Product Description

The sun brings heat, warmth, and energy to the Earth.

What is the sun made of? How big is it? How far away? Read and find out!

Customer Reviews (1)

Short and shallow
I'm a big fan for the series (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out) and so far I had bought 40-50 books so I'm really surprised when I got this book. I'm truly disappointed as this book is by far the shortest of all (only 19 pages of story instead of the usual 26-28 pages). On top of that, the fonts are huge so it "fills up" the page without providing any significant material. The add insult to the injury, the text is only every other page, so you have this double-page spread of picture with very little text (feels like a picture book instead of Level 2 of this series).

I finished reading the book for my kids in 2 minutes. Usually it's about 8-15 minutes, with few titles are up to 20 min. Very unhappy with this book. ... Read more

Product Description
A champion of Africa, legendary for his good looks, his charm, and his prowess as a soldier, lover, and hunter, Denys Finch Hatton inspired Karen Blixen to write the unforgettable Out of Africa. Now esteemed British biographer Sara Wheeler tells the truth about this extraordinarily charismatic adventurer.

Born to an old aristocratic family that had gambled away most of its fortune, Finch Hatton grew up in a world of effortless elegance and boundless power. In 1910, searching for something new, he arrived in British East Africa and fell in love–with a continent, with a landscape, with a way of life that was about to change forever. In Nairobi, Finch Hatton met Karen Blixen and embarked on one of the great love affairs of the twentieth century. Intellectual equals, Finch Hatton and Blixen were genuine pioneers in a land that was quickly being transformed by violence, greed, and bigotry. Ever restless, Finch Hatton wandered into a career as a big-game hunter and became an expert bush pilot. Mesmerized all his life by the allure of freedom and danger, Finch Hatton was, writes Wheeler, “the open road made flesh.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Draws a Crowd
Forgive me: I haven't read the book, and as a Dinesen fan I suspect I might have my differences with it, but I couldn't resist commenting on this crowd of intelligent readers and reviewers it has drawn!People were drawn to Finch Hatton; I am drawn to any author who nucleates such a thoughtful, articulate gathering as this.Blockbuster, maybe not, but they have their own clubs; I prefer this one.So sue me, I'm placing my order now.

Great read.
Well written. A fascinating look at East Africa in the early 1900's. Finch Hatton is far more interesting than Dinsen describes. Great read.

If you loved Out of Africa...
If you loved Out of Africa-- the book or movie-- you will love this beautifully-researched and written biography of the last of the great white hunters & safari guides.More than a biography of the man, it is a biography of an entire aristocratic way of life:the non-inheriting son who must find his way in the world.In Denys' case, it led to the Happy Valley of Kenya at the pak of the Pax Britania.Denys was among the first to value and respect the indigenous people and tribes of Africa, and his premature death between the wars presaged much of the wasted promise and potential of his generation.

Not Close Enough
Having lived in Kenya, I looked forward to Sarah Wheeler's book. Her tremendous research is apparent in the loving care afforded to specific details, especially concerning the early settlers in Kenya. I very much enjoyed the historical backdrop which gave context to behaviors and attitudes. However, Ms. Wheeler's view of Finch-Hatton is almost hagiographic. When the word "selfish" is floated in connection with his seemingly aloof response to Karen Blixen, Ms. Wheeler immediately counters with its romantic counterpart "elusive." She claims that this "elusiveness" was part of Finch-Hatton's charm and his attractiveness for women. I also have to agree with another reviewer; Karen Blixen is virtually excoriated throughout a good deal of this book. Ms. Wheeler's conclusions may be the result of interviews with Blixen's and Finch-Hatton's families. However, the trashing of Ms. Blixen's fiction seems particularly uncharitable and subjective. From this book, it appears that Finch-Hatton was the result of a pampered childhood and early schooling at Eton where he never recovered from being an "adored tyrant", and felt unable to "engage" with anything or anyone despite the devotion of many friends and lovers. Ms. Wheeler appears to agree with Beryl Markham who states that Finch-Hatton "was a great man who never achieved arrogance." However, Finch-Hatton seems more reminiscent of Henry James' John Marcher in "Beast in the Jungle" who waits for some great life-defining event to take place. Unlike Marcher, Finch-Hatton may never have understood that he allowed his life to slip away from him.

Doesn't live up to the hype
I picked up this book with great anticipation. Out of Africa had intriqued me, and West with the Night was an interesting read. I found it difficult to get into Too CLose to the Sun. The author just didn't hold my interest. Lots of history, but that's ok. I'm a history buff, but history can't just be a telling of facts particularly in a biography. I realize Denys Finch Hatton left much to the imagination. There isn't a lot of material an author can draw from. There are no people left that can be interviewed, but if an author sets out to write a biography there has to be something there to hold my interest, something to get me into the story. Indeed there has to be a story, not just dull information.
This book was just not what I was looking for. ... Read more

Product Description
The Quiet War is over. The city states of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn have fallen to the Three Powers Alliance of Greater Brazil, the European Union and the Pacific Community. A century of enlightenment, rational utopianism and exploration of new ways of being human has fallen dark. Outers are herded into prison camps and forced to collaborate in the systematic plundering of their great archives of scientific and technical knowledge, while Earth's forces loot their cities, settlements and ships, and plan a final solution to the 'Outer problem'. But Earth's victory is fragile, and riven by vicious internal politics. While seeking out and trying to anatomise the strange gardens abandoned in place by Avernus, the Outers' greatest genius, the gene wizard Sri Hong-Owen is embroiled in the plots and counterplots of the family that employs her. The diplomat Loc Ifrahim soon discovers that profiting from victory isn't as easy as he thought. And in Greater Brazil, the Outers' democratic traditions have infected a population eager to escape the tyranny of the great families who rule them. After a conflict fought to contain the expansionist, posthuman ambitions of the Outers, the future is as uncertain as ever. Only one thing is clear. No one can escape the consequences of war - especially the victors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Gardens of the Sun
This is a fast paced, extremely detailed and thought provoking story. The authors knowledge of sophisticated biological processes is interwoven throughout the story. He has used the limitations imposed upon us by the laws of physics to limit his story to this solar system, while showing in detail just how BIG this space really is. An excellent work.

Gary 7

contemplative SF, a little dispassionate but then so is outer space
This novel and its predecessor The Quiet War are a welcome change of pace from all the non-stop action Hollywood-style blockbuster SF that's been going around. By taking a little time to describe the beauty of the solar system, the biology of engineered ecosystems and the creative inspiration involved in their design, the passage of time during slower-than-light travel, the author allows us to actually feel the world he has built and experience it as participants rather than ADD-addled thrillseekers looking to get to the next plot point. I for one hope this foreshadows the next phase of SF, less hyper, with thorough exposition and background structure. Here the smoke and mirrors have gelled into something a little more substantial, and you feel like the story is something that could really happen. The offbeat choice of characters follow and their less-than-predictable destinies also add to the realism and gives us a sense of respect for the story and the broad themes which could fuel a whole graduate course.Finally, I commend Mr. McAuley for the quiet confidence of and poetic undertow in his writing, which make it more than easy-to-digest disposable junk and compel the reader toward contemplation and appreciation of life, its preciousness, and its fragility.

Great Sequel to the Quiet War
Just as good as, if not better than, the Quiet War. Complex characters, epic plot, and hard science. Although definitely science fiction, the book spends a surprising amount of time with how the characters dealt with the aftermath of a war won by a strong military dictatorship. The characters must cope physically, emotionally, economically, and politically. McAuley also goes out of his way to make sure we visit almost every planet and large moon (and many small moons and asteroids) in the solar system at some point in the duology, even while mostly maintaining focus on the handful of characters from the first book. The one problem I had was that this focus somewhat limited the presentation of the story. Many important events seemed to happen "off stage" as a result of McAuley's focus on just a handfull of "view point" characters. At the very end of the book, however, McAuley allows a secondary character take center stage for a chapter, even though that character is interacting with one of McAuley's main view-point characters. When you read the chapter, the reason why he changes view points is clear (the impact of the chapter would not have been as great, given the major changes that had occurred with one of the characters), but it kind of made me wonder why, if he was going to expand the story beyond the view-point characters from the first book, he didn't allow us to see some of the "off stage" events through the eyes of other secondary characters. Don't get me wrong, though; this was still a great book that I would recomend to anyone that loves hard sci fi.

Recommended for any strong military science fiction library
Gardens of the Sun takes place after the Quiet War, which results in interstellar prison camps, looting, and a fragile 'victory' by Earth's forces. A group of refugees struggle to preserve enlightenment and the old values as a band of fanatics prepare for a final battle that could destroy the human species in this riveting military sci fi adventure, recommended for any strong military science fiction library.

Disappointingly slow and tedious and boring
I enjoyed the Quiet War, but the title of the review summarizes this book. I finished by skimming the last half, only because I hate to stop books in the middle. Both Quiet War and Gardens of the Sun have the "parallel events and characters" layout. Unfortunately, some the parallels do not intersect with the main plot for very long periods and of themselves are uninteresting. None of the characters stands out as an empathetic central character, although Macy Minnot may come closest. McAuley paints some interesting panoramas of the surface of various moonscapes of the outer planets. However, the long explanations of billions of years, sublimation of whatever, striking of large object to cause upwelling of something or other, contrasting low light, etc is repeated at great length and ad nauseum. Let's get on with the story. Even more annoying are sections where he does long, long third person descriptions of the evolving thinking or feeling of a character or how the relations of the character are changing. This is a novel, and the reader would rather see the events unfold and make the judgment. ... Read more

Product Description
The Book of the New Sun is unanimously acclaimed as Gene Wolfe's most remarkable work, hailed as "a masterpiece of science fantasy comparable in importance to the major works of Tolkien and Lewis" by Publishers Weekly, and "one of the most ambitious works of speculative fiction in the twentieth century" by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Sword & Citadel brings together the final two books of the tetralogy in one volume:

The Sword of the Lictor is the third volume in Wolfe's remarkable epic, chronicling the odyssey of the wandering pilgrim called Severian, driven by a powerful and unfathomable destiny, as he carries out a dark mission far from his home.

The Citadel of the Autarch brings The Book of the New Sun to its harrowing conclusion, as Severian clashes in a final reckoning with the dread Autarch, fulfilling an ancient prophecy that will forever alter the realm known as Urth.

"Brilliant . . . terrific . . . a fantasy so epic it beggars the mind. An extraordinary work of art!"-Philadelphia Inquirer

"The Book of the New Sun establishes [Wolfe's] preeminence, pure and simple. . . . The Book of the New Sun contains elements of Spenserian allegory, Swiftian satire, Dickensian social consciousness and Wagnerian mythology. Wolfe creates a truly alien social order that the reader comes to experience from within . . . once into it, there is no stopping."--The New York Times Book Review
... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Demands to be read at least twice
I have just finished reading the third and fourth novels in Gene Wolfe's THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN and my immediate opinion is that I need to reread all four novels again.This is a challenging, dense, and fascinating work.I must be honest and confess that I did not see the genius in the work that many other highly intelligent readers have seen, but that could say more about me than about the work.I think readers need humility when failing to see genius in works that so many others have identified as such.

I do have two concrete complaints with the book.One is that I do think it is way too wordy.I have absolutely no trouble with long books.WAR AND PEACE is among my favorite books, while THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV and IN SEARCH OF LONG TIME are my two all time favorite books.But I do have a problem with books that have a lot of words that don't do much work.And I honestly feel that that is the case with THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN.Perhaps I will feel differently on a second reading.My second complaint is that Wolfe has Severian continually make subtle distinctions that are simply too fine to make much sense.I found this both frustrating and mildly tedious.I am sceptical that I will find this less frustrating and tedious on a second reading.

