en-US Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:06:47 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 776407 180 A.A. Milne 0525444440 Zachary 2 4.37 1928
author: A.A. Milne
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.37
book published: 1928
rating: 2
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date added: 2024/10/28
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]]> 22328 Alternate cover for ISBN: 9780441569595

Case was the sharpest data thief in the Matrix, until an ex-employer crippled his nervous system. Now a new employer has recruited him for a last-chance run against an unthinkably powerful artificial intelligence. With a mirror-eyed girl street-samurai riding shotgun, he's ready for the silicon-quick, bleakly prophetic adventure that upped the ante on an entire genre of fiction.]]> 271 William Gibson Zachary 5 3.87 1984
author: William Gibson
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1984
rating: 5
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date added: 2024/09/22
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review:
This is the first book that blew my mind as a teenager - the edgy cool, the sheer strength of the prose, the immense complexity and detail to the beautifully imagined world. Cyberpunk has never been cooler. In fact, sci-fi may never have been cooler than Molly and Case. William Gibson is a rare and talented writer.
]]> 6088007 Neuromancer is a cyberpunk, science fiction masterpiece—a classic that ranks with 1984 and Brave New World as one of the twentieth century’s most potent visions of the future.

The Matrix is a world within the world, a global consensus-hallucination, the representation of every byte of data in cyberspace...

Henry Dorsett Case was the sharpest data-thief in the business, until vengeful former employees crippled his nervous system. But now a new and very mysterious employer recruits him for a last-chance run. The target: an unthinkably powerful artificial intelligence orbiting Earth in service of the sinister Tessier-Ashpool business clan. With a dead man riding shotgun and Molly, mirror-eyed street-samurai, to watch his back, Case embarks on an adventure that ups the ante on an entire genre of fiction.

The winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards, Neuromancer was the first fully-realized glimpse of humankind’s digital future—a shocking vision that has challenged our assumptions about our technology and ourselves, reinvented the way we speak and think, and forever altered the landscape of our imaginations.]]> 288 William Gibson Zachary 5 3.94 1984
author: William Gibson
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1984
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/09/22
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review:
This is the first book that blew my mind as a teenager - the edgy cool, the sheer strength of the prose, the immense complexity and detail to the beautifully imagined world. Cyberpunk has never been cooler. In fact, sci-fi may never have been cooler than Molly and Case. William Gibson is a rare and talented writer.
]]> 17125 The only English translation authorized by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

First published in the Soviet journal Novy Mir in 1962, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich stands as a classic of contemporary literature. The story of labor-camp inmate Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, it graphically describes his struggle to maintain his dignity in the face of communist oppression. An unforgettable portrait of the entire world of Stalin's forced work camps, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is one of the most extraordinary literary documents to have emerged from the Soviet Union and confirms Solzhenitsyn's stature as "a literary genius whose talent matches that of Dosotevsky, Turgenev, Tolstoy"--Harrison Salisbury

This unexpurgated 1991 translation by H. T. Willetts is the only authorized edition available, and fully captures the power and beauty of the original Russian.]]> 182 Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Zachary 5
I must admit, I couldn't imagine anything ever being good again in those circumstances. But this book shows the triumph of human will over anything. Sometimes it is tricky to find a good translation of this novel, but if you can, please do take the time to read it. Reduced me to tears at the sheer strength and humanity of the protagonist.]]> 3.98 1962
author: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1962
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/03/15
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review:
What is a good day? Seems like a simple question, right? Well, have you ever wondered what a good day might be like to a man unfairly stolen from his life and family, and then sentenced to slow starvation and hard labor for an indefinite, possibly endlessly sentence in Siberia?

I must admit, I couldn't imagine anything ever being good again in those circumstances. But this book shows the triumph of human will over anything. Sometimes it is tricky to find a good translation of this novel, but if you can, please do take the time to read it. Reduced me to tears at the sheer strength and humanity of the protagonist.
]]> 128946 Alternate cover edition can be found here

Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria—even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. Beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie—where nothing not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.]]> 212 Neil Gaiman 156389470X Zachary 2 4.30 1999
author: Neil Gaiman
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1999
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2018/09/04
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]]> 18948
These are futuristic tales told as myth, as legend, as a history of a distant and decayed past. Written in an unadorned voice reminiscent of James Tiptree Jr., Smith's visions are dark and pessimistic, clearly a contrast from the mood of SF in his time; in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s it was still thought that science would cure the ills of humanity. In Smith's tales, space travel takes a horrendous toll on those who pilot the ships through the void. After reaching perfection, the lack of strife stifles humanity to a point of decay and stagnation; the Instrumentality of Mankind arises in order to stir things up. Many stories describe moral dilemmas involving the humanity of the Underpeople, beings evolved from animals into humanlike forms.

Stories not to be missed in this collection include "Scanners Live in Vain", "The Dead Lady of Clown Town", "Under Old Earth", "The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal", "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons", and the truly disturbing "A Planet Called Shayol". Serious SF fans should not pass up the chance to experience Cordwainer Smith's complex, distinctive vision of the far future.
--Bonnie Bouman

Contents:
- Introduction by John J. Pierce
- Editor’s Introduction by James A. Mann
� Stories of the Instrumentality of Mankind
- No, No, Not Rogov! (1959)
- War No. 81-Q (rewritten version)
- Mark Elf (1957)
- The Queen of the Afternoon (1978)
- Letter to Editor, Fantasy Book (March 9, 1948)
- Scanners Live in Vain (1950)
- The Lady Who Sailed The Soul (1960)
- When the People Fell (1959)
- Think Blue, Count Two (1963)
- The Colonel Came Back from Nothing-at-All (1979)
- The Game of Rat and Dragon (1955)
- The Burning of the Brain (1958)
- From Gustible’s Planet (1962)
- Himself in Anachron
- The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal (1964)
- Golden the Ship Was � Oh! Oh! Oh! (1959)
- The Dead Lady of Clown Town (1964)
- Under Old Earth (1966)
- Drunkboat (1963)
- Mother Hitton’s Littul Kittons (1961)
- Alpha Ralpha Boulevard (1961)
- The Ballad of Lost C’Mell (1962)
- A Planet Named Shayol (1961)
- On the Gem Planet [Casher O'Neill] (1963)
- On the Storm Planet [Casher O'Neill] (1965)
- On the Sand Planet [Casher O'Neill] (1965)
- Three to a Given Star [Casher O'Neill] (1965)
- Down to a Sunless Sea (1975)
� Other Stories
- War No. 81-Q (original version) (1928)
- Western Science Is So Wonderful (1958)
- Nancy (1959)
- The Fife of Bodidharma (1959)
- Angerhelm (1959)
- The Good Friends (1963)

Cover art by Jack Gaughan

]]> 671 Cordwainer Smith 0915368560 Zachary 5 4.42 1993
author: Cordwainer Smith
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.42
book published: 1993
rating: 5
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date added: 2014/02/10
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review:
Smith should fall in the top five writers easily for those readers who enjoy class sci-fi/space opera. So many concepts that would later be central to the work of Herbert, Asimov and Banks are laid out here, in Smith's epic series of short stories, all set along the same impossibly long timeline. Issues explored defy description, but include gender identity, drug use, genetic engineering, East vs West, the final fate of economic systems... I could go on. But, really, you owe it to yourself to read it, and enjoy it, instead. A superb and complete compilation of the works of a forgotten sci fi master.
]]> 6658129
At nineteen, Jake Adelstein went to Japan in search of peace and tranquility. What he got was a life of crime . . . crime reporting, that is, at the prestigious Yomiuri Shinbun. For twelve years of eighty-hour workweeks, he covered the seedy side of Japan, where extortion, murder, human trafficking, and corruption are as familiar as ramen noodles and sake. But when his final scoop brought him face to face with Japan’s most infamous yakuza boss—and the threat of death for him and his family—Adelstein decided to step down . . . momentarily. Then, he fought back.

In Tokyo Vice, Adelstein tells the riveting, often humorous tale of his journey from an inexperienced cub reporter—who made rookie mistakes like getting into a martial-arts battle with a senior editor—to a daring, investigative journalist with a price on his head. With its vivid, visceral descriptions of crime in Japan and an exploration of the world of modern-day yakuza that even few Japanese ever see, Tokyo Vice is a fascination, and an education, from first to last.]]> 335 Jake Adelstein 0307378799 Zachary 3
I wish he'd talked more about the yakuza and the nature of crime in Japan, and less about himself and the sex workers he knew. But, still enjoyable and interesting, and a very unique perspective...]]> 3.87 2009
author: Jake Adelstein
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2014/01/02
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review:
This was an interesting read, but a little strange. The broader experience, that of an American journalist working for a Japanese language newspaper, is fascinating, as is the look at the seamier side of Japanese culture. But the actual plot of the book revolves so narrowly around the main character, and starts to read a bit too much like an spy novel than nonfiction. While Adelstein may in fact be the heroic figure he casts himself as in the book, he does little to make this seem plausible, and offers so little of his own thoughts and feelings (why he is in Japan, why he becomes a reporter, virtually anything about his wife or family) that he is hard to relate too. While his work to end sexual exploitation in Japan is laudable, his involvement with the sex industry is also disturbing close and personal.

I wish he'd talked more about the yakuza and the nature of crime in Japan, and less about himself and the sex workers he knew. But, still enjoyable and interesting, and a very unique perspective...
]]> 7148768
Collecting: X-Force 21-25]]> 144 Craig Kyle 0785135413 Zachary 4
This book has such amazing art that I am not sure what kind of adjective to apply to it, so I'm going to steal from Yotsuba - IT'S SUPER AMAZING! Many of these characters have never looked this good. Most of them never will again. Every panel is beautiful. Make sure you read it in good light - the inking is so heavy, you can miss most the amazing detail work in the wonderfully rendered shadows.

The story, I admit, is not all that. The characters are great, though, and there is a whole lot of interesting character development. Even Warpath is tolerable in this one, though Ghost Rider's appearance is more than a bit shoehorned in. Wolfsbane's plot line continues to suck, but what do you expect? She's a mutant werewolf chick thing, dating a Norse wolf-God thing. It's furry fantasy material. The only reason that Rahne is even in this book is that the artist likes to draw her in gratuitously tight t-shirts. Personally, I'm not complaining, but that might be a problem for some.

The only real weakness to the story is that it hinges around the temporary resurrection of former X-Men foes as undead mutant zombie things - which really reveals how lame every dead character was. It isn't like Marvel will let go of a good character because of a slight inconvenience like death. They are basically forced to make the undead immortal to explain why Magneto has trouble fighting a bunch of dead Apaches, or Pyro and Super Saber are a terrifying threat. It was nice to see Negatronic Teenage Warhead again, particularly as no one said her name.

Selene is actually a pretty effective villain in this, continuing the X Force tradition of taking old, boring villains, and reinventing them in fascinating ways. If I were immortal, I would wear something that didn't constantly give me a wedgie, but that's neither here nor there. The plot is more of a device to show you some cool shit, including some epically violent fight scenes, and to develop the characters in various directions, but it serves its purpose.

Except for Ghost Rider. F@#k that guy.

There is a heavy Lost Boy aesthetic to this book (evident on the cover) and I like it. The artist goes for a traditional gothic look, and there is a great deal of eye candy, regardless of your gender or preferences. The action sequences are among the best of the year, and the art is absolutely staggering.]]> 3.49 2010
author: Craig Kyle
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2013/10/30
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review:
If you were at all interested in the Necrosha cross-over, but you don't want to read the boring stuff with mediocre art, here is what you do - buy this book, and the New Mutants title by the same name, and you have every relevant moment. Outside of what is covered in these two titles, the rest of the story amounts to Colossus being angry and punching things, and Rogue being poorly drawn.

This book has such amazing art that I am not sure what kind of adjective to apply to it, so I'm going to steal from Yotsuba - IT'S SUPER AMAZING! Many of these characters have never looked this good. Most of them never will again. Every panel is beautiful. Make sure you read it in good light - the inking is so heavy, you can miss most the amazing detail work in the wonderfully rendered shadows.

The story, I admit, is not all that. The characters are great, though, and there is a whole lot of interesting character development. Even Warpath is tolerable in this one, though Ghost Rider's appearance is more than a bit shoehorned in. Wolfsbane's plot line continues to suck, but what do you expect? She's a mutant werewolf chick thing, dating a Norse wolf-God thing. It's furry fantasy material. The only reason that Rahne is even in this book is that the artist likes to draw her in gratuitously tight t-shirts. Personally, I'm not complaining, but that might be a problem for some.

The only real weakness to the story is that it hinges around the temporary resurrection of former X-Men foes as undead mutant zombie things - which really reveals how lame every dead character was. It isn't like Marvel will let go of a good character because of a slight inconvenience like death. They are basically forced to make the undead immortal to explain why Magneto has trouble fighting a bunch of dead Apaches, or Pyro and Super Saber are a terrifying threat. It was nice to see Negatronic Teenage Warhead again, particularly as no one said her name.

Selene is actually a pretty effective villain in this, continuing the X Force tradition of taking old, boring villains, and reinventing them in fascinating ways. If I were immortal, I would wear something that didn't constantly give me a wedgie, but that's neither here nor there. The plot is more of a device to show you some cool shit, including some epically violent fight scenes, and to develop the characters in various directions, but it serves its purpose.

Except for Ghost Rider. F@#k that guy.

There is a heavy Lost Boy aesthetic to this book (evident on the cover) and I like it. The artist goes for a traditional gothic look, and there is a great deal of eye candy, regardless of your gender or preferences. The action sequences are among the best of the year, and the art is absolutely staggering.
]]> 168642
As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.]]> 343 Truman Capote 0679745580 Zachary 4
But none of this changes the fact that this is a great book. The author has a unique compassion, a real empathy for all of the characters, from the victims to the perpetrators, the cops to the residents of the town. All are presented without bias or judgement, but merely as they are.

I won't waste too much time telling you what others have said better. Just read In Cold Blood, if you haven't already.]]> 4.08 1966
author: Truman Capote
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1966
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/10/01
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review:
Somehow I never got around to this, despite all those lit classes. I was worried that time would have blunted some of the impact the novel originally had, and I was right, to an extent - horrifying crimes of this nature have become so routine that this one seems rather mundane. The author's careful dance around issues of pedophilia, sexual assault, and homosexuality, appears quaint.

But none of this changes the fact that this is a great book. The author has a unique compassion, a real empathy for all of the characters, from the victims to the perpetrators, the cops to the residents of the town. All are presented without bias or judgement, but merely as they are.

