Product Description
This is a powerful exploration of the debilitating impact that politically correct “multiculturalism” has had upon higher education and academic freedom in the United States. In the name of diversity, many leading academic and cultural institutions are working to silence dissent and stifle intellectual life. This book exposes the real impact of multiculturalism on the institution most closely identified with the politically correct decline of higher education—Stanford University. Authored by two Stanford graduates, this book is a compelling insider’s tour of a world of speech codes, “dumbed-down” admissions standards and curricula, campus witch hunts, and anti-Western zealotry that masquerades as legitimate scholarly inquiry. Sacks and Thiel use numerous primary sources—the Stanford Daily, class readings, official university publications—to reveal a pattern of politicized classes, housing, budget priorities, and more. They trace the connections between such disparate trends as political correctness, the gender wars, Generation X nihilism, and culture wars, showing how these have played a role in shaping multiculturalism at institutions like Stanford. The authors convincingly show that multiculturalism is not about learning more; it is actually about learning less. They end their comprehensive study by detailing the changes necessary to reverse the tragic disintegration of American universities and restore true academic excellence.
... Read more

Product Description
Join self-made millionaires Peter Conti and David Finkelas they show you how to create multiple streams of income buying homesin nice areas with nothing down.

These are the same two men who led a small group of investors to SanDiego, California and locked up over $1.5 million worth of real estatewith only $37 down! Now for the first time ever you can learn theinside secrets of exactly how they did it--and how you can too.

You learn:
How to buy homes in nice areas with nothing down.
7 fun, easy ways to earn up to an extra $100,000 this year investing in real estate.
How you can build a million dollar net worth in 5 years or less.
How to win the money game and earn a six-figure income investing from your home.

This book will share with you over 25 ways to find motivated sellers (including specific phone scripts and marketing materials you can use right away.)You'll learn the step by step negotiating system called the Instant Offer System that has made the authors two of the most famous real estate investor trainers of the past decade. And you'll learn how to sell your properties the fastest, easiest way possible.All this and more... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

The 2nd book I read right after Rich Dad Poor Dad
Peter Conti really explains the mechanics of his system in this book.I wanted to know how to start investing from step 1 all the way to Step 100 and this book started explaining what I needed to do this.From there I found myself being mentored by Peter 3 months later!

I live in Las Vegas & This book works!
I have read some of the prior reviews. I don't know where some of the reviewers live but in Vegas, these numbers are in line and they work for me daily! While the concepts may not be new to some, they have helped me make alot of $$$ without using my money or credit. There could have been some instances highlighted to let the investor know what to do if your renter does not pay and leaves you with the payment or damages but that is why you don't spend your up front deposits from the renter. You may need it. Screening your renters is the best way to narrow your renter pool to the right candidate. I also work in the mortgage world so I usually have access to their credit prior to them renting. nothing is a surefire thing, but if you want to make big money for basically being the middle man in a well paying puzzle then I would recommend this book. after you read it, all you need is the correct forms and a solid team. By the way, I downloaded this book for free from the authors site which makes it even better. FREE EDUCATION!!! Good luck and remember, you won't get anything worth while if you don't work hard. This falls into that category. Only You can stop you. Money isn't everything but it makes life easier to deal with when you have more of it.

Good Book
I like the book.It has the one thing newbes need the most, scripts, scripts, and more scripts.It written simply and has a good feel to it.Plus the price is right

GREAT BOOK!
This is a great book with great information!The author gives you enough information to make the program work without having to make any additional purchases.The book was very easy and quick to read.I would definitely recommend this book to experienced investors as well as to those who are new to the world of real estate investing.

Easy, non-nonsense investing
This book offers details on finding motivated sellers, finding tenant buyers, plus case studies with hundreds of tips on how to be an investor. As a volunteer for many different non-profit organizations it is important for me to give back. I love the fact that Peter and David promote helping others as you become wealthy in your investing. ... Read more

Product Description
Roll Call: The Crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur:

Captain Mackenzie Calhoun: An unorthodox, decisive young captain who loves his crew and his ship, and loves testing their limits even more.

Commander Shelby: A woman of strong opinions and strong values, Shelby never hesitated to tell her captains when she thought they were wrong, and Mackenzie Calhoun won't be any exception.

Burgoyne 172: The chief engineer of the Excalibur, with the decisiveness of Calhoun, the strength of Shelby, and the gender of both. Burgoyne is a Hermat, and when s/he sets his/her sights on you, s/he isn't an easy...person...to refuse.

As the Thallonian Empire succumbs to violence and insurrection, the U.S.S. Excalibur prepares to launch on her humanitarian mission of mercy. But her departure is destined to be a memorable one, as Calhoun contends with an unexpected stowaway, a stormy relationship with his crew, and -- light-years away -- frightened refugees aboard a dying ship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

New Frontier - Book Two
The second book in a series of four introductory novels within the "New Frontier" series is both character and action-packed, introducing the readers to the Excalibur crew left untouched in the first volume.

Excalibur has launched on her mission to Sector 221-G, and her commanders are hard at work sorting out personnel issues ranging from stowaways to the helmsman. But when a refugee transport loses power, it's Excalibur's job to save the ship -- and the people aboard.

"New Frontier", the first Star Trek series to be centered around non-canon characters, is, in my humble opinion, some of the best Trek fiction on the market. The characters, plots, and characters are all stunningly executed by one of Trek's best authors.

8.5/10

Review of "New Frontier, Book 2"
Peter David is, without question, the best author of Star Trek books that there is. His "New Frontier" series is a delight to read, with excellent plot, characterization, humor, and competent writing.

That being said, (and as I said about the first book of this series) this book wasn't really one of his better efforts. Granted, his "off day" is better than most writers' best, but still...

We're two books into the series, and still, it feels like we're just setting the table. I'd really like to have seen more happening by now. And again, we end on a cliffhanger, something that I really hate. (Honest, I promise I'll buy the next book without a cliffhanger ending if the writing is good, and if it isn't, the cliffhanger isn't going to help, because I won't CARE what happens next.)

Also, and this is just a personal preference, but I've always HATED the character of Shelby, so I could have really been much happier if she wasn't involved, but at least she's mostly being used for contrast between the "cowboy" Captain Calhoun and her own straightlaced, annoying self. I hope David doesn't start working at making her TOO sympathetic a character; I really DON'T want to start liking her.

Definitely worth reading, but there's still plenty of room for improvement. Hopefully, things will start picking up in the next couple of books.

The Journey Continues
This sequal to the House of Cards has made me a true fan of the New Frontier series. The story is great, as well as the characters, that are both from previous Star Trek tv shows and from past books, or just new from Peter David's head. Be sure to have the next book ready to go.

THE ADVENTURE CONTIUES!
The second book in series follows straight on from where book one left off.This is great book for many reasons, it introduces an old enemy for Si Cwan as well as giving us information on his missing sister, and the interaction between Kebron and Cwan is absolutley great.This book has all the ingrediants for a perfect Star Trek story, action, humor and intrigue but it still feels that the story still hasn't kicked off yet.

Excellent continuation
I was very anxious to read this continuation of the first book in this series. The only thing that let me down is that he left me hanging, waiting to read the third book. ... Read more

Product Description
Three years have passed since the events depicted in the novel, Stone and Anvil, and for the past and present crew members of the U.S.S. Excalibur, life has taken many surprising twists and turns. Captain Elizabeth Shelby has been promoted to admiral and heads Space Station Bravo...while her former ship, the U.S.S. Trident, has a new captain. Soleta has left Starfleet to embrace the perils of exploring her Romulan heritage. The powerful Zak Kebron serves as the Excalibur's counselor and head of security. And Mackenzie Calhoun? Well, Mackenzie Calhoun's still who he is.

As Si Cwan, prime minister of the New Thallonian Protectorate, prepares to marry off his sister Kalinda in a politically advantageous pairing that will strengthen his newly restored empire, the bride-to-be is abducted just before the wedding in a calamitous event that threatens to destabilize the entire sector -- especially since Kalinda's abductor is someone all too familiar. As the Excalibur, the Trident, and the entire Thallonian fleet attempt to bring order to their sector of space, no one could ever suspect that a mysterious alien force may also be playing a part in Kalinda's disappearance -- and that the entire galaxy may soon face a long-forgotten enemy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Read The Captain's Table first
This is a great book and I highly recommend it. However, If you want to fully understand the story, I suggest reading "The Captain's Table" story "Pain Management" written by Peter David before reading this novel. The storyline surrounding Soleta will make more sense if the short story is read first.

New Frontier Gold
Really like what Peter has done with the Franchise.Good characters and great stories.

Satisfies your New Frontier 'fix', but leaves you wanting more
Overall, I am truly a large fan of the New Frontier series, and am so glad that Peter David takes on all the writing chores as only he knows his own characters best, however, I felt 'After the Fall' was a little sub-standard to all previous attempts.

I'd refer to this book as a 'filler prequel' to "Missing In Action", as the cliff hanger in this novel is a direct set up for the next installment.But that's what it felt like...300+ pages of setting up for what will hopefully be the real action as the next title implies.

Oh, there was action here, but a little predictable and the we've seen the same 'Romeo & Juliet' scenario used so many times in the past, though to Mr. David's credit, he does put his signature spin on things as only he can do.