Still, you have to be impressed with the enormous effort that Gene Wolfe has undertaken to write a highly intelligent and ambitious work of fiction.The work is also fascinating for its genre hybridity.One can debate whether it could properly be considered fantasy or SF.The form is very much that of fantasy.The setting is remarkably similar to sword and sorcerer books and Severian's world bears a sharp resemblance to that of the Dark Ages in Europe.But it is also set countless millennia in the future and the planet he explores features remnants of the achievements of previous generations.So even though the overall form is fantasy, it technically is SF.This allows Wolfe to do countless things that normally are not possible in SF or fantasy.

One of the marks of the series is superior characterization, far beyond what one normally encounters in either SF or fantasy.Wolfe also takes a very purposeful, patient approach to telling his story.I frankly think that the pace is too slow and that the entire sequence could have been perhaps two-thirds its current length, but, again, when a few years from now when I read it again, perhaps I will feel differently.

I have not yet read THE URTH OF THE NEW SUN but plan to do so after I finish some reading/writing projects that will delay my doing so.I don't know a great deal about this book except that Severian is once again the narrator, so I obviously suspect that it continues his story.At some point I hope to continue on to read both THE BOOK OF THE LONG SUN and THE BOOK OF THE SHORT SUN, but, again, a variety of obligations may delay this until later this year or perhaps even to another year.But I'm convinced that this is a major work of SF/Fantasy and heartily recommend it to anyone in search of a sophisticated work in either field.

Its good but...
There is no doubt this series is a major work and that it is light-years ahead of most books in the genre - but still, it suffers from remaining a genre piece.

Wolfe is a master of intricate symbolism and mysterious plotting - but the more mundane aspects of novel writing in this work are often neglected in favour of the more intellectually mind bending stuff. And the books suffer for it.

For instance - how many plot coincidences can a story get away with? In book one, in one very busy day, the hero encounters nearly everyone of importance in a variety of seperate yet entirely coincidental incidents, has about four major adventures all in a row and acquires the major "artifact" of the series as well. All before dinner! Then he does more later. As the plot rages on, in a future world teaming with people and cities, our hero just keeps "running into" people he has either lost before or who have significant revelations for him just at the right time.

It is possible all these amazing and never ending coincidences could be explained by the intervention of higher powers - but then, where's the cleverness in that?

(BTW The Urth of the New Sun is even more busy in this way)

Its strange - all the cosmic stuff going on in the book is in fact far more believable than the day to day mecahanics of the plotting - which at times (I'm sorry to say) are laughable, unless you continue to see this as purely a genre work - in which case these things are forgiveable.

Also the rather adolescent attitude to women throughout the story (Severian is unable to see females as anything other than potential conquests, the big nerd that he is) also unfortunately kicks these books back into the sci fi ghetto, where its all about the hero hitting on anything that moves in a skirt and getting his way unless they turn out to be badies.

Personally I think Wolfe has done better in other works. This stuff is still brilliant in many ways, but in the end it largely a matter of taste as to whether this is the "best book ever written".

Awe-inspiring.
Lord of the Rings looks like the A-Team in comparison. Seriously. The Book of the New Sun is an excellent, deep, complex, prose-infested novel that will leave you speachless. It's so deep, that truly, it's a story that is meant to be read many times. This book will leave you gathering your thoughts over and over again. A true treasure-trove. And as it has for me, writting this review, it will leave you at a loss for words. Get it. Get it now. This is the 2nd half of 4 part volume. Be sure to read the 1st half FIRST. Otherwise, you'll be lost.

Sadly the whole is less than the sum of the parts
I was really looking forward to this book.It was a painful process admitting to myself that I didn't like it.

The book has a nice start; an interesting main character, nice pacing, good setting/interesting society/etc, but it just doesn't go anywhere as a whole.Our man Severian has well written, if somewhat random, adventures and recollections.

For myself the main shortcoming is the linear plotline and single point of view, e.g. I was here and I did this, then I woke up there and did that.This is covered up somewhat by frequent jumps to other points in time as the book is told as someone writing their memoirs.There are occasional references to a particular goal but they seem tacked on and have little relevance to the scene in which they are mentioned.

There are terrific scenes, great partial plot lines and stories but the epic is missing.Like Chinese food from the supermarket; it looks good in the case but in the end it just doesn't satisfy. Unfortunately the first half (this book) is the better of the two.

So glad I discovered Wolfe, great read while waiting forDance with Dragons
How come Wolfe isn't more popular? I love Gene Wolfe's masterpieces and plan on reading everything he's ever written, or at least all the great ones. Are his writing styles and vocabulary just too deep for the masses? There are so many made up animals mentioned in the books that leave it all up to the imagination, what's an arsinoither? I love some of the amazing beings in the books that make it so bizarre, like the cacogens(aliens who pose as humans), cyborgs(who also try to be human), and zointhropes(animals that gave up their humanity). The story is often confusing and the scenery constantly changing, Severian does most of his traveling on foot and covers whole continents. What happens if you don't succeed? You get your manhood taken away. Talk about motivation to succeed. ... Read more

Product Description
All she wants for Christmas…

Summer is headed to the Keys for winter break, but what should be a fun-in-the-sun holiday is becoming unbearable. Summer hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her ex-boyfriend, Austin, since their summer romance fizzled, and she can’t stand seeing him at the beach with his new girlfriend….

Now Austin is everywhere she goes. She’s reminded of how much fun they had, how gorgeous he is, and what she really wants is what she can’t have. Will it take a Christmas miracle for Summer to survive this holiday season? Or will the mistletoe work its magic? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Summer and Austin
I've read the whole series, and I loved it. "Beaches, Boys, and Betrayal" is my favorite, but this book is an excellent conclusion. Austin and Summer make the best couple! ... Read more

Product Description
When it was first produced in 1959, A Raisin in the Sun was awarded the New York Drama Critics Circle Award and hailed as a watershed in American drama. Not only was it a pioneering work by an African-American playwright - Lorraine Hansberry's play was also a radically new representation of black life, one that was resolutely authentic, fiercely unsentimental, and unflinching in its vision of what happens to people whose dreams are constantly deferred.

In her portrait of an embattled Chicago family, Hansberry anticipated issues that range from generational clashes to the civil rights and women's movements. She also posed the essential questions - about identity, justice, and moral responsibility - at the heart of these great struggles. The result is a work that captivated audiences from every walk of life and has become a classic of American letters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Books For School
My daughter needed this book for school. It was in great condition and we really needed the book in a bad way. ... Read more

Product Description
From an award-winning author whose ancestors lived the adventures in this novel comes a spectacular new epic about the American West.

Part history, part romance, and part action-adventure novel, Sun Going Down follows the fortunes of Ebenezer Paint and his descendants -- rough and tough individuals who are caught up in Civil War river battles, epic cattle drives through drought and blizzards, the horrors of Wounded Knee, the desperation of the dust bowl, and the prosperity of the roaring 1920s. The page-turning plot is peopled by a vibrant, unforgettable cast of characters: a grizzled Mississippi steamboat merchant, two horse-thieving brothers, five Annie Oakley-like sisters who can outride any cowboy, a half-Sioux bride who demands her new family claim her heritage, and a courageous daughter who defies her father and braves the West alone. Throughout their lives, the Paint family must battle both internal and external elements, and learn to live with spirit and wit.

Letters and diaries from the author's own family archives form the basis for all the events and characters in Sun Going Down, infusing the novel with richly detailed authenticity and deep emotional power. It is intimate in its portraits of the unforgettable characters who settled our country, sweeping in its geographical reach from Vicksburg up through Montana and the Dakotas, and epic as it spans four generations from the Civil War to the Great Depression.

Masterfully written, Sun Going Down holds the reader fast through tears, laughter, terror, and joy until the very last heart-gripping page is turned. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Sun Going Down - by Jack Todd
Sun Going Down, Jack Todd's lyrical, sweeping saga of life on the High Plains in the 1800s, reads like a skilfully orchestrated musical composition. As the opening page is turned there is hushed, expectant silence. On the downbeat of the conductor's baton, instruments and voices join as one with profound power, and the symphony that is played tells a remarkable story...

At times the music is pure, sweet, as a cappella voices blending in flawless harmony and perfect pitch. It is often exquisite like the achingly beautiful, haunting cry of violin strings soaring heavenward, and then seeping down deep into the soul. On occasion, the senses are shocked by the sudden, unexpected crash and clash of cymbals. The fiddles flit in and out, here and there...light-hearted, carefree, full-of-joy. The cellos are often called upon to mourn a terrible loss. At all times the rhythm and cadence are maintained by the steady, primal beat of percussion that oftentimes rocks to the core.

This book absorbed me completely. Time and events ebb and flow as surely as the movement of the ocean tides. Generations weave seamlessly one into the other, from Eb and Cora Paint down through the years to Velma and Jim Lindquist. Todd's characters are many and delightfully unique. They come in all shapes, sizes, personalities, and a variety of nationalities. Most are salt-of-the-earth, feisty, strong-willed folk who face their world, its immense trials and limitations with courage and gritty determination, and with heads held high. How enormously difficult, and fragile, was life on the High Plains in the 1800s! The possibility of hardship and heartbreak was a day-to-day companion, ominous shadows lurking just out of sight...rattlers hiding in dark corners; deadly snowstorms and freaky weather changes; ice fog that would freeze the lungs in mid breath; a mule's deadly kick; life-threatening TB and meningitis; hit-or-miss medical knowledge; merciless drought that wiped out the livelihood, the hopes and dreams of so many; slinking wolves, real or of the ghostly kind...and on it goes. But in spite of the trials of day-to-day existence, life on the western frontier was rich in so many ways for the High Plains settlers...it was good. The simple rewards of hard, physical labour on the land, love and family, the glories of uncluttered natural beauty were all part and parcel of their existence.

With color pallet in hand, Todd paints scenes that are breathtaking in their brilliance, their pristine clarity...vast plains, wide-open spaces, boundless as the limitless sky above them; stars and constellations glittering like masses of diamonds as though randomly flung into the inky blackness of the firmament; snow-capped mountains; lush, alpine forests and powerful, surging rivers; the rising and the setting of the sun flooding the land with unspeakable beauty; seasons of immense proportions; Civil War river battles; massive cattle drives across an often unforgiving land.

The final crystalline note of this marvellous story is played at Velma's graveside...Eli and his granddaughter, Emaline, huddled together in the gathering snowstorm, yet so far apart in spirit; united, only momentarily, by a terrible shared grief. In terms of the human condition, it does not get much more poignant, more heartbreaking than this. But with Emaline's tears and the strength of Eli's comforting embrace, perhaps there might be something there on which to build...

This engrossing epic saga, played out over four generations, is based on Jack Todd's family lore handed down from diaries, memoirs, stories, and letters. I echo the review comment of Michael Korda, author of Ulysses S. Grant and Ike, "...and who knows maybe a miniseries." This is an unforgettable odyssey of an unforgettable family.

I've never written anything this good
Very enjoyable read, spanning 3 or 4 generations of a family from the Civil War to beyond the Great Depression.That's gotta be hard.I know that I have never written anything this good.Good job Jack Todd.

Fascinating...a very good read.
What needs to be kept in mind by other reviewers is that this book was based on the Author's family memoirs- in real life there are no "happy endings" and sometimes the end isn't so cut and dry.
I loved the book- I'd love to read more just like this. It's like The Little House books written for adults. If you love to read about our Western pioneers and the years of Westward expansion, then you may want to pick this one up.

Agree to Agree
Ok. Loved the book as a piece of historical fiction. Caught me all the way from the dead soldiers head bumping the boat until the twins were born. But, here I have to agree with another reviewer that as much as I enjoyed the entire book, the writer certainly rushed the last half for a publication deadline. Or, he had another book entirely in mind. Again, I enjoyed the read from front to back but actually had to remind myself that I wasn't reading two different books. Also, the beauty of the writing of the first half eclipsed the speed in which things happened in the second. The first half was good enough to keep me reading to the finish but I felt cheated by the time I made it to the last page.

