believable. Their love isconsummated about midway through the book - Ryan does not make us suffertill the very end for the physical relationship. The action is non-stop butthere is some graphic violence, especially against Martine, so be warned.Falcon's fire is a great introduction to Martine's brother, Rainulf, who isthe central character in Heaven's Fire, the next book. So read Falcon'sFire first. (I'm going to re-read Heaven's Fire to see how Martine fitsback into the story. I'm sure she does.) My favourite Patricia Ryan novelis Secret Thunder, the story of Luke and Faithe. Luke's brother, Alex, whois a strong secondary character in that one, stars in the latest novel -Wild Wind. You know how you love it when a character you've enjoyed in onebook is featured again in the next book? That's what Pat Ryan does and it'swonderful! You don't feel as if you've lost your beloved characterswhenthe book ends. Read and enjoy all her books! (New one due spring 1999)She's one of the all-timeGREATS! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

raptor info
Excellent text describing all one could want to know about Falcons. Although there are many very good photos and this book could be used as a field guide, it's format is not really set up as such. A must for the birder's library.

Falconry Studies
As a aprentice Falconer & with a intrest in Birds of Prey in general ,I find this book very helpfull in learning about the location,habits of the various Falcons here in North America.The photo's of these Falcons also help one to ID them in the wild.

Superb Photographs of Falcons with Equally Superb -- or Superior -- Text
The spectacular photos of falcons in this small (6 x 9), reasonably priced book, are worth its price alone. The 200+ photos, including many dramatic flight shots, are primarily by Rob Palmer and Nick Dunlop, and simply some of the most spectacular - and unusual - hawk photos I have ever seen. The photos are beautifully printed in good size on glossy stock. As someone who has purchased many "coffee table" books with raptor photographs, Falcons of North America sets a new standard for raptor photography and reproduction.

When I started reading Falcons, I found the prose equal -- or superior -- to the photography. That might seem outlandish when you first see the photos, but once you start reading, you'll understand what I mean. This book is a gem, finely cut and beautifully polished. Well organized, written with elegance, concision, clarity and contagious enthusiasm, it is among the most insightful and informative books on raptors for the lay reader I've seen.

It is not a field guide, but a brief introduction. Kate Davis, a falconer who runs a raptor rehab and education center in Missoula, Montana, devotes the first 150 pages to describing falcons in general, focusing on morphology and physiology, behavior and feeding, nesting and breeding, and movements, and three chapters on falcons and people, including threats and conservation status. She then devotes 8 pages each (half of which are photographs) to an overview of our six falcon species.

The six topical chapters are beautifully crafted and illustrated, incorporating timely new data from the recent technical literature. Everything is written clearly and simply for the lay reader, yet packed with insight. Davis also provides illuminating "sidebars" on such topics as "Peregrines Catching Salmonflies," and simple but elegant, informative line drawings. The species accounts include large range maps based on Brian Wheeler's 2007 volumes.

If you are at all interested in hawks, I encourage you to buy this book. I don't think you'll regret it.
Falcons of North America

Falcons of North America
I am very pleased with this book. The information is well-written and complete. The photographs are wonderful. I am especially impressed with the section on dangers to falcons and other raptors. I found the inclusion of wind generator data and power line fatalities to be extremely timely and important in the conservation of falcons. The section on nest-observation protocols was also a pleasant surprise. I think this book is a wonderful resource.

"Wow, what a book"

After checking the customer reviews and looking at the picture of the front cover of Falcons of North America, I expected a pleasant book with nice photos and adequate text; by the time I had finished reading the first chapter, I realized I had in my hands a truly extraordinary book.

The photographs are stunning as well as informative and are well integrated into each chapter. The text is substantive, interesting and very well written. For example, the chapter on falcon anatomy and physiology is presented with great clarity and the chapter on falcon threats is remarkably current. The chapter titled Finale even notes the disconnect between young people and their natural world. The book ends with outstanding in depth discussions of six North Americanfalcons: American Kestrel, Merlin, Aplomado, Prairie, Peregrine, and Gyrfalcon.

The organization, layout, presentation, and editing are of the highest quality. Kate Davis's knowledge and enthusiasm for falcons is evident with the first two sentences in the Introduction as she describes a falcon on the hunt: "There is nothing like it. Nothing on earth."

As I finished the book, I said to myself, "Wow, what a book!" Read it; you will love it. ... Read more

Product Description
In these two wisecracking, sidesplitting mysteries from Chet Gecko's tattered casebook, the fourth-grade detective and his punning mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, keep the peace at Emerson Hicky Elementary. In the first, the two sleuths blow the lid off a cheating ring in Mr. Ratnose's classroom, and in the second, they track down the winning ticket for the biggest, chocolatiest, most gut-busting dessert ever, the Malted Falcon. Danger has never been so delicious!
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book for reticent readers
My son (9) loved this book! I am thrilled because he'd usually rather play sports than sit down and read a book. I met Mr. Hale at a conference recently and was impressed by his intelligence, wit and love of writing for children. Most books mean different things to different people, and some people approach a book, an author or a particular subject with a personal agenda, emotional baggage or ill-conceived notions. The Malted Falcon is a fun story that will delight children with its humor and creative characterizations. Thankfully, children usually appoach books with open minds and objectivity --unlike some 'wiser' adults.