I won't waste too much time telling you what others have said better. Just read In Cold Blood, if you haven't already.
]]> 6076675 Haruhi holds the fate of the universe in her hands; lucky for you she doesn't know it!

Meet Haruhi—a cute, determined girl, starting high school in a city where nothing exciting happens and absolutely no one understands her.

Meet Kyon—the sarcastic guy who sits behind Haruhi in homeroom and the only boy Haruhi has ever opened up to. His fate is now tied to hers.

Meet the S.O.S. Brigade—an after-school club organized by Haruhi with a mission to seek out the extraordinary. Oh, and their second mission? Keeping Haruhi happy—because even though she doesn't know it, Haruhi has the power to destroy the universe. Seriously.]]> 202 Nagaru Tanigawa 0316039020 Zachary 4
This is a superior translation, with the original illustrations preserved and presented, largely in color. Although I have to confess that I am not a fan of the character design in this series, the books are faithful to the original material. The editing is excellent, the dialog flows and is largely free of artifacts and errors in translation.

The concept is irresistible - god is a sixteen year old girl, and she is bored with the world. This is a bit of a problem, because Haruhi is fully capable of ending this world, and creating another, more entertaining version. Beginning with a school introduction announcing her interest in 'aliens, time travelers, and espers (psychics), she calls all of these things into being. Along with the suspiciously compliant and mundane narrator, she forms a club, the SOS brigade, to hunt the very things she is surrounded with - aliens, time travelers, and espers. Because Haruhi is not aware that she is god, the world is safe. But if she were to become aware, and disinterested, the end of everything is nigh.

The book is not without problems - the constant sexual harassment of Asahi by Haruhi is unpleasant, and a reminder of the unfortunate 'sexual harassment is funny' school of thought which plagues Japanese culture. There is unnecessary fan service - bunny-girl outfits, girl-on-girl groping, and a very unfortunate joking reference to sexual assault - all of which detract from the whole.

This novels exemplifies both what is good and fascinating about the Japanese light novel, and what prevents it from wider success in the Western world. I enjoyed it very much, but that was because I was willing to forgive the warts to appreciate the beauty of the whole. But your mileage could vary.]]> 3.93 2003
author: Nagaru Tanigawa
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/10/01
shelves:
review:
First off, what a lovely cover and outer design. I bought the entire series based on the incredibly pleasing look and feel of the set, and I am happy that I did.

This is a superior translation, with the original illustrations preserved and presented, largely in color. Although I have to confess that I am not a fan of the character design in this series, the books are faithful to the original material. The editing is excellent, the dialog flows and is largely free of artifacts and errors in translation.

The concept is irresistible - god is a sixteen year old girl, and she is bored with the world. This is a bit of a problem, because Haruhi is fully capable of ending this world, and creating another, more entertaining version. Beginning with a school introduction announcing her interest in 'aliens, time travelers, and espers (psychics), she calls all of these things into being. Along with the suspiciously compliant and mundane narrator, she forms a club, the SOS brigade, to hunt the very things she is surrounded with - aliens, time travelers, and espers. Because Haruhi is not aware that she is god, the world is safe. But if she were to become aware, and disinterested, the end of everything is nigh.

The book is not without problems - the constant sexual harassment of Asahi by Haruhi is unpleasant, and a reminder of the unfortunate 'sexual harassment is funny' school of thought which plagues Japanese culture. There is unnecessary fan service - bunny-girl outfits, girl-on-girl groping, and a very unfortunate joking reference to sexual assault - all of which detract from the whole.

This novels exemplifies both what is good and fascinating about the Japanese light novel, and what prevents it from wider success in the Western world. I enjoyed it very much, but that was because I was willing to forgive the warts to appreciate the beauty of the whole. But your mileage could vary.
]]> 465852
No matter who your ancestors were, and where they had the misfortune of living, Victorian children's book writer Mrs. Favell Lee Mortimer had something nasty to say about them. Their faults, according to Mrs. Mortimer, might have amounted to just about anything. The Irish "are very kind and good-natured when pleased, but if affronted, are filled with rage." In Italy, "the people are ignorant and wicked." In Sweden, "Nothing useful is well done...The carpenters and the blacksmiths are very clumsy in their work."

Remarkably, all of these assertions come from a woman who only twice set foot outside of her native England. But lack of personal experience never kept Mrs. Mortimer from dispensing her horrifying wisdom about the evils of just about every nation on earth. Whether describing Europe ("It is dreadful to think what a number of murders are committed in Italy"), Asia ("The religion of Taou teaches men to act like madmen"), Africa ("The worst quality in any character is hypocrisy, and this is to be found in the Egyptian"), or America ("New Orleans is a dangerous place to live in, both for the body and the soul"), Mrs. Mortimer's views are consistently appalling. One hundred fifty years later, three of her forgotten classics have been compiled into one volume, The Clumsiest People in Europe, reviving the comically misinformed and startling prejudices of this unique Victorian eccentric.]]> 208 Favell Lee Mortimer 158234504X Zachary 3
Which is striking, because she never even went to Wales, a few miles from her home. Aside from a childhood visit to Belgium and a short term to Edinburgh, the woman hardly left her house. Oh, and she also wrote terrifying (and popular) children's books, from a harshly anti-Catholic moral and religious stance.

The book's jacket says it best. The value of this book is largely in looking up 'who your ancestors were, and what was wrong with them', and will generate some laughs. If you are easily offended by hideous ignorance and racism, I would avoid, but if you can laugh at the premise, then there is something to enjoy here, in a limited sense. I wouldn't really call it the kind of book you would just sit down and read, however, because the characterizations start to become monotonously similar.]]> 3.36 2005
author: Favell Lee Mortimer
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.36
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/10/01
shelves:
review:
This was a fun little discount read. A well-organized collection of the writings of the utterly bizarre Mrs. Mortimer - a Victorian lady from England who, though she never traveled, wrote extensively on travel, foreign countries and people. And how much she hated them. And how dirty they were.

Which is striking, because she never even went to Wales, a few miles from her home. Aside from a childhood visit to Belgium and a short term to Edinburgh, the woman hardly left her house. Oh, and she also wrote terrifying (and popular) children's books, from a harshly anti-Catholic moral and religious stance.

The book's jacket says it best. The value of this book is largely in looking up 'who your ancestors were, and what was wrong with them', and will generate some laughs. If you are easily offended by hideous ignorance and racism, I would avoid, but if you can laugh at the premise, then there is something to enjoy here, in a limited sense. I wouldn't really call it the kind of book you would just sit down and read, however, because the characterizations start to become monotonously similar.
]]> 478558
In the predawn gloom of a February day in 1994, two thieves entered the National Gallery in Oslo. They snatched one of the world's most famous paintings, Edvard Munch's The Scream, and fled with their $72 million trophy. The thieves made sure the world was watching: the Winter Olympics, in Lillehammer, began that same morning. Baffled and humiliated, the Norwegian police called on the world's greatest art detective, a half-English, half-American undercover cop named Charley Hill.

In this rollicking narrative, Edward Dolnick takes us inside the art underworld. The trail leads high and low, and the cast ranges from titled aristocrats to thick-necked thugs. Lord Bath, resplendent in ponytail and velvet jacket, presides over a 9,000-acre estate. David Duddin, a 300-pound fence who once tried to sell a stolen Rembrandt, spins exuberant tales of his misdeeds. We meet Munch, too, a haunted misfit who spends his evenings drinking in the Black Piglet Café and his nights feverishly trying to capture in paint the visions in his head. The most compelling character of all is Charley Hill, an ex-soldier, a would-be priest, and a complicated mix of brilliance, foolhardiness, and charm. The hunt for The Scream will either cap his career and rescue one of the world's best-known paintings or end in a fiasco that will dog him forever.]]> 270 Edward Dolnick 0060531177 Zachary 4
The book is well organized, with chapters telling the story of the theft and the paintings eventually recovery with chapters describing the collecting of art, art theft, the myth of the 'Dr. No' criminal with a secret gallery of masterpieces, identifying of paintings and forgery, policing art crime, and other topics relevant to the case at hand.

A great, quick read, for fans of true crime, or non-fiction with an artistic/criminal bent.]]> 3.78 2005
author: Edward Dolnick
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/10/01
shelves:
review:
This is some excellent non-fiction, though it is written exactly in the manner of a fictional crime/detective novel. The meta story for the book is the the theft of The Scream, the famous painting, during the Norwegian Olympics. The crime went unsolved for some time, until the tiny Art Crime unit of Scotland Yard got involved.

The book is well organized, with chapters telling the story of the theft and the paintings eventually recovery with chapters describing the collecting of art, art theft, the myth of the 'Dr. No' criminal with a secret gallery of masterpieces, identifying of paintings and forgery, policing art crime, and other topics relevant to the case at hand.

A great, quick read, for fans of true crime, or non-fiction with an artistic/criminal bent.
]]> 4893643
Twenty-three years ago, twelve strange children were born in England at exactly the same moment. Six years ago, the world ended. Today, eleven strange 23-year-olds live in and defend Whitechapel, maybe the last real settlement in flooded London. When a dazed, gun-toting girl appears on the outskirts with a deadly grudge against the self-proclaimed Freakangels, the kids realize that an old enemy is still alive beyond the safety of their borders... a twelfth psychic child, evil and exiled, who can program human minds to hate, and send his private, pirate armies into Whitechapel for revenge. The first chapter in award-winning author Warren Ellis' post-apocalyptic web comic series!]]> 144 Warren Ellis 1592910564 Zachary 5 4.00 2008
author: Warren Ellis
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2012/07/31
shelves:
review:

]]> 11334217
This tongue-in-cheek original fairy tale follows the adventures of Laluna, a young witch who inherits her grandmother's potion shop. It's Halloween, the most bewitching night of the year, but even the most well intentioned spells have a habit of going badly for Laluna. When a charm for true love unearths a zombie, she must make amends with the help of her vampire best (almost more than) friend and cupcakes no ghoul can resist. "Hallow's Eve" is a short, lively, light-hearted romp across a most unusual Halloween night.]]> 78 Sarah Diemer Zachary 3
The inept witch who just happens to be a fabulous cupcake baker?

Cute.

Her vampire-stereotype almost boyfriend?

Well, he might be a little cliche, but their almost romance is just adorable. I would actually read another book about those characters, just to find out if they hooked up.

The plot is vehicle for the romance, but that's fine. The dialogue is fun and snappy, the halloween-fairy tale vibe is consistent and well-done, and amusing concepts scattered through out keep the story from bogging down. Particularly enjoyed Death-as-a-Tree. A winning concept, there.

Now, I have to admit Diemer's work was recommend to me as good yuri (sapphic-lesbian whatever you wanna call it) fiction, but she wasn't specific about which book I should get. This was cute and fun, but a bit lacking in lesbians - but that was my bad on the selection. Turns out, had I picked any other book Diemer has written, more or less, and it would have been more in line with my expectations.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. If the idea of a cute, cupcake baking witch in a world resembling Nightmare Before Christmas sounds appealing - and you have a serious sweet tooth for your fiction - then I would recommend Hallow' Eve. ]]> 3.63 2011
author: Sarah Diemer
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/04/30
shelves:
review:
Very cute. Almost too cute, but Sarah Diemer is an entertaining writer, and she pulls it off successfully.

The inept witch who just happens to be a fabulous cupcake baker?

Cute.

Her vampire-stereotype almost boyfriend?

Well, he might be a little cliche, but their almost romance is just adorable. I would actually read another book about those characters, just to find out if they hooked up.

The plot is vehicle for the romance, but that's fine. The dialogue is fun and snappy, the halloween-fairy tale vibe is consistent and well-done, and amusing concepts scattered through out keep the story from bogging down. Particularly enjoyed Death-as-a-Tree. A winning concept, there.

Now, I have to admit Diemer's work was recommend to me as good yuri (sapphic-lesbian whatever you wanna call it) fiction, but she wasn't specific about which book I should get. This was cute and fun, but a bit lacking in lesbians - but that was my bad on the selection. Turns out, had I picked any other book Diemer has written, more or less, and it would have been more in line with my expectations.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. If the idea of a cute, cupcake baking witch in a world resembling Nightmare Before Christmas sounds appealing - and you have a serious sweet tooth for your fiction - then I would recommend Hallow' Eve.
]]> 12830334 42 Oliver Broudy Zachary 2
I enjoy the Kindle Singles format, and I've read several now. It's a good way to read personal essays in a short to medium length. This, however, is not one of those essays.

Broudy came across, to me, as world-weary and narcissistic, surprisingly dismissive of the modern world and simultaneously dulled by its sensory overload. There were long passages expounding on his personal theories on loniness, isolation, modernity, sexuality, and so on, which are of moderate interest, but his tendency to turn self-reflection outward - to assume that what he experiences is a universal rather than a personal revelation, comes across as pedantic and condescending.

As for subject matter, he keeps the reader in the dark for a long time as to the contents of the mysterious book that he is seeking, one that could exist 'only in the modern era' but would be banned in any library. This is a little too much build for...

***SPOILER****




...a book of drawings of vaginas to serve as models for a Czech plastic surgeon specializing in such things. The 92-year old man who produces the pictures is moderately more interesting, but not enough so that it was a particularly compelling reveal.

I guess I was thinking of the Voynich manuscript, or Henry Darger, or something along those lines. Drawings of the female sex don't seem particularly scandalous to me, nor do I find the subject of genital plastic surgery to be nearly as fascinating as the author does.

Maybe it just wasn't my thing.]]> 3.11 2011
author: Oliver Broudy
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.11
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2012/04/30
shelves:
review:
Much ado about nothing.

I enjoy the Kindle Singles format, and I've read several now. It's a good way to read personal essays in a short to medium length. This, however, is not one of those essays.

Broudy came across, to me, as world-weary and narcissistic, surprisingly dismissive of the modern world and simultaneously dulled by its sensory overload. There were long passages expounding on his personal theories on loniness, isolation, modernity, sexuality, and so on, which are of moderate interest, but his tendency to turn self-reflection outward - to assume that what he experiences is a universal rather than a personal revelation, comes across as pedantic and condescending.

As for subject matter, he keeps the reader in the dark for a long time as to the contents of the mysterious book that he is seeking, one that could exist 'only in the modern era' but would be banned in any library. This is a little too much build for...