Family saga with all its odd twists and colorful characters
Jack Todd was able to turn his family memoirs into a beautifully written novel that encompasses history from the California Gold Rush right through the Great Depression. He introduces some wonderful characters - beginning with Ebenezer Paint piloting a steamboat down the Mississippi River. The descriptions of life in the west are incredibly vivid. The hardships, struggles, and the joys of the Paint family make a great read. There were some odd twists, and some sad stories, but if you keep in mind that Todd was basing his book on a family memoir, you know that there are usually some unexpected twists and turns in most family histories. Knowing that there was probably embellished truth in each story made the book even more interesting for me. ... Read more

Product Description
The two novels combined in this omnibus (Cald of the Long Sun and Exodus from the Long Sun) comprise the second half of Gene Wolfes long novel, The Book of the Long Sun. Publishers Weekly calls it One of the major SF series of the decade The complex language is lovingly crafted. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Mixed bouquet of tediousness and roses
I desperately want to give Caldé of the Long Sun four stars as I have been keenly fixated on exploring the previous two novels in the series. Also, I read this third book of 300 pages in the series in merely two days, so it's obvious I was still captivated by Wolfe's prose and plot. BUT the book starts abruptly and continues to stagger and waver until the very end. It's like the book itself received a good conk on the head and isn't able to walk straight... much like the characters in Caldé of the Long Sun.

As in Lake of the Long Sun (book 2) when the characters were strained through hardship the main cast themselves changed in attitude and speech transforming them for the worst. It was difficult to follow them even though they should have been familiar after reading about them for 500+ pages. The change was unwanted. In Caldé of the Long Sun, this strain becomes overbearing when the hardships pile upon injury which stack upon disconnectedness. The characters' profiles which were molded in Nightside of Long Sun are shattered. It is difficult to sympathize with a cast you have since grown distant from through unfamiliarity.

What causes this abrupt change is a series of head concussions, perpetual bodily injury, insomnia, starvation and over activity of Auk and Silk. Their thoughts are poorly formed and wandering as they draw up improbable scenarios, talk to long dead individuals and skew their own memories of the past. These passages are not reader friendly; I found myself frustrated when encountering each delusional monologue. How many times can Silk get shot, knocked unconscious, bruised, battered and beaten? While dragging yourself through Caldé of the Long Sun you'll be surprised how often; and then sigh as you encounter injury after injury.

Some of the more minor characters come and go from the plot without knowing what happened to them, if they have left or have died or are just quiet. I found myself rereading entire pages to see where the characters have disappeared to and often gave up and wrote it off. Granted, it's easy to lose someone in a dark tunnel during the 200 pages of darkness, darkness, darkness.

There are parts of Caldé of the Long Sun which perk my interest in reading about the generation ship which the entire cast find themselves on and how everything seems to by alphabetized (sibling, class seating, villages, etc). I even became intrigued with new mysteries like the Plan of Pas, the greater importance of the Outsider and the Windows.

-------------------------------------------------

When I started the Long Sun trilogy (Nightside of the Long Sun: 5 stars), seemingly held to high standards by popular readers, I fell in love with the detailed sumptuousness of a chaotic day in Silk's life. The foundation of the series was had utmost perfection for a further three books to build upon. I told myself that when I would eventually come to the conclusion of book four, I would lament/celebrate with a glass of champagne. However, when getting into the meat of the spanning plot (Lake of the Long Sun: 4 stars and Caldé of the Long Sun: 3 stars), I found the characters to be waning in their behavior, leading me to unnecessarily confuse who was who and who held what intentions. It was at this point that I decided the conclusion of the series didn't earn its weight in champagne. Sad.

`Exodus' does pick up speed from where Caldé seemed like it was dragging a codpiece full of coal. Much of the book four plot takes place in or around the subterranean tunnels, where Silk's revolution, the Trivigaunti army from the next city over, the tri-centennial biochem soldiers and the deposed city government of the Ayuntamiento are in a free fall of alliances and backstabbing. The nuances of the good-willed agreements becomes increasing complex as does the perpetual name dropping of the military: generals, generalissimos, lieutenants, sergeants and of the clergy: pateras and mayteras. Then there are the nicknames of some of the cast and I KNOW there's an index of names but I find it inconvenient as each synopsis is too brief.

Amongst the plethora of negotiating platitudes, there is the quiet crescendo of revelation, the unveiling of the some of the secrets the Whorl has in store and where the Whorl is headed. Some of these mysteries have light shed upon them while most secrets, ultimately, remain enigmatic due to the author's elusive prose or possibly because of his myopic view of science in the Long Sun series. The answers I've been dying to hear reveled, rather than being dwelled upon and inferred, are shortcoming. For the series as a whole, it's very poor science fiction and the technology and reason's for the broader background (The Whorl and all its wonders) is elusive. THIS would be the said baby's breathe, a visual superfluous addition to a floral bouquet, which is missing to the greater whole.

Additionally, I deduced who the Outsider was in book one didn't need to be bluntly told that the Outsider is the God of the Gods, the creator of the Mainframe Gods, the ultimate Maker. Book four becomes a little preachy when these matters are demonstrated while the other nine Gods often reveal idiosyncratic (BTW: I tend to use this word a lot in my reviews) tendencies and makes for a rather vibrant polytheistic culture.

Parting questions to raise debate: Does Wolfe snub the polytheistic cultures (as presented in the Whorl), brushing them off as amnesic and supernatural while placing his views of a monotheistic God on a self-imposed alter? Good Silk took refuge in the Outside and began to shun the other nine `Gods' because he himself believed in this monotheism or did Wolfe superimpose his conversion of faith on a character of his own creation?

Sorry Wolfe, you're novels don't appeal to me but your one short story, The Ziggurat, gives me hope that your collections can redeem your alleged high reputation.

Chaotic and disappointing conclusion to the Long Sun series
By the conclusion of the second book in the LONG SUN series, our hero -- brave, naive, clever, wise, reverent, young Patera Silk -- had been granted a vision by the god called the Outsider and conversed with other gods; had begun consorting with thieves and prostitutes; had committed robbery and attempted murder and had killed in self-defense; had fallen in love, been badly injured, acquired a sentient talking bird, and found that he had a natural knack for swordfighting; had discovered that the doctor caring for him was a spy from the matriarchal city of Trivigaunte; had learned that the ruling Ayuntamiento (city council) of his native city of Viron was run by insane, power-hungry robots (more or less); and had been popularly acclaimed Calde (mayor) in opposition to the Ayuntamiento.

Having subjected Silk and his compatriots to all of these wild and improbable events and revelations over the space of a few days, Wolfe could have chosen to settle things down in the third book of the series, CALDE OF THE LONG SUN. Instead, he ramps up the civil war that was developing at the end of book two, introduces a huge army of women from Trivigaunte, nominally on Silk's side, and practically doubles the already-large cast of significant characters. This is not a positive development, as I found keeping track of who's who, what's what, and why's that to be beyond my meager mental capabilities. Worse, there's little payoff to the additional complexitly; most of the book is spent in pointless dithering, blathering, bantering, and rumination.

This continues in EXODUS FROM THE LONG SUN. Early on, however, we learn that the gods (or at least one of them) want people to begin abandoning the "whorl" and exploring nearby planets. As we learned in the first three books, the whorl is falling apart and many of the supplies intended to support colonization of a new world have been foolishly squandered. Mounting a planetary excursion is going to be no small feat in a spaceship where nineteenth century technology rules. This effort could be interesting, but Wolfe doesn't seem to care about it very much. Thus, EXODUS becomes increasingly disconnected and disjointed towards the end. It's very like a film that was edited together after a quarter of the scenes were lost through careless handling.

The good: Wolfe's sharp, thoughtful, satirical treatment of religion, religious faith, and religious and political corruption remains provocative, even if it does not add much to what he achieved in the first two books. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to sustain the reader's interest.

The bad: Wolfe can't hold his focus in the second half of THE BOOK OF THE LONG SUN; there's too much going on, most of it pointless. Readers who were hoping for big revelations about the whorl, its mission, and its objectives will be disappointed. The journey is ... the only reward you're going to get. How's that for an epiphany?

The verdict: Sigh. Good enough to buy, disappointing enough to kvetch about at length.

Better on the second read
I recently decided to re-read the Long Sun books, since they were sitting on the shelf from a decade ago, and all I could remember of them was that they were good. And that I had been somewhat confused by them. So, resolving to read slowly and thoughtfully, I read them again. If anything, I think I enjoyed them more this time, though that probably has more to do with me growing older than anything else. They're not perfect (thus the 4 stars), and Wolfe does play some games that I find a bit annoying, but that's easily overlooked. For instance, one could be mightily pissed that, after reading a third-person narrative for 1200 pages, one reads that the entire story was actually "written" by one of the secondary characters in the book. Take that seriously, and you have to re-evaluate the entire sequence based on that character's limited knowledge of events. So, I just decided that was a device of Wolfe's to lead into the next trilogy (The Short Sun books) and ignored it. Other than a few unexplained oddities here and there (e.g., What is the significance of Maytera Marble's various names, why does she lie about being originally named Molybdenum?), the book (it's one long book, just as Lord of the Rings is one book) is quite straight-forward and a great story. We never do find out (in this book, anyway) who the gods really are, though we can guess. Silk is a fascinating character, and if you don't find that to be true, this book is not for you. This is Silk's story, and he likes to talk. Boy does he like to talk. He's a very thoughtful, sensitive, and intelligent man, yet he falls in love with a whore who couldn't be more different from him. She's about as deep as a puddle. Not sure what Wolfe is trying to say there. There's hints of Wolfe's Roman Catholicism all over the place. Silk's religion is like a Catholic-Pagan hybrid. It's fascinating to read, if you treat it almost like an archeological puzzle. Where did the Whorl (the generation starship the book takes place in) come from, and who launched it? Where is it going? Is it off course, or broken? The Cargo (Silk and everyone else inside the Whorl) have lost much knowledge of their own past, and we are limited in our understanding just as they are. Over the course of the book, we see Silk grow from a shy parish priest into a great leader, and a similar change occurs in one of the "sisters," Maytera Mint. It's interesting to see how belief can help people grow and become who they are meant to be, even though we know (and Silk knows, towards the end) that the gods are not really as we think they are. This is, after all, science fiction, not fantasy. It's some of the most subtle and well-written fiction of any kind that I've read in quite a while. Just prepare to take your time with it, like a fine meal.

It's just the Whorl that we all live in
Gene Wolfe takes patience.His writing and by extension his stories, are subtle things, rarely spelling out what the reader needs to know but dancing around it instead, sketching the outlines of what he's trying to reveal and leaving it to the reader to fill in the blanks.A lot of writers do this and then have the characters explain it all at the right moments, so that the reader can feel accomplished by having put together the scenario before they were "supposed" to.Wolfe hardly does this, revelations come in asides and as seen from a distance.Often the characters don't understand what is being revealed and it's only because we have a different perspective that we don't even know what's going on.But we're not in the story.

SF has had a long history of being far more literary than most non-genre or even genre fans realize (it's had a willingness to experiment with form and subject matter to a sometimes fearless degree) and of those Wolfe is one of the few who can go toe to toe with the so-called literary heavyweights of the day.This omnibus here collects the second half of the Long Sun series and continues the story begun in the first half.Patera Silk has been appointed calde apparently by popular demand, armies are in the city, and matters are barely tottering on the edge of chaos.While Wolfe doesn't do anything vastly different here, the SF elements are scaled back for a more meditative sequence of events . . . having already sketched out the contours of this world, now he's giving everyone a chance to play in the boundaries of it.