Amusing take-offs of classic hard-boiled detective fare
Kids who enjoy the Time Warp Trio and other volumes with wise-cracking characters will enjoy the Bruce Hale books.I'm not sure why another reviewer felt compelled to give this series one star; he also went to the trouble of repeating the identical review for every book in the series.If he disliked the first one so much, one wonders why--and if--he read the others.

Funny - Great for kids!
I don't understand why Smith doesn't like the Chet Gecko series and felt it necessary to type the same line on the page of every book in the series. I am reading number seven in the series and they have all been great. I am now twelve and I still enjoy them. The Malted Falcon was a particular favorite because I laughed all the way through. If you like funny stories with a little mystery mixed in, these are for you. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (49)

The Heart of the Falcon has won my heart...
Heart of the Falcon is my all time favorite book.I've read it at least a dozen times from cover to cover and I still find each read just as enjoyable as the last.Francis Ray, you are an exceptional author.Please keep these authentic, traditional, romance novels coming.Thanks!

I have to have this book on Kindle Books
I can't find this book in any format.I have looked for it now, for 2 years.Franicis Ray's books are the absolute bomb, and this is the one book I can't seem to find.I have read several excerps online, and in other readings, but aboslutely no one has the book in audio, kindle, hardback, that is willing to sell it for a reasonable price, or one that I can afford.This particular book in the series is important because, just reading what it's about, is driving me crazy that I can't find it.I have not been disappointed once, by any book that I have read by Francis Ray, and I would venture to say, that I have read over 85% of every book that she has published.Please find a way to contact the author and try and get this book on kindle, CD, Cassette, wireless for sure (all of the above) and any other format and make me the first to know.
Thanks,

Remmington

OH MY GOD- THIS IS GOOD!
Ms. Ray is the best.I've read several of her books....all but one in this series.I think this one was the best. I love her humor.This book had me screeming in sections-crying in others.This whole series should be made into a mini-series or soap opera.Great story Ms. Ray

HOT HOT HOT!
Again, I must say that I am so enjoying this Falcon/Grayson series.Daniel Falcon was an interesting character. He was perfect - handsome, rich, diverse background and confident (or arrogant). I loved the way the author revealed his softer side, as he didn't realize he actually had one. It's amazing when a man finally realizes he's in Love.The relationship between the characters was intense and humurous at times. If you haven't read this series - get with it.

Oh my...the Falcon rules
I've been engrossed with the whole Taggart/Falcon/Grayson series...reading them all in order and I wasn't disappointed with "Heart of the Falcon" -- what a story!Daniel Falcon is a FINE but, stubborn man and Madelyn "Addie" Taggart knew that from day one. She had no fear and took the risk of falling for her brothers' -- Kane and Matt -- good friend.Daniel, a true lady's man, was against love and marriage and swore against both. Strong willed and determined, Madelyn knew she loved Daniel and she put everything on the line to prove that she was the one he needed.She succeeded.Ms. Ray has become a favorite of mine because of her strong character development and the way she makes you hang on to every word, every glance and every kiss. Much respect to you, Ms. Ray. ... Read more

Product Description
The epic science fiction action saga continues

She has found her vision-and it is of doom...

Jade Falcon Galaxy Commander Malvina Hazen and her warriors are encamped on the planet Skye in their Occupation Zone, overseeing the consolidation of power on the worlds they've wrested from The Republic. When a ship appears at Skye's jump point and its commander declares a Trial of Possession for the wartime doctrine he claims Malvina stole from Clan Hell's Horses, Malvina sees her vision unfolding: she agrees to single BattleMech combat.

Malvina emerges from the fray victorious-and inspired to ride her growing reputation into Clan Jade Falcon's halls of power. But her bold actions may herald the beginning of a civil war that could unmake not simply her own Clan, but the entire Clan way of life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This book moves the story line forward in many ways.
This give a great deal of insight into what is occuring in the Falcon Domain, as well as some hints as to the Clan Homeworlds, and the Lyran, Wolf actions.

Not my cup of tea
I've never really been a fan of the Jade Falcon sub-line of Battletech/Mechwarrior novels, and this book is no different.Once again the book focuses on Malvina Hazen, who by most counts qualifies as a villain (as opposed to an anti-hero), as she works to destroy all life in the Inner Sphere.As she grows stronger, her enemies grow dumber, and so she wins time after time.

The parts of the book I liked the most were when they touched upon other events in the Inner Sphere, especially with House Steiner and the Wolves.But they were few and far between.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Nice Pocket guide but mainly for beginner
This product was in excellent condition like new upon arrival. The fold out maps are a nice feature but a little clumsy and not waterproof. Most of the info in this guide is very basic stuff. If you are looking for trail maps this is not the guide to purchase.