Overall, there were some beginning plot points that were introduced, but I assume will only be dealt with in the next book as they didn't go far here.And neither did much action.Compared to previous New Frontier stories, Capt. Calhoun and crew tend to be much more maverick and swashbuckling in nature.It just wasn't here, except the brief and fun fight Calhoun and Kebron get involved planetside with opposing forces (no more spoilers).

Missing was many of the signature in-depth character development we are used to in teh New Frontier series.There were hints and progression, but felt as if some holes still needed filling to catch the reader up to speed.That's what Mr. David is so usually good at....giving us a real fun and developing background on all the characters we love.It just seemed rushed here with little action.

Hopefully 'Missing in Action' will result in the big Pay-Off, but I was slightly disapointed that not too much was terribly accomplished in 300+ pages we haven't seen before elsewhere.

Par for Peter David.
As usual, Peter David's writing style is highly polished, with a gift for humor, to say nothing of timing, phrasing, characterization, tension, and the unexpected plot twist.

Unfortunately, also as usual, he doesn't finish what he starts in the same book that he starts it. Thus, this is not a novel, but a novel fragment. For those who enjoy the "to be continued -- tune in next week, same time, same channel" tradition, this is certainly a five-star book. In fact, even for those who, like me, HATE that tradition, this book is very close to a five-star effort; at least he chooses a better break-point than he sometimes does, and the book is long enough to justifiably argue that the entire story couldn't fit under one cover. But it always seems to me to be a sign of an insecure author if he doesn't trust his story to be good enough to lure the reader back for the next installment without ending on a cliffhanger, and there WAS a break-point that would have given more of an impression of closure, even if it WAS a false impression. So in spite of truly enjoying the book, I just can't bring myself to give it the full five stars.

A Joke in the Hand is Worth Two in the Book
Although filled with some interesting plots and characterizations Iwas disappointed by the "Naked Gun" type of story telling.I think every character has a "don't call me Shirley" moment and it is annoying to say the least.But, I am a huge fan of New Frontiers and anything is better than nothing.Indeed, the scene involving Calhoun in the council chamber is incredible (I'll say no more to avoid spoilage).

My overall impression is that this novella was rushed out and doesn't represent the quality we have come to expect from Mr. David.Yet, even in this short, comic stretch it is good to see our New Frontier friends.

A side note.The letter to the readers at the beginning was very strange.Essentially, Mr. David lectured the reader that these are his characters and he would do what he pleases with them.That is part of my basis for thinking this was not a novella that was ready for publication.Very strange. ... Read more

Product Description
Hockney's engaging personality, his quirky but always enlightening ideas about art, and his inexhaustible inventiveness are captured with clear-eyed intelligence and grace in the newest volume in Abbeville's renowned Modern Master Series. Illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Adequate summary
The book itself is a brief, well-illstrated summary of Hockney's work, from school in the 1950s up to the book's time, in the mid-nineties. Color reproductions are good, but lots of the paintings are shown in B&W, which I consider a loss. The text is workmanlike, but I have to admit I skipped most of it.

The problem is, I just don't much care for Hockney's work, and this book didn't change that part of my taste. Parts were interesting, like the relationships between his Polaroid collages and the paintings with rubbery perspective. Only just interesting, though.

I gave this four stars because it does seem to be a competent presentation of it's kind, but I've seen more impressive books dedicated to other artists. I'm sure Hockney fans will give a very different kind of review.

//wiredweird

A bright sunny day
Hockney never ceases to amaze us with his abundant energy and inventiveness.One need only look at a Hockney--always a wealth of colors and quirky gestures--to brighten any day. ... Read more

Product Description

The enigmatic entity known as Q remains one of the greatest mysteries in the universe, yet no one, perhaps, understands Q as well as actor John de Lancie, who has played Q. on television for more than a decade. Now de Lancie and Peter David, the bestselling author of such acclaimed novels as Q-in-Law and Q-Squared have joined forces to send Q on an unforgettable cosmic odyssey, told from the mischievous trickster's own unique point of view.

The Maelstrom, a metaphysical whirlpool of apocalyptic proportions, is pulling all of reality into its maw, devouring the totality of time and space while bringing together people and places from throughout the universe. The Q Continuum pronounces that the end of everything has come, but Q refuses to meekly accept the end of all he has known. Defying the judgement of the Continuum, he sets out to derail doomsday -- at whatever the cost.

Q has been everywhere and done everything, but now he's in for a cosmic thrill ride beyond even his own astonishingly unlimited imagination. Old friends and adversaries wait in unexpected places, transcendent hazards abound, and the multiverse's most unlikely savior encounters wonders and dangers enough to render Q himself speechless. Almost.

Can even Q, reluctantly assisted by Jean Luc Picard, prevent the Universe As We Know It from literally going down the drain? I, Q is a wild and witty voyage through the secret soul of creation -- as only Q can tell it!Amazon.com Review
As fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation know, Q is the omnipotent extradimensional entity who so often causes whimsical havoc on the Starship Enterprise and elsewhere--for example, by helpfully introducing Captain Picard and his crew to the menacing Borg collective. Now this petulant demigod's first-person story is told by John de Lancie, the actor who plays Q, and Peter David, author of successful Star Trek novels. It's an irreverent romp through one bizarre scenario after another, as not only Star Trek's Federation universe but the entire multiverse of alternative timelines looks set to gurgle down a metaphysical plughole. Q's own wife and son vanish into the maelstrom, and his "Q Continuum" colleagues blither about calmly accepting apocalypse as a change from eternal tedium. Only Picard and Data the android accompany the questing Q, whose monstrous egotism and complaints that Picard never genuflects to him are barely affected when he loses his godlike powers and realizes that he may need mere humans. En route to the end of all things, they encounter other Federation characters, including Romulans, Klingons, Ferengi, and our captain's dread cyborg alter-ego, Locutus of Borg. After a fast-moving sequence of fights, wisecracks, insults, old jokes, and ultimate despair, the fate of the multiverse is ... but that would be telling. Frothy entertainment. --David Langford ... Read more

Customer Reviews (86)

249 pages of Q, and he never stops talking!
I find Star Trek's "Q" one of science fiction's most enjoyable characters. I, Q is an entire story told through the words and actions of Q himself! If you enjoy Q you will find this story very informative, however, if you dislike Q, you may want to skip this book. It is above all else 249 pages of Q, and he never stops talking!

Q. doesn't believe in God, and he lets you know.....in almost every paragraph.
Q. is one of the most beloved characters on a show with nothing but beloved characters.So I got the book.Well it seems that Q. and his unique perspective is used simply as a cheap college expose on God and religion.The main characters are Q. Picard, and Data....but really its just Data and Q. So there's a bunch of philosophical expose on supreme being and robot, machine and man, creator and created.However, Q.'s usual smirks and condescending attitude has been hijacked so that the author can mock people that believe in God.I'm aware that Star Trek often tackles serious issues, but there's hardly a page where Q isn't repeating his beliefs on God, his hatred of God, the stupidity of God, and his disgust for God.I think the word God is used on almost every page.Literally!I'm not offended easily, but this seems like a hack author trying to pass off his community college 'anti-religion' thesis as a Star Trek novel.

We need more Q
Defiantly one of the better Trek audio books; read by the man himself this should be a treat for casual fans and the hardcores alike.Picard, Q and Data must unite against forces that threaten to literally unmake the universe.A good way to kill three hours.

An interesting and unique narrative
This book is a pretty good read, and if you like Q, it is a lot of fun. It's a narrative, and very different from most ST books - but it's "Q". who better to talk about him than himself.

Not Star Trek Cannon, but a very good read.

Q gets an A!
When I saw the title of this book, "I, Q", I thought to myself, here we go again. Now, who would want to read such an obviously self-centered egomaniacally titled book about an alien being, who believes he is Omniscent.

Well, let me answer myself - people like me!

But to say I was pleased upon reading it would be a slight under-statement. As a matter of fact, the book achieves a kind of satisfaction in phantasmogria that I've not read in quite some time.

The End of Everything - that's how Q addresses the pivotal event in the book time and again, and that's what I'll stick to - is at hand. The End of Everything, not just the present, but of the past, of the future, of this universe and all the parallel universes that might be out there - Everything, is happening and no one seems to be able to do anything about it. No one knows why it's happening and whether this is It, or would there be some sort of cosmic reprieve from it at the last moment by some Deity intent on impressing their presence and importance on the living...

No one know. Chaos rules.

In the midst of all this, we have Q, who, while on an idyllic fishing holiday with his family (Yes! you heard me! his family!) "Lady Q" and "q" (so much for originality from the Great Q!), is suddenly being sucked into the Maelstorm that is pulling every living thing into a gigantic black hole. He somehow escapes the initial tug, but loses his family. As part of the deluge that is passing him, he is able to rescue Picard and Data from the whirlpool, and the three set out a mission to revert the End.

What follows has to be read to be believed. Rarely have I read something that uses imagination so vividly and so effectively. At times I got the feeling that this would be just another ST book, with Picard and Data in the thick of things, with Q along for the ride. Well, I am glad to say I couldn't have been far from the truth. The book truly takes you to places no human has ever gone before, and there are sub-plots that show that a lot of effort has gone into writing this story.

Look out for a guest appearance from Locutus of Borg!