Readers looking for big climaxes or stirring bombastic speeches are probably going to be disappointed, the story is pulled along in strings of tiny revelation and it's more the accumulation of events that gives the overall tale its weight.Wolfe never wastes anything, every seemingly random story some character tells, every tossed off detail, it all fits in somewhere and lends weight to the greater narrative.Constantly shifting location and yet maintaining and even, unhurried pace, he manages to capture the scope of great things happening and people trying to keep the world and the people they care about safe.

Silk remains of his best characters, an unmoving and sometimes unwilling pillar in the center of the action, calm and worried, decisive and gambling, he's all too human and the story wouldn't have half the emotional heft it does without him.This story, more than any other, is the sum of its parts, none of the pieces stand out but all of it interlocks to form the story itself, arcing and grand, wistful and epic.It won't dazzle unless you're paying attention but if you are, it becomes worth the effort.

And in the end it isn't about the mysteries of the Whorl, those become almost incidental to the tale itself, but the people who live in it and what they have to do to survive.Even if survival means stepping out entirely.

Not profound... but profoundly awful
I loved the Book of the New Sun, and some of Wolfe's other works, so I tucked into this huge opus with glee. Over 1200 pages later and how do I feel - pretty darn irritated and quite keen to reclaim the many hours of my life that I seem to have wasted reading it.What is it all about - I don't know.Does anyone know?Not judging by the other reviews here.Wolfe has a skillful way of sucking you in with the promise of great revelations in the end - but in this series of books there are no revelations, no explanations.The main characters end up leaving the ship (The Whorl) - wow didn't see that coming, did you?Only 700-800 pages ago.No doubt erudite devotees of the author will come up with some profound deeper meaning locked away within it's pages - but what about the reader who wants to actually enjoy what he reads and feel rewarded at the end?I like the review lower down on this page by the guy who has read the entire series 6 times already - but still hasn't quite worked out how to describe what it's about.Says it all really. ... Read more

Product Description
In What If God Were the Sun, psychic medium John Edward weaves a warm and poignant story about one family and their way of dealing with life, love, and death over the generations. John draws upon his vast experience with individuals throughout the world—and their loved ones who have crossed over—to create a timeless tale that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it.

People of all ages will be moved by this account of a family that weathers tragedy, bonds together, and passes on healing messages of love from generation to generation.Amazon.com Review
Timothy Callahan comes from a large Italian American family that loves big gatherings as well as Grandma Rosie's famous meatball recipe (although he still wishes she'd left out the raisins). But above all else, the Callahans love one another. This may not sound like the makings for high drama or complex fine literature, but that was not what author John Edward was after. As an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, Edward spends most of his days helping survivors work through the seemingly unbearable grief of losing a loved one. As a result, Edward wanted to offer a comforting message about the everlasting love that can bridge even death.

In order to get this message across, Edward presents a story about an endearing and seriously devoted family as they endure the final goodbye to a beloved matriarch. Soon after Timothy discoveries that his mother is dying of cancer, the family gathers to view old family movies. While watching the faces of deceased relatives on the movie screen, he begins to ponder the afterlife.

"As I look over at my mom, I know that she's wondering if all these faces of yesteryear will be the faces of her tomorrows. Will she see them when she crosses over? Will her loved ones welcome her on the other side, as we all want to believe? I hope so."

While his mother's cancer progresses, the narrator flashes back to his childhood when his mother explained that God was the sun, an epiphany that becomes more tangible as he wrestles with impending death. Readers who don't expect haute literature will be touched by this tearjerker story that offers tenderness and comfort. It's also an excellent book to give to those who are open to afterlife discussions and are grieving the loss of a loved one. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (60)

John Edward
"What if God Were The Sun", by John Edward.Very light reading. Book is in excellent condition and was a fair price.This was purchased from books_for_less_2009.I received my order in a very few days.I would purchase from this seller again.

a WOW book
I really enjoyed this book, admittedly as a fervent John Edward fan. Nevertheless, it was very well written and I finished it in one sitting. The ending was priceless and I recommend it for anyone with a heart aching for someone who's passed on.

What if God were the sun
A very enjoyable, fast read.I think John Edward really is a very talented writer.

What If God Were the Sun?
I did not receive this product. I was informed that it was out of stock.

I loved this book!!!
It's a easy read and is well written.I cried myself silly as I could easily relate to the characters in the book.John Edward has found an amazing way of getting his point across about the other side.I was with my mother when she died and it gave me a little insight as to what it must have been like for her.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
An all-new original short fiction anthology featuring Mercedes Lackey's heroic Heralds and their horselike companions-as penned by such masters of fantasy as Judith Tarr, Michelle West, Fiona Patton, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

awesome!!!
As all her books whether alone or with her collaberators it makes for an easy read in her "world" Valdemar and surrounding areas.

Companions and Firecats! Oh my!
These anthologies are a terrific addition to the "pure" series of Valdemar novels by Mercedes Lackey. Written by other authors inspired by her world of Valdemar, they are an eclectic mix of stories that provide a little more insight into Valdemar as well as the people living in the lands bordering it. Tragic and comedic, they add a valuable enhancement to the beloved people of the world of the Heralds and Companions.

Sun In Glory
This was a much enjoyed sellection of short stories and some very tallented writers. There was no getting bored here, if you have read the valdamaran series and are familiar with the stories this book will mesh well with your memories of the other tales.

Fantastic!
I am always a bit sceptical about anthologies, even the Marian Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey ones.However, Mercedes did a truly fantastic job of editing these stories to remain true to the Valdemarian history, lands, and people.I highly recommend this book for the Valdemar-lovers out there!

I did not like this at all
I generally enjoy Mercedes Lackey books, what with them being the most abundant set in my bookcases, but I was sorely disappointed with this. It just was not up to my expectation of excellence for this writer. The only story I specifically remember that I like whas something about a priest who lived off somewhere by himself and one of the giant cats from the Karse sungod thing... if you have read the books, you know what kind of cat I mean, I just can't think of it. I also can't think of the name of the stories because I barely made it through by skimming to see if there were any I wanted to read after reading a couple. I didn't see this as a good investment other than completing the collection, and if you aren't a book collector, I recommend checking this out at a library or going to a used bookstore or borrowing from a friend. It's not worth the money. There are worse books, but this was far below my level of expectation. ... Read more

Product Description
The two novels combined in this omnibus (Cald of the Long Sun and Exodus from the Long Sun) comprise the second half of Gene Wolfes long novel, The Book of the Long Sun. Publishers Weekly calls it One of the major SF series of the decade The complex language is lovingly crafted. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Mixed bouquet of tediousness and roses
I desperately want to give Caldé of the Long Sun four stars as I have been keenly fixated on exploring the previous two novels in the series. Also, I read this third book of 300 pages in the series in merely two days, so it's obvious I was still captivated by Wolfe's prose and plot. BUT the book starts abruptly and continues to stagger and waver until the very end. It's like the book itself received a good conk on the head and isn't able to walk straight... much like the characters in Caldé of the Long Sun.

As in Lake of the Long Sun (book 2) when the characters were strained through hardship the main cast themselves changed in attitude and speech transforming them for the worst. It was difficult to follow them even though they should have been familiar after reading about them for 500+ pages. The change was unwanted. In Caldé of the Long Sun, this strain becomes overbearing when the hardships pile upon injury which stack upon disconnectedness. The characters' profiles which were molded in Nightside of Long Sun are shattered. It is difficult to sympathize with a cast you have since grown distant from through unfamiliarity.

What causes this abrupt change is a series of head concussions, perpetual bodily injury, insomnia, starvation and over activity of Auk and Silk. Their thoughts are poorly formed and wandering as they draw up improbable scenarios, talk to long dead individuals and skew their own memories of the past. These passages are not reader friendly; I found myself frustrated when encountering each delusional monologue. How many times can Silk get shot, knocked unconscious, bruised, battered and beaten? While dragging yourself through Caldé of the Long Sun you'll be surprised how often; and then sigh as you encounter injury after injury.

Some of the more minor characters come and go from the plot without knowing what happened to them, if they have left or have died or are just quiet. I found myself rereading entire pages to see where the characters have disappeared to and often gave up and wrote it off. Granted, it's easy to lose someone in a dark tunnel during the 200 pages of darkness, darkness, darkness.

There are parts of Caldé of the Long Sun which perk my interest in reading about the generation ship which the entire cast find themselves on and how everything seems to by alphabetized (sibling, class seating, villages, etc). I even became intrigued with new mysteries like the Plan of Pas, the greater importance of the Outsider and the Windows.

-------------------------------------------------

When I started the Long Sun trilogy (Nightside of the Long Sun: 5 stars), seemingly held to high standards by popular readers, I fell in love with the detailed sumptuousness of a chaotic day in Silk's life. The foundation of the series was had utmost perfection for a further three books to build upon. I told myself that when I would eventually come to the conclusion of book four, I would lament/celebrate with a glass of champagne. However, when getting into the meat of the spanning plot (Lake of the Long Sun: 4 stars and Caldé of the Long Sun: 3 stars), I found the characters to be waning in their behavior, leading me to unnecessarily confuse who was who and who held what intentions. It was at this point that I decided the conclusion of the series didn't earn its weight in champagne. Sad.

`Exodus' does pick up speed from where Caldé seemed like it was dragging a codpiece full of coal. Much of the book four plot takes place in or around the subterranean tunnels, where Silk's revolution, the Trivigaunti army from the next city over, the tri-centennial biochem soldiers and the deposed city government of the Ayuntamiento are in a free fall of alliances and backstabbing. The nuances of the good-willed agreements becomes increasing complex as does the perpetual name dropping of the military: generals, generalissimos, lieutenants, sergeants and of the clergy: pateras and mayteras. Then there are the nicknames of some of the cast and I KNOW there's an index of names but I find it inconvenient as each synopsis is too brief.

Amongst the plethora of negotiating platitudes, there is the quiet crescendo of revelation, the unveiling of the some of the secrets the Whorl has in store and where the Whorl is headed. Some of these mysteries have light shed upon them while most secrets, ultimately, remain enigmatic due to the author's elusive prose or possibly because of his myopic view of science in the Long Sun series. The answers I've been dying to hear reveled, rather than being dwelled upon and inferred, are shortcoming. For the series as a whole, it's very poor science fiction and the technology and reason's for the broader background (The Whorl and all its wonders) is elusive. THIS would be the said baby's breathe, a visual superfluous addition to a floral bouquet, which is missing to the greater whole.

Additionally, I deduced who the Outsider was in book one didn't need to be bluntly told that the Outsider is the God of the Gods, the creator of the Mainframe Gods, the ultimate Maker. Book four becomes a little preachy when these matters are demonstrated while the other nine Gods often reveal idiosyncratic (BTW: I tend to use this word a lot in my reviews) tendencies and makes for a rather vibrant polytheistic culture.

Parting questions to raise debate: Does Wolfe snub the polytheistic cultures (as presented in the Whorl), brushing them off as amnesic and supernatural while placing his views of a monotheistic God on a self-imposed alter? Good Silk took refuge in the Outside and began to shun the other nine `Gods' because he himself believed in this monotheism or did Wolfe superimpose his conversion of faith on a character of his own creation?

Sorry Wolfe, you're novels don't appeal to me but your one short story, The Ziggurat, gives me hope that your collections can redeem your alleged high reputation.