Nice size, good value.
The little guidebook is easy to take along when hiking, contains some good information about what to see, and also contains two clever fold-out maps.

If you are interested in seeing wildlife inside the park and/or doing a bit of hiking you will find this book very useful.

A Perfect Pocket Guide
We were skeptical about purchasing the "Great Smoky Mountains National Park Pocket Guide" because some miniature books lack substance and quality information.However, we were very pleased with this detailed text and its friendly pop-out map; it is cute, small, and very easy to travel with.

Bon voyage!

Pocket-size Smokies
This cute, tiny book fits easily into a pocket, a backback, or a handbag and is full of information on the GSMNP. Best of all are the two maps that fold out of the front and back covers and give a great overview of the Park so that you get an idea of where the various sites are in relation to the others. A great complement to the more detailed map of Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains map (see my review). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Falcons of the World by Thomas Cade
Having acquired this book a while ago through a rare books dealer for [money], I would say that it was a worthwhile purchase.Any lover of the birds of prey would appreciate this attention-demanding volume.It is extraordinarily heavy- a full-sized coffee table book- and brimming with full-color plates of the raptors.Each illustration, picturing even the rarest of these birds, is accomanied by an appreciable amount of data and information.A very worthwhile purchase!

... Read more

Product Description
Complete in one volume, the five books that created the modern American crime novel

In a few years of extraordinary creative energy, Dashiell Hammett invented the modern American crime novel. In the words of Raymond Chandler, "Hammett gave murder back to the kind of people that commit it for reasons, not just to provide a corpse.... He put these people down on paper as they were, and he made them talk and think in the language they customarily used for these purposes."

The five novels that Hammett published between 1929 and 1934, collected here in one volume, have become part of modern American culture, creating archetypal characters and establishing the ground rules and characteristic tone for a whole tradition of hardboiled writing. Drawing on his own experiences as a Pinkerton detective, Hammett gave a harshly realistic edge to novels that were at the same time infused with a spirit of romantic adventure. His lean and deliberately simplified prose won admiration from such contemporaries as Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, and William Faulkner.

Each novel is distinct in mood and structure. Red Harvest (1929) epitomizes the violence and momentum of his Black Mask stories about the anonymous detective the Continental Op, in a raucous and nightmarish evocation of political corruption and gang warfare in a western mining town. In The Dain Curse (1929) the Op returns in a more melodramatic tale involving jewel theft, drugs, and a religious cult. With The Maltese Falcon (1930) and its protagonist Sam Spade, Hammett achieved his most enduring popular success, a tightly constructed quest story shot through with a sense of disillusionment and the arbitrariness of personal destiny. The Glass Key (1931) is a further exploration of city politics at their most scurrilous. His last novel was The Thin Man(1934), a ruefully comic tale paying homage to the traditional mystery form and featuring Nick and Nora Charles, the sophisticated inebriates who would enjoy a long afterlife in the movies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

He got better as he went on.
Hammett's main contribution to detective fiction was an incredibly paranoid atmosphere in which characters' allegiances seem to shift constantly. In classic detective stories by Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, there is a world of murder and violence, but also another world of law and order. The detective protagonists are clearly on the side of justice; the police may be incompetent, but at least they mean well. But in Hammett, no one can ever be trusted, and you can't even be sure about the protagonist's motivation. Occasionally you get people who are decent sorts, but even then the protagonist still can't bring himself to trust them with any important information. In this way Hammett is very different from Chandler, who also describes a world full of corruption and deceit, but where you can at least always count on Philip Marlowe to do the right thing, regardless of how much whiskey he drinks.

Hammett's fascination with deceit often translates to awkward plotting. His first novel Red Harvest is primarily notable for the gleefully vicious, blood-thirsty way in which Hammett's protagonist, the Continental Op, sows deadly chaos among various thugs and gangsters. As a mystery, though, it is nigh unreadable. New characters are constantly being introduced and killed off. A guy named Lew Yard is first made out to be one of the most ruthless and important mobsters in the town, but never makes an on-screen appearance. Another gangster named Reno is suddenly introduced more than halfway through, and ends up being the focus of the closing scenes, where he is even praised by Hammett as an example of manliness, for reasons far beyond my grasp. Things appear to happen more or less arbitrarily. While this conveys the feeling of chaos, it stops making sense after a while.

The second novel, The Dain Curse, is even worse. The plot is a sequence of loosely connected and increasingly outlandish and improbable events (plus an increasingly grotesque body count) that are eventually tied together by a completely arbitrary resolution. The Op solves the case using a bizarre chain of reasoning that invents new details that had not been shown to the reader before. Chandler commented in "The Simple Art Of Murder" that a good detective story should outwit the reader without claiming an unfair advantage, and that is certainly relevant here.