***SPOILER****




...a book of drawings of vaginas to serve as models for a Czech plastic surgeon specializing in such things. The 92-year old man who produces the pictures is moderately more interesting, but not enough so that it was a particularly compelling reveal.

I guess I was thinking of the Voynich manuscript, or Henry Darger, or something along those lines. Drawings of the female sex don't seem particularly scandalous to me, nor do I find the subject of genital plastic surgery to be nearly as fascinating as the author does.

Maybe it just wasn't my thing.
]]> 8493612
Gwendolyn “Gwenâ€� Dylan is a 20-something gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery. Once a month she must eat a human brain to keep from losing her memories, but in the process she becomes consumed with the thoughts and personality of the dead person â€� until she eats her next brain. She sets out to fulfill the dead person’s last request, solve a crime or right a wrong.

Our zombie girl detective is joined by a radical supporting cast: her best friend Eleanor, who happens to be a swinging �60s ghost, a posse of paintball blasting vampires, a smitten were-dog and a hot but demented mummy.

Collects issues #1-5]]> 144 Chris Roberson 1401229654 Zachary 4
This isn't the most original story ever - it is filled with zombies, were-creatures, ghosts, and vampires, and while some of them are very interesting takes on the conventional ideas, others seem, at least in the first volume, to be very typical to form.

What makes this work is the extremely compelling main character, who I refuse to tell you anything about, because it real is best to be surprised. Actually, all three of the main characters are pretty compelling, each with implied back story and a fascinating little wrinkle to their persona.

There is a very, very strong Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe to this. Perhaps too strong. Time will tell. Without Allred, this only gets three stars, because the writing is good and fun, but not particularly special or original, but the art just sings, in a punk-rock-album-cover sort of way.

If you enjoy zombie stuff, urban fiction with romantic undertones, or funny horror, then I would recommend this book.]]> 3.65 2010
author: Chris Roberson
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/04/30
shelves:
review:
I freely admit to giving extra stars based on Mike Allred, who is awesome.

This isn't the most original story ever - it is filled with zombies, were-creatures, ghosts, and vampires, and while some of them are very interesting takes on the conventional ideas, others seem, at least in the first volume, to be very typical to form.

What makes this work is the extremely compelling main character, who I refuse to tell you anything about, because it real is best to be surprised. Actually, all three of the main characters are pretty compelling, each with implied back story and a fascinating little wrinkle to their persona.

There is a very, very strong Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe to this. Perhaps too strong. Time will tell. Without Allred, this only gets three stars, because the writing is good and fun, but not particularly special or original, but the art just sings, in a punk-rock-album-cover sort of way.

If you enjoy zombie stuff, urban fiction with romantic undertones, or funny horror, then I would recommend this book.
]]> 7619398 American Vampire introduces a new strain of vampire � a more vicious species � and traces the creatures' bloodline through decades of American history.

Snyder's tale follows Pearl, a young woman living in 1920s Los Angeles, who is brutally turned into a vampire and sets out on a path of righteous revenge against the European monsters who tortured and abused her. And in King's story set in the days of America's Wild West, readers learn the origin of Skinner Sweet, the original American vampire � a stronger, faster creature than any vampire ever seen before.

Don't miss out as Snyder and King set fire to the horror genre with this visionary, all-original take on one of the most popular monster stories!

This beautiful collection features a new introduction by Stephen King and bonus art including character sketches, variant covers and more!

Collecting: American Vampire 1-5]]> 192 Scott Snyder 1401228305 Zachary 5
There's a split story going on here - one half flashback to the history of one 'Skinner Sweat', a thoroughly vile Old West bandit, who ends up becoming the first of the series titular American Vampires. This is an important part of the story - the basic idea is that vampires created in America, from Americans, are very different from European transplants, who are more or less conventional to mythology. I won't give away the difference between the two breeds, but they are intriguing. This is King's part of the gig, and he handles it all quite well.

The other half of the story is set during the golden age of Hollywood, and revolves around a flapper-looking aspiring actress, and her own unfortunate encounter with vampires, and a slightly more fortunate encounter with the aged and mellowed Skinner Sweat, who appears to have shifted from out-and-out monster to anti-hero. This part of the story is very fast moving and gripping, with an extremely relatable main character, good dialogue, and nice art.

Every few years, I tempted to write of Vertigo as something that just appeals to Goth kids, something that will eventually fail the test of time, but they always manage to reinvent themselves in intriguing ways to stay at the very peak of comic book creativity. American Vampire is one of those books that reminds me why I have been reading their stories for so long. I look forward to volume 2, and heartily endorse volume one.]]> 3.97 2010
author: Scott Snyder
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2012/04/30
shelves:
review:
This was really good - despite my general ambivalence for vampire fiction. A bit of an oddity to have Stephen King writing a big chunk of the comic, but he's as good with the sequential genre as he is with genre fiction, though Snyder's portions flow a bit better.

There's a split story going on here - one half flashback to the history of one 'Skinner Sweat', a thoroughly vile Old West bandit, who ends up becoming the first of the series titular American Vampires. This is an important part of the story - the basic idea is that vampires created in America, from Americans, are very different from European transplants, who are more or less conventional to mythology. I won't give away the difference between the two breeds, but they are intriguing. This is King's part of the gig, and he handles it all quite well.

The other half of the story is set during the golden age of Hollywood, and revolves around a flapper-looking aspiring actress, and her own unfortunate encounter with vampires, and a slightly more fortunate encounter with the aged and mellowed Skinner Sweat, who appears to have shifted from out-and-out monster to anti-hero. This part of the story is very fast moving and gripping, with an extremely relatable main character, good dialogue, and nice art.

Every few years, I tempted to write of Vertigo as something that just appeals to Goth kids, something that will eventually fail the test of time, but they always manage to reinvent themselves in intriguing ways to stay at the very peak of comic book creativity. American Vampire is one of those books that reminds me why I have been reading their stories for so long. I look forward to volume 2, and heartily endorse volume one.
]]> 7604 Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780141182537.

Humbert Humbert - scholar, aesthete and romantic - has fallen completely and utterly in love with Dolores Haze, his landlady's gum-snapping, silky skinned twelve-year-old daughter. Reluctantly agreeing to marry Mrs Haze just to be close to Lolita, Humbert suffers greatly in the pursuit of romance; but when Lo herself starts looking for attention elsewhere, he will carry her off on a desperate cross-country misadventure, all in the name of Love. Hilarious, flamboyant, heart-breaking and full of ingenious word play, Lolita is an immaculate, unforgettable masterpiece of obsession, delusion and lust.]]> 368 Vladimir Nabokov 0679723161 Zachary 4
Okay, just kidding. This book has more uncomfortable sexual and familial relationships than anything short of Shakespeare or the Bible. Nabokov is a really talented writer, and this was probably his best work.

I won't summarize the plot, because I assume that you already know the gist - old guy falls in love with twelve-year old 'nymphet', and then some other even more messed up stuff happens. You know, like the main character marrying Lolita's mom, so he can be closer to his prepubescent lover, or Lolita taking up with yet another grown man. Suffice to say, it's all bad, and none of the characters are particularly sympathetic.

It is, however, wonderfully written, with the usual Russian flare for beautiful language. And, in a icky, need a shower sort of way, pretty sexy, too. Not the kind of thing anyone would condone, but that is part of the reason that the book continues to command attention, after so many decades on the market. Frankly, I think this book probably still qualifies as shocking, even after the passage of time, which is saying something. Besides, without this book, Sting would have nothing to draw inspiration from when writing creepy songs about stalking.

Like most Russian-authored books, a great deal of the value in Lolita is determined by the quality of the translation. Fortunately, there are several good options on the market today, due to the work's wide popularity.]]> 3.87 1955
author: Vladimir Nabokov
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1955
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/03/30
shelves:
review:
I've heard that this book was mildly controversial, though I can't imagine why.

Okay, just kidding. This book has more uncomfortable sexual and familial relationships than anything short of Shakespeare or the Bible. Nabokov is a really talented writer, and this was probably his best work.

I won't summarize the plot, because I assume that you already know the gist - old guy falls in love with twelve-year old 'nymphet', and then some other even more messed up stuff happens. You know, like the main character marrying Lolita's mom, so he can be closer to his prepubescent lover, or Lolita taking up with yet another grown man. Suffice to say, it's all bad, and none of the characters are particularly sympathetic.

It is, however, wonderfully written, with the usual Russian flare for beautiful language. And, in a icky, need a shower sort of way, pretty sexy, too. Not the kind of thing anyone would condone, but that is part of the reason that the book continues to command attention, after so many decades on the market. Frankly, I think this book probably still qualifies as shocking, even after the passage of time, which is saying something. Besides, without this book, Sting would have nothing to draw inspiration from when writing creepy songs about stalking.

Like most Russian-authored books, a great deal of the value in Lolita is determined by the quality of the translation. Fortunately, there are several good options on the market today, due to the work's wide popularity.
]]> 2494985 192 Vaun Wilmott 1933164328 Zachary 3
This was the first manga I read on my Kindle - and overall, I thought it to be successful and enjoyable, especially for the price.

I enjoyed the art more than the writing, but for a first outing a newcomer, the main character is intriguing and the plot is somewhat interesting, revolving around fallen angles, a secret society in the past that hunted them, and of course, the high school girl whom all of this centers around.

There are some fairly serious problems - insta-love between the main characters, for example, a rather absurdly cartoony take on New York, some heavy Twilight-vibes, a really unnecessary motorcycles for the dreamboat boy to ride, and too much foreshadowing via last names. But my real issue with the book stemmed from the character known as 'Junior'. I have come to accept that all manga and anime must have a pervy-but-good-hearted comic relief 'best friend' character, even though it makes me mildly ill. But Junior's appearance - sort of a Popeye combined with Archie thing, except he's a midget - just makes it all intolerable. I actually found myself skipping his scenes, I hate him so much.

Overall, though, it was a fun, fast read, and more than fair for the price. I would definitely read a second volume, as I feel like some of the kinks could be worked out via experience. The artist shows definite potential - the sketches in the back were actually more detailed and interesting than some of the illustrations in the book. There is lots of upward potential here, particularly if Junior were to die in the first few pages of Volume Two. Please. ]]> 3.47 2007
author: Vaun Wilmott
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.47
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/03/30
shelves:
review:
Can I give a 2.5? Maybe even 2.75? Three is too much, but I'd rather err on the side of being nice.

This was the first manga I read on my Kindle - and overall, I thought it to be successful and enjoyable, especially for the price.

I enjoyed the art more than the writing, but for a first outing a newcomer, the main character is intriguing and the plot is somewhat interesting, revolving around fallen angles, a secret society in the past that hunted them, and of course, the high school girl whom all of this centers around.

There are some fairly serious problems - insta-love between the main characters, for example, a rather absurdly cartoony take on New York, some heavy Twilight-vibes, a really unnecessary motorcycles for the dreamboat boy to ride, and too much foreshadowing via last names. But my real issue with the book stemmed from the character known as 'Junior'. I have come to accept that all manga and anime must have a pervy-but-good-hearted comic relief 'best friend' character, even though it makes me mildly ill. But Junior's appearance - sort of a Popeye combined with Archie thing, except he's a midget - just makes it all intolerable. I actually found myself skipping his scenes, I hate him so much.

Overall, though, it was a fun, fast read, and more than fair for the price. I would definitely read a second volume, as I feel like some of the kinks could be worked out via experience. The artist shows definite potential - the sketches in the back were actually more detailed and interesting than some of the illustrations in the book. There is lots of upward potential here, particularly if Junior were to die in the first few pages of Volume Two. Please.
]]> 3876 The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta) is one of Ernest Hemingway's masterpieces and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style. A poignant look at the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation, the novel introduces two of Hemingway's most unforgettable characters: Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. The story follows the flamboyant Brett and the hapless Jake as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain with a motley group of expatriates. It is an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions. First published in 1926, The Sun Also Rises helped to establish Hemingway as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.]]> 189 Ernest Hemingway Zachary 5
If you haven't read this book, read it. Hemingway is economical in his use of language and description, so it is short and a quick read. You owe it to yourself to spend at least an evening with this remarkable book.]]> 3.81 1926
author: Ernest Hemingway
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1926
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2012/03/28
shelves:
review:
One of the greatest books ever written. Hemingway is a master of the English language, and one of the undisputed best novelists in recent history, and this book finds him at the height of his powers. It isn't about anything in particular - American expatriates in France, memories of WWII, drinking in Paris and Spain, fishing, and bullfighting. But the sheer power of the language, the purity of the imagery, and the subtle threads of emotion buried beneath the wandering plot are all virtually unmatched.

If you haven't read this book, read it. Hemingway is economical in his use of language and description, so it is short and a quick read. You owe it to yourself to spend at least an evening with this remarkable book.
]]> 337116 Sybil Gerard - dishonored woman and daughter of a Luddite agitator; Edward "Leviathan" Mallory - explorer and paleontologist; Laurence Oliphant - diplomat and spy. Their adventure begins with the discovery of a box of punched Engine cards of unknown origin and purpose. Cards someone wants badly enough to kill for...

Part detective story, part historical thriller, The Difference Engine is the first collaborative novel by two of the most brilliant and controversial science fiction authors of our time. Provocative, compelling, intensely imagined, it is a startling extension of Gibson's and Sterling's unique visions - in a new and totally unexpected direction!]]> 429 William Gibson 055329461X Zachary 1
I don't know whether to blame Gibson, Sterling, or the combination of two authors (not usual a good thing, in my opinion) but this book is garbled and incomprehensible steampunk alt-history, with cookie-cutter characters and repetitive themes. I find Charles Babbage fascinating as well, but not so fascinating that I want to read any entire novel devoted to his ideas being realized in society - not when both plot and characters seem totally secondary to exploring the not-particularly-original setting.

Frankly, I would recommend any book by either of these men before I would suggest reading this.]]> 3.49 1990
author: William Gibson
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.49
book published: 1990
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2012/03/28
shelves:
review:
I love William Gibson. If I could write like any one human being, it would be him. I have at least enjoyed ever book he has ever written, and several have been favorites, but this book...

I don't know whether to blame Gibson, Sterling, or the combination of two authors (not usual a good thing, in my opinion) but this book is garbled and incomprehensible steampunk alt-history, with cookie-cutter characters and repetitive themes. I find Charles Babbage fascinating as well, but not so fascinating that I want to read any entire novel devoted to his ideas being realized in society - not when both plot and characters seem totally secondary to exploring the not-particularly-original setting.