The characters are well depicted and they successfully convey the mood they are all known for from the TV series / movies. Lancie doesn't intend you to think of new characters, but to delve deeper into what you already know of Q (and at times Picard and Data!). The plot seems really far-fetched, but the good part is - its refreshing original.

Darn good read!

I'm going to try and get my hands on the other Q books out there, notably among them "Q Squared", "Q-in-Law", and "Dark Mirror". ... Read more

Product Description
This colloquium volume celebrates a new Hellenistic epigram collection attributedto the third-century B.C.E. poet Posidippus,one of the most significant literary finds in recent memory. Included in thiscollection are an unusual variety of voices and perspectives: papyrological, arthistorical, archaeological, historical, literary, and aesthetic. These texts areconsidered as individual poems and as collective artifact, an early poetry book. Thevolume will be of interest to readers of Greek and Latin epigram, students of theHellenistic period, and all readers interested in the aesthetics of poetrycollection and the evolution of the poetry book in antiquity. ... Read more

Product Description
King Arthur--in his modern incarnation as Arthur Penn--has been elected President of the United States. But with political power comes powerful enemies. An assassination attempt against Arthur puts his beloved wife Gwen in a coma--and her only hope lies in the lost Holy Grail. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Really liked it.
I found this book and the entire series very entertaining.
The whole concept is intriging.
Touches on secret societies and religion.
Action, drama, comedy all in one book.

King Arthur, President
In "One Knight Only" Arthur Penn (the King Arthur modernized) once again must go on a quest for the Holy Grail to save the live of his wife Gwen (King Arthur's queen reincarnated).

Slightly less humorous and a few shades darker than the first installment in David's trilogy, Arthur faces the legendary Gilgamesh in an effort to capture the Holy Grail. David obviously has researched his legendary characters, but those less versed in world mythology may be left slightly in the dark.

My major problem with this novel was the use of italics passages for what I felt unapparent reasons. It disrupts the story and changes the tense of the story. All in all, though, it's worth a read, and I will be purchasing the third book in the series.

Now For Something Rather Different...
For those who have read "Knight Life," "One Knight Only" will definitely come as something of a surprise. It's a much more serious novel for perhaps much more serious times. That's not to say that there isn't still much of the same sort of humor that readers have seen in "Knight Life" and other Peter David stories, but on the whole, this is a much more weighty book.

I'll admit, it took me a while to get used to the more serious tone of this story, but once I did, it turned out to really be pretty good. In the original "Knight Life," Arthur Penn became mayor of New York. In this story, he's since moved up in the political arena --- way up --- and has now become President of the United States. It's been quite a journey and there have been losses along the way too --- Merlin, for one, turned to stone by Miss Basil, whom he was no longer able to control. Arthur is also now faced with the growing threat of top terrorist leader Arnim Sandoval, who will soon make things personal. But all of this may be nothing compared to the very legendary individual that Arthur will soon be facing.

If you liked "Knight Life," I'd say give "One Knight Only" a try. It may not quite match the amazing standard of writing set by Peter David in that first story, but it's still good.

One Knight Only -NOT a good sequel.
I enjoyed the first book,(Knight Life) and was eager to read this one.It was a definite disappointment.I kept looking for more story after it had stopped- I can't say finished,because "finish" implies an ending and a resolution and neither of these were included in the book I read.Did Mr. David just get tired and quit writing?Did the publisher leave out some of the book?I don't know, but I'm VERY glad I borrowed it from the library before buying it.

Sequel is lacking
Personally I found this sequel to be a far cry from the enthralling tale that was Knight Life.The narrative jumps around and it seems that David tries to hard to incorporate several other mythological literature heroes into the tale.
The result is a storyline that doesn't flow and has no clear objective.I found myself struggling just to finish the book.
Definitely a disappointment from the witty tales we are used to from this author.
... Read more

Product Description
The rise and decline of American civic life has provoked wide-ranging responses from all quarters of society. Unfortunately, many proposals for improving our communities rely on renewed governmental efforts without a similar recognition that the inflexibility and poor accountability of governments have often worsened society's ills. The Voluntary City investigates the history of large-scale, private provision of social services, the for-profit provision of urban infrastructure and community governance, and the growing privatization of residential life in the United States to argue that most decentralized, competitive markets can contribute greatly to community renewal.
Among the fascinating topics covered are: how mutual-aid societies in America, Great Britain, and Australia provided their members with medical care, unemployment insurance, sickness insurance, and other social services before the welfare state; how private law, known historically as the law merchant, is returning in the form of arbitration; and why the rise of neighborhood associations represents the most comprehensive privatization occurring in the United States today.
The volume concludes with an epilogue that places the discoveries of The Voluntary City within the theory of market and government failure and discusses the implications of these discoveries for theories about the private provision of public goods. A refreshing challenge to the position that insists government alone can improve community life, The Voluntary City will be of special interest to students of history, law, urban life, economics, and government.
David T. Beito is Associate Professor of History, University of Alabama. Peter Gordon is Professor in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development and Department of Economics, University of Southern California. Alexander Tabarrok is Vice President and Research Director, the Independent Institute.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Private Alternatives to Government Services
Back in the mid to late 90's I had the pleasure of reading a new version of a book written by David Friedman called "The Machinery of Freedom" which was originally published in the 1970's. Prior to this review I had the opportunity to read the libertarian classic "The Market for Freedom"written by Morris and Linda Tannehill was one of the first books to introduce the concepts of a voluntary society in print.

While I am not sold on anarcho-capitalism, Friedman's book introduced me to anarcho-capitalist ideas and now, years later, thanks to David T. Beito and the Independent Institute, "The Voluntary City" is published that confirms many of the thoughts and ideas Friedman and the Tanehills wrote about in their treatises.

This book is a collection of policy pieces done by different authors that detail specific, present and past real-life examples of free market alternatives to things like court systems and litigation, education, police, housing and welfare. Most of whom were provided by insurance plans people purchased or services provided by private, charitable organizations people belonged to while governments, by and large, stayed out of the way.

One aspect of the book that was not pointed out was private fire departments. Despite them being provided by municipalities, to this day most fire departments in the U.S. are staffed almost entirely by volunteers. Prior to being run by governments, many fire departments were privately provided in which their funding came from insurance plans they particpated in that provided fire protection for their customers. It wasn't until after the civil war that municipalities started acquiring, starting and operating them.

Even today, governments are beginning to privatize many essential services since they have become too costly to run.

For example Arizona-based Rural Metro Corporation has contracts with cities and counties across the country to provide fire and ambulatory services for municipalities that will not or cannot afford to provide them.

Despite this one subject left out, I felt this book was very well done and I heartily recommend it to people who have doubts about private alternatives to government services or to those who are looking for new, radical ideas to replace the monopolies governments have on services they presently provide.

You aren't the only one who wonders...
You're not the only one that wonders whether the government that is supposed to guarantee your private property rights seems more interested in making sure your vinyl siding runs the same way as your neighbor's.This is the way of things in America today, where municipal governments segregate business from housing, then wonder why everyone thinks he has to own a car.

Enter the Voluntary City, a cogent and realistic analysis of how we got here, and whether we have actually improved things in doing it.There used to be sufficient housing (try to find the word "homeless" before the Carter presidency), and police that actually had to catch the bad guys (read about one police force that had a catch rate of over 90%), and the reasonable expectation that if you wanted to alter your property you could do so without groveling to the city fathers.We gave these things up in the hope that what we would get back would be better.But is it?Really?

You aren't the only one that wonders.This excellent book provides some answers to the question, and the impetus to take those answers out into the political world.We're doing it where I am. ... Read more

Product Description
Theorists of "secularization" for two centuries have been saying that religion must inevitably decline in the modern world. But much of the world today is as religious as ever. This volume challenges the belief that the modern world is increasingly secular, showing instead that modernization more often strengthens religion. Seven expert social observers examine several regions and several religions--Catholic and Protestant Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam--and explore the resurgence of religion in world affairs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Exceptional
Berger is brilliant, funny and wise - an academic that thinks like a real person. His writing is insightful, flows with ease and engages the reader with mini-revelations. Though he writes only the first chapter, a few others are equally enthralling, especially those on Pope John Paul II's philosophy and that concerning Islam. Unfortunately a few others belong only to sociologists - lists, speculation and esoteric social theories, which often sound as though from an ivory tower on another planet, where social theorists debate whether their world is made all of one thing or all of another. In the John Paul chapter we find the Pope concretely defeating postmodern silliness in its rejection of universality. The chapter on Islam teaches much and provides reasoned, balanced direction toward Islamic change for the better, though some of that is perhaps a bit idyllic when it comes to fundamentalist Islam as one may as well preach peace to a charging grizzly.

Berger's premise is this: To assume we are living in a secular world is wrong. The world today "is as furiously religious as it ever was, and in some places more than ever". Though modernity has secularizing effects it has provoked powerful movements of counter-secularization. Which harkens back to the Brooks Adams 1896 classic, "The Law Of Civilization And Decay". In it Adams notes with no one left to defeat, ideas from round the Empire flooded Rome causing a near universal dis-ease among its population. Their response? Extreme religious eagerness, the sprouting of new mystery religions of which Christianity was but one of hundreds. Our upsurge today is primarily among conservative, traditionalist orthodox movements of Islam and in the Christian world among Pentecostals and other Evangelicals at the expense of Catholicism and mainline Protestantism like Lutheran, Episcopalian and Methodists.