Chaotic and disappointing conclusion to the Long Sun series
By the conclusion of the second book in the LONG SUN series, our hero -- brave, naive, clever, wise, reverent, young Patera Silk -- had been granted a vision by the god called the Outsider and conversed with other gods; had begun consorting with thieves and prostitutes; had committed robbery and attempted murder and had killed in self-defense; had fallen in love, been badly injured, acquired a sentient talking bird, and found that he had a natural knack for swordfighting; had discovered that the doctor caring for him was a spy from the matriarchal city of Trivigaunte; had learned that the ruling Ayuntamiento (city council) of his native city of Viron was run by insane, power-hungry robots (more or less); and had been popularly acclaimed Calde (mayor) in opposition to the Ayuntamiento.

Having subjected Silk and his compatriots to all of these wild and improbable events and revelations over the space of a few days, Wolfe could have chosen to settle things down in the third book of the series, CALDE OF THE LONG SUN. Instead, he ramps up the civil war that was developing at the end of book two, introduces a huge army of women from Trivigaunte, nominally on Silk's side, and practically doubles the already-large cast of significant characters. This is not a positive development, as I found keeping track of who's who, what's what, and why's that to be beyond my meager mental capabilities. Worse, there's little payoff to the additional complexitly; most of the book is spent in pointless dithering, blathering, bantering, and rumination.

This continues in EXODUS FROM THE LONG SUN. Early on, however, we learn that the gods (or at least one of them) want people to begin abandoning the "whorl" and exploring nearby planets. As we learned in the first three books, the whorl is falling apart and many of the supplies intended to support colonization of a new world have been foolishly squandered. Mounting a planetary excursion is going to be no small feat in a spaceship where nineteenth century technology rules. This effort could be interesting, but Wolfe doesn't seem to care about it very much. Thus, EXODUS becomes increasingly disconnected and disjointed towards the end. It's very like a film that was edited together after a quarter of the scenes were lost through careless handling.

The good: Wolfe's sharp, thoughtful, satirical treatment of religion, religious faith, and religious and political corruption remains provocative, even if it does not add much to what he achieved in the first two books. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to sustain the reader's interest.

The bad: Wolfe can't hold his focus in the second half of THE BOOK OF THE LONG SUN; there's too much going on, most of it pointless. Readers who were hoping for big revelations about the whorl, its mission, and its objectives will be disappointed. The journey is ... the only reward you're going to get. How's that for an epiphany?

The verdict: Sigh. Good enough to buy, disappointing enough to kvetch about at length.

Better on the second read
I recently decided to re-read the Long Sun books, since they were sitting on the shelf from a decade ago, and all I could remember of them was that they were good. And that I had been somewhat confused by them. So, resolving to read slowly and thoughtfully, I read them again. If anything, I think I enjoyed them more this time, though that probably has more to do with me growing older than anything else. They're not perfect (thus the 4 stars), and Wolfe does play some games that I find a bit annoying, but that's easily overlooked. For instance, one could be mightily pissed that, after reading a third-person narrative for 1200 pages, one reads that the entire story was actually "written" by one of the secondary characters in the book. Take that seriously, and you have to re-evaluate the entire sequence based on that character's limited knowledge of events. So, I just decided that was a device of Wolfe's to lead into the next trilogy (The Short Sun books) and ignored it. Other than a few unexplained oddities here and there (e.g., What is the significance of Maytera Marble's various names, why does she lie about being originally named Molybdenum?), the book (it's one long book, just as Lord of the Rings is one book) is quite straight-forward and a great story. We never do find out (in this book, anyway) who the gods really are, though we can guess. Silk is a fascinating character, and if you don't find that to be true, this book is not for you. This is Silk's story, and he likes to talk. Boy does he like to talk. He's a very thoughtful, sensitive, and intelligent man, yet he falls in love with a whore who couldn't be more different from him. She's about as deep as a puddle. Not sure what Wolfe is trying to say there. There's hints of Wolfe's Roman Catholicism all over the place. Silk's religion is like a Catholic-Pagan hybrid. It's fascinating to read, if you treat it almost like an archeological puzzle. Where did the Whorl (the generation starship the book takes place in) come from, and who launched it? Where is it going? Is it off course, or broken? The Cargo (Silk and everyone else inside the Whorl) have lost much knowledge of their own past, and we are limited in our understanding just as they are. Over the course of the book, we see Silk grow from a shy parish priest into a great leader, and a similar change occurs in one of the "sisters," Maytera Mint. It's interesting to see how belief can help people grow and become who they are meant to be, even though we know (and Silk knows, towards the end) that the gods are not really as we think they are. This is, after all, science fiction, not fantasy. It's some of the most subtle and well-written fiction of any kind that I've read in quite a while. Just prepare to take your time with it, like a fine meal.

It's just the Whorl that we all live in
Gene Wolfe takes patience.His writing and by extension his stories, are subtle things, rarely spelling out what the reader needs to know but dancing around it instead, sketching the outlines of what he's trying to reveal and leaving it to the reader to fill in the blanks.A lot of writers do this and then have the characters explain it all at the right moments, so that the reader can feel accomplished by having put together the scenario before they were "supposed" to.Wolfe hardly does this, revelations come in asides and as seen from a distance.Often the characters don't understand what is being revealed and it's only because we have a different perspective that we don't even know what's going on.But we're not in the story.

SF has had a long history of being far more literary than most non-genre or even genre fans realize (it's had a willingness to experiment with form and subject matter to a sometimes fearless degree) and of those Wolfe is one of the few who can go toe to toe with the so-called literary heavyweights of the day.This omnibus here collects the second half of the Long Sun series and continues the story begun in the first half.Patera Silk has been appointed calde apparently by popular demand, armies are in the city, and matters are barely tottering on the edge of chaos.While Wolfe doesn't do anything vastly different here, the SF elements are scaled back for a more meditative sequence of events . . . having already sketched out the contours of this world, now he's giving everyone a chance to play in the boundaries of it.

Readers looking for big climaxes or stirring bombastic speeches are probably going to be disappointed, the story is pulled along in strings of tiny revelation and it's more the accumulation of events that gives the overall tale its weight.Wolfe never wastes anything, every seemingly random story some character tells, every tossed off detail, it all fits in somewhere and lends weight to the greater narrative.Constantly shifting location and yet maintaining and even, unhurried pace, he manages to capture the scope of great things happening and people trying to keep the world and the people they care about safe.

Silk remains of his best characters, an unmoving and sometimes unwilling pillar in the center of the action, calm and worried, decisive and gambling, he's all too human and the story wouldn't have half the emotional heft it does without him.This story, more than any other, is the sum of its parts, none of the pieces stand out but all of it interlocks to form the story itself, arcing and grand, wistful and epic.It won't dazzle unless you're paying attention but if you are, it becomes worth the effort.

And in the end it isn't about the mysteries of the Whorl, those become almost incidental to the tale itself, but the people who live in it and what they have to do to survive.Even if survival means stepping out entirely.

Not profound... but profoundly awful
I loved the Book of the New Sun, and some of Wolfe's other works, so I tucked into this huge opus with glee. Over 1200 pages later and how do I feel - pretty darn irritated and quite keen to reclaim the many hours of my life that I seem to have wasted reading it.What is it all about - I don't know.Does anyone know?Not judging by the other reviews here.Wolfe has a skillful way of sucking you in with the promise of great revelations in the end - but in this series of books there are no revelations, no explanations.The main characters end up leaving the ship (The Whorl) - wow didn't see that coming, did you?Only 700-800 pages ago.No doubt erudite devotees of the author will come up with some profound deeper meaning locked away within it's pages - but what about the reader who wants to actually enjoy what he reads and feel rewarded at the end?I like the review lower down on this page by the guy who has read the entire series 6 times already - but still hasn't quite worked out how to describe what it's about.Says it all really. ... Read more

Product Description
In What If God Were the Sun, psychic medium John Edward weaves a warm and poignant story about one family and their way of dealing with life, love, and death over the generations. John draws upon his vast experience with individuals throughout the world—and their loved ones who have crossed over—to create a timeless tale that will touch the heart of anyone who reads it.

People of all ages will be moved by this account of a family that weathers tragedy, bonds together, and passes on healing messages of love from generation to generation.Amazon.com Review
Timothy Callahan comes from a large Italian American family that loves big gatherings as well as Grandma Rosie's famous meatball recipe (although he still wishes she'd left out the raisins). But above all else, the Callahans love one another. This may not sound like the makings for high drama or complex fine literature, but that was not what author John Edward was after. As an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, Edward spends most of his days helping survivors work through the seemingly unbearable grief of losing a loved one. As a result, Edward wanted to offer a comforting message about the everlasting love that can bridge even death.

In order to get this message across, Edward presents a story about an endearing and seriously devoted family as they endure the final goodbye to a beloved matriarch. Soon after Timothy discoveries that his mother is dying of cancer, the family gathers to view old family movies. While watching the faces of deceased relatives on the movie screen, he begins to ponder the afterlife.

"As I look over at my mom, I know that she's wondering if all these faces of yesteryear will be the faces of her tomorrows. Will she see them when she crosses over? Will her loved ones welcome her on the other side, as we all want to believe? I hope so."

While his mother's cancer progresses, the narrator flashes back to his childhood when his mother explained that God was the sun, an epiphany that becomes more tangible as he wrestles with impending death. Readers who don't expect haute literature will be touched by this tearjerker story that offers tenderness and comfort. It's also an excellent book to give to those who are open to afterlife discussions and are grieving the loss of a loved one. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (60)

John Edward
"What if God Were The Sun", by John Edward.Very light reading. Book is in excellent condition and was a fair price.This was purchased from books_for_less_2009.I received my order in a very few days.I would purchase from this seller again.

a WOW book
I really enjoyed this book, admittedly as a fervent John Edward fan. Nevertheless, it was very well written and I finished it in one sitting. The ending was priceless and I recommend it for anyone with a heart aching for someone who's passed on.

What if God were the sun
A very enjoyable, fast read.I think John Edward really is a very talented writer.

What If God Were the Sun?
I did not receive this product. I was informed that it was out of stock.

I loved this book!!!
It's a easy read and is well written.I cried myself silly as I could easily relate to the characters in the book.John Edward has found an amazing way of getting his point across about the other side.I was with my mother when she died and it gave me a little insight as to what it must have been like for her.I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
An all-new original short fiction anthology featuring Mercedes Lackey's heroic Heralds and their horselike companions-as penned by such masters of fantasy as Judith Tarr, Michelle West, Fiona Patton, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

awesome!!!
As all her books whether alone or with her collaberators it makes for an easy read in her "world" Valdemar and surrounding areas.

Companions and Firecats! Oh my!
These anthologies are a terrific addition to the "pure" series of Valdemar novels by Mercedes Lackey. Written by other authors inspired by her world of Valdemar, they are an eclectic mix of stories that provide a little more insight into Valdemar as well as the people living in the lands bordering it. Tragic and comedic, they add a valuable enhancement to the beloved people of the world of the Heralds and Companions.

Sun In Glory
This was a much enjoyed sellection of short stories and some very tallented writers. There was no getting bored here, if you have read the valdamaran series and are familiar with the stories this book will mesh well with your memories of the other tales.

Fantastic!
I am always a bit sceptical about anthologies, even the Marian Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey ones.However, Mercedes did a truly fantastic job of editing these stories to remain true to the Valdemarian history, lands, and people.I highly recommend this book for the Valdemar-lovers out there!

I did not like this at all
I generally enjoy Mercedes Lackey books, what with them being the most abundant set in my bookcases, but I was sorely disappointed with this. It just was not up to my expectation of excellence for this writer. The only story I specifically remember that I like whas something about a priest who lived off somewhere by himself and one of the giant cats from the Karse sungod thing... if you have read the books, you know what kind of cat I mean, I just can't think of it. I also can't think of the name of the stories because I barely made it through by skimming to see if there were any I wanted to read after reading a couple. I didn't see this as a good investment other than completing the collection, and if you aren't a book collector, I recommend checking this out at a library or going to a used bookstore or borrowing from a friend. It's not worth the money. There are worse books, but this was far below my level of expectation. ... Read more

Product Description
This Pulitzer Prize–winning history of World War II chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire, from the invasion of Manchuria and China to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Told from the Japanese perspective, The Rising Sun is, in the author’s words, “a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened—muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, full of paradox.”