Frankly, I would recommend any book by either of these men before I would suggest reading this.
]]> 161296 Schismatrix Plus, is Bruce Sterling's new trade paperback. For the first time in one volume: every word Bruce Sterling has ever written on the Shapers-Mechanists Universe.

In the last decade, Sterling has emerged a pioneer of crucial, cutting-edge science fiction. Now Ace Books is proud to offer Sterling's stunning world of the Schismatrix--where Shaper revolutionaries struggle against aristocratic Mechanists for ultimate control of man's destiny. This volume includes the classic full-length novel, Schismatrix, plus thousands of words of mind-bending short fiction.]]> 319 Bruce Sterling 0441003702 Zachary 4
There is, of course, an exception - Schismatrix. While he isn't the first author to move cyberpunk sensibilities into space - Gibson did a USSR themed space story in Burning Chrome - Sterling's wrold has the most complete vision, and the best ideas.

The idea, spoiler free, is that the Earth has been abandoned for ill-defined reasons, leaving the rest of humanity to struggle along in clusters of space stations, habitats, and space ships. Much of the remaining population is involved in a war between Shapers - genetically modified humans - and the Mechanists, who favor life-extending cybernetics and AIs. While various paradigms come and go during the relatively long timeline, terraforming is at the crux of the book. The way Sterling focuses on the radical social fracturing and experimentation, the ecological and genetic engineering, and the technology needed to transform humanity into a species capable of surviving in space is utterly fascinating. Even better, there are a number of fascinating characters scattered through out the book, though the lead character, Abelard is often little more than a cypher or a guide to the events at hand, and his personality fades in significance and prominence as the story goes on.

Near the end of the book, the subject matter moves in the direction of aliens, damaging the claustrophobic solar system that Sterling had imagined. While the aliens are themselves quite original, the inclusion of a world outside of the tiny island habitats moves the story in a space-opera direction that seems at odds with the rest of the book. Also, the author lingers a bit too much on the philosophy of trans-humanism for me.

Still, an excellent read, and perhaps the best fusing of cyberpunk and space SF that has been done.]]> 3.94 1996
author: Bruce Sterling
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.94
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/03/28
shelves:
review:
I am a huge fan of cyberpunk literature, but I've never particularly enjoyed Bruce Sterling's offerings. Not that they were bad - he is far too accomplished a writer for that - but I simply never found his visions of the future particularly compelling, and he lacked the vivid characters and powerful language of William Gibson or Phillip K Dick.

There is, of course, an exception - Schismatrix. While he isn't the first author to move cyberpunk sensibilities into space - Gibson did a USSR themed space story in Burning Chrome - Sterling's wrold has the most complete vision, and the best ideas.

The idea, spoiler free, is that the Earth has been abandoned for ill-defined reasons, leaving the rest of humanity to struggle along in clusters of space stations, habitats, and space ships. Much of the remaining population is involved in a war between Shapers - genetically modified humans - and the Mechanists, who favor life-extending cybernetics and AIs. While various paradigms come and go during the relatively long timeline, terraforming is at the crux of the book. The way Sterling focuses on the radical social fracturing and experimentation, the ecological and genetic engineering, and the technology needed to transform humanity into a species capable of surviving in space is utterly fascinating. Even better, there are a number of fascinating characters scattered through out the book, though the lead character, Abelard is often little more than a cypher or a guide to the events at hand, and his personality fades in significance and prominence as the story goes on.

Near the end of the book, the subject matter moves in the direction of aliens, damaging the claustrophobic solar system that Sterling had imagined. While the aliens are themselves quite original, the inclusion of a world outside of the tiny island habitats moves the story in a space-opera direction that seems at odds with the rest of the book. Also, the author lingers a bit too much on the philosophy of trans-humanism for me.

Still, an excellent read, and perhaps the best fusing of cyberpunk and space SF that has been done.
]]> 13662
Then a wizard, Ged Sparrowhawk, comes to steal the Tombsâ€� greatest hidden treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. Tenar’s duty is to protect the Ring, but Ged possesses the light of magic and tales of a world that Tenar has never known. Will Tenar risk everything to escape from the darkness that has become her domain?]]> 180 Ursula K. Le Guin 0689845367 Zachary 4
The imagery of a child, growing up in the ruins of a previous society, worshiping by wandering the dark and seemingly endless halls of a perpetually light-less labyrinth, is both haunting and impossibly beautiful. Tenar is both pitiably real and admirably defiant, both a product of and better than her surroundings.

My only real complaint with this book is the arrival of the wizard, who brings with him the baggage of Earth Sea, and too many fantasy tropes to count. If this book were a stand alone novel, and if the heroine did not require rescuing from a white night far too traditional for my tastes, this would be one of the true classics of fantasy. Unfortunately, it is instead an amazing book in the midst of mediocre series.]]> 4.12 1971
author: Ursula K. Le Guin
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1971
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/03/26
shelves:
review:
One of the most perfect, lonely, and wonderful books that I have ever read. This book revolves around Tenar, a young priestess/sacrifice to the darkness of Atuan, rather than Sparrowhawk or the rest of the Earthsea Saga, and can actually be read by itself, as I first did.

The imagery of a child, growing up in the ruins of a previous society, worshiping by wandering the dark and seemingly endless halls of a perpetually light-less labyrinth, is both haunting and impossibly beautiful. Tenar is both pitiably real and admirably defiant, both a product of and better than her surroundings.

My only real complaint with this book is the arrival of the wizard, who brings with him the baggage of Earth Sea, and too many fantasy tropes to count. If this book were a stand alone novel, and if the heroine did not require rescuing from a white night far too traditional for my tastes, this would be one of the true classics of fantasy. Unfortunately, it is instead an amazing book in the midst of mediocre series.
]]> 9918278
Collecting: Uncanny X-Force 5-7, 5.1]]> 112 Rick Remender 0785148566 Zachary 4
It doesn't matter that the setting is the the World - think the holo deck in Star Trek - a writer's crutch if there ever was one. It doesn't matter that the art is a step down from previous X-Force outings, that the lineup isn't as compelling as it could be, that the inking can be a little muddy.

Here on out, I may get a little spoilery. Nothing too huge, but you were warned.

What does matter?

Deadpool matters. Really. In a way I don't think he ever has, in any of his many appearances. He has real pathos - you can make the argument that the absurdest, fourth-wall breaking Merc is the most sympathetic member of the group. Certainly, the scene in which he confesses to the group that he has trouble sleeping as a result of their actions is a real eye-opener.

Archangel matters, as he slowly descends down the ladder to inhumanity. Apocalypse, like all the best comic villains, never really dies, and his influence is slowly corrupting the most 'angelic' of the X-Men, despite his death.

Wolverine matters. Still. Despite everything they have done to him. How bout that?

Psylocke matters, and here I thought she was mostly in the book to assume that weird pose where both ass and boobs face forward. Must need a lot of yoga lessons to do that. Still, somehow, I like her. Communing with the ghost of Captain Britain in the Dangeroom? Brilliant.

And Fantomex is... tolerable. Sort of. I'm reserving judgement on that one.

The concept, however - a super hero black-ops squad, taking out threats to mutant kind before they manifest, remains vital and fascinating. Not as beautiful as early efforts, but just as well written.]]> 3.89 2011
author: Rick Remender
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/03/26
shelves:
review:
Is this the best comic being published today? In superhero terms, it just might be. It doesn't even matter that Deathlok is lame, and that the alternate timeline future hero-Deathlok mashups are stupid looking. It really doesn't. The story is just that great.

It doesn't matter that the setting is the the World - think the holo deck in Star Trek - a writer's crutch if there ever was one. It doesn't matter that the art is a step down from previous X-Force outings, that the lineup isn't as compelling as it could be, that the inking can be a little muddy.

Here on out, I may get a little spoilery. Nothing too huge, but you were warned.

What does matter?

Deadpool matters. Really. In a way I don't think he ever has, in any of his many appearances. He has real pathos - you can make the argument that the absurdest, fourth-wall breaking Merc is the most sympathetic member of the group. Certainly, the scene in which he confesses to the group that he has trouble sleeping as a result of their actions is a real eye-opener.

Archangel matters, as he slowly descends down the ladder to inhumanity. Apocalypse, like all the best comic villains, never really dies, and his influence is slowly corrupting the most 'angelic' of the X-Men, despite his death.

Wolverine matters. Still. Despite everything they have done to him. How bout that?

Psylocke matters, and here I thought she was mostly in the book to assume that weird pose where both ass and boobs face forward. Must need a lot of yoga lessons to do that. Still, somehow, I like her. Communing with the ghost of Captain Britain in the Dangeroom? Brilliant.

And Fantomex is... tolerable. Sort of. I'm reserving judgement on that one.

The concept, however - a super hero black-ops squad, taking out threats to mutant kind before they manifest, remains vital and fascinating. Not as beautiful as early efforts, but just as well written.
]]> 7237456 The best-selling author of Stiff and Bonk explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity.

Space is a world devoid of the things we need to live and thrive: air, gravity, hot showers, fresh produce, privacy, beer. Space exploration is in some ways an exploration of what it means to be human. How much can a person give up? How much weirdness can they take? What happens to you when you can’t walk for a year? have sex? smell flowers? What happens if you vomit in your helmet during a space walk? Is it possible for the human body to survive a bailout at 17,000 miles per hour?

To answer these questions, space agencies set up all manner of quizzical and startlingly bizarre space simulations. As Mary Roach discovers, it’s possible to preview space without ever leaving Earth. From the space shuttle training toilet to a crash test of NASA’s new space capsule (cadaver filling in for astronaut), Roach takes us on a surreally entertaining trip into the science of life in space and space on Earth.]]> 334 Mary Roach 0393068471 Zachary 5
The writing is taut and funny, with hilarious footnotes and brief digressions, in the manner of this writer's best previous work. Rarely did I go more than a few pages without laughing out loud, either in astonishment, shock, or sheer hilarity. The research that this book must have involved is daunting, but quite thoroughly explored. Roach is at her best when she can apply her own sly, slightly naughty sensibilities to a subject that seems dry and uninteresting, or even gross, on the face of it, and Packing for Mars provides many of these moments.

At least as good as her debut novel, Stiff, Packing for Mars is excellent, funny, and a fast read by an excellent author. If I had a complaint, it was only that I wished it went on longer, not because it was too short, but rather because I was enjoying reading it.]]> 3.93 2010
author: Mary Roach
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2012/01/13
shelves:
review:
Mary Roach is the best thing going in science writing at the moment, bar none, and Packing for Mars finds her at the height of her powers. As usual, Roach is more interested in the people who study the science of living in space than the actual history of space exploration, or the science thereof, though she explores all three before the finale. But this proves to be one of the books many strengths, as the author emphasizes the human element to a subject that could seem almost mechanical or remote.

The writing is taut and funny, with hilarious footnotes and brief digressions, in the manner of this writer's best previous work. Rarely did I go more than a few pages without laughing out loud, either in astonishment, shock, or sheer hilarity. The research that this book must have involved is daunting, but quite thoroughly explored. Roach is at her best when she can apply her own sly, slightly naughty sensibilities to a subject that seems dry and uninteresting, or even gross, on the face of it, and Packing for Mars provides many of these moments.

At least as good as her debut novel, Stiff, Packing for Mars is excellent, funny, and a fast read by an excellent author. If I had a complaint, it was only that I wished it went on longer, not because it was too short, but rather because I was enjoying reading it.
]]> 8264505 Ìę
At first all one noticed was how gifted Fischer was.Ìę Possessing a 181 I.Q. and remarkable powers of concentration, Bobby memorized hundreds of chess books in several languages, and he was only 13 when he became the youngest chess master in U.S. history.ÌęÌę But his strange behavior started early.Ìę In 1972, at the historic Cold War showdown in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he faced Soviet champion Boris Spassky, Fischer made headlines with hundreds of petty demands that nearly ended the competition.
Ìę
It was merely a prelude to what was to come.
Ìę
Arriving back in the United States to a hero’s welcome, Bobby was mobbed wherever he went—a figure as exotic and improbable as any American pop culture had yet produced.Ìę No player of a mere “board gameâ€� had ever ascended to such heights.Ìę Commercial sponsorship offers poured in, ultimately topping $10 million—but Bobby demurred.Ìę Instead, he began tithing his limited money to an apocalyptic religion and devouring anti-Semitic literature.Ìę
Ìę
After years of poverty and a stint living on Los Angelesâ€� Skid Row, Bobby remerged in 1992 to play Spassky in a multi-million dollar rematch—but the experience only deepened a paranoia that had formed years earlier when he came to believe that the Soviets wanted him dead for taking away “theirâ€� title.Ìę When the dust settled, Bobby was a wanted man—transformed into an international fugitive because of his decision to play in Montenegro despite U.S. sanctions.Ìę Fearing for his life, traveling with bodyguards, and wearing a long leather coat to ward off knife attacks, Bobby lived the life of a celebrity fugitive â€� one drawn increasingly to the bizarre.Ìę Mafiosi, Nazis, odd attempts to breed an heir who could perpetuate his chess-genius DNA—all are woven into his late-life tapestry.
Ìę
And yet, as Brady shows, the most notable irony of Bobby Fischer’s strange descent â€� which had reached full plummet by 2005 when he turned down yet another multi-million dollar payday—is that despite his incomprehensible behavior, there were many who remained fiercely loyal to him.Ìę Why that was so is at least partly the subject of this book—one that at last answers the “Who was Bobby Fischer?”]]> 402 Frank Brady 0307463907 Zachary 4
This books examines Fischer's entire life, with exhaustive study as well as the author's own personal relationship with the man mined for fascinating insights. While Fischer might be totally unsympathetic as a person, he is nonetheless compelling, moving literally from the greatest intellectual heights down to the level of a raving lunatic, banned from his own country, prejudiced against his own culture, doomed to die like Napoleon, exiled to a remote island and forgotten (in this case, the compassionate people of Iceland offer him a final refuge).

The books prose and editing are tight and finely wrought, and in particular the descriptions of the pivotal World Championship between Fischer and the Soviet Grandmaster during the height of the Cold War are thorough and riveting. Highly recommended for those interested in chess, or biographies of geniuses and savants.]]> 3.90 2011
author: Frank Brady
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2012/01/13
shelves:
review:
What an interesting, balanced and thorough biography of one of the world's most famous savants, and one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer is an unbelievably difficult subject, due to his bizarre behavior, alienating habits, obsessive studying, and of course, his hysterical and irrational antisemitism (ah, another self-hating Jew).