Why has modernity had this affect? Berger is clear, because modernity has removed all the old certainties and most people find it impossible to live with uncertainty. Any movement that "promises to provide or renew certainty has a ready market". Those "dripping with supernaturalism have widely succeeded".

Berger does not note the 60's source of modern Liberal promoters of their paradox that "the truth is there is no truth", but he does say while thin on the ground in numbers they wield excess influence by their control of the media and university (of which he is a member - Boston U). This is the "culture elite" Berger notes that some fraction of the movements resent and battle in America's Culture Wars - and not necessarily for religious reasons. Without mention of lacking higher education among the masses, Berger clarifies the chasm between secular (of comparatively what little there is) and non-secular, "The religious impulse, the quest for meaning that transcends the restricted space of empirical existence in this world, has been a perennial feature of humanity. It would require something close to a mutation of the species to extinguish this impulse for good... The critique of secularity common to all the resurgent movements is that human existence bereft of transcendence is an impoverished and finally untenable condition." Like it or not religion, mysticism, mythology have been and will remain part of humans. Finding a path to balance in the face of warring zealotry - which was of such concern to The Founders - is a subject of concern in this extraordinary book.

Pseudo or Real Desecularization?
Second submittal (revised)
Sociologist Peter L. Berger's 1974 book Pyramids of Sacrifice: Political Ethics and Social Change foresaw what we now call "globalization."His 1983 book with sociologist Brigitte Berger The War Over The Family anticipated what has been dubbed as the "cultural wars."And his 1966 classic The Social Construction of Reality was way ahead of its time with regard to what is currently termed "postmodernism."But Berger admits in The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics (1999) that he was mistaken in some of his other earlier works that modernization inevitably leads to a decline in religion.As Berger states: "To say the least, the relation between religion and modernity is rather complicated."The Desecularization of the World was written two years before 9-11.One can only guess that Berger was not as surprised as most at such a world-changing event, ostensibly motivated by religious fundamentalism, but less apparently orchestrated by failed secular elites from a politically destabilizing Saudi Arabia. As Berger has written elsewhere: "upsurges of religion" in the modern era are, in most cases, politicized movements "that use religion as a convenient legitimation for political agendas based on non-religious interests" in contrast with "movements genuinely inspired by religion." (Berger, National Interest, Winter 1996-97:3).This more certainly was the case in the recent past Balkan Wars in the Yugoslav states (see V. Perica, Balkan Idols, Oxford, 2002).Berger points out that we have been misled to believe that modernization resulted in secularization mainly because the elite cultural carriers of secularization have been a minority of highly visible academics who have myopically led everyone to believe this is the case.
But beyond the headline events, religion, especially "fundamentalist" religion is growing in every modernizing country, with the exception of already-modernized Europe.Berger has assembled some of the most eminent observers to report on this upsurge.

George Weigel, scholar and official biographer of Pope John Paul II, provides a Catholic perspective on the phenomenon.Citing Pope John Paul II, Weigel perhaps presaged 9-11 and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with the following question: "Is pre-emptive military action legitimate against rogue regimes threatening the use of weapons of mass destruction? How is the just-war tradition, which was designed to regulate international public life in a world of sovereign states, to address the serious moral problems for world politics posed by non-state actors - ranging from financial institutions to terrorist organizations - today?"

Sociologist David Martin, sociologist emeritus at the London School of Economics, provides a masterful overview of the upsurge of "evangelical" Christian religion mainly in Africa and South America and its political implications.Martin reports that the political stance of evangelical Christians is often erroneously viewed by outsiders with suspicion as similar to radical Islam or some violent cult.Rather, Martin reports that the most potent contribution of evangelical movements is their creation of voluntary associations that tend to foster democracy rather than totalitarianism or attempts at creating a "Christian society."

Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Britain, observes that history is the tale of vacillating attempts by Jews to define themselves as either a people or a religion. Sacks states that historically Jews defined themselves as the "people of God," but more recently have defined themselves as the "people hated by Gentiles."Many Jews have abandoned their religious roots and embraced secularism to solve their identity conflict and end persecution. But that hasn't diminished the attempts by many neighboring nations to exterminate the nation of Israel.

British sociologist Grace Davie provides a well-written account of how Europe is an exception to these trends, as, unlike the rest of the world, religion has declined precipitously.Perhaps Davie doesn't emphasize enough that this might be the consequence of the sponsorship of Christian religion by many European states. Also, Davie is curiously silent about the influx of Muslims into Europe and the likelihood that Islamic populations may soon dominate some large cities such as Rotterdam, Netherlands.Davie doesn't tell us if the demographic decline of indigenous Europeans is in any way related to secularization.

Tu Weiming, a history professor at Harvard University, reports on the resurgence of Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism following the collapse of worldwide communism.Interestingly, Weiming states that higher education in China has been heavily and positively influenced by Chinese-Christian universities, unlike higher education in the West which is nearly all secularized. Weiming doesn't tell us if China may be motivated by religion to resist modernization or will religion form the impetus to some form of capitalism?

Abdullah An-Na'im, a law professor at Emory University, provides an overview of political Islam and international affairs up to 1999.An-Na'im states that the idea that there is an unfolding"clash of religious civilizations" between the West and Islam is a self-fulfilling prophecy and is not inevitable. But An-Na'im is not a sociologist and doesn't tell us how Muslims can embrace modernization without leaving the "closed circle" of the family and kinship and the "sacred canopy" of the mosque in order to work in the impersonal corporations and bureaucracies of modern societies.

The assumption of most people is that modernization is good and thus religion is backward because it impedes modernization. But, as the world is painfully coming to understand, modernization must also come to recognize and respect socially sacred shelters of meaning.Moreover, those societies that have historically become test cases for pure secularization, such as the former U.S.S.R., Mao's China, and Pol Pot's Cambodia, have made present-day religious conflicts look mild compared to the murdering of millions for the sake of creating a secular rational utopia.For those who want to get a handle on these issues, this is an outstanding overview that neither blindly embraces religion or modernization. Other books I have found of related interest are Steve Bruce, Politics and Religion (2003), Vjekoslav Perica, Balkan Idols: Religion and Nationalism in Yugoslavia (2002) and Douglas Johnston, Faith-Based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik (2003).

A Prophetic Book Prior to 9-11
Sociologist Peter L. Berger's 1974 book Pyramids of Sacrifice: Political Ethics and Social Change foresaw what we now call "globalization."His 1983 book with sociologist Brigitte Berger The War Over The Family anticipated what has been dubbed as the "cultural wars."And his 1966 classic The Social Construction of Reality was way ahead of its time with regard to what is currently termed "postmodernism."But Berger admits in The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics (1999) that he was mistaken in some of his other earlier works that modernization inevitably leads to a decline in religion.As Berger states: "To say the least, the relation between religion and modernity is rather complicated."Nonetheless, The Desecularization of the World was written two years before 9-11.One can only guess that Berger was not as surprised as most at such a world-changing event, ostensibly motivated by religious fundamentalism but less apparently orchestrated by failed secular elites from a politically destabilizing Saudi Arabia. As Berger has written elsewhere: "upsurges of religion" in the modern era are, in most cases, politicized movements "that use religion as a convenient legitimation for political agendas based on non-religious interests" in contrast with "movements genuinely inspired by religion." (Berger, National Interest, Winter 1996-97:3).This more certainly was the case in the recent past Balkan Wars in the Yugoslav states (see V. Perica, Balkan Idols, Oxford, 2002).Berger points out that we have been misled to believe that modernization resulted in secularization mainly because the elite cultural carriers of secularization have been a minority of highly visible academics who have myopically led everyone to believe this was the case. But beyond the headline events, religion, especially "fundamentalist" religion is rapidly growing in every modernizing country, with the exception of already-modernized Europe.Berger has assembled some of the most eminent observers to report on this upsurge.

George Weigel, scholar and official biographer of Pope John Paul II, provides a Catholic perspective on the phenomenon.Citing Pope John Paul II, Weigel perhaps presaged 9-11 and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with the following question: "Is pre-emptive military action legitimate against rogue regimes threatening the use of weapons of mass destruction? How is the just-war tradition, which was designed to regulate international public life in a world of sovereign states, to address the serious moral problems for world politics posed by non-state actors - ranging from financial institutions to terrorist organizations - today?"

Sociologist David Martin, sociologist emeritus at the London School of Economics, provides a masterful overview of the upsurge of "evangelical" Christian religion mainly in Africa and South America and its political implications.Martin reports that the political stance of evangelical Christians is often erroneously viewed by outsiders with suspicion as similar to radical Islam or some violent cult.Rather, Martin reports that the most potent contribution of evangelical movements is their creation of voluntary associations that tend to foster democracy rather than totalitarianism or attempts at creating a "Christian society."

Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Britain, observes that history is the tale of vacillating attempts by Jews to define themselves as either a people or a religion. Sacks states that historically Jews defined themselves as the "people of God," but more recently have defined themselves as the "people hated by Gentiles."Many Jews have abandoned their religious roots and embraced secularism to solve their identity conflict and end persecution. But that hasn't diminished the attempts by many neighboring nations to exterminate the nation of Israel.