In weaving together the historical facts and human drama leading up to and culminating in the war in the Pacific, Toland crafts a riveting and unbiased narrative history. In his Foreword, Toland says that if we are to draw any conclusion from The Rising Sun, it is “that there are no simple lessons in history, that it is human nature that repeats itself, not history.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

The Authoritative Work on the Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire
Rising Sun is a Pulitzer prize winning work on Japan from 1936 to 1941.I found the work amazingly detailed on what was going on within Japan in the late 1930s and 1940s.It's frankly an eye openner and really does a great job at resetting what was really going on.

Basically Japan had 80million people.Europe (Britain, France, Netherlands, Spain and the US had a bunch of colonies in Southeast Asia and basically European intervention in the area along with Japanese industrialization was putting a tremendous amount of pressure on the Japanese.

I was extremely pleased with this balanced and very comprehensive approach the author took with respect to the political aspects that led to the War and how the war was conducted.

This book is extremely readable to a layperson.Not only the war is detailed but the high politics that led up to the war and during the conduct of the war are also meticulously detailed.

I can't say enough great things about this work.I'm a long-time student of the War in the Pacific during WWII and this book is a wonderful view into that world.

A fantastic read
This is another truly great book from John Toland.While written about 40 years ago, his info was pretty fresh and he was able to interview numerous sources to get first hand accounts.I truly enjoyed this and would strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in the Pacific War and its causes.

The richest, most readable history of the Pacific War
John Toland has no rivals when it comes to writing about history. He brings it to life. He makes the people real and alive. This prize-winning book is a must-read to the history buff. The fact that it's written from the Japanese point of view makes it all the more intriguing and rich. Does he take the side of the Japanese? No. He gives equal blame for the unnecessary war to all sides, including America.

He explains how a simple thing like poor translation from Japanese into English and a lack of understanding led to the horrible events in the Pacific theatre. I was amazed to learn these things and, moreover, it's frightening to know of the small things that can lead to such destruction.

While this book has been around a long time, it is a book that should be read any time you want a true, vivid history of this time and this war. It's timeless. It's well written. And you won't find a better history than this one.

I also recommend The Last 100 Days: The Tumultuous and Controversial Story of the Final Days of World War II in Europe (Modern Library War) and the biography of Adolph Hitler by Toland.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1936-1945: An Eastern View of World War II
John Toland's The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1936-1945 chronicles the dramatic rise and fall of the Japanese empire. Toland's work starts from the invasion of Manchuria/China to the dropping of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima and the hydrogen bomb at Nagasaki. Told, as best as Toland can, from the Japanese perspective,The Rising Sun is, in the author's words, "a factual saga of people caught up in the flood of the most overwhelming war of mankind, told as it happened--muddled, ennobling, disgraceful, frustrating, and full of paradox".Bringing together the historical facts, Toland writes a compelling and seminal narrative history of World War II. In his preface, Toland says that if we are to learn anything from The Rising Sun, it is "that there are no simple lessons in history, that it is human nature that repeats itself, not history".

The Rising Sun
Make no mistake, this is a fine book.The history told primarily from the Japanese point of view helps to make the Pacific War comprehensible.However, the book - purchased from Amazon - has a great defect.The photographs referred to in the text are absent from the edition available with the benefit of "super saver".

I bought the softcover Amazon version to replace a hardcover version that went missing in too many moves.I think the photos are important to see and read the faces of the human beings who lived through the described events.While the lack of the photos takes nothing away from the excellence of the history, the story told is diminished by their absence.Buy a more expensive edition and get the photographs. ... Read more

Product Description
Get the book that shows you not only what to study, but how to study. The only classroom-based integrated study system for professional certification gives you complete coverage of all objectives for the Sun Certified Programmer for Java 5 exam, hundreds of practice exam questions, and hands-on exercises. The CD-ROM features full practice exam software plus an adaptive test engine. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (291)

GREAT book
It's a fantastic book if you want to pass the SCJP exam, and by the way obtain a solid Java knowledge.
It goes straight to business, and it has fun moments as well, so the learning doesn't get too hard.
I highly recommend it!

The perfect book for SCJP
I'll make it quick: it's very simple, you want the SCJP? Buy this book and study, make some annotations and read it again! When you're finished do a lot of mock exams and when you're doing well in the mocks, you're ready for the real test. You'll love the way they explain all the topics.

I did it, it worked! Great book!
I got SCJP6 with 88%, using this book alone.

Thanks a lot Kathy and Bert.

Poor Service
im not receive the book(now 50 days passed), because of poor service. so i dont know about the product.

excellent java book
This SCJP book is very good for preparing the exam, as well as a learning material. I studied the book, and successfully passed the exam. It also helped me to gap knowledge and be a better coder.

The best book for Sun Certification and understanding Java
I failed Java certification 3 times using 3 other books. I simply didn't want to let go. I got this book and passed the exam, and I have to say, this book helped me understand the nuances of Java. I actually became confident in Java after reading this book. Highly recommend this. The writing style is simple and easy to understand. ... Read more

Product Description
Picking up where the bestselling and controversial The Christ Conspiracy leaves off, Suns of God leads the reader through an electrifying exploration of the origin and meaning of the world's religions and popular gods. Over the past several centuries, the Big Three spiritual leaders have been the Lords Christ, Krishna and Buddha, whose stories and teachings are curiously and confoundingly similar to each other. The tale of a miraculously born redeemer who overcomes heroic challenges, teaches ethics and morality, performs marvels and wonders, acquires disciples and is famed far and wide, to be persecuted, killed and reborn, is not unique but a global phenomenon recurring in a wide variety of cultures long before the Christian era.

These numerous godmen were not similar "historical" personages who "walked the earth" but anthropomorphizations of the central focus of the famous "mysteries." A major element of the cryptic, international brotherhood, these mysteries extend back thousands of years and are found worldwide, reflecting an ancient tradition steeped in awe and intrigue. The reasons for this religious development, which has inspired the creation of entire cultures, are unveiled in this in-depth analysis containing fascinating and original research based on evidence both modern and ancient, captivating information kept secret and hidden for ages.

Suns of God is possibly the most complete review of the history of religion from its inception ever composed in a single volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (46)

A must read!!!!
I've been searching for the perfect material provide factual information and less opinion based theology and I came across this book by Acharya S. I believe that everyone w/ an ounce of knowledge must thoroughly read this book and understand the information provided about how astrotheology is a basic fundamental aspect in the world's modern religion. Jesus Christ being one of those figures who never existed, but came from the tales of the ancient Egyptian God Osiris into what we see as the Christian doctorine today. Only those who are stuck in the religious everyday theology will never understand that their religion is either a Solar or Lunar sect worshipping the cestial bodies in the sky w/ the Sun and Moon being the central focus. Acharya S. does a brillant job at providing references to why we are in this mind frame and how much knowledge of the ancient past can help us come out of this mind frame.

Suns of God attacks the Son of God!

The author of this book clearly does not understand the Bible.In the book, the author misrepresents the data regarding textual variants in the Bible.This false information is then used as an attack against the Bible and the Son of God as revealed in the Bible.Avoid this book and the deception that lies within it's pages.

The Sun Illuminates the Mystery of History
In 'The Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha, and Christ Unveiled', author Achary S (a.k.a. D. M. Murdock), broadens and deepens historical understandings that she first introduces in her ground-breaking 'The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold'.

In 'The Christ Conspiracy' she presents the reader a long list of Savior Gods that precede the Christ myth by thousands of years. She compares the many similar stories, and shows us, on point after point, that each of these stories are essentially the same.

Virgin births, godly titles and slogans, mythical adventures such as raising the dead or changing water into wine, sacrifice and resurrection are very common elements to nearly all Savior myths.

She introduces us to the concept of Astrotheology and the likelihood that all religions can be shown to grow out of a common root, the study of the Sun, Stars, and Planets and their rhythmic transits about the sky. Particular attention is given to the yearly cycle of the Sun, it's relation to the constellation Virgo, and how the Savior stories can be read in the seasonal waxing and waning of the Sun, our 'Light of the World'.

'The Suns of God: Krishna, Buddha and Christ Unveiled' examines the commonalities of the myths told about these three Savior Gods from this astrotheological viewpoint.

It traces their histories, and the many versions and variations of their 'histories' which have been told about the globe in different regions and eras, and once again Acharya S shows us that these myths, which upon the surface seem a jumble of unbelievable magic stories, can be understood more clearly when we see them as tales of Sun Gods, growing in strength and power, bringing Life and abundance to a cold world, then failing in power, becoming weaker and finally dying on the Crux of the Winter Solstice, only to rise again and begin the cycle anew.

Indeed, seen in this light, (pun intended), we see the eternal promise of the Savior to return is actualized yearly, for all the generations to experience.

Acharya S is a meticulous researcher, and brings to her work the insights and analysis of historians, church figures and philosophers spanning millenia, documenting each claim so that the readers may research for themselves the validity of the information presented.

I find this book to be fascinating, and to have deepened my understandings of religious history, theology, and mysticism.

Easily a 5-star work.

Very important
This is a very important book. The writer shows with tons of information and historical references how ancient religions were created and how they hang together. It also explains how biblical texts are really to be understood and how they were designed to impart information to the initiated while leaving the uninitiated with stories that were never meant to be taken literally.
Read this book and you will understand how billions of people are caught in the matrix - a surreal world conjured up by cunning priests over centuries.
For a comparison with the Bible and other holy scripture I recommend The Life of Apollonius of Tyana. It was written in antiquity and at the time millions believed the miracles described in it just as today many believe the miracles of Jesus.

Well researched and thorough
This book is 500+ pages and is very thorough. It's not a quick and easy read. But if you want to know the facts and history behind Christ, Krishna, Buddha and the many gods which were never real (incarnate) but solar deities then this book is a must read. Since the sun was considered the giver of life it only made sense the ancients who had no science relied on the priest-craft of astrotheology as their basis of worship. Jesus is a later day solar deity who shares many of the same attributes as the many, many "gods" before him like Osiris, Horus, Dionysus (Bacchus), Mithra, Attis, Hercules, Krishna, etc. For example, the number 12 in the Bible is a very popular number (e.g., 12 disciples) but the number is symbolic of the 12 signs of the zodiac. Also the number 7 (the Book of Revelation in the Bible loves the number 7) represents the 7 known planetary bodies at the time of the ancients (Sun, Moon, Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn). Much of Christianity emanates from Egypt's pagan religions. Those who know history understand the Egyptians and the Hebrews have a very strong historical linkage and once you set aside religious bias and look at the evidence objectively, you will understand Jesus, like all other gods, is mythological. The early Church was well aware of what they were doing in creating an incarnate Jesus with pagan (solar) god attributes and proceeded to destroy any and all pagan manuscripts, places or worship, etc. in an attempt to erase the historical evidence and records linking Christianity back to other religions which came centuries and even thousands of years before it (thankfully they did not succeed). This included the Inquisitions which persecuted, tortured or murdered "heretics" in order to keep the lid on their scheme. Again, a great book which is not light reading. It takes a very serious approach to addressing and unraveling the convoluted mess the early Church intentionally created in order to come out on top in the religion wars. BnB Beatles Depot ... Read more

Product Description

Damn it, a man shouldn’t always have to be afraid…

Customer Reviews (6)

A pleasant read
Set in Cornwall, wealthy young Alec, engaged soon to be married, escapes for his annual month away and alone, although his interfering mother has other ideas about that. On Alec's first day he meets a handsome young surfer, Darren, and soon finds himself involved not only in an affair with him, but also doing battle with his family and a former lover.