This books examines Fischer's entire life, with exhaustive study as well as the author's own personal relationship with the man mined for fascinating insights. While Fischer might be totally unsympathetic as a person, he is nonetheless compelling, moving literally from the greatest intellectual heights down to the level of a raving lunatic, banned from his own country, prejudiced against his own culture, doomed to die like Napoleon, exiled to a remote island and forgotten (in this case, the compassionate people of Iceland offer him a final refuge).

The books prose and editing are tight and finely wrought, and in particular the descriptions of the pivotal World Championship between Fischer and the Soviet Grandmaster during the height of the Cold War are thorough and riveting. Highly recommended for those interested in chess, or biographies of geniuses and savants.
]]> 185822
In a balkanized twenty-first century, where the "peace process" is deadlier than war, the US/UN's spy satellites have everyone in their sights. But the Watchmaker has other plans, and the lives of Moh, Janis, and Jordan are part of the program. A specter is haunting the fight for space and freedom, the specter of the betrayed revolution that happened before...

With The Star Fraction, Ken MacLeod burst onto the SF scene and began the Fall Revolution sequence that continued with The Stone Canal, The Cassini Division, and The Sky Road.]]> 320 Ken MacLeod 0765301563 Zachary 3
The problem for me with this book, and possible with the writer - I will have to try something else before I make a general judgement - is that he and his world seem extremely political. Like, many of the dialogues involve the characters simply discussing political theory, often radical political theory, was distracting and a bit tiresome. Perhaps things are different in England, but in the US, the modern youth is best noted for their totally apathy and dislike for politics, which seems a far cry from the passionate capitalists, communists, greens and even Neo-Nazis that populate the book.

I will have to give the second one in the series a chance, but this wasn't the most promising start, for the one issue I mentioned above.]]> 3.72 1995
author: Ken MacLeod
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.72
book published: 1995
rating: 3
read at: 2011/12/12
date added: 2011/12/12
shelves:
review:
I liked the Star Fraction, I really did - two of the main characters were appealing, and their chemistry seemed really natural. Their romance, frankly, for a scifi book, was pretty hot. And the world the author created was fascinating. I even enjoyed the plot, to some extent, though it did have a very strong resemblance to Gibson's Neuromancer.

The problem for me with this book, and possible with the writer - I will have to try something else before I make a general judgement - is that he and his world seem extremely political. Like, many of the dialogues involve the characters simply discussing political theory, often radical political theory, was distracting and a bit tiresome. Perhaps things are different in England, but in the US, the modern youth is best noted for their totally apathy and dislike for politics, which seems a far cry from the passionate capitalists, communists, greens and even Neo-Nazis that populate the book.

I will have to give the second one in the series a chance, but this wasn't the most promising start, for the one issue I mentioned above.
]]> 600349

Contents
xi � Foreword: Year 2002 (Dangerous Visions 35th Anniversary Edition) � (2002) � essay by Michael Moorcock
xiii � Introduction: Year 2002 (Dangerous Visions 35th Anniversary Edition � (2002) � essay by Harlan Ellison
xxiii � Foreword 1-The Second Revolution � (1967) � essay by Isaac Asimov
xxxiii � Introduction: Thirty-Two Soothsayers � (1967) � essay by Harlan Ellison (variant of Thirty-Two Soothsayers)
xxxix � Foreword 2-Harlan and I � (1967) � essay by Isaac Asimov
1 � Evensong � (1967) � shortstory by Lester del Rey
9 � Flies � (1967) � shortstory by Robert Silverberg
21 � The Day After the Day the Martians Came � (1967) � shortstory by Frederik Pohl (variant of The Day the Martians Came)
30 � Riders of the Purple Wage � (1967) � novella by Philip José Farmer
105 � The Malley System � (1967) � shortstory by Miriam Allen deFord
115 � A Toy for Juliette � (1967) � shortstory by Robert Bloch
128 � The Prowler in the City at the Edge of the World � (1967) � novelette by Harlan Ellison
154 � The Night That All Time Broke Out � (1967) � shortstory by Brian W. Aldiss
169 � The Man Who Went to the Moon - Twice � (1967) � shortstory by Howard Rodman
181 � Faith of Our Fathers � (1967) � novelette by Philip K. Dick
216 � The Jigsaw Man � [Known Space] � (1967) � shortstory by Larry Niven
231 � Gonna Roll the Bones � (1967) � novelette by Fritz Leiber
256 � Lord Randy, My Son � (1967) � shortstory by Joe L. Hensley
272 � Eutopia � (1967) � novelette by Poul Anderson
295 � Incident in Moderan � [Moderan] � (1967) � shortstory by David R. Bunch
299 � The Escaping � (1967) � shortstory by David R. Bunch
305 � The Doll-House � (1967) � shortstory by James Cross
326 � Sex and/or Mr. Morrison � (1967) � shortstory by Carol Emshwiller
338 � Shall the Dust Praise Thee? � (1967) � shortstory by Damon Knight
344 � If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister? � (1967) � novella by Theodore Sturgeon
390 � What Happened to Auguste Clarot? � (1967) � shortstory by Larry Eisenberg
396 � Ersatz � (1967) � shortstory by Henry Slesar
404 � Go, Go, Go, Said the Bird � (1967) � shortstory by Sonya Dorman
412 � The Happy Breed � (1967) � shortstory by John Sladek [as by John T. Sladek ]
433 � Encounter with a Hick � (1967) � shortstory by Jonathan Brand
439 � From the Government Printing Office � (1967) � shortstory by Kris Neville
447 � Land of the Great Horses � (1967) � shortstory by R. A. Lafferty
458 � The Recognition � (1967) � shortstory by J. G. Ballard
472 � Judas � (1967) � shortstory by John Brunner
483 � Test to Destruction � (1967) � novelette by Keith Laumer
510 � Carcinoma Angels � (1967) � shortstory by Norman Spinrad
523 � Auto-da-Fé � (1967) � shortstory by Roger Zelazny
532 � Aye, and Gomorrah . . . � (1967) � shortstory by Samuel R. Delany

]]> 592 Harlan Ellison 0743452615 Zachary 1 4.18 1967
author: Harlan Ellison
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1967
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2011/11/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 21326
Collecting: Fables 1-5]]> 128 Bill Willingham 1563899426 Zachary 2 3.98 2002
author: Bill Willingham
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2002
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2011/11/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 158516 395 Ilya Ilf 0810114844 Zachary 3 4.43 1928
author: Ilya Ilf
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.43
book published: 1928
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/11/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 100915
Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first her brothers and sister don't believe her when she tells of her visit to the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund, then Peter and Susan step through the wardrobe themselves. In Narnia they find a country buried under the evil enchantment of the White Witch. When they meet the Lion Aslan, they realize they've been called to a great adventure and bravely join the battle to free Narnia from the Witch's sinister spell.]]> 206 C.S. Lewis Zachary 3 4.24 1950
author: C.S. Lewis
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1950
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/11/03
shelves:
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]]> 13642
Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.]]> 183 Ursula K. Le Guin Zachary 3 4.02 1968
author: Ursula K. Le Guin
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1968
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/11/03
shelves:
review:

]]> 110149 352 Greg Rucka 0553574299 Zachary 3 4.01 1997
author: Greg Rucka
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.01
book published: 1997
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/11/03
shelves:
review:
I often hear this described as a detective series, which is completely inaccurate. Atticus Kodiak is, at least for the first few books, a professional bodyguard, not a detective. While the book does share some aspects with the crime genre, it is primarily concerned with the world of close protection and bodyguarding - something that I found both unique and fascinating. Rucka's lead character is largely appealing and sympathetic, if something of a blank slate. While the plot moves quickly and is moderately entertaining, its not really the appeal of the book, in my opinion, but rather the unique perspective that the story is told from.
]]> 70240 136 J.G. Ballard 1889307033 Zachary 3 3.83 1969
author: J.G. Ballard
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.83
book published: 1969
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:

]]> 15251
In Death’s Acre , Bass invites readers on an unprecedented journey behind the gates of the Body Farm where he revolutionized forensic anthropology. A master scientist and an engaging storyteller, Bass reveals his most intriguing cases for the first time. He revisits the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder, explores the mystery of a headless corpse whose identity astonished police, divulges how the telltale traces of an insect sent a murderous grandfather to death row—and much more.

INCLUDES PHOTOGRAPHS]]> 320 William M. Bass 0425198324 Zachary 3 4.22 2003
author: William M. Bass
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:

]]> 40445
]]> 526 Richard K. Morgan 0345457692 Zachary 2 4.07 2002
author: Richard K. Morgan
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2002
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:

]]> 1199688 Babel-17 is all about the power of language. Humanity, which has spread throughout the universe, is involved in a war with the Invaders, who have been covertly assassinating officials and sabotaging spaceships. The only clues humanity has to go on are strange alien messages that have been intercepted in space. Poet and linguist Rydra Wong is determined to understand the language and stop the alien threat. (Paul Goat Allen)]]> 192 Samuel R. Delany 0839823282 Zachary 1 3.74 1966
author: Samuel R. Delany
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1966
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:

]]> 595329 192 Jim Thompson 0679732500 Zachary 4 3.99 1958
author: Jim Thompson
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1958
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:
One of my favorite books ever - this books is dark, bleak, and uncompromising in its overview of a world of criminals so damaged by an utter lack of trust that any kind of true peace or caring relationship is possible. The characters are fascinating, in a grim and horrible sort of way, as you watch the last of their humanity bleed away from them as the encounter one trauma after another in their attempt to escape a bank job and a prison break by crossing the Mexican border. Of particular note is the horrifying scene in which the two main characters are hidden in small, sealed caves, and the reader left inside with them. Claustrophobic horror and its very best. The only probably with this book is that the end is a little over the top, driving home the point of the book a bit too much, a bit too concerned with the message. Overall, one of Jim Thompson's best books.
]]> 33 One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

From Sauron's fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.

When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.

The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.]]> 1216 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618640150 Zachary 5 4.52 1954
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.52
book published: 1954
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:
It's awesome. I don't have to tell you that, right? Because you've already read it, because you have good taste, and because you know a classic when you see it. And if all you've done so far is to see the movies (excellent in their own right) - then you are denying yourself a real treat. My father read my the entirety of Lord of the Rings aloud, including the Hobbit, over the course of years, and it was a formative experience in my life. Not only did this book pretty much invent the fantasy genre, decades later, it remains one of the best (if not the best) effort in the genre.
]]> 23968 304 Louann Brizendine 0767920090 Zachary 4 3.84 2006
author: Louann Brizendine
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:
Not only is this fascinating (as is the Male Brain, btw), but it helped me to better understand my wife and the other women in my life. Some feminine habits and practices had mystified me my entire life until I read this book. What I learned were invaluable skills for inter-gender relationships. Plus, for a science book, its an easy and fun read. I recommend it to both those who possess a female brain, and to those who are interested in them.
]]> 16884
Few great discoveries have evolved so swiftly -- or have been so misunderstood. From the theoretical discussions of nuclear energy to the bright glare of Trinity there was a span of hardly more than twenty-five years. What began as merely an interesting speculative problem in physics grew into the Manhattan Project, and then into the Bomb with frightening rapidity, while scientists known only to their peers -- Szilard, Teller, Oppenheimer, Bohr, Meitner, Fermi, Lawrence, and yon Neumann -- stepped from their ivory towers into the limelight.

Richard Rhodes takes us on that journey step by step, minute by minute, and gives us the definitive story of man's most awesome discovery and invention.]]> 886 Richard Rhodes 0684813785 Zachary 4
Following the subject of the atomic bomb from its beginnings in physics thought experiments all the way through the amazing/horrific conclusion of the Manhattan project, every stage of the process, theoretical through practical, is covered.

This book isn't for everyone, but for anyone who wants a real understanding of the bomb, the hows and whys of its making, this is an indispensable resource. ]]> 4.38 1986
author: Richard Rhodes
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.38
book published: 1986
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:
The very definition of grim - the science of the end of the world - a counterattack against the Nazis designed largely by Europe Jewish refugees in conjunction with their American compatriots. This book must have been the work of more years than I care to imagine - it is precise, thorough, and immaculate, filled with all the human and technical detail that one could possibly want.

Following the subject of the atomic bomb from its beginnings in physics thought experiments all the way through the amazing/horrific conclusion of the Manhattan project, every stage of the process, theoretical through practical, is covered.

This book isn't for everyone, but for anyone who wants a real understanding of the bomb, the hows and whys of its making, this is an indispensable resource.
]]> 8651048 House of M with the Decimation of mutantkind and erupted with the first new mutant birth in Messiah CompleX finishes here.

In the epic crossover Second Coming, Cyclops' faith pays off when Cable returns to the present with Hope, the girl he believes to be the mutant messiah. But will she be the savior or destroyer of mutantkind? We may never know, as she is the target of an initiative for mutant eradication unlike anything the X-Men have ever experienced.

Many will be wounded. Several will die. Is Hope worth it?

Collecting: Second Coming: Prepare; Second Coming 1-2; Uncanny X-Men 523-525; New Mutants 12-14; X-Men Legacy 235-237; X-Force 26-28]]> 240 Craig Kyle 0785146784 Zachary 5
Then they did one every year at Marvel and DC for a decade or so, culminating in the utterly awful 'Ultimatum', so that the whole idea got played out. I enjoyed Civil War and Final Crisis, but Secret Invasion, the Black Lantern saga, Siege etc were all pretty terrible. I started to turn on the entire concept.

Then I read Second Coming, and had to take it all back. This comic matters - there's simply no other way to put it. It has genuinely heroic moments, a death and funeral that made me tear up, and lasting changes to the whole X Men universe. It has ridiculously bad ass moments for X Force, Cyclops, Rogue, Wolverine and Magneto. The art is good to excellent through out. Even Doug Ramsey turns out to be fascinating.

An absolute must read for any X Men fan.]]> 4.14 2010
author: Craig Kyle
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/10/27
shelves:
review:
There was a time in my childhood, right around Secret Wars/Infinity Gauntlet that my juvenile mind fixated on the idea of the massive, multi-book crossover arc as the apex of the comic form. I think I mainly enjoyed seeing characters removed from their normal contexts, the way normally distinct personalities would interact, and which hero would fight which. There was a time when they felt important, as well, when they carried the weight of the real possibility of character death, or of dramatic paradigm changes going forward.