British sociologist Grave Davie provides a well-written account of how Europe is an exception to these trends, as, unlike the rest of the world, religion has declined precipitously.Perhaps Davie doesn't emphasize enough that this might be the consequence of the sponsorship of Christian religion by many European states. Also, Davie is curiously silent about the influx of Muslims into Europe and the likelihood that Islamic populations may soon dominate some large cities such as Rotterdam, Netherlands.Davies doesn't tell us if the demographic decline of indigenous Europeans is in any way related to secularization.

Tu Weiming, a history professor at Harvard University, reports on the resurgence of Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism following the collapse of worldwide communism.Interestingly, Weiming states that higher education in China has been heavily and positively influenced by Chinese-Christian universities, unlike higher education in the West which is nearly all secularized. Weiming doesn't tell us if China may be motivated by religion to resist modernization or will religion form the impetus to some form of capitalism?

Abdullah An-Na'im, a law professor at Emory University, provides an overview of political Islam and international affairs up to 1999.An-Na'im states that the idea that there is an unfolding"clash of religious civilizations" between the West and Islam is a self-fulfilling prophecy and is not inevitable. But An-Na'im is not a sociologist and doesn't tell us how Muslims can embrace modernization without leaving the "closed circle" of the family and kinship and the "sacred canopy" of the mosque in order to work in the impersonal and even nihilistic corporations and bureaucracies of modern societies.

The assumption of most people is that modernization is good and thus religion is backward because it impedes modernization. But, as the world is painfully coming to understand, religion must change as well if nations are to modernize.For those who want to get a handle on these issues, this is an outstanding overview that neither blindly embraces or rejects religion or modernization. ... Read more

Product Description

The return of Sir Apropos of Nothing!

"This sequel to the wildly successful Sir Apropos of Nothing starts off with a bawdy send-up of Lord of the Rings, but quickly segues into its own territory with the appearance of a mysterious Visionary at Apropos's bar, Bugger Hall. The man tells our antihero, 'You will become a shadow of your former self while escaping to the Tragic Waste on the Road to Ruin,' (or is that 'Woad to Wuin'?), just as Sharee, Apropos's weaver companion from the first volume, bursts in and begs for his help in escaping Lord Beliquose. The very loud lord wants a powerful gem, the Eye of the Beholder, which the virtually powerless Sharee possesses and which Apropos promptly steals....The wisecracking wordplay that fans have come to expect skips smoothly off the page, lifting this satirical fantasy into a class all its own...goofy entertainment with gritty philosophical musing.

-- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Starts and ends well, drags in the midddle
As with its predecessor, "Sir Apropos of Nothing", this book starts well, with an amusing and lighthearted tale of a "hero" who defies all stereotypes of heroes. (In this case, the opening involves a hilarious and very bawdy spoof of the "Lord of the Rings".) But also as with its predecessor, the book drags in the middle, as the character is just too annoying to be interesting for an entire novel; yet again similar to its predecessor, the book ends well, with the character actually evolving beyond his limitations and growing into a tolerable human being. I've rated this book one star lower than I rated its predecessor because it seems to me that the growth experienced by the main character should not have been necessary, as he'd already experienced it in the previous book, invalidating one of the saving graces of that book. All in all, I don't think I'll bother with subsequent entries in the series (there is at least a third). I think that for me at least, this series has been pretty thoroughly played out.

Not as good as the first
Still a wonderful tribute to dark humor. However, not as uproriously funny as the first.

Filthy- dark- sad
Although I really enjoyed the first book of this series-- I was less than thrilled with the opening chapter of this book.the bawdy parody of the Lord of the Rings was really over-th-top when it comes to good taste.It is really sad--- And the book just gets darker and darker.. and soon, it drops into a tumbling free fall in which the reader could care less what happens to anybody.

David's strength abound in the puns.

His major weakness was trying to write a followup to the the first book which was a smash homerun as far as I was concerned.This one is little more than an infield fly out.

Arrgh! Left me shaking my head...
I so much wanted to enjoy this book, having thought the first in the series was excellent. Book 2 started out so well, but then it got to the halfway point where Apropos woke up in the desert and took a nosedive for me. Not that there wasn't a lot of humor, but I kept waiting to find out it was a dream sequence or Apropos was going to travel back in time and repair the problems that had been caused. I don't want to give away too much, because the book is worth reading just for the first few chapters. But keep this in mind if you do read it: what happens in part 2 really happens (in the fictional universe, that is), and will never be undone. Had I know that ahead of time, I probably woulkd have enjoyed it more.

More Pun Reading
Excellent Pun reading. Amusing, sardonic, but still mostly an adventure. Lots of modernisms as humourous asides. Some of his best work. The 1st was a bit better overall, but this has a great LotR parody intro, just enough to make fun without being too long and involved. There's lots of brutal action and dark comedy, and some fun situations. ... Read more

Product Description
Upon publication, Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species excited much debate and controversy, challenging the foundations of Christianity, nonetheless underpinning the Victorian concept of progress. It still evokes powerful and contradictory responses today. Peter Bowler's study of Darwin's life, first published in 1990, combines biography and cultural history. Emphasizing in particular the impact of Darwin's work, he shows how Darwin's contemporaries were unable to appreciate precisely those aspects of his thinking that are considered scientifically important today. He also demonstrates that Darwin was a product of his time, but he also transcended it by creating an idea capable of being exploited by twentieth-century scientists and intellectuals who had very different values from his own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A look at the life and work of Darwin for general readers
Charles Darwin obviously played a major role in the development of modern scientific thought and has become a multi-faceted mythical figure in terms of modern culture, competing with Christopher Columbus in the minds of many for the title of Dead White European Male who most contributed to the decline of Western Civilization in general and the American continent in particular.In "Charles Darwin: The Man and His Influence," Peter J. Bowler, who has written several books on the history of evolutionary theory including "Theories of Human Evolution" and "The Victorians and the Past," makes it clear that Darwin was not the first person to publish evolutionary ideas (not even in his own family) and emphasizes that his theory of natural selection was not generally accepted by his contemporaries.The publication of "The Origin of Species" not only stirred controversy and debate among both the scientific community and the general public, but it also reinforced the Victorian concept of progress.When Darwin died in 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey as a national hero of scientific discovery Victorian culture had undergone a major transformation.

Bowler's look at Darwin's life and influence tries to explain how his contemporaries were unable to appreciate those aspects of this theories that are the ones we consider most important today.Ultimately, Darwin is seen as not only a product of his time but a person who transcended it by creating an idea that is still being explored by 21st-century scientists and intellectuals with beliefs and values very different from his own.Bowler shows us not only how Darwin reacted to contemporary ideas, at a time when science and the humanities were not seen as "two cultures," as well as how his ideas were received and adapated.Consequently, in addition to being a biography of a great man of science, it is also an examation of cultural history, which is perhaps the more important part of the effort.I had no problem following the scientific aspects and I never even took biology in high school, so I would think pretty much anybody can understand the arguments as well.

The contents of "Charles Darwin: The Man and his Influence" is as follows: (1) The Problem of Interpretation, which looks at both the man and the myths that has arisen about him as well as the new perspectives on the rise of evolutionism; (2) Evolution before the "Origin of Species" looks at both radical evolutionism and the opponents of transmutation that defined the scientific debate at that time; (3) The Young Darwin covers his family and university life; (4) The Voyage of the "Beagle" details his famous trip to South America and across teh Pacific; (5) The Crucial Years: London, 1837-1842 is when Darwin developed his theory of natural selection; (6) The Years of Development at Down House is when Darwin was able to develop his theory in relative security; (7) Going Public presents the argument of the "Origin of Species"; (8) The Emergence of Darwinism deals less with Darwin than those that picked up his cause such as Alfred Russel Wallace and Thomas Henry Huxley; (9) The Opponents of Darwinism covers the response of those who espoused theistic evolutionism and the rise of Lamarckism; (10) Human Origins is about the "Descent of Man" and the idea of social evolutionism; and (11) Darwin and the Modern World looks at the death of Darwin and the rebirth of Darwinism after that point.The book is illustrated with photograph, cartoons and caricatures, and diagrams from Darwin's notebooks.

The Cambridge Science Biographies are written by prominent international authorities in the history of science and are intended to be readily accessible to the general reader and student.While society depends upon science what scientists actually do remains a mystery to many people.Despite science usually being presetned dispassionately and impersonally, editor David Knight points out that "science is a human activity, and the personalities of those who practice it are integral to its process."Other volumes in this series are devoted to Galileo, Isaac Newton, Humphry Davy, Henry More, Antoine Lavoisier, and Andre-Marie Ampere.These scientists were chosen for their eminence and these biographies are intended to both illuminate the scientific process and to place the scientists in the social and intellectual context of their age.

Enjoyable Bio on One of the Most Influential Men in History
In his biography of Charles Darwin, Peter Bowler dispels many of the misconceptions surrounding Darwin's immediate influence on the scientific world.Bowler argues that Darwin's theory did not spark a scientific revolution which caused a majority of scientists to abandon their former views on natural history.Bowler explains that Darwin was not the first naturalist to advance a theory of evolution.Most importantly, Bowler reveals that Darwin's theory was not accepted blindly by the scientific community.In fact, many of Darwin's most faithful supporters found scientific weaknesses in his theory.As Bowler states, "Darwin's greatest achievement was to force the majority of his contemporaries to reconsider their attitudes towards the basic idea of evolution" (p. 128).