Then, surprisingly, Hammett got a lot better. His third novel The Maltese Falcon is still fairly low on logic and deduction, so it feels more like a suspense/adventure story than a mystery, but Hammett's paranoid vision is a lot more coherent. The suspense revolves around the precarious way in which the canny Sam Spade manipulates a gang of dangerous criminals, mostly by bluffing rather than by force. It's no surprise that this story became a Hollywood classic -- Spade's particular brand of hard-drinking, trust-no-one machismo, delivering justice to the criminals without getting his own hands too dirty, was destined for the movies. The Continental Op may have been edgier as a concept, but unfortunately, Hammett handled him pretty ineptly.

The Glass Key is again more of a psychological drama than a mystery, although a murder does get solved in it. It reinvents Red Harvest's theme of sowing chaos among rival criminal factions. The protagonist is a shady gambler, a friend of one of the criminal bosses, and his own motivation is masterfully blurred throughout the story, but in the end he is shown to be more like Sam Spade in his adherence to a certain ethical code. The most memorable aspect of the story is the friendship between the protagonist and the boss Paul Madvig (who is deliberately shown as being a thug, but not a killer, probably to make him a bit more sympathetic). This friendship is subjected to great tribulations that are resolved with a very Hemingwayesque depiction of manly honour (and this time, it actually makes sense).

After all these not-quite-mysteries, Hammett's last novel The Thin Man is...a perfect detective story with an absolutely classical structure. Nick Charles is more in line with the charming, upstanding detectives of the past, and he gets an equally charming sidekick in the form of his witty wife Nora. The story is full of hilarious one-liners. The murder mystery is resolved with a single logical deduction that elegantly stands the story on its head. The identity of the killer is still a bit arbitrary, in my view, but the setup and resolution of the mystery is as perfect as it gets. This was another instant Hollywood classic, and for good reason -- not only is it very well-written and well-plotted, but unlike the tiresomely gloomy Red Harvest, it's a lot of fun. A lightweight assessment, sure, but hey, if you really have to read a murder story with deep existential meaning, try Crime And Punishment.

Basically, Hammett was a hack writer, but his hackery greatly improved as it went on, and he certainly went out on a high note. I think he's mainly valuable for his influence on Chandler, whose writing was better, though not as fascinatingly odd. If The Thin Man is any indication, Hammett might have attained Conan-Doyle-like stature if he had continued to write detective stories, but then again, if you look at "Tulip," it may have been better for him to quit when he did. Probably the best way to get acquainted with Hammett is to read The Glass Key, and then see The Maltese Falcon and The Thin Man in their Hollywood form.

An essential hard-boiled collection
He may have not been the first hard-boiled mystery writer, but Dashiell Hammett was still a pioneer in the genre, helping to establish it.The Library of America has assembed all five of his novels into a single omnibus edition.These five novels were all published in a span of less than a decade when Hammett was at his creative peak and show his evolution as a writer.

Red Harvest, his first novel, actually is more of a series of related novellas.His one true recurring character narrates this one; although he has no name, he is often known as the Continental Op, a private investigator who goes into the small and corrupt town of Personville (nickname:Poisonville).He does his best to clean up the place, primarily by pitting various crooked figures against each other and letting the bullets fly.This book forms the basis for the movies Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollars.

The Dain Curse brings back the Op in a story that still has that series-of-novellas feel to it, but with a more interesting set of characters.The Op's investigation into a jewel heist eventually reveals a set of dark family secrets that will trigger some murders.Both of these first two books are good, but not great.Red Harvest, in particular, lacks really interesting characters (they're all crooks).The Op himself is a rather limited character:he's got little in the way of real personality and no life outside his job.Furthermore, as an outsider, he has little stake in solving the crimes except as a job.

If Hammett had stopped writing after Red Harvest and The Dain Curse, he would have been a minor footnote in the genre, respectable but probably forgotten.The Maltese Falcon, however, would assure him of immortality.The flaws I mentioned for the first two books?Not here.This story is filled with interesting characters, a well-constructed plot and the legendary Sam Spade, out to solve the murder of his partner and track down the title item.

The Glass Key is a bit of a step back (but it would be hard to match that third book).Ned Beaumont is the assistant to a party boss involved in a tough election.Things get tougher when the boss is accused of murdering a senator's son:a senator tje boss is backing and whose daughter he's wooing.Connections can keep Beaumont's boss out of jail, but bad publicity may throw him out of power.Besides a couple movie versions under the same title, this book also inspired Miller's Crossing.

Finally, Hammett mixes it up a bit with The Thin Man (inspiration for a series of movies).Unlike previous books, this one has a lighter touch.Nick Charles is a former private eye who has married into wealth and would rather just drink and hang out with his wife Nora and dog Asta.Unfortunately, people keep drawing him into a murder case of an inventor's assistant (or is it mistress)?

By today's writing standards, Hammett may come across a little stiff, but he still wrote really good stuff.If you want to get all these novels in one nicely constructed edition, you can't go wrong with this book.There are even some minor extras, most significantly, a chronology of Hammett's often troubled life.It's five classics in one.

Hammett Complete Novels
In addition to the 5 novels this edition also contains a chronology of the author and the authors note about each one.