Then they did one every year at Marvel and DC for a decade or so, culminating in the utterly awful 'Ultimatum', so that the whole idea got played out. I enjoyed Civil War and Final Crisis, but Secret Invasion, the Black Lantern saga, Siege etc were all pretty terrible. I started to turn on the entire concept.

Then I read Second Coming, and had to take it all back. This comic matters - there's simply no other way to put it. It has genuinely heroic moments, a death and funeral that made me tear up, and lasting changes to the whole X Men universe. It has ridiculously bad ass moments for X Force, Cyclops, Rogue, Wolverine and Magneto. The art is good to excellent through out. Even Doug Ramsey turns out to be fascinating.

An absolute must read for any X Men fan.
]]> 12948
A very young woman's first job: governess for two weirdly beautiful, strangely distant, oddly silent children, Miles and Flora, at a forlorn estate... An estate haunted by a beckoning evil. Half-seen figures who glare from dark towers and dusty windows- silent, foul phantoms who, day by day, night by night, come closer, ever closer. With growing horror, the helpless governess realizes the fiendish creatures want the children, seeking to corrupt their bodies, possess their minds, own their souls. But worse-much worse- the governess discovers that Miles and Flora have no terror of the lurking evil. For they want the walking dead as badly as the dead want them.

Excerpt:
I remember the whole beginning as a succession of flights and drops, a little seesaw of the right throbs and the wrong. After rising, in town, to meet his appeal, I had at all events a couple of very bad days - found myself doubtful again, felt indeed sure I had made a mistake. In this state of mind I spent the long hours of bumping, swinging coach that carried me to the stopping place at which I was to be met by a vehicle from the house.]]> 121 Henry James 0140620613 Zachary 4 3.42 1898
author: Henry James
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.42
book published: 1898
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/26
shelves:
review:
One of the first - and most understated - ghost stories I ever read, and one of the earliest in the genre from a really talented mainstream writer. James had apparently always been interested in the idea of a ghost story, but he wanted to remove the gore and screaming, and replace it with a sort of everyday dread that built slowly with the text, an affect he achieved masterfully here. The ghosts are mostly half-seen figures in the distance, and strange recollections from the children and the other staff. There is no monster, just a slowly building tension. A number of reviewers and critics seem to focus on the ambiguous nature of the narration - asking whether the ghosts are real or the narrator is mad. For me, this didn't seem unclear, but I won't prejudice the reader with my own conclusions. Suffice to say, if you want a subtle Victorian ghost story for Halloween, The Turn of the Screw is an excellent option.
]]> 9919142
Collecting: Uncanny X-Force 1-4, & material from Wolverine: Road to Hell, All-New Wolverine Saga]]> 112 Rick Remender 078514854X Zachary 5
A team made up of Wolverine, Archangel, Psylocke, Fantomax and Deadpool doesn't sound too inspiring on the face of it - but most of these characters have never been handled with such compassion and detail, leaving them painfully vulnerable and human in one panel, and remote and cruel in the next, torn between internal desires and external responsibilities. Unlike the last incarnation of X Force, as a sort of secret hit squad, the Uncanny X Force is really more of a refuge for the most damaged mutants, seeming damned by their experiences and personalities, to find a way to do good, by doing very bad things to the very worst people.

The plot largely hinges on the old 'if you could go back in time and kill Hitler as child' quandary, with Apocalypse standing in for Hitler. I won't give away the ending, but its a stunner. One of the best superhero comics going today.]]> 4.21 2011
author: Rick Remender
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
shelves:
review:
I loved the second two volumes of the 'black ops' X Force, in the lead up to and during the whole Second Coming arc, so I was worried when I saw the book was changing focus, characters and creative team. Well, the art isn't quite as good as some of the earlier stuff, and I still miss Domino, but outside of that, this book is flat out amazing.

A team made up of Wolverine, Archangel, Psylocke, Fantomax and Deadpool doesn't sound too inspiring on the face of it - but most of these characters have never been handled with such compassion and detail, leaving them painfully vulnerable and human in one panel, and remote and cruel in the next, torn between internal desires and external responsibilities. Unlike the last incarnation of X Force, as a sort of secret hit squad, the Uncanny X Force is really more of a refuge for the most damaged mutants, seeming damned by their experiences and personalities, to find a way to do good, by doing very bad things to the very worst people.

The plot largely hinges on the old 'if you could go back in time and kill Hitler as child' quandary, with Apocalypse standing in for Hitler. I won't give away the ending, but its a stunner. One of the best superhero comics going today.
]]> 30004
The tenth clew.--The golden horseshoe.--The house in Turk Street.--The girl with the silver eyes.--The whosis kid.--The main death.--The farewell murder.]]> 288 Dashiell Hammett 0752856170 Zachary 4 4.18 1930
author: Dashiell Hammett
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.18
book published: 1930
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
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review:
The Man with No Name - no, not Clint Eastwood, the other one - the Continental Op, Hammett's squat, sardonic and almost unstoppable detective protagonist, who manages never to be named in all of his man appearances. This book is so noir it will stain your fingers black, nothing but treacherous dames, conniving crooks and murders, scheming heiresses, and issues of race and social class that seem almost modern. Not to mention that the Continental Op takes a ridiculous beating in virtually every story, one that seems to leave him mostly unaffected. Also a great look at California's seamy side during its formative, wilder years. I've read this book a dozen times, and I doubt it will be too long before I decide to pick it up again. If you are looking for a series of hard-boiled detective stories that will intrigue, entertain and puzzle, then this is an excellent place to start.
]]> 321270 Introduced by Colin Dexter, one of England's greatest writers of detective fiction, here are twenty long-unavailable stories by Dashiell Hammett, the author of The Maltese Falcon and one of the finest writers of the twentieth century.

In the title story, a man on a bender enters a small town and ends up unravelling the dark mystery at its heart. A woman confronts the brutal truth about her husband in the chilling story, The Ruffian's Wife. His Brother's Keeper is a half-wit boxer's eulogy to the brother who betrayed him. The Second Story Angel recounts one of the most novel cons ever devised. In seven stories, the tough and taciturn Continental Op takes on a motley collection of the deceitful, the duped, and the dead, and once again shown his uncanny ability to get at the truth. In three stories, Sam Spade confronts the darkness in the human soul while rolling his own cigarettes. And the first study for The Thin Man sends John Guild on a murder investigation in which almost every witness may be lying.

In Nightmare Town, Dashiell Hammett, America's poet laureate of the dispossessed, shows us a world where people confront a multitude of evils. Whether they are trying to right wrongs or just trying to survive, all of them are rendered with Hammett's signature gifts for sharp-edged characters and blunt dialogue.

Hammett said that his ambition was to elevate mystery fiction to the level of art. This collection of masterful stories clearly illustrates Hammett's success, and shows the remarkable range and variety of the fiction he produced.

As a novelist of realistic intrigue, Hammett was unsurpassed in his own or any day. - Ross MacDonald

A legend of a different kind: exemplary, not only of a certain kind of American fiction, but also of a certain kind of American life - Margaret Atwood

Cover photograph: Mark Adams]]> 405 Dashiell Hammett 033048110X Zachary 2 4.06 1999
author: Dashiell Hammett
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1999
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
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review:

]]> 30002
Is she the victim of a family curse? She believes so and has been reminded of the curse many times. The short, squat, utterly unsentimental Continental Op, the best private detective around, has his doubts and finds himself confronting something infinitely more dangerous.

It's the Continental Op's most bizarre case.

Librarian's note #1: this entry relates to the novel 'The Dain Curse.' Collections, and other stories by Hammett can be found elsewhere on Ć·±ŠÓéÀÖ.

Librarian's note #2: the two serialized novels are: 1. The Cleansing of Poisonville (which later became Red Harvest), and 2. The Dain Curse.

Librarian's note #3: there are a total of 28 Continental Op short stories plus one incomplete; they can be found by searching GR for: 'a Continental Op Short Story.' They are: 1. Arson Plus, 2. Crooked Souls, 3. Slippery Fingers, 4. It, 5. Bodies Piled Up, 6. The Tenth Clew, 7. Night Shots, 8. Zigzags of Treachery, 9. One Hour, 10. The House on Turk Street, 11. The Girl with the Silver Eyes, 12. Women, Politics & Murder, 13. The Golden Horseshoe, 14. Who Killed Bob Teal? 15. Mike or Alec or Rufus, 16. The Whosis Kid, 17. The Scorched Face, 18. Corkscrew, 19. Dead Yellow Women, 20. The Gutting of Couffignal, 21. Creeping Siamese, 22. The Big Knock-Over, 23. $106,000 Blood Money, 24. The Main Death, 25. This King Business, 26. Fly Paper, 27. The Farewell Murder, 28. Death and Company and, 29. Three Dimes (unfinished).]]> 256 Dashiell Hammett 0752851802 Zachary 3 3.82 1929
author: Dashiell Hammett
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1929
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
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review:

]]> 30007 Dashiell Hammett's tour de force of crime fiction combines a bulletproof plot, authentically corrupt characters, and writing of telegraphic crispness.]]> 214 Dashiell Hammett 0752851330 Zachary 3 3.96 1931
author: Dashiell Hammett
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1931
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
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]]> 80616 The Thin Man is a murder mystery that doubles as a sophisticated comedy of manners.]]> 201 Dashiell Hammett 0679722637 Zachary 4 3.92 1934
author: Dashiell Hammett
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1934
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
shelves:
review:

]]> 30005
The Op was in Personville, derogatory nickname aside, as the result of a letter to the Continental Detective Agency in San Francisco from Donald Willsson, publisher of the local paper, asking for an agent to visit. No other information. As soon as the OP arrives, the body count begins and it starts with his client!

'Red Harvest' is more than a superb crime novel; it is a classic exploration of corruption and violence in America and one of the greats of 20th century literature.

Librarian's note #1: this entry relates to the novel 'Red Harvest.' Collections, and other Hammett stories can be found elsewhere on Ć·±ŠÓéÀÖ.

Librarian's note #2: the two serialized novels are: 1. The Cleansing of Poisonville (which later became Red Harvest), and 2. The Dain Curse.

Librarian's note #3: there are a total of 28 Continental Op short stories plus one incomplete; they can be found by searching GR for: 'a Continental Op Short Story.' They are: 1. Arson Plus, 2. Crooked Souls, 3. Slippery Fingers, 4. It, 5. Bodies Piled Up, 6. The Tenth Clew, 7. Night Shots, 8. Zigzags of Treachery, 9. One Hour, 10. The House on Turk Street, 11. The Girl with the Silver Eyes, 12. Women, Politics & Murder, 13. The Golden Horseshoe, 14. Who Killed Bob Teal? 15. Mike or Alec or Rufus, 16. The Whosis Kid, 17. The Scorched Face, 18. Corkscrew, 19. Dead Yellow Women, 20. The Gutting of Couffignal, 21. Creeping Siamese, 22. The Big Knock-Over, 23. $106,000 Blood Money, 24. The Main Death, 25. This King Business, 26. Fly Paper, 27. The Farewell Murder, 28. Death and Company and, 29. Three Dimes (unfinished).]]> 215 Dashiell Hammett 0752852612 Zachary 3 3.98 1929
author: Dashiell Hammett
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1929
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
shelves:
review:

]]> 174374 Junky. But it's time we got wise to this book, which is in itself a remarkably wise book - and a ripping true saga. It's an amazing journey into the hobo underworld: freight hopping around the still wide open West at the turn of the 20th century, becoming a member of the "yegg" (criminal) brotherhood and a highwayman, learning the outlaw philosophy from Foot-and-a-half George and the Sanctimonious Kid, getting hooked on opium, passing through hobo jungles, hop joints and penitentiaries. This is a chunk of the American story entirely left out of the history books - it's a lot richer and stranger than the official version. This new edition also includes an Afterword that tells some of what became of Black after he wore out the outlaw life and washed up in San Francisco, wrote this book and reinvented himself.]]> 279 Jack Black 1902593022 Zachary 4
Fascinating, well-written and fast moving, with great character names (Salt-Chunk Mary, the Sanctimonious Kid), this a picture from a time in history which is entirely forgotten, from a perspective that is almost lost. And, for those of you in the business of heart warming endings, there is even reformation and validation at the end.]]> 4.36 1926
author: Jack Black
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1926
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/10/25
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Now this book is a spectacular oddity, a piece of utterly original and unique history that is too often overlooked. You Can't Win is a autobiographical crime novel, following the narrator from a childhood of petty theft to a life of hobo tramping, opium addiction, safe-cracking and burglary, all as the last of the Old West was dying, and the New West was coalescing. Covers all sorts of intriguing elements, including hobo culture, early addict culture, Chinese/American relations, British colony prison, Alcatraz, straightjackets, and even the imprisoning of Mormons for polygamy.

Fascinating, well-written and fast moving, with great character names (Salt-Chunk Mary, the Sanctimonious Kid), this a picture from a time in history which is entirely forgotten, from a perspective that is almost lost. And, for those of you in the business of heart warming endings, there is even reformation and validation at the end.
]]> 21611 278 Joe Haldeman Zachary 4 4.14 1974
author: Joe Haldeman
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1974
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/10/25
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review:
I'm not sure how I missed this book for some many years, but I'm glad it finally found its way into my library this year. What am amazing sci-fi classic! Explores fascinating questions of time, relationships, space travel, war, cultural change, gender and sexuality, with a sensitivity and complexity that is decades ahead of the time it was written in. The author spends a great deal of time on the mundane details of the life of a soldier in a seemingly endless and pointless war, after each battle returning to an Earth that has radically changed, while he ages slower, thanks to relativity. Very enjoyable, definite read for fans of Heinlein, Asimov, etc...
]]> 886066
Only the sister is not what she once was; Djan Seriy Anaplian has become an agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances section, charged with high-level interference in civilisations throughout the greater galaxy.

Concealing her new identity � and her particular set of abilities � might be a dangerous strategy. In the world to which Anaplian returns, nothing is quite as it seems; and determining the appropriate level of interference in someone else's war is never a simple matter.

Cover illustration by Debra Lill]]> 593 Iain M. Banks 1841494186 Zachary 3
I liked the characters for the most part, particularly the Culture agents. The writing was beautiful. The ideas were engaging. But the plot left me almost completely uninterested. The clash in era's between those inside the shell world and those outside was both jarring and unmoving, and the overall conflict within the shell world was just boring.