Bowler's book was the first biography I have read of Darwin, and I found it very enjoyable.It is one of the college books that I have kept.I definitely recommend it to any reader interested in Darwin's work and influence.

Charles Darwin's important influence on scientific thought
Peter Bowler presents a synopsis of Charles Darwin's contributions to science, history, and culture. This book tries to provide a quick summary of the important periods in Darwin's life, touching briefly on each significant aspect.

Much of the book is written in a somewhat technical way and is a bit too wordy. I had a difficult time maintaining my interest while I was reading some of the chapters. Certain areas deserved more coverage, like the reaction when Darwin went public with his theories.

On the positive side, this book does give some good insight on Darwin's relationships with the other prominent scientists of his time and there are some moments where the slowness of the book becomes more interesting, like the section that covers Darwin's voyage of discovery aboard the Beagle. Overall, however, Bowler does not really present anything new or profound that we haven't heard before.

Enthralling
While you may not come away from this book feeling you would've called him Charlie, you will have derived a more than nodding acquaintance with an exceptional person.In the beginning -of the book- there seems to be an overemphasis on theological & philosophical issues but that is a clever construction that skillfully leads you to a profound grasp of Darwin's iconoclastic interpretations of mundane phenomena from which his theories grew.In the end, you regret even more never having met the man. ... Read more

Product Description
Captain Mackenzie Calhoun: Wearing a veneer of civilization as others would a cloak, Calhoun will now find himself facing a scheme for revenge that may unleash the savage warrior he keeps locked within himself.Lieutenant Robin Lefler: An eternal optimist, Lefler ocassionally asks the wrong question at the wrong time...and yet this time it may lead the Excalibur crew to unexpectedly shocking answers.Commander Elizabeth Shelby: Walking the fine line between duty and conscience, Shelby may find that she must decide between the life she loves and the man she once loved.As the Thallonian homeworld faces catastrophe, Captain Calhoun must confront his own bloody past in a life-or-death struggle for survival and honor. But when the planet's ultimate secret is revealed, only Captain Calhoun and the U.S.S. Excalibur can save the last remnants of the Empire from total destruction! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

New Frontier Book Four
End Game
Peter David
1997

The mysterious planet of Thallon is rent with earthquakes amidst political upheaval, and the crew of Excalibur is trapped at Nelkar, forced to resolve its refugee issue before departing to the home of the former Thallonian Empire to retrieve its missing crew. Meanwhile, the dark pasts of the crew seem to be catching up with them.

The final book in the introductory four-book series, "End Game" ends readers' first view of "New Frontier" with a literal bang -- and a hell of a good finale.

New Frontier, Book 4: End Game
This book nicely ties up the loose ends from the previous three; as I've said before, the first four books of this series should really have been made one large book; in fact, they've been collected into an omnibus edition, and that edition I would rate at five stars. The storyline for the first four books combined is a fine one, the characters are handled quite well, and the writing style maintains Peter David's usual high quality, especially his ability to tell a dramatic story without losing his sense of humor.

Still, this book on its own is only a story fragment; it has an ending, with just a couple of ongoing subplots (which is perfectly fine) but no beginning. And no story fragment is worth five stars. This is unquestionably the best "book" of the four, however.

Better than 90% of ST fiction, but...
I just finished reading the omnibus which collected the four separate New Frontier novels into one volume (which was less expensive than buying each separately). The biggest attraction of the NF series for me was getting toknow new characters whose behavior, ethics, background, etc. had not beenpreviously established (or only vaguely established). Unfortunately, Ididn't like most of the characters in the book.The Security Chief("Kebron") was a big, strong, tough guy.Period.Lt. Soleta wasa clone of Saavik, a character who appeared in the early ST movies, rightdown to her connection (very forced) with Spock.Calhoun was a spacecowboy who can beat up all the other Trek captains.Lt. McHenry is a spacecadet.Burgoyne 172 (what a name!) did nothing in 600 pages except serveas a focus of sexual tension. As for the characters who had appearedpreviously in Trek (Shelby, Lefler, and Selar), I felt that their portrayalwas untrue to their original characterizations.Shelby was much toowilling to toady to Calhoun's unorthodox tactics, and I don't believe for asecond their history together based on what we saw of Shelby in the classic"Best of Both Worlds".Although Selar and Lefler were minor TNGcharacters who I really didn't have any preconceived notions on, the wholeSelar subplot was interesting for about two pages. Several reviewers havecriticized NF for its protrayal of sexuality.I don't have a problem withexploring the sex lives of ST characters.I think ST as a whole tends tobe a little sterile when it comes to depicting relationships in general,and sometimes it goes to extremes when touching on characters' sexlives...they're depicted as either playing loose-and-easy (Kirk, Riker) oras livingin celibacy (Geordi, Bashir, and practicallythe entire crew ofVoyager).It's nice to know that people still have sex in the 24thcentury, but can't they act like mature adults?Plus, was it just me, ordid the scene between Burgoyne 172 and Selar in sickbayjust scream"sexual harassment"? Plot-wise, the pacing was good, but thepolitical intrigue was a little convoluted at times.By the middle of thefourth novel, I had no idea what the relationship between the Thallonians,the Xenxians, and the Danteri was.It's a good thing that the omnibusedition includes a "who's who" at the end.By that point in thenovel, however,you could read them all the same: BAD GUYS.There wasnothing that made these people anything more than the Alien Villain of theWeek.Something I look forward to in Star Trek is the evocation ofwell-defined alien cultures.What ST delivers more often, however, isvarying nose and ear prosthetics. I can forgive the TV series for this,given their budget limitations, but in a novel (much less four!), thereshould be enough room to develop at least some uniqueness to individuals orspecies. In all, I walked away from the NF novels without a desire topick up the next novel in the series. I just don't care what happens toany of the NF characters because I don't know anything about them and whatI do know doesn't make me sympathize with them.While I'd agree that theNF novels are better than 90% of ST fiction, I have to say that 95% of STfiction that I've read (or tried to!) is awful.

I love it!
The book was nonstop action.It would make a great show, Buy this book ifyou like the Next Generation

fantastic series!!!
Fantastic series if you really like the Next Generation era of Star Trek!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
In the New Frontier novel, the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur find themselves thrust into another universe—and must find a way home by any means. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Fine story.
This is an extremely fine installment of the "New Frontier" series. As usual, Peter David does a fine job of creating and developing characters, keeping several fine plots going simultaneously, with excellent pacing and a fine blend of action and drama without losing his sense of humor. As usual, I've docked it one star for failing to be a complete novel in its own right; it starts in the middle of the action from the last book. If you LIKE serialized, "come back next time for the conclusion" stories, or even don't mind them, feel free to consider this a five-star rating. At least this book had an ending; it just didn't include the beginning of the story.

I have a couple of minor quibbles with actions he had characters take; I didn't feel that those actions were in character for the people in question. But they are, after all, his characters; I suppose there's an argument to be made that he knows them better than I do. In any case, the quibbles are minor enough to not spoil the story, or even overly detract from it.

Loved it!
When I closed the cover of Missing in Action, I said to myself- literally outloud- "Now that's good storytelling."

I've come to expect that with PAD's Star Trek New Frontier series, but MIA is the best one yet.

Slight SPOILERS to follow:



In MIA, Calhoun finds himself and the crew of his ship, The Excalibur, sucked into a distant universe where the laws of physics are not what we are accustomed to. Space is gelatinous rather than a vacuum and the creatures that inhabit it are just as bizarre. While there, he must end a centuries long feud between two warring races- a feud that has wiped out the entirity of the inhabitants of their universe, except for their own races of course.

Back home, Calhoun's wife, Admiral Elizabeth Shelby, must decide whether to defy Star Fleet and go after him or sit back and wait- as she was ordered too. Always a strict adherent to regulations, she's naturally torn, but in the end makes a decision based on her instincts, much like her cowboy husband always does. (Well, instincts and ALOT of whiskey!)

Before she can reach her husband, she finds herself in the middle of a war at it's breaking point on the Planet of Priatia, in the part of space where Calhoun and The Excalibur disappeared.

Old friends, Lt. Commander Robin Lefler and Captain Kat Mueller, join her- and by this time I was reading fast because the action was so intense.

The climax comes together with Calhoun expertly manipulating his way out of a morass of "peace" negotiations between the warring peoples- a peace negotiation that could have been "do this or die" if it had been any other man- and Shelby, Lefler, and Mueller discovering just how connected the planet of Priatia is to Calhoun's disappearance- and vice versa. A big surprise hits at this point and since I've probably spoilered too much as it is- I leave it for you to discover.

The book concludes with a few excellent little denouements- one with an ironic twist reminiscent of the old The Twilight Zone, and the other, a fable-like scene featuring Q, that lets us know where we measure up in the scheme of things.

MIA is a continuation and finale of a story arch advanced in the previous book, After the Fall. Where as it might be helpful to read the books before MIA, it really wouldn't be necessary to enjoy this story.

PAD writes with a sense of humor that makes me laugh out loud like no other author can. I have yet to read his other books, outside of the Star Trek universe, but I will eventually get to them, of that you can be sure of!