Obscenely Fun
Given the slew of 5-star reviews for this volume I don't have a lot to add to the discourse.However, I would say this, as I find it somewhat underrepresented:HAMMETT's NOVELS ARE FUN.

Along with all the other great facets of his writing, such as the political contexts and the foundations for the hard-boiled detective, the thing that grabs me about his writing is just how much of a rollicking good time it conveys.Red Harvest is great with its client vs. services rendered tension.

Another excellent example of the FUN of Hammett is The Thin Man's Nick-Nora main character relationship.There are just enough hints at consensual promiscuity and one can't help but smile at the subtle mysteries this marriage contains...

Once again, I focused on this aspect of the novels simply because everything else has already been said.This is a great collection, and reading it in the high-quality format of a LOA volume just adds to the experience.

Why Crime Novels became popular
Because originally they were written by Hammett.I have read these novels many times and each time I do I discover, again, why the best writers are beyond category. ... Read more

Product Description
Christopher John Boyce was a son of affluence and privilege whose disaffection with America led him to sell to the Soviets sophisticated and highly secret spy-satellite information. Eventually uncovered and arrested, Boyce was convicted of espionage in Los Angeles, California, on June 20, 1977, and sentenced to forty years in a maximum-security federal penitentiary. Soon after his imprisonment, Boyce--the man prosecutors said had done more harm to the security of the United States than any Soviet agents since the Rosenbergs--escaped. Boyce was to become America's most wanted fugitive and the focus of an unprecedented, massive manhunt for eighteen months. Scores of FBI agents and U.S. Marshals sifted through hundreds of false leads. They traveled countless miles back and forth across America, to South Africa, through the isolated jungles of Central America. They were called on the carpet by Congressional committees for the often-publicized and embarassing lack of reults. Although THE FLIGHT OF THE FALCON is a thrilling chase and suspense story, it is also a fine study of character and psychological drama--the metamorphosis of an idealistic young man into a coarse and violent criminal fugitive.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The last third is great
You know how this book is going to end, but despite that, it is impossible to put it down - as long as you make it to the last third.The beginning 20 pages tells the tale of Chris Boyce's escape from prison (He is the former USSR spy brought to fame by the movie "Falcon and the Snowman.")The next 180 pages or so starts off well but then bogs down as it presents all the false-leads that law enforcement got stuck with in their going-nowhere-fast manhunt for him over the next 12-18 months.The final third presents Boyce's perspective of where he was hiding until they caught him at the end, and although you know it will end in his capture, it is an amazing and addictive read.

As a humorous aside, I love the idea of FBI agents and US marshalls driving around Port Angeles WA in the summer of 1981 looking for him, openly drinking cans of beer as they drive around town.Federal law enforcement officials drinking AND driving simultaneously on a national manhunt.How times have changed.Did you have to drink from an open container as you drove around Port Angeles in 1981 in order to maintain your cover as a federal agent?

A Fantastic True Story
For about two years I have had this thing for reading true escape stories. The Flight of the Falcon is one of the best. It's a story about a smart, young, convicted spy and his escape from prison. I give it only four stars because the author kind of went over board on the whole "follow the false leads" thing. For 18 months they got thousands of leads that went absolutely nowhere and Boyce was well on his way to freedom. But the play by play accounts of each false lead was redundant and tedious. Lindsey took a gamble with that and won.....in my opinion. All the redundancy paid off in a big way with a truly exciting escape story.

good
I didn't care about the red herrings the investigators were following. I just wanted to know what Boyce was really doing. So I read only those parts of the book. Those parts were quite interesting.

An Amazing Page Turning Exploration of Manhunt intrigue!
I picked this book up in a used book store, and read it in less than a day. I couldnot put it down! At first, I almost felt sorry for Christopher Boyce, but once he started robbing banks to support himself, forget aboutit. I wonder if today, in July of 2000, if he is still as bitter towardsboth the government and the CIA

One Great Book
Great!I am 15 and have just discovered this great book.My mother had owned it it was about my uncle Duke Smith.Duke his nick name.the book was great a must to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Orphaned by a cholera epidemic, Neb and his young brother are sent to the desolate farm of their last living relative. But when the savage Horsekin tribes begin raiding the villages along Deverry's western border, the brothers must flee for their lives. A chance encounter with Salamander-a bard and master of dweomer magic-proves their salvation, as he brings them to the shelter of Tieryn Cadryc's dun. Here Neb finds love with his soulmate Branna only to be dragged into a war for the very survival of the kingdom. And though both Neb and Branna are gifted with dweomer magic, they are also facing powerful enemies they have fought before in past lives they no longer remember. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Kerr is BACK with the last Deverry installment
"Katharine Kerr returns with her eager readers back to Deverry. Ms. Kerr also addresses her readers, in the Author's Note, that her novels are meant to be read as "part of one long story, divided into four 'acts,' as it were."

In The Gold Falcon the novel begins with sadness. We learn that two brothers, an adolescent Neb and much younger Clae, are both orphans sent to their uncle's decaying farm. One night they go out into the woods to look for more berries and manage to escape and hide from the ruthless Horsekin invaders that attack the village.