Is it worth reading? Yes, absolutely. Are there better Ian M Banks books? Much.]]> 4.09 2008
author: Iain M. Banks
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
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This is a difficult one. Ian M Banks is an amazing writer, the best space opera going today - let's get that out of the way right at the start. And his Culture novels have been, as a whole, really amazing. But this book...

I liked the characters for the most part, particularly the Culture agents. The writing was beautiful. The ideas were engaging. But the plot left me almost completely uninterested. The clash in era's between those inside the shell world and those outside was both jarring and unmoving, and the overall conflict within the shell world was just boring.

Is it worth reading? Yes, absolutely. Are there better Ian M Banks books? Much.
]]> 5923089
Seven Seas is pleased to present this Kashimashi omnibus edition which contains the first half of the popular series at one great price!

Being a girl is harder than it looks.... For Hazumu, this couldn’t be truer, because just the other day, she...was a he.

Shunned by the girl of his dreams, Hazumu loses himself in the mountains and is promptly squashed by an oncoming space ship. The alien inside, feeling guilty, rebuilds Hazumu’s body...but as the wrong gender!

Now Hazumu must learn how to be the girl his parents always wanted while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being caught in a love triangle between two girls—his childhood friend, Tomari, and Yasuna, the girl who rejected him but is now strangely attracted to him/her!]]> 496 Satoru Akahori 1934876704 Zachary 4
And, on a serious note, this book asks charming questions about love and gender, and answers them with startling compassion and gentleness. Definitely a 'love conquers all' sort of book. Plus, it is willing to ask the hard questions - such as, can a girl who used to be a boy fall in love with a girl who used to be a spaceship?]]> 3.75 2009
author: Satoru Akahori
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
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review:
It's fun. It's echhi. It's got great art and pretty girls, but never stoops so low as to pander to the panty-shot crowd. The characters are sweet, almost too sweet, but I felt for them anyway. So, on one level, this book is girl's love (flirtatiously, innocently lesbian) with a twist - the main girl in the story was, in fact, a very girly boy - until he was hit accidentally by a UFO. The benevolent aliens reconstructed his body, with one small difference - he is now a she, and a rather lovely she as well. Suddenly, the girl who turned him down as a boy likes him, his female best friend doesn't know how to deal with her crush changing sexes, and his male best friend isn't sure how to stop staring at his former best buddy's ample bust.

And, on a serious note, this book asks charming questions about love and gender, and answers them with startling compassion and gentleness. Definitely a 'love conquers all' sort of book. Plus, it is willing to ask the hard questions - such as, can a girl who used to be a boy fall in love with a girl who used to be a spaceship?
]]> 8051458 Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.

For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself - and keeping her demons inside. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.]]> 225 Alden Bell 0805092439 Zachary 0 to-read 3.90 2010
author: Alden Bell
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2010
rating: 0
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date added: 2011/10/25
shelves: to-read
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]]> 13821 296 Roger Zelazny 0060567236 Zachary 4 4.08 1967
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.08
book published: 1967
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/10/25
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review:
This is a strange and fascinating mashup - the Hindu mythology recast as a science fiction epic, the Buddha (Sam) cast as a moral ambiguous but immensely appealing leader of a revolt against the cast system, and of course, some of the swashbuckling, Eastern-influenced action, drama and romance that Zelazny is famous for. This is a book that really shines for me because the author is so clearly versed and passionate in its subject matter, not to mention that fact that is very, very entertaining - even more so if you have any familiarity with the various deities of the Hindu mythology. A great one to reread when sick on a rainy day.
]]> 50452 Excellent Book 497 Charles Bukowski 0060924586 Zachary 5 4.28
author: Charles Bukowski
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 5
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date added: 2011/10/25
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review:
Rarely does a collection do a truly talented writer justice - and Bukowski has such a mastery of words and language, an inherent ability to capture beauty and ugliness and loss and pain with such incredibly vivid detail that it haunts me. This collection has most of what you need, whether you just want to reread some favorite poems or stories, or whether you are discovering Charles for the first time. The mad, drunk poet laureate of Los Angeles, the genius bum and drunk, the man is a fascinating enigma, and his work is powerful, deep and personal. One of my favorite books of all time.
]]> 6393092 214 Ian Rankin 1401213863 Zachary 3
This was a double-treat - a Constantine book not burdened by his overcomplicated past or DC's editorial demands, and an Ian Rankin book that didn't have the Scottish detective he normal works with. The actual plot is combination of classic haunted house story mixed with reality TV, with a distinctly infernal bent. It moves fast, the art is appropriate and simple, and the characters are surprisingly well-developed in a short amount of time. I really enjoyed this, and hope that Vertigo continues to publish this line.]]> 3.41 2009
author: Ian Rankin
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/25
shelves:
review:
Wish I could give it a three and a half - it doesn't quite merit a four, but it was better than a three. This is the second of Vertigo's ambitious hardback illustrated crime novels that I have had a chance to read, and the first to concern an existing character, Hell's Rake himself, John Constantine. Ian Rankin is a more than passable modern crime writer, and I have enjoyed a few of his books in the past, though his reoccurring detective character is not my fav.

This was a double-treat - a Constantine book not burdened by his overcomplicated past or DC's editorial demands, and an Ian Rankin book that didn't have the Scottish detective he normal works with. The actual plot is combination of classic haunted house story mixed with reality TV, with a distinctly infernal bent. It moves fast, the art is appropriate and simple, and the characters are surprisingly well-developed in a short amount of time. I really enjoyed this, and hope that Vertigo continues to publish this line.
]]> 6393098
So when the boss asks him to be her personal bodyguard as she tears up the New York City club scene, he leaps at the chance. But before long Junk becomes more of a lapdog than a chaperone, doing all of Victoria's dirty work...up to, and including, murder.

This is the story of FILTHY RICH--the story of a disgraced man with a chip on his shoulder whose best years are behind him, dropped in the middle of a group of over-privileged rich girls ruthlessly competing with each other. For the love of a filthy rich girl (that he knows in his heart won't redeem him), he'll do whatever it takes because he just can't resist the hell of a ride she takes him on...in the fast lane. Without any brakes.]]> 200 Brian Azzarello 1401211844 Zachary 2 3.08 2009
author: Brian Azzarello
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.08
book published: 2009
rating: 2
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date added: 2011/10/25
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review:
At first I thought I hated the art in this book - sketchy, misproportioned, and ugly, with a grotesque feel to the pervasive sexuality. Azzarello is always good with narration and main characters, and while Junk does feel a bit close to a character from Brubaker's Criminal series, he's an interesting enough protagonist. After a while, the art starts to seem to fit Junk's grim and ugly world, and by the end, I came to feel at was a passable art direction, if not one I would have chosen myself. The story is a predictable noir piece, and you can see the double-cross coming a mile away. Not a bad book, but not the greatest effort from a writer who produced the masterful Hundred Bullets.
]]> 1003311
To protect himself, he uses his not-strictly-legal computer to play the market and amass an unimaginable fortune. But after he survives an assassination attempt, McBan discovers that having enough money to literally buy the Earth is no good if you're too dead to spend it . . .]]> 277 Cordwainer Smith 0345323009 Zachary 5
I can only imagine Frank Herbert liked this book a whole lot, because he borrowed a shocking amount of it wholesale. Norstrilia is basically Dune without the pretension, long monologues, weird social-political diatribes, and giant worms. Instead, it is fast-paced, humorous, and has super-giant sheep. A masterpiece, in my opinion, from an utterly forgotten sci-fi great.]]> 4.04 1975
author: Cordwainer Smith
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1975
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/10/17
shelves:
review:
Ever read Dune? Like it? In particular, did you like the world, the spice concept, the idea of spaceflight powered by precognitives, a universal economy based on a life-extending substance, etc? Well, good. Because then you already like most of Norstrilia.

I can only imagine Frank Herbert liked this book a whole lot, because he borrowed a shocking amount of it wholesale. Norstrilia is basically Dune without the pretension, long monologues, weird social-political diatribes, and giant worms. Instead, it is fast-paced, humorous, and has super-giant sheep. A masterpiece, in my opinion, from an utterly forgotten sci-fi great.
]]> 7552065 I am . . .a backhoe."
Ìę
In spare text and vibrant illustrations, a little boy pretends to be a bulldozer, a crane, a dump truck, and a roller. And finally, he parks on the couch with his father for a quiet moment.]]> 40 Anna Grossnickle Hines 1582463069 Zachary 5 3.68 2010
author: Anna Grossnickle Hines
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/10/17
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review:
This is a really great kids book, my nephew's favorite. When I was a kid, I loved nothing more than trucks, tractors, and construction equipment, and this book really captures that nostalgia. Lovely art and layout. I really enjoyed this, and recommend it for anyone with a young boy who loves trucks.
]]> 816229
It has the nostalgic quality of an old-fashioned fable, but Karl Johnson's The Magician and the Cardsharp is a true story that lovingly re-creates the sparkle of a vanished world. Here, set against the backdrop of America struggling through the Depression, is the world of magic, a realm of stars, sleight of hand, and sin where dreams could be realized-or stolen away.

Following the Crash of '29, Dai Vernon, known by magicians as "the man who fooled Houdini," is tramping down Midwestern backroads, barely making ends meet. While swapping secrets with a Mexican gambler, he hears of a guy he doesn't quite believe is real-a legendary mystery man who deals perfectly from the center of the deck and who locals call the greatest cardsharp of all time. Determined to find the reclusive genius, Vernon sets out on a journey through America's shady, slick, and sinful side-from mob-run Kansas City through railroad towns that looked sleepy only in the daytime. Does he find the sharp?

Well, Karl Johnson did-after years of research into Vernon's colorful quest, research that led him to places he never knew existed. Johnson takes us to the cardsharp's doorstep and shows us how he bestowed on Vernon the greatest secret in magic. The Magician and the Cardsharp is a unique and endlessly entertaining piece of history that reveals the artistry and obsession of a special breed of American showmen.]]> 368 Karl Johnson 0805074066 Zachary 5 3.98 2005
author: Karl Johnson
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2005
rating: 5
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date added: 2011/10/16
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review:
My favorite non-fiction read in a long time - a fascinating overview of a forgotten time and place in American history, a broad and encompassing look at the worlds of performance magic and card cheating, and a gripping story to boot - a genuine historical mystery, solved. If you are at all interesting in sleight-of-hand, card sharping, or the history of magic, then this is absolute must read. Very enjoyable.
]]> 101715 267 Jennifer Toth 155652241X Zachary 3
Did I enjoy it? Oh, very much so. I bit on the bleeding-heart side, Toth clearly wants to make you feel bad - which doesn't take much doing, given how poor and desperate the characters are. The writing is serviceable, and the story is captivating, if a little far fetched.]]> 3.66 1993
author: Jennifer Toth
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.66
book published: 1993
rating: 3
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date added: 2011/10/16
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review:
Do I believe it? I've been exploring myself for years and years now, and I have encountered a number of hidden colonies of homeless people inhabiting out of the way and forgotten areas, but I have never seen anything like what Toth has described - and neither has anyone else, before or since. My inclination is to say that Toth visited Freedom Tunnel, the Atlantic tunnel, and the like, and then repeated stories she'd been told as true. So, no, I don't fully believe it.

Did I enjoy it? Oh, very much so. I bit on the bleeding-heart side, Toth clearly wants to make you feel bad - which doesn't take much doing, given how poor and desperate the characters are. The writing is serviceable, and the story is captivating, if a little far fetched.
]]> 235648 328 Brian Wood 1932051422 Zachary 1 3.82 2005
author: Brian Wood
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2005
rating: 1
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date added: 2011/10/16
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]]> 599052 Alone.

Throughout his life, Peter Parker has often felt alone. When he first discovered his spider-like abilities after being bitten by a radioactive spider, he kept them secret. His attempts to exploit them for a profit resulted in his Uncle Ben's murder. Later, his attempts at maintaining the secret from his first love, Gwen Stacy, resulted in her death. It seemed as though no one understood the difficult balance between mortal and hero.

Until now, that is.

A mysterious figure appears suddenly, exhibiting similar powers to Peter. He can stick to walls and jump from building to building, just like the wall-crawler. Who is the mystery man? Who are the people he represents? And what is the ancient evil that has arrived in America in search of Peter.

Collects: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #30-#35

J. Michael Straczynski is a man who has made his mark in many ways, whether in the world of science fiction and television with the hit 'Babylon 5' or in the comic book industry with such books as 'Rising Stars' (2000) and 'Midnight Nation' (2002). Now his unique vision comes to the world of Marvel and the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Joining Straczynski is a man of equal legend�John Romita Jr. Regarded by many as the definitive Spider-Man artist of the last decade, Romita's unique pace and superb storytelling perfectly complement Straczynski's vision.

Edition MSRP: $15âč⁔ US / $25⁔⁰ CAN (ISBN 0-7851-0806-8)
Printed in Canada]]> 152 J. Michael Straczynski 0785108068 Zachary 1 4.26 2001
author: J. Michael Straczynski
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2001
rating: 1
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]]> 23945 140 V. Vale 1889307157 Zachary 1 4.27 1982
author: V. Vale
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1982
rating: 1
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date added: 2011/10/16
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]]> 109246 Book by Len Wein 240 Len Wein 1563890445 Zachary 2 4.16 1974
author: Len Wein
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1974
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2011/10/16
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]]> 16992 231 Mark Waid 1563893304 Zachary 2 4.26 1996
author: Mark Waid
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1996
rating: 2
read at:
date added: 2011/10/16
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]]> 59980 The Dark Knight Returns!

In 1986, Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli produced this groundbreaking reinterpretation of the origin of Batman—who he is and how he came to be.

Written shortly after The Dark Knight Returns, Miller's dystopian fable of Batman's final days, Year One set the stage for a new vision of a legendary character.

This edition includes the complete graphic novel, a new introduction by writer Frank Miller and a new illustrated afterword by artist David Mazzucchelli. Completing this collection are over 40 pages of never-before-seen developmental material such as character and layout sketches, sample script pages, sketches and more that provide a glimpse into the making of this contemporary classic.