It's a good read!
Peter David has steadily improved his "New Frontiers" universe, and this novel is a fun "pot boiler" adventure.David is unafraid to shake up his universe in each novel, and "MIA" is no exception.Several new characters are introduced, and a couple of major characters also depart (or do they? We'll see).Now that the "New Frontiers" universe is well established, it no longer takes this reader much time to recall each individual character and their particular story arc, and that's (for me) a good sign that the series is successful.

Who's missing in action?
Why, it's series hero Captain McKenzie Calhoun and his entire ship Excalibur, along with remaining crew members that have been at his side for the whole New Frontier saga. It seems beings from a different universe grabbed one or more of the feared Borg and got hold of their tranwarp conduit technology and sucked Mac & Crew over into their side. Left to figure out what happened to their former skipper and save him are his wife Elizabeth Shelby, now an Admiral after gaining command of her own ship (being less of a maverick than one's husband tends to enhance one's chances at promotion), Kat Mueller (who now commands a ship of her own) and Robin Leffler, whose mother Morgan is now the central processor and personality of Mac's onboard computer (kind of sounds like that ancient Earth human insult game The Dozens; "your mama's the onboard computer".) These three ladies in Mac's life (at one time or another) decide they gotta do something, meet in Admiral Liz's quarters to discuss how many Starfleet rules they're gonna break to fish Mac out of the soup, get totally smashed, then it's off to the rescue. One other vessel that saw Excalibur go down the terlet is a Romulan spy ship commanded by none other than Soleta, formerly the Excalibur's half Vulcan/ half Romulan scence officer. To find out where she figures in, and who Mac's abductors are, you'll have to buy the book.

Another great Peter David-penned adventure
If you've never read Peter David's Star Trek novels and you like Star Trek (or fondly remember the original series), you should give it a go, and the MacKenzie Calhoun series of New Frontier is unmatched (and the opinion is not certainly mine alone, as this has been a best-selling series and it's not based directly on any of the TV shows or movies). Mr. David's writing displays an uncanny sense of humour, a fantastic grasp of the Star Trek universe, an amazing ability to grow characters from the many Star Trek franchises (although I'm not that fond of Ms. Shelby, apologies), a spectacular gift for pace and a -- let me see, which comics tag could I use now... oh, yes - an incredible imagination.
The plus is that you don't have to be a Trekkie, the adventure and imagination will grab you if you like adventure and well-build characters in a space-opera setting.
Admittedly, this particular book is not the most rewarding of the series; it will offer you nonetheless the development of well-loved characters and throw in a coupld of upheavals in the process.
I, for one, can't wait for the next book to come out!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

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Not as funny as the other two but I LOVED who/what is love interest ended up being. I won't post a spoiler other than saying...WIN.

I really enjoyed it.
I know a lot of people have complained that this particular title was a bit of a downer at the end, but in all honesty, I felt that was in keeping with the series.It's not about sweetness and light, yet it's still very enjoyable.I think it's a fun book.It may not be the Brothers Karamazov or Crime and Punishment, but I think it's still pretty good.

Gah, what a lousy ending!
The first two books in the trilogy were great reads, but this one?I got the feeling that the author got tired of the whole series and wanted to get everything wrapped up what in whatever way he could.It shows.

Darkly humorous fantasy
Generally, in fantasy (among other genres), the principal characters fit into one of three broad categories.There are, of course, the heroes and the villains, and somewhere between the two is the anti-hero.Which is Peter David's character, Sir Apropos of Nothing?At times, he can be any of the three, which makes him all the more interesting.Certainly, in the third Apropros book, Tong Lashing, we get to see him at both his best and worst.

The novel begins with the protagonist drifting at sea, the only survivor of a shipwreck.This wreck was the result of a dangerous Dungeons & Dragons-like game that Apropos is forced into playing with some rather obvious parodies of Fafhrd, the Grey Mouser and Thomas Covenant.Now, Apropos seems doomed, but he is the ultimate survivor who eventually winds up washed up on the shore of Chinpan, a land that is a blend of China and Japan.

Apropos is taken in by a farming village and begins to find peace with their simple existence.Eventually, however, the real world intrudes and he is drawn into a conflict between the local emperor and a vast criminal/rebel organization.Even this has mixed blessings as Apropos shifts his allegiances from one side to the other and reaps the benefits, at least temporarily.He may even find true love, albeit with a woman who is distinctly evil.

This is dark fantasy, not in the standard sense of a supernatural horror story but because of the pervasive grimness that seems to follow Apropos.He is unable to be happy; any sense of contentment is marred by his worries about the next bad thing.Do the gods truly conspire against him or are his problems caused by his own dark nature?There is no simple answer.

Mixed in with all this darkness is a lot of humor (especially in the first half of the book).Much of this relies on puns that range from the clever to the ridiculous, but there is also plenty of good pokes at the conventions of the fantasy genre.Sometimes, the sillier aspects are an inconvenient distraction.Overall, however, this is a good book - a high four stars - that should please most fantasy fans.It is the third book in a series, however, and is better read as part of the set than as a standalone book.As a whole, this is one of the better fantasy series in recent memory.

Don't bother.
Stick with the first two--this one is mean-spirited, and the plot twist is creaky. ... Read more

Product Description
Cadet Worf arrives at Starfleet Academy^TM as the first Klingon to gain entrance since the Federation-Klingon, Peace Treaty. Raised on Earth by human parents, Worf wonders whether he is still a Klingon, the proud member of an honorable warrior race, or is he more human?

Command-level classes fill his schedule, but nothing prepares him for his fellow cadets, among them his human foster brother. Intelligent, ambitious, and confident, the Academy cadets make life difficult for the young warrior. Worf must win over his classmates -- including the always logical Vulcans and the fierce Brikar -- even though they are still trained to think of him as the enemy.

Then a routine trip to a training satellite turns into an unexpected disaster, and Worf must unite the cadets and risk his life before a terrible accident destroys the entire mission. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Surprise!It's good!
I didn't expect much from this book, since it was aimed at young readers, but decided to buy it anyway since it was written by Peter David (one of my favorite authors).

Gene Roddenberry used each episode of Star Trek to tell a morality tale, and Peter David followed that same path.He did not "dumb down" the story just to please his youth market.Instead we find a story that tackles issues of race, prejudice, distrust of the enemy, and even a little sibling rivalry.This story may only be 133 pages, but it goes far deeper than its short length suggests.

If Star Trek TNG were still an active show, this story would make an excellent "flashback" episode..... and most likely become one of the fan favorites.

delivers
We get a chance to think and feel like a young alien
who overcomes prejudice.
Written for younger readers , the book is at least as good as
the adult Star Trek series books.

Peter David's books can't be bad!
Even if meant for kids, this is a very nice books.And if you're planning to read Peter David's "New Frontier" books (or if you alread read them!), make sure to read these 3 books (this is only the first part) and re-discover some of the characters
Anyway, your really can NOT go wrong with any book by Peter David.

Worf's First Adventure
This is a great book. I think everyone should read this book.
My favrite part is when the Romulans attack. On average I
would rate this book a 4.

Marvelous
Peter David's writing is fantastic and James Fry's artwork is beautiful.

All of this make a story. On the other hand, this bookis only the beginning of Worf's story. I really can imagine what Worf's Academy days like thanks to this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The days of magic and adventure are fading away, giving way to the age of industry and science. As the aged last Hero sits upon the throne of Albion, two friends-the privileged Thomas and his loyal servant, John- set out for the East in search of a legendary beast: the vicious, rarely-seen balverine. But their desire for adventure may be their ultimate undoing-because their quarry has just found them...

INCLUDES CODE TO UNLOCK UNIQUE WEAPON IN FABLE III ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Book was great but...
I truly enjoyed reading this book.However, mine did not come with a code.Very sad, but that is life, no?.

Thoroughly enjoyable, if not a bit stale and predictable at times
I am a huge fan of fable, and to be honest, the only reason I bought this was for the code. I have read other books based on video games, such as halo, gears of war and mass effect, and I can happily say that this is right up there with them. It may not be the best, probably fairing just above the gears of war book (solely because of how few questions it answers and how many more it brings up). It gives a real sense of the times that are occurring during Fable 3, and gives what could be a hint into a few locations, including perhaps a haunted city. While I enjoyed the book, I did find it predictable, and perhaps a bit stale. The writing overall was good, not groundbreaking by any means, but as far as video game books go, this was a welcome addition to the collection. I did find myself hungering for more intriguing characters at times, and definitely more fable wit. It was considerably more serious than I would expect from a fable novel, since Lionhead seems to have a hard time keeping any serious tone for more than 5 minutes or so, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Overall, I did like the novel, and am glad it wasn't just the code I ended up paying for. Now all I have to do is wait 'til the release of the game to find some connections between the game and book.

A Great Read for Albion Lovers
Ive always loved Fable, and when i found out that they were finally going to put it in print i knew i had to have it, especially when ive been hoarding every peice of merchandise for the new game. The code should be worth it i find out on Tuesday. but if you love Fable then the book IS NESSACARY.

ok read but really only worth it for the code for fable 3
The book had an ok plot, yet seemed to drag on and then the ending rushed through. If your a fable fan, it was an interesting read, but had little to do with the fable game history. I am looking forward to the release of fable 3 to see what the code inside the book gets you in the game though.