Fortuitously, they run into a kind stranger by the name of Salamander, who immediately recognizes Neb as Nevyn from his past life and takes him into Tieryn Cadryc's dun with his younger brother. It is here at the Dun that Neb meets his former past life soulmate Branna, though at the time they have no idea why they are so compelled to one another. In fact, once they realize that both of them can see the Wildfolk (small fairies and gnomes that only appear to people with dweomer or elves) they are instantly drawn to one another as well as confused and frightened.

Eventually, both are introduced to the Westfolk (elves) and a very powerful and beautiful dweomermaster Dallandra. In time both learn that their strange dreams are actually flashbacks into their past lives, their "dweomer masters" souls are struggling to recall old powerful memories buried away in their new bodies.

We also learn that Rhodry is still roaming Deverry as a dragon, Rori, with his mate Arzorah. Both dragons are integral pieces in the war against the Horsekin. However we also discover many secrets about Rori. Yet despite enjoying the power of flight he still longs to be turned back into a man.

What I enjoy the most about this series is the aspect of reincarnation. There are certain traits that souls have which are continuously carried over into the next life. Certainly this is not new this idea of bettering oneself in life to come back better or stronger in the next. But the way that Kerr weaves her story and characters continuously meeting, losing, and then making enemies, befriending enemies is really a work of art. She captures the whole essence of Celtic story-telling. It takes multiple incarnations of the characters to "make things right" with one another based on the vows they have made and how all of their destinies are linked because of the dweomer magic. I enjoy this idea that debts they owe to one another will never die until they are fulfilled. Only then can they begin on a clean slate, or achieve enlightenment or nirvana, and their soul can make the decision whether or not to be reborn on the astral plane.

I strongly recommend this series for any fantasy lovers. First begin with Daggerspell, it can be immensely confusing picking out all the character's past lives without reading their prior history. Kerr also includes an incarnation table in the back of her novels which help greatly to keep track of reincarnations."

Really? No other reviews yet?!
Well, I guess I'll be the first to say that this is a wonderful book--though I'm not sure how well-received it might be by someone who hasn't read the rest of the eleven books leading up to The Gold Falcon. Truth be told, I made the same mistake myself when I first discovered this series; I randomly selected The Red Wyvern (book nine), and found myself completely and thoroughly confused by the time I'd reached the second chapter.
It's well-worth the confusion, though--and really, if you start with the first book, Daggerspell, you'll get the hang of Kerr's writing style quickly enough.

These books aren't written in a linear progression (which, as afore mentioned, can create some confusion) she describes her method as being like a celtic knot in novel form: parts of the tale weave in and out of each other, with story-arcs that feature different incarnations of a core set of characters. The reader is left with a very eloquent and intriguing impression of the kinds of decisions and drama that affect us all, and the ramifications that echo through multiple lifetimes.
I understand that Kerr is an avid Dungeons&Dragons player, and it's pretty obvious in her use of Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, etc. I occasionally wish she'd get away from some of the more "cartoonish" aspects of these different magical races and stick with the riveting and more historically based medieval storylines in her books.
She's created a fascinating and well-fleshed out world in which people interact in a deeply compelling way. Over the course of eleven books, the reader has had the chance to walk a mile in the footsteps of every echelon of her society, from bondsman to Gwerbret or even King. I usually find it hard to put these books down, and I think I gobbled The Gold Falcon up in one gluttonous sitting.
Basically, if you've loved the series so far, you'll be buying this book no matter what, and I doubt you'll be disappointed. (I wasn't.) And if you haven't read any of Kerr's other books, I think I'd recommend that you start at the beginning. One gets the impression that Kerr has a very distinct destination in mind, and you don't want to miss one step of the journey. ... Read more

Product Description
At the center of a nearly insolvent Dubai, the 900-meter Falcon Tower, the world's tallest skyscraper, is near completion, and the unpaid Pakistani "guest" laborers who slaved on its construction will soon have nowhere to go. Or will they? Guided by an emboldened leader, brazen Islamic extremists are bent on the ruin of the West, and the goal of forging a 21st century Islamic caliphate. The laborers' despair then fueled and turned into hatred by a mysterious mullah, they will become waves of jihadist martyrs in the name of Islam.  

Following a rash of horrific coordinated suicide bombings in England and the United States, Navy Captain Bryan Craig and Pegasus, a London based elite counter-terrorism posse he commands, are tasked with hunting those responsible. Combining financial tracking, and the most advanced forensics lab in the world, Bryan and Shannon Parker, his muse, and brilliant terrorist profiler, embark on a perilous journey from London to Dubai, and finally the Hindu Kush mountains of Pakistan, a region tormented by the Taliban, thugs vying for control of the world's only Islamic nuclear arsenal. 