An appealing story, with two very attractive and different guys, Alec more than obviously modelled on a typical stuttering Hugh Grant character, and Darren, a bit-of-rough with a soft edge and a desire for something better.

It is however rather predictable, at every turn one can seen the consequences long before we get there; and many a near disaster is resolved a little too soon, missing out on any opportunity of fully exploring the potential. The writing suffers from being a little self-conscious, it seems that almost every noun must have two or three adjectives, and every verb its adverb and the descriptions of place seem at times contrived; but maybe I'm expecting too much from this sort of novel? Nonetheless, Shining in the Sun is a pleasant, diverting and positive read.

Shining In the Sun
Once a year, for a few shining weeks, Alec escapes his stifling life for total freedom on his boat.This year, things get off to a horrid start when his car breaks down.While spending some time in town, Alec meets a sexy, appealing surfer and asks him to have a drink.Alec doesn't normally do such things, but he can't help himself.Before he knows it, he's learning to surf and a whole lot more.He's suddenly happy, and keeps a few secrets in order to preserve that happiness.

After a terrifying experience at the hands of a rich man the year before, Darren is wary of anyone with money.He wants to tell Alec to get lost, but there's something about the guy--and he needs money.His brother's in some serious trouble, again, and Darren doesn't know how else to make a quick buck.Things don't go the way he expected, though, and Alec's more than Darren thought he was.

If Darren's actions don't ruin everything, Alec's secrets just might...

I wasn't sure how I would feel about Shining in the Sun, given that Alex Beecroft is primarily a historical writer.After reading it, I can only say I hope Ms. Beecroft decides to write another contemporary soon, because Shining in the Sun was excellent!The storyline was pretty standard--a rich guy who's unhappy with his life escapes it for a while and finds love.Though I'd read the basic story before, it felt fresh and new here.Alec is the kind of flawed character I love.He's kind, generous, and caring, and he tries to see the best in others.He's also terrified to be honest with his family about his true desires, and more content to live a lie than take a risk.Normally that would drive me insane, as would one of the secrets he kept, but he was too likable, and real, for me to hate him.Darren is also realistically flawed.He's sexy, fun, and sometimes sweet.Other times, he's manipulative and even outright dishonest.His horrible past experience helps explain why he makes some of the choices he makes, as does his awful family, but nothing completely excuses either his poor choices or Alec's.Their initial attraction practically jumped off the page, and their scenes together were made all the hotter by Alec's shy inexperience.Of course, a lot stands between these two very different men and a future.Together, they bumble their way through secrets, lies, and a lot of family issues.There were many times when I wondered if they would make it through, or if their weaknesses would doom them.Readers in the mood for a summer escape with love, family issues, great characters and setting, and a large dose of angst will be sure to enjoy Shining in the Sun.

Cassie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A successful contemporary from Alex Beecroft
I am a huge fan of Alex Beecroft's historicals and so it was with anticipation that I was looking forward to her first foray into a contemporary story. I wasn't disappointed. Shining in the Sun has the hallmarks of what I love about Alex's writing: lush prose, wonderful detail, and complex characters. I was pulled into the story from the first page and just kept reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it. For readers who may have stayed away from Beecroft because "I don't like historicals" (I know there are a few of you out there!) well, here's your chance to be introduced to a terrific writer with a very rich and complete story set in the present time.

Atmospheric and dramatic
Warning for Spoilers.

Like it says in the blurb, this story contrasts an idyll and reality. When Alec and Darren meet, they have one perfect day together, but the rest of the story is much more down to earth. It's like a relationship compressed--appropriately so when they both start out think this will be a summer fling only. There's a "honeymoon" period--the one perfect day when they meet, ending in what has a feel of a wedding night, especially as it's Alec's first time with a man.But even there reality is starting to intrude. The scene happens in Darren's tatty camper van. So this less-than-fairytale setting is a kind of warning that life can't be a fantasy. That reality will be along any time now.

And it is, as the "honeymoon" ends and they find themselves dealing with various problems, some of their own making and external ones. They briefly have another idyllic time, heading over to France for a few days on Alec's boat. (Hey, it's a Beecroft book. There has to be a boat!) But that can't last either. And even there, Darren especially is worrying about the main barrier to their happiness--money.

Money and class are important themes in the story. It's very British in that regard. The detail of the setting, the dialogue, the general atmosphere, are all very British; but the tension between classes is what truly marks it out as a story about British people. Class differences put barriers between Alec and Darren, and though of course their love eventually breaks down these barriers, it's not easy and there's a feeling at the end that it's always going to be something they'll have to deal with, even if mostly as assumptions and prejudices from other people.

Although there are plenty of outside events intruding on their lives, the relationship still drives the story. When they are pulled apart by events they keep on finding each other again, always drawn back together. There's a real feeling that this relationship is the one that will change their lives. Alec is the one at a point of change first. He's finally acting on his repressed desires, unable to repress them any more once he meets Darren (an idea I like a lot.) But this also triggers Darren to change. He wants things to be different now with Alec. Be more than just his boy for the summer.

Though both heroes could be classified as "betas" if you like to look at them that way, they are not wimps. They may feel physically intimidated by other more dominant men in the story, but they still show courage and stand up and fight back when it counts. The relationship gives them the strength to do that, which they didn't have before, when they had nobody to back them up.

I liked them being "betas". It's more realistic. They've both got issues undermining their confidence. Alec is under his family's thumb and full of angst about his repression of his real self. Darren is still traumatised by events the previous summer involving an ex-boyfriend. There's no macho posturing and no being overly-dramatic, the way alpha type heroes are. Certainly they both suffer from 'foot in mouth' disease, have bad timing and the ability to grab the wrong end of the stick and hang on tight, just as romance novel protagonists need to. And that leads to a few 'storming-off in a huff' moments. But they calm down and think it through later and give each other the benefit of the doubt--like grown-ups. Something I'm always pleased to see.

Another theme, something I've seen in Alex Beecroft's other books, is the villain who's not all he appears. Who's not quite as villainous as he seems. Which is another nice touch of realism, I think and also suits a story without an Alpha hero. A two-dimensional villain, set up only for the heroes to knock down is dull. Someone more nuanced and complicated that we want to hate and yet in the end, can't quite, is much better.

Darren and Alec aren't what they seem either at time. Darren uses a false name on that perfect day with Alec--giving it even more of a fantasy-like quality. Alec is in a way half-forgetting, half-pretending about who he really is while he's here in Cornwall and neglects to mention to Darren the fact that he's engaged to be married. Naturally his fiancée, Caroline, shows up in the story at just the wrong moment, to shatter Darren's dreams.

She actually turns into one of my favourite characters in the story though. She has some great lines and far from ending up as the wronged woman she appears to have foreseen for a while that Alec lacked enthusiasm for the idea of them getting married. And since she has a spreadsheet of seventeen other better marriage prospects than Alec, she's okay. I so relate to Caroline and her spreadsheet...

I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the British setting, and the details of that. The writing is excellent, the description especially in the first half, as the writer vividly creates the setting, is beautiful. The dialogue is good. Though the publisher's warning talks about lots of swearing it's not something I found overwhelming. Maybe because I am British and that's just the way I expect people to speak!

There is, as the warning says "one explicit m/m sex scene". They do have sex more than once in the story, but only the first time is fully described. And very well described, at length. So this definitely isn't a "sex scene per chapter" type of book, but one more focused on the romance.

About the only part I had an issue with was the ending, which is a little bit too neat for me. I'm not too keen on the marriage proposal. It felt very soon in their relationship for that to happen. Maybe it's just me, I'm not someone who thinks a romance book has to end with marriage at least proposed to make me believe two people are definitely going to be sticking together after the story ends. It bothers me just as much in straight contemporary romance too. I sometimes feel like the writer is trying too hard to prove to me that they are definitely in love. Don't get me wrong, I totally approve ofman putting his money where his mouth is and making that commitment, I just think in contemporary stories it's slightly unrealistic for it to happen so soon in a relationship, gay or straight.

But that's the only issue I had and it could really be down to a personal preference. I definitely recommend this as a good read for people who like a story with a focus on the feelings and relationship as it grows, and subtle, non-clichéd characterisations.

There is an originality in this contemporary romance which I love.
Finally we have a contemporary romance from Alex and what a wonderfully written one. This one is quality writing and there is an originality in it which makes it a notch above the usual M/M romance.

Alec and Darren are not your usual protagonists at all. If anything they come across initially as men with no back bones and in need of a good shake-up. But they are believable and really gets under my skin as the story progresses. I find myself screaming at them silently to stand up for themselves and cheering when they did. Their romance is a roller coaster ride from the moment Alec set eyes on an "angel-like" Darren. A story of rich boy meets poor boy. Rich boy who seems to have it all but sadly tied to his mother's apron strings and poor boy desperately trying to break free from a bitter life of poverty including whoring himself out with disaster consequence. Two very different worlds which collided and there is never a dull moment as reality sets in and each man is forced to confront the inevitable. Charming, funny, at times moving but always absorbing you just wish these two young men to somehow make it through their fumbles and blunders. The supporting characters are well defined even if their roles are limited. The one who stands out is Darren's "abusive" ex, even if it is just one scene.

But finally what works in this novel are Alec and Darren, the freshness in these two endearing characters and the honesty in their romance which I love. And I appreciate that sex is kept to the write balance which has always been high marks for this writer. Highly recommended and I hope Alex will give us more M/M romance in contemporary setting soon. ... Read more

Product Description
In Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior Chögyam Trungpa offers an inspiring and practical guide to enlightened living based on the Shambhala journey of warriorship, a secular path taught internationally through the Shambhala Training program.

Great Eastern Sun: The Wisdom of Shambhala is a continuation of that path.Shambhala was an exploration of human goodness and its potential to create an enlightened society—a state that the author calls "nowness." And in that spirit of nowness,Great Eastern Sun —which is accessible to meditators and nonmeditators alike—centers on the question, "Since we're here, how are we going to live from now on?"Amazon.com Review
Chögyam Trungpa had a vision of a society of enlightened people, or at least of people on the path to enlightenment. These are the Shambhala warriors, people "brave enough not to give in to the aggression and contradictions that exist in society." A companion volume to Trungpa's classic Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior, Great Eastern Sun is an invitation for all people to discover their own goodness, which is always there, just as the sun is always rising. Trungpa had an uncanny grasp of the hang-ups and excuses that keep Westerners in their safe ego cocoons, and in Great Eastern Sun he entices us all out, to express our goodness and live a life on the edge of insecurity. The mindful life turns out to be one of detached but sacred existence, floating with the power of compassionate awareness. A genuine life is what Trungpa propels us to, and Great Eastern Sun is his lantern for guiding us down the path of genuine living. --Brian Bruya ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

The legacy continues
As a beleiver in the Shambhala tradition and legacy left by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, this tome builds on his writings and complements the tiered instruction to be coming a warrior along the path.This book is most beeneficial if you take the teachings and actualize the steps with meditation and reflection.Perusing the book will render soime insight, but it will be shortlived. One needs to follow through with a plan for encapulating the teachings in one's life with meditation, reflection, and activity.Take the effort to ask yourself "How canrepresent this in my everyday life?" and you will reap the benefit.This takes effort and time, but I can promise you that the rewards are worth it.

Touch into your Sanity
Im a student of Shambhala/Trungpa Rinpoche, and I highly recommend this to anyone needing spiritual uplifting and grounding no matter what your path is.

It provides an inspiring and heartbreaking approach to awakening and embracing life and ourselves, touching our own fundamental goodness.

A constant companion from one of the great masters and beings to walk this earth.