Great Read, Greater Potential
In all I found this book to be surprisingly addicting. I will say that after reading the World of Warcraft books, this one was better than all but one or two. As somebody who loves game lore though, my opinion isn't exactly impartial. Though it wasn't perfect, I could see many more books being written in the Fable universe, at least a continuation of this book in a series. The characters were likeable, but it was almost as if there was so much more that just could not be fit in. A lot from the game series is still left open to be expanded upon, and I would hope that they recognise it's potential and continue from this great start. ... Read more

Product Description
“This is a very important work, with contributions by many of the most prominent scholars in science studies....It actually delivers on its promise to renew discussion and develop fresh ideas about the allegation that the sciences are no longer (or never were) unified by a single theoretical view of nature or a methodological foundation.” —Michael Lynch, Brunel University ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Anthology
Overall, this is an excellent anthology of recent work in the philosophy and history of science.Several distinguished figures including Arthur Fine, Peter Galison, Ian Hacking, and Donna Haraway have all contributedessays.The essay by Galison on Monte Carlo simulation is particularlygood. ... Read more

Product Description
In 1829 David Walker, a free black born in Wilmington, North Carolina, wrote one of America's most provocative political documents of the nineteenth century, Walker's Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World. Decrying the savage and unchristian treatment blacks suffered in the United States, Walker challenged his 'afflicted and slumbering brethren' to rise up and cast off their chains. Walker worked tirelessly to circulate his book via underground networks in the South, and he was so successful that Southern lawmakers responded with new laws cracking down on 'incendiary' antislavery material. Although Walker died in 1830, the Appeal remained a rallying point for African Americans for many years to come, anticipating the radicalism of later black leaders, from Malcolm X to Martin Luther King, Jr. In this new edition of the Appeal, the first in over thirty years, Peter P. Hinks, the leading authority on David Walker, provides a masterly introduction and extensive annotations that incorporate the most up-to-date research on Walker, much of it first reported by Hinks in his highly acclaimed biography, To Awaken My Afflicted Brethren. Hinks also includes a unique appendix of documents showing the contemporary respons from North and South, black and white to the Appeal itself and Walker's attempts to distribute it in the South. Historians and political activists have long recognized the importance of Walker's Appeal. At last we have an edition worthy of its persuasive immediacy and its enduring place in American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

book
the delivery of the book was fast, but the book was not in the condition that it was stated to be in. there were vast amounts of highlighting and major creases within the book and on it's cover. don't take a chance on this seller if you hate highlights throughout your books.

Important words, prophetic words
David Walker was born in the late 1700s, in the newly-formed nation of the United States, shortly after ratification of the Constitution, into a society which on the one hand was celebrating a victory for freedom from oppression, but which also was still oppressive of a significant number of its own people.

Walker grew impatient with the pace and tone of the Abolitionist movement, of which he was a part, beginning in New England. Slave rebellions such as that of Denmark Vesey seemed to be an answer to the slowness. Injustice was being committed at this very moment -- action was therefore required immediately. This was the tone with which Walker's 'Appeal' was infused. His message was rather shocking to white Americans, and Walker found ways to reach his own people in the South with this message. Vesey and others had used religious meetings as a means of gathering and organising; likewise, they found the Bible rich in material to support their cause. Walker did likewise, seizing upon biblical ideas of deliverance and justice.

Walker found himself becoming unpopular for his outspoken views. Many in the Abolitionist movement purposefully discouraged talk of rebellion, lawbreaking and violence. However, Walker was not convinced that this kind of change was the best in the situation -- he felt strongly that the Black people had to unite and fight, with the full support of God.

Walker further was mistrustful of white people's effort on the behalf of blacks, and doubtful that Southern white men would ever be willing to give up their position of power. Walker noted that even men like Jefferson believed in the racial idea of white superiority. Even in those placed where African-Americans would live as 'free' persons, they seemed forever destined to be in the eyes of the white majority second-class citizens. This to Walker clearly was not right. 'Are we men!! - I ask you, O my brethren! are we men? Did our Creator make us to be slaves to dust and ashes like ourselves?'

Walker began to view whites as the only Americans. He felt the sins of racism and slavery were so intrinsically American that it would be a contradiction for any black person to be an American. This racist sin permeated even through to the churches, which Walker held in contempt for their seeming complacency in the face of on-going injustice.

And yet, one of the key elements throughout Walker's 'Appeal', for all its radical viewpoints, which no other Abolitionists seemed to have picked up after Walker's death in 1830, is hope. 'I verily believe that God has something in reserve for us, which, when he shall have poured it out upon us, will repay us for all our suffering and miseries.' Walker had no qualms about allowing that he wanted to destroy the status quo in society; however, he was not an advocate of wanton violence and bloodshed. He said that is was incorrect to assume that he was asking for civil war of any kind, but that he was simply asking for basic human rights to be enforced for all people.

This calls for rights and justice, the very basic call to recognise the humanity in all people, is a primary element of Walker's 'Appeal'. The time to rise up and take back humanity which had been stripped away by the white slave traders was, to Walker, clearly at hand.

Like the biblical prophets, Walker understood that what he was doing was dangerous. However, Walker saw his writing as a call from God, a call that could not be put away. The call to justice, the call to right the wrongs in society, the call to action against an evil oppressor, are reminiscent of the Hebrew prophets.

Although Walker's call and prophecy never took the shape he himself might have imagined it, his words inspired many and discomfited more. Some forms of injustice take many voices, many martyrs, before they are addressed. Walker was one of these. ... Read more

Product Description
They were dark and stormy knights...and when they had their way with a helpless tavern wench one terrible evening, they had no idea that the result of that twilight brutality was going to come after them years later looking to settle the score...

The "result's" unlikely name is Apropos: A rogue, a rascal, a scoundrel, a cheat...and those are his good points. Lame of leg but fast of wit, the only reason Apropos doesn't consider chivalry dead is because he's not yet through with it. Herewith, Sir Apropos of Nothing -- his story in the words of the knave himself.

Apropos, all too aware of his violent and unseemly beginnings, travels to the court of the good King Runcible, with three goals in mind: to find his father, seek retribution, and line his own pockets. However, Apropos carries the most troublesome burden a would-be harbinger of chaos can bear: He may well be a hero foretold, a young man of destiny. It is not a notion that Apropos finds palatable, having very low regard for such notions as honor, selflessness, or risking one's neck. Yet when Apropos finds himself assigned as squire to the most senile knight in the court -- Sir Umbrage of the Flaming Nether Regions, whose squires tend to have a rather short life span -- Apropos is forced to rise to the occasion lest he be dragged under -- permanently.

His difficulties are compounded when a routine mission to escort the King's daughter home after a long absence goes horribly awry. Suddenly Apropos finds himself saddled with trying to survive while dealing with a berserk phoenix, murderous unicorns, mutated harpies, homicidal warrior kings, and -- most problematic of all -- a princess who may or may not be a psychotic arsonist.

Featuring a hero cut from cloth similar to that of such entertaining blackguards as Blackadder and Flashman, Sir Apropos of Nothing is a skewed version of classic, mythic adventure that is by turns hilarious and frightening, slapstick and serious, and filled with drop-dead laughs and drop-dead people. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

All time favorite
This is for the truely cool dorks out there! Its a comedy mystical type book! Good for cynical humor!

Started and ended well; dragged a bit in the middle.
This book was based on a highly amusing basic premise, namely, that of a main character who is something of an antihero: he's not of noble birth (other than being a noble bastard), he's not brave, honorable, a mighty warrior, etc, etc, etc, but is rather self-centered, cowardly, cynical, and lame, but manages to get himself into the world of knights & nobility anyway. As I say, an amusing concept, but one which started to wear thin after a while. I was going to give the book a poor rating as a result, but eventually there actually WAS some character development, and the character evolved into someone who I actually began to like. It's possible that the development took a little longer than it should (which is why I only gave the book four stars) but it's also possible that I was simply not being sufficiently patient, and that if it had happened more quickly, it would have been insufficiently gradual and thus plausible. I'm just not sure.

Great for a gift
I bought this as a gift for my husband, and he loved it. He laughed out loud and everything.

Hero or fool?
This is a very strange yet humorous and compelling book. The author has told a tale of fantasy with all of the usual elements, but he has infused it with a darker side. That side is the interior monologues of the protagonist, who can't decide if he is a hero or simply one who is subject to all the troubles that can be visited upon one person.

I love the names of the people and places in this book, and every time another wierd name came up I chuckled aloud. The book explores, albeit in a somewhat humorous way, what exactly comprises the idea of the "hero" in fantasy literature. Even though one feels that Apropos is that "hero", there are many moments of doubt, both for the reader and Apropos himself.

From an extremely humble and tragic beginning of his life, he moves around an odd world peopled with odd folks and attempts just to get along and hold on to his skin. Unfortunately, fate keeps throwing curve balls at him and somehow he appears to survive one, only to be struck by another.

The supporting cast is uniformly well-written and excellent and are important parts of the story. The book ends with the promise of more "adventures" to come, and I look forward to reading all about them.

interesting subversion of fantasy formula
Stumbled upon this book by accident when browsing through the kindle store. After reading the first one, went out and bought the other two. "Sir Apropos of nothing" is a witty, satirical and at times dark subversion of certain commonly used fantasy tropes. Recommended for all those who are tired of formulaic fantasy and enjoy tales with anti-heroic main characters. ... Read more