What will be the fate of the West as the Islamist's strategy of global domination unfolds? Along the way, Bryan retraces footsteps of the old British Empire, and discovers clues to what new terror may be planned, leading to a climatic, and very chilling ending. In a time of increased global financial uncertainty, and religious suspicions exacerbated along with the growing economic concerns, FALCON ON THE TOWER is insightful and thought provoking, an eye opening look at a conflict that has lasted 14 centuries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Exciting and Frightening.
From start to finish it was a thrilling read that once I started, I simply couldn't stop until the end. The novel was thoroughly researched, and being a female in the Defense industry, I could really identify with Shannon Parker, the FBI terrorism expert working with Bryan Craig. I loved the book and look forward to anything coming from Ron Clark Ball. Brilliant.

An exceptionally fun read - action and history
Falcon on the Tower is an exceptionally fun geo-political thriller that masterfully weaves together the widely misunderstood history of Afghanistan with a compelling story on modern-day terrorism -- you'll feel like you are on the ground in London, Dubai, and the Afghanistan/Pakistan border with "Pegasus", a secret US-UK counter-terror team as they attempt track down a global network of Islamic jihadists and deter future terror attacks.This is an exciting page-turner that will significantly enhance your understanding of the monumental challenges the US faces in combatting terrorist organizations as well as in current military operations on the ground in Afghanistan. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Another Outstanding Book by Mr. Gallagher
Falcon Fever is the wonderful culmination of one man's work with raptors over the last few decades. Yet, this book transcends other works about falconry and raptors as Mr. Gallagher includes deeply personal, touching, and poignant memories of his childhood and life to date.

It's no surprise to me that everyone who has read this book loves it. Mr. Gallagher's knowledge of falconry is surpassed only by his writing ability. He manages to effectively capture the essence of the close-knit, arcane world of falconry and convey it to a broad audience in a fashion that everyone can appreciate, regardless of their level of knowledge about falconry or raptors.

This book deserves a place in the library of every falconer, raptor/bird lover, environmentalist, and outdoor enthusiast.

Nicely done. I look forward to your next book.

Educating and entertaining -- just what I wanted!
Gallagher offers a fascinating window into the sport of modern-day falconry by presenting his own memoir - a life lived through the birds he captured, trained, and eventually released. From his hellish childhood to his troubled youth, and finally to his moderate and contemplative old age, Gallagher reflects both on the mechanics of the sport and what it means to those who embrace it.

Falconry and autobiography from a leading birder
Birdman has posted here on Amazon an excellent review of this interesting book, and Stephen J. Bodio has written an outstanding review for the Summer 2008 issue of "Living Bird", the publication of the Laboratory of Ornithology. As a long time member of the Lab and bird watcher (but not a "birder"), I noted a few random thoughts as I read through the book.

If you have any interest in birds at all, consider becoming a member of the Lab; my sales pitch for the Lab appears in the first Comment.

Tim Gallagher is the Editor in Chief of "Living Bird", editor of the North American Falconers Association Membership and author of The Grail Bird: The Rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.(I thought Bodio reviewed Falcon Fever fairly despite having written a glowing blurb for the back cover and having his review appear in "Living Bird".) Bodio himself has written an excellent book describing his love of falconry, A Rage for Falcons, and maintains a wonderfully complex website devoted to his many interests.

WSKG Public Broadcasting in southeastern New York conducted a 53 minute audio file of an interview with Gallagher focusing on "Falcon Fever". [online at local-national-728349.mp3 from stream.publicbroadcasting.net ]

Gallagher has written a strong apology for being both a falconer and a birder: "When I'm flying a raptor, I'm a different animal, as fierce and determined as a rampaging wolverine to flush game for my bird. If falconry didn't exist, I probably would not have become a hunter."

Gallagher devotes the second half of his book to Frederick II and his shared interest in falconry. The Wikipedia entry describes that interest: "Frederick inherited a love of falconry from his Norman ancestors. According to one source, Frederick replied to a letter in which the Mongol Khan Batu invited him to "surrender" that he would do so provided only that he be permitted to become the Khan's hawker. He maintained up to fifty hawkers at a time in his court, and in his letters he requested Arctic gyrfalcons from Lübeck and even from Greenland. He commissioned his Syrian astrologer Theodor to translate the treatise De arte venandi cum avibus, by the Arab Moamyn, and he corrected or rewrote it himself during the interminable siege of Faenza. One of the two existing versions was modified by his son Manfred, also a keen falconer."

I compared Gallagher's and Frederick II's views of falconry with T.H. White's views in The Goshawk (New York Review Books Classics), a wonderful book on the joys and challenges of falconry.

Gallagher has written a fascinating book on falconry and his own personal coming of age and making peace with his love of falconry.

Robert C. Ross2008

A compelling personal saga
This is the best book I've read this year, and it came as a complete surprise. I had no previous interest in falconry, but I was familiar with Tim Gallagher's role in the rediscovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker and had enjoyed reading his book, THE GRAIL BIRD, which details the behind-the-scenes events that led to finding that iconic species. I had also seen Gallagher speak at Cornell once, and he seemed interesting and passionate about his work. I picked up FALCON FEVER purely out of curiosity.