This volume collects Batman #404â€�407.±Ő±Ő> 144 Frank Miller 1401207529 Zachary 3 4.24 1988
author: Frank Miller
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.24
book published: 1988
rating: 3
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]]> 106069 376 Jeph Loeb 1563894696 Zachary 3 4.33 1997
author: Jeph Loeb
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.33
book published: 1997
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/16
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]]> 18630 293 Iain M. Banks 0061053562 Zachary 4 4.28 1988
author: Iain M. Banks
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2011/10/16
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review:
Banks is one of the best things happening in sci-fi today, and in my opinion, is doing the absolute best space-based work out there, very much in the vein of the Foundation books. A massive timeline that stretches across thousands of years, a society beyond the concept of want or work, utterly sentient computers that anticipate the populations needs before they happen, a population so moral as to avoid living on planets themselves, to avoid damaging the ecology. A distant and fascinating utopia, and the struggles of one man, a man obsessed to the point of madness with games and gaming, struggle to find a purpose in a society where competition has become almost nonexistent. I devoured this, despite the length, and I recommend you do the same.
]]> 939645 185 Roger Zelazny 0345345150 Zachary 3 3.85 1979
author: Roger Zelazny
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.85
book published: 1979
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2011/10/16
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I feel this book is overlooked and underrated - at that's a shame. A playful take on the alternative history genre, this is Zelazny doing some his very best work - its fast, fun, and sly, full of interesting characters and the odd philosophy of the writer. Very entertaining. 3.5 stars.
]]> 12038090 182 Eri Takenashi 1604962682 Zachary 4 3.34 2007
author: Eri Takenashi
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.34
book published: 2007
rating: 4
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Stronger and more serious than the first volume, I am starting to be very curious about the god that lives inside Nagi. More interesting notes on the strange Japanese relationship with faith, this time incorporating Christianity as well. Intrigued, if not totally sold yet. 3.5 stars.
]]> 10913060 180 Eri Takenashi 1604962674 Zachary 3 3.23 2006
author: Eri Takenashi
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.23
book published: 2006
rating: 3
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I wasn't really sure what to make of this series - I'm not much for the whole 'magical girl' genre, and I was iffy about the art, but a friend from Japan insisted that I read it. The start is very slow, but there does seem to be something here, beneath the surface of what otherwise reads as a very typical 'boy and girl forced to live together' manga. This books deals with Shinto in a much more series way than most other manga do. Its not filled with ecchi stuff or panty shots, though it is oriented toward bishoujo ('pretty girls'), and it is frequently funny. I'm not blown away, but I'm going to stick with it and see where it goes.
]]> 41069 U.S.A. Trilogy, Stand on Zanzibar is a cross-section of a world overpopulated by the billions. Where society is squeezed into hive-living madness by god-like mega computers, mass-marketed psychedelic drugs, and mundane uses of genetic engineering. Though written in 1968, it speaks of 2010, and is frighteningly prescient and intensely powerful.

This edition comes with a tipped in collectors' note and an introduction by David Brin.]]> 672 John Brunner 1857988361 Zachary 0 to-read 3.95 1968
author: John Brunner
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1968
rating: 0
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]]> 218571 In an age of advanced technology, information is the world's most precious commodity. Information is power. Data is locked in computers and carefully rationed through a global communications network. Full access is a privilege held by few.
Now, Laura Webster is about to be plunged into a netherworld of black-market data pirates, new-age mercenaries, high-tech voodoo... and murder.]]> 396 Bruce Sterling 0441374239 Zachary 2 3.67 1988
author: Bruce Sterling
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1988
rating: 2
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]]> 830 Snow Crash is a mind-altering romp through a future America so bizarre, so outrageous� you'll recognize it immediately.]]> 438 Neal Stephenson 0553380958 Zachary 4 4.02 1992
author: Neal Stephenson
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1992
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/10/14
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]]> 430214 feather--a drug, a dimension, a dream state, a virtual reality. It comes in many colors: legal Blues for lullaby dreams. Blacks, filled with tenderness and pain, just beyond the law. Pink Pornovurts, doorways to bliss. Silver feathers for techies who know how to remix colors and open new dimensions. And Yellows--the feathers from which there is no escape.

The beautiful young Desdemona is trapped in Curious Yellow, the ultimate Metavurt, a feather few have ever seen and fewer still have dared ingest. Her brother Scribble will risk everything to rescue his beloved sister. Helped by his gang, the Stash Riders, hindered by shadowcops, robos, rock and roll dogmen, and his own dread, Scribble searches along the edges of civilization for a feather that, if it exists at all, must be bought with the one thing no sane person would willingly give.

"As hip and breathless as William Gibson, but spiced with dark humor and the horrible realisation that Noon knows of what he writes....Vurt is passionate, distinctive, demanding and enthrallingïżœfirst-time novelist Noon has started with a bang."ïż�The London Times.]]> 342 Jeff Noon 0312141440 Zachary 2 4.02 1993
author: Jeff Noon
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1993
rating: 2
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]]> 827 The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer is a postcyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson. It is to some extent a science fiction coming-of-age story, focused on a young girl named Nell, and set in a future world in which nanotechnology affects all aspects of life. The novel deals with themes of education, social class, ethnicity, and the nature of artificial intelligence.]]> 499 Neal Stephenson 0553380966 Zachary 1 4.17 1995
author: Neal Stephenson
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1995
rating: 1
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]]> 663098 406 Mike Carey 0446580309 Zachary 4 3.80 2006
author: Mike Carey
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2006
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/10/14
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]]> 365
Apparently not much; until Dirk Gently, self-styled private investigator, sets out to prove the fundamental interconnectedness of all things by solving a mysterious murder, assisting a mysterious professor, unravelling a mysterious mystery, and eating a lot of pizza � not to mention saving the entire human race from extinction along the way (at no extra charge).

To find out more, read this book (better still, buy it, then read it) â€� or contact Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. ‘A thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy epic.â€� The author]]> 306 Douglas Adams Zachary 2 3.98 1987
author: Douglas Adams
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1987
rating: 2
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]]> 157687 Maldoror as -the expression of a revelation so complete it seems to exceed human potential.- Little is known about its pseudonymous author, aside from his real name (Isidore Ducasse), birth in Uruguay (1846) and early death in Paris (1870). Lautreamont bewildered his contemporaries, but the Surrealists modeled their efforts after his black humor and poetic leaps of logic, exemplified by the oft-quoted line, -As beautiful as the chance meeting on a dissecting table of a sewing machine and an umbrella.- Maldoror 's shocked first publisher refused to bind the sheets of the original edition--and perhaps no better invitation exists to this book, which warns the reader, -Only the few may relish this bitter fruit without danger.- This is the only complete annotated collection of Lautreamont's writings available in English, in Alexis Lykiard's superior translation. For this latest edition, Lykiard updates his introduction to include recent scholarship.]]> 347 Comte de Lautréamont 187897212X Zachary 0 to-read 4.27 1869
author: Comte de Lautréamont
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1869
rating: 0
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]]> 68494 710 China Miéville 0345459407 Zachary 0 to-read 3.98 2000
author: China Miéville
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2000
rating: 0
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date added: 2011/10/14
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]]> 68496
It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too–including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle. Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.

When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true at last. But then things begin to go shockingly wrong.]]> 432 China Miéville 0345495160 Zachary 0 to-read 3.84 2007
author: China Miéville
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2007
rating: 0
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date added: 2011/10/14
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]]> 22351
Collecting: New X-Men (2001) 114-117, New X-Men (2001) Annual 1]]> 144 Grant Morrison 0785108114 Zachary 3 4.08 2001
author: Grant Morrison
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2001
rating: 3
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]]> 428658 48 Neil Gaiman 1569717990 Zachary 2 3.82 1987
author: Neil Gaiman
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1987
rating: 2
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]]> 158584 104 Grant Morrison 1401204945 Zachary 2 3.51 2004
author: Grant Morrison
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2004
rating: 2
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date added: 2011/10/14
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]]> 22358 104 Grant Morrison 1401204953 Zachary 4 3.91 2011
author: Grant Morrison
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2011
rating: 4
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date added: 2011/10/14
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]]> 7389 144 Brian K. Vaughan 0785113797 Zachary 2 3.97 2006
author: Brian K. Vaughan
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2006
rating: 2
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]]> 160852
Collects THE ULTIMATES VOL.1: SUPER-HUMAN and THE ULTIMATES VOL. 2: HOMELAND SECURITY. PLUS: A hefty helping of DVD-Style extras!]]> 376 Mark Millar 0785110828 Zachary 3 4.10 2004
author: Mark Millar
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2004
rating: 3
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]]> 31979 Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and John Cassaday (Planetary, Captain America) present the explosive flagship X-Men series - marking a return to classic greatness and the beginning of a brand-new era for the X-Men! Cyclops and Emma Frost re-form the X-Men with the express purpose of "astonishing" the world. But when breaking news regarding the mutant gene unexpectedly hits the airwaves, will it derail their new plans before they even get started?

Collecting: Astonishing X-Men 1-6]]> 144 Joss Whedon 0785115315 Zachary 4 4.20 2004
author: Joss Whedon
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2004
rating: 4
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]]> 102458 Hellboy line with new covers, beginning with Seed of Destruction, the basis of director Guillermo del Toro's blockbuster films. Hellboy is one of the most celebrated comics series in recent years. The ultimate artists' artist and a great storyteller whose work is in turns haunting, hilarious, and spellbinding. Mike Mignola has won numerous awards in the comics industry and beyond. When strangeness threatens to engulf the world, a strange man will come to save it. Sent to investigate a mystery with supernatural overtones, Hellboy discovers the secrets of his own origins, and his link to the Nazi occultists who promised Hitler a final solution in the form of a demonic avatar.

" ... Hellboy is a brilliant example of how to elevate the comic of the future to a higher literary level while achieving a higher pitch of excitement."
--Robert Bloch, from his introduction]]> 128 Mike Mignola 1593070942 Zachary 3 4.16 1994
author: Mike Mignola
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1994
rating: 3
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]]> 59960
Crime runs rampant in the streets, and the man who was Batman is still tortured by the memories of his parents' murders. As civil society crumbles around him, Bruce Wayne's long-suppressed vigilante side finally breaks free of its self-imposed shackles.

The Dark Knight returns in a blaze of fury, taking on a whole new generation of criminals and matching their level of violence. He is soon joined by this generation's Robin—a girl named Carrie Kelley, who proves to be just as invaluable as her predecessors.

But can Batman and Robin deal with the threat posed by their deadliest enemies, after years of incarceration have made them into perfect psychopaths? And more important, can anyone survive the coming fallout of an undeclared war between the superpowers—or a clash of what were once the world's greatest superheroes?

Over fifteen years after its debut, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns remains an undisputed classic and one of the most influential stories ever told in the comics medium.

Collecting Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1-4]]> 197 Frank Miller 156389341X Zachary 5 4.26 1986
author: Frank Miller
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.26
book published: 1986
rating: 5
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]]> 95431 Alternate Cover Edition

One of the most celebrated comics titles of the late 1990s, PREACHER is a modern American epic of life, death, love and redemption also packed with sex, booze, blood and bullets - not to mention angels, demons, God, vampires and deviants of all stripes.

At first glance, the Reverend Jesse Custer doesn't look like anyone special-just another small-town minister slowly losing his flock and his faith. But he's about to come face-to-face with proof that God does indeed exist. Merging with a bizarre spiritual force called Genesis, Jesse now possesses the power of "the Word," an ability to make people do whatever he utters. He begins a violent and riotous journey across the country in search of answers from the elusive deity.

Collects: Preacher #1�7]]> 336 Garth Ennis Zachary 1 4.16 1995
author: Garth Ennis
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1995
rating: 1
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]]> 22356 313 Grant Morrison 1401200133 Zachary 2 3.73 2004
author: Grant Morrison
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2004
rating: 2
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]]> 472672 Beginning with Kathy George's encounter with Shade's arrival on Earth from his home dimension of Meta, in the body of her parents' killer. From there, Shade and Kathy journey into America's collective unconscious to find the evil known only as The American Scream.
These are the classic Vertigo stories written by Peter Milligan, so if you've been digging the acclaimed writer's work on Greek Street and Hellblazer, be sure to pick up this new printing of Milligan's earlier work!

Collecting: Shade, the Changing Man 1-6]]> 168 Peter Milligan 140120046X Zachary 1 3.85 2003
author: Peter Milligan
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2003
rating: 1
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]]> 821800
Sophie Bangs was a just an ordinary college student in a weirdly futuristic New York when a simple assignment changed her life forever. While researching Promethea, a mythical warrior woman, Sophie receives a cryptic warning to cease her investigations. Ignoring the cautionary notice, she continues her studies and is almost killed by a shadowy creature when she learns the secret of Promethea. Surviving the encounter, Sophie soon finds herself transformed into Promethea, the living embodiment of the imagination. Her trials have only begun as she must master the secrets of her predecessors before she is destroyed by Promethea's ancient enemy. ]]> 178 Alan Moore 1563896672 Zachary 1 3.91 2000
author: Alan Moore
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2000
rating: 1
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]]> 392297 Note: Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here.

Worth dying for. Worth Killing for. Worth going to hell for. Amen.

It's a lousy room in a lousy part of a lousy town. But Marv doesn't care. There's an angel in the room. She says her name is Goldie. A few hours later, Goldie's dead without a mark on her perfect body, and the cops are coming before anyone but Marv could know she's been killed. Somebody paid good money for this frame...

The first volume of the crime-comic megahit that introduced the now-infamous character Marv and spawned a blockbuster film returns in a newly redesigned edition, with a brand-new cover by Frank Miller—some of his first comics art in years! With a new look generating more excitement than ever before, this third edition is the perfect way to attract a whole new generation of readers to Frank Miller's masterpiece!

Frank Miller (1957�) is an American writer, artist & film director, notable for the singular works product of his unique and sometimes twisted mind. He is as famous as he his infamous for his film noir-style comic book stories. Besides being one of the most widely-recognized and popular creators in comics, he is also one of the most influential comics creators of his generation. His most notable works include 'Sin City' (1991), 'The Dark Knight Returns' (1986), 'Batman Year One' (1987) and '300' (1999).

Edition MSRP: $17⁰⁰ US (ISBN 1-59307-293-7)
Printed in Canada]]> 208 Frank Miller 1593072937 Zachary 5 4.17 1991
author: Frank Miller
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1991
rating: 5
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]]> 72111 192 Kurt Busiek 156389551X Zachary 3 4.12 1996
author: Kurt Busiek
name: Zachary
average rating: 4.12
book published: 1996
rating: 3
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]]> 105864 207 Brian Michael Bendis 1582406693 Zachary 2 3.99 2000
author: Brian Michael Bendis
name: Zachary
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2000
rating: 2
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date added: 2011/10/14
shelves:
review:

]]>