Lectures on Shambhala
In her lovely Afterward, ed. Carolyn Gimian sensitively, yet honestly presents the life & work of Trungpa Rinpoche (TR)--context for the text's 21 (of 5000) TR talks: 2 public & 19 from 5th/final level weekend Shambhala trainings.Sections are different weekends; thus, some redundancy.It complements the prior "Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior."Gimian preserves TR's personality, humor, crazy wisdom, & humanity, adding relevant pictures, TR's poems, a glossary, & index.TR well-describes the teachings: p. 212: "In & of itself, the Shambhala vision is not overly complicated or difficult.Often we see it & say, "Oh, I know that."It feels like something very familiar to us.The real challenge is letting these principles penetrate our being & not letting arrogance & depression consume us.The Shambhala warrior knows that life can be simple.Yet these straightforward teachings have a profound effect.They are not theoretical spiritual exercises: they are pragmatic methods to help people raise their children, develop art, or run their own coffee shops.Through the years, the practical element of these teachings has become more & more powerful."

"Seemingly simple-minded teachings" include: meditation (p. 94), mantra (p. 202),
DISCRIMINATING WISDOM--
pp. 27-8: Discrimination in the Shambhala world means clear seeing or clear thinking.
p. 51: When I came to [USA]...my 1st message to them was, `Please be critical.Don't buy anything that somebody says.Question this.Try to develop critical intelligence."

BASIC GOODNESS--
p. 234: In the Shambhala teachings, basic goodness is the concept of Buddha-nature.
p. 124: the way to give yourself a good time is to be gentle with yourself.A lot of problems come from self-hatred.Let us let go of that.

SERVICE--
p. 13: It is about time that we become responsible for this world.
p. 175: The main point is to help others be good human beings in their own way.

And profound, delightful imagery/phrases: p. 123: "Listen to your own brook, echoing yourself & p. 153: The ordinariness of extraordinariness...ordinariness is extraordinary."No wonder Gimian says p. 223: "Privately everyone reads him, although not everyone admits it."Overall, the book is easy, relatively light, reading though it can be read on several levels.However, I did like the earlier volume better.

"It's real, sweethearts..."
I find this presentation of Trungpa's Shambhala vision much more intimate and satisfying than the first book, Shambhala. Both books offer clear and practical advice transparently; Great Eastern Sun leaves more of the edges and contrasts in the foreground, giving a more nuanced taste of the good times at Trungpa's house. This is a very rewarding volume, and as the other reviewers have noted, it's good to read this one more than once.(Really, that goes for all serious reading. Real books are not one-time-use disposables.)

That said, I would like to follow up on one of Trungpa's suggestions in Great Eastern Sun:"It would be worth investigation futher the origins of Shambhala vision in the European traditions... to conduct a study of Western historical figures who tried to achieve the Shambhala vision of englightened society" (p 134). Okay. Trungpa's contemporaries, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, had a vision of their own, and one quite resonant with Trungpa's: "Learning to undo things, and to undo onesself, is proper to the war machine: the 'not doing' of the warrior, the undoing of the subject" (A Thousand Plateaus p 400).So long, neurosis.

I'm a bit disappointed that some of Trungpa's actual words (the dreaded 'f-word' for one) were edited from this volume. Trungpa, like Joseph Conrad and V Nabokov, was a second-language master of the English tongue, and chose his words very carefully for impact. He chose punchiness in his diction, he took a risk; why pretend he played it safe?

Here's to Trungpa's successes, and to the birth pangs of a culture of englightenment.Cheers!

HOMAGE TO ACALA VIDHYARAJA,the Immoveable Radiant King!Namah samanta vajranam chanda maharosana sphotaya hum trat ham mam!

Great Eastern Sun
This book is a tough read, it becomes very tricky to piece together certain understandings. I would suggest reading it twice. But the profundity is there. I have not read any other Shambala teachings, but the "Primordial Dot" has been very intriguing to meditate upon. Along with the awakening from the "shadow world" of the autonomous mind; this parralels other buddhist teachings. A nice addition to any collection, the hardcover is bleach white with the great eastern sun symbol in gold. It complements my Art of War hardcover which is completely black and the same size. ... Read more

Product Description

After a series of stressful personal transitions, Grace Jefferson finds herself in a new house in a new city and in a new career for which she feels dangerously unsuited: a stay-at-home mom. An educated and accomplished modern woman, a child of the Civil Rights dream, she is caught between the only two models of mothering she has ever known—a sharecropping grandmother who abandoned her children to save herself and a mother who sacrificed all to save her kids—as she struggles to find a middle ground. But as the days pass and the pressures mount, Grace begins to catch herself in small acts of abandonment that she fears may foretell a future she is powerless to prevent . . . or perhaps secretly seeks.

Customer Reviews (16)

Well written and honest.
Kim McLarin put into words what many mothers are afraid to say aloud.I see myself in the character Grace and empathize with her background and family.This is a very heartfelt book that actually made me cry. Grace is unhappy with family life and wishes that she had taken her originally planned road in life. She loves her two daughters but the thought of being a mother and wife for the rest of her life is frightening and unbeareable. Finally a book that speaks to those of us who are not the June Cleavers or Claire Huxtables of the world!

Completely in love with it!
One word for this book. Phenomenal! The topic was raw and in your face. The characters were layered, flawed, and remarkably textured with full-bodied flavor. I loved every minute I spent buried in it. The lead character, Grace, has found herself in a new career for which she feels dangerously unsuited: a stay-at-home-mom. It was this one sentence I read inside the book's jacket that hooked me immediately. I knew who Grace was before I even opened the book. I can relate to this story on so many levels. This is a great read and I recommend it to everyone. This is my first time reading work by this author. I stumbled upon the book while browsing the shelves of Barnes & Noble and I'm so glad I did. Kim McLarin is now on my list of favorite authors and I'm on the hunt for all of her books. Phenomenal!

Very honest . .interesting
This book kept me turning the pages because it was so honest.If you are a mother, you have probably had some of the same feelings the main character, Grace, has; however, more than likely you have not voiced those feelings.I'm a mother and have felt some of them and would never have voiced them.I was really captured by one line in the book--"to be a mother is to be a slave". I've never viewed motherhood that way, but I can identify with that view. As spouses and parents, men and women, we sometimes lose our identity and become disappointed with life but continue doing what we're doing because we've been told that's the correct thing to do.Ms. McLarin has done a very good job of writing about those true honest feelings that we're too afraid to admit and voice.

Very, well written family drama
This is a difficult book to admit to liking because of the subject matter. The author is not a good mother or wife and thus not real likeable, which was fine too. She is selfish, just this side of neglectful. Motherhood is supposed to be sacred, and what good mother would ever admit to understanding the feelings of the author, but I did. For 300 pages, the author agonizes about leaving her two daughters and husband. I kept saying to myself that the kids were spoiled, but that was partly her fault. The husband was not a perfect, but far from the hunchback of Notre Dame. Within the first 50 pages, I empathized with her, but what happened to active and open communication? She never says what would make her happy. Since the beginning of time women have had to abandon and delay dreams because they had no right to choose their path. The author was struggling due to her own mistaken steps. And now she could not see herself following through with her choices. I kept thinking she should leave, what was taking her so long? Could you raise happy, healthy children being so detached? Does she hurdle the sun or get fried like toast? The author is a very talented writer, I will definately read her again. The passages from the past were very, very good. The author ties in similar situations with her own mother and grandmother 'abandonment issues' and the imagery and descriptions of their lives reminded me of just how far weve come in race and female equality related issues. This book won't easily be forgotten.

When Mama Won't Do
What price are you willing to pay to be free? For Grace Jefferson, the main character in Kim McLarin's Jump at the Sun, the hefty price tag may be worth it. As a wife and mother of two, Grace is destined to relive the pasts of her mother and grandmother. The question for her is which one. As both women's lives are revealed through brilliantly written flashbacks and character dialogue, the reader learns why one selflessly sacrificed everything for her children and why the other didn't. The two women's actions ultimately lead Grace to a decision that will not only affect her, but also her family lineage.

This book touched me in a personal way because I have seen through my own family how one choice can radically change an entire generation. I was completely intrigued by the social issues in the story. Each one, from slavery to economic status, played an intricate part in the personal development, or lack thereof, for each character in the book. My grandmother always said, "We all are who we are for a reason." Kim McLarin demonstrates the realness of that statement.

Although some may be instantly drawn to the books major themes of the harsh realities of motherhood, family life, or social structure, I walked away pondering how one decision can influence future generations.

Jump at the Sun shows the power of one's choice. How it can build or destroy and regardless of what we think, it is never just about us.

Reviewed by Tifany Jones
Founder and Talk Show Host
Sistah Confessions Book Club ... Read more

Product Description
Elvis Presley. Jerry Lee Lewis. Johnny Cash. Carl Perkins. Roy Orbison. All got their start in a little recording studio in Memphis called Sun Records. Good Rockin' Tonight is the story, in words and hundreds of photos of Sun Records and its founder, producer Sam Phillips. "From Sun-rise to Sun-set . . . the last word on the first great rock 'n' roll record label."--Rolling Stone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Early R and R
This Book is especially interesting if you were listening to the radio, as I was,in the time period described. Though, Unlike Sam Phillips, I didn't abandon the early R& B artists when Elvis came on the scene. Always felt that Elvis's music was inferior the early R& Bers. There are details, that I didn't know, of the unraveling of Jerry Lee Lewis's first career, when he married his 13 year old cousin. Also mention is made of the relationship between "The Killer" and Jimmy Swaggart. Interesting ancedote about how Johnny Cash came down for the Historic "Million Dollaer quartet" photo, then left immediately. 4 Stars is a little high for this review, but three stars would be a little low.

For the true to heart and those new to great music!
Coming from an age group that barely remembers the days of Sun Studio's most talented performers and songwriters, this book drives home the importance and impact of the many talents that emerged from thisMemphis-based shrine.

This is a must read for anone who lovesrock-n-roll, blues, jazz, or just wants to learn more about the hardships,the triumphs and the many lessons learned in the music industry.

Many topidols are present, but what makes the book such a worthwhile reading arethe writings on those less known. My hats off to a true tribute for thesounds and artists of the south!

The definitive history of the definitive indie label.
Have you heard the news? Good Rockin' Tonight is the encyclopedia for all fans of Sam C. Phillips' groundbreaking Memphis Recording Service and Sun/Phillips International labels. Colin Escott and Martin Hawkins, whose expert commentaries appear in the liner notes of many Sun CD reissue packages, deliver thorough accounts of the players and events in the Sun story. Full chapters are devoted to Sun's best-known players (Sam Phillips, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley) and the landmark events (the recording of Rocket 88, the arrival of Howlin' Wolf, and the birth of Rockabilly), but the real highlight is the attention to the lesser-known players like Joe Hill Louis, Scotty Moore, Sonny Burgess, Billy Riley, and Roland Janes. They didn't top the charts, but were as important to the creation of the "Sun Sound" as Perkins, Lewis, Cash and Presley were to its export outside the Memphis city limits, and in Good Rockin' Tonight they receive the recognition they deserve. Escott and Hawkins round out the Sun story with a complete discography of all the Sun and Phillips International singles, EPs and LPs released while both labels were active.

Sun was the first powerhouse independent record label of Rock & Roll music. It's catalogue, performed by rough-edged musicians who turned out consistently innovative material and a Top Ten hit here and there, has been exhaustively reissued over the past ten years, much to the delight of Sun connoisseurs. Sadly, the same can't be said of material written about Sun: most of the books (several also written by Escott and Hawkins) are now out of print. Good Rockin' Tonight stands alone as the most comprehensive work dedicated to Sam Phillips and the record label whose influence on popular culture deserves much more. ... Read more