I'm not sure exactly what my expectations were, but FALCON FEVER completely exceeded them. The book is broken into two main parts--"My Back Pages" and "My Frederick II Year"--and in some ways it's like two books in one. The first half is a memoir covering his life up to age 19, and it's a harrowing story, as compellingly written as Tobias Wolff's THIS BOY'S LIFE, and even more grim, as Gallagher attempts to cope with a violent, unpredictable (and often drunk) father, who frequently terrorizes his family. But Gallagher finds solace in nature, escaping for hours at a time to run in the fields with his dog. He takes up falconry at the age of 12, and it becomes a grand obsession as he strives to develop an intimate relationship with the wildest, freest creatures on Earth.

At this time, Gallagher discovers Frederick II, a thirteenth-century Holy Roman Emperor and a Renaissance man 200 years before Leonardo da Vinci. He was also perhaps the greatest falconer who ever lived, and wrote a massive tome on the subject that Gallagher devoured as a preteen. But life was tough for him. He spent the last couple of years of high school working graveyard shift at factories, trying to help support his family after they fled from his father, and he often fell asleep in class.

This was in the 1960s, and like many teens in his generation, Gallagher was deeply affected by the Viet Nam war and the alternative culture that became so pervasive then. He and his friends began experimenting with drugs, and then, in his late teens, he was caught up in a drug sting and sent to jail for months. This was the most harrowing part of the book for me. By then, you feel like you really know who this kid is, and a cellblock is the last place on Earth where he belongs. He was so naive and innocent; it was like Billy Budd thrown into a den of wolves. His portrait of life in prison is unforgettable--the strange people he met; the prison culture; amazing. But Gallagher endures and becomes stronger for it.

The book then jumps more than 35 years. Gallagher is 55 years old, the same age as Frederick II was when he died, and he decides to spend a year intensely involved in falconry, visiting famous falconers in Wyoming, Nebraska, and other places in America as well as in Britain and Europe. He also travels through southern Italy and Sicily, retracing the steps of Frederick II. Toward the end of this section, the two parts of his life come together in a moving climax.

I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Set on a trader on the South Atlantic, on the fever-ridden shores of the Indian Ocean and in the Eden of the unexplored interior of Africathis wide-sweeping novel describes the Ballantyne family's first conquest of the untamed land of Africa. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

700+ page book abridged to 3 hours of audio
This audiobook is way too abridged for the length of the written book plus the web site didn't make it clear that it was abridged.Read the book instead.

Wilbur's overlooked gem.
This book is, beleive it or not, right on par with Smith's other breathtaking adventures like Birds of Prey, Monsoon, Blue Horizon, Seventh Scroll etc. Only River God can be considered better (and even that is close). None of the books in the Courtneys of Africa series or the others in the Ballantyne series can even come close to this book. A truely marvellous adventure yarn and one of the overlooked gems in the entire genre, A Falcon Flies is a masterpeice which, if had been published after Smith became internatioanlly famous (that is, after River God), would have done as well as any of Smith's other monster bestsellers.

The beginning of the Ballentyne Saga......
Wilbur Smith is my favorite author, and "A Falcon Flies" is one of his best.You are introduced to the Ballentyne's, Maj. Zouga Ballentyne and his sister, Dr. Robin Ballentyne as they search Africa for their missing father, the famous missonary and anti-slavery cruscader Fuller Ballentyne and have the bad luck to travel to Africa on board the ship of Mungo St.John, who it turns out, is a infamous slave trader himself...With that breathless start, you would expect action and lots of it, and you won't be disappointed.Duels, attack by slave traders on the Ballentyne safari, and ship to ship battles with thundering broadsides are but some of what is in store for the reader.Smith has never been afraid to write a strong woman character, and Robin Ballentyne certainly qualifes, coming close to unsympathic, being saved mainly by her constant concern for human life, never hestiating to place her own in jepoardy to help the ill or injured, but always sure of being right and never hestiating to say so.Neither is Zouga perfect, being more concerned with making the expedition profitable,from gold and ivory, than finding his father.All of Wilbur Smith's books are of the "keep you up late reading it" variety but "Falcon" is ones of his best, which makes it one of THE best, period.....

A Falcon Flies - A real African Tale
I must say as a fan of Wilbur Smith, this book captures anyone'simagination from the first page to the last and it leaves you wanting tostart on the next one in the series. As an African and Zimbabwean in whichmost of this story takes place I am left with no option but to salute Mr.Smith. He is a briliant researcher and an accurate writer of our historicalstories even though he calls them fiction. Some of the facts are so truethat you really feel you're in that age. He gives vivid descriptions of theNdebele state as if he was there during that time. I have no problem ratingit 5 out of 5!!!

captures me like a bride
I am a 49 year old man who has recently taken up reading after an absence of too many years. I have found that Wilbur Smith's books have filled the void of recent changes in my lifestyle. Although I started with Angry asThe Sea some ten years ago, I cannot read Mr. Smith's novels quicklyenough. Each thought or phrase summons me into it's very existance. My onlyregret is that memory will not allow me the pleasure of re-visiting Mr.Smith's adventures. ... Read more