Product Description
CountryWatch.coms Country Reviews are concise, up-to-date sources for socio-cultural, political, economic, enterprise and environmental information on the 191 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review for China.

Each Country Review begins with an overview which provides key demographic and geographic information as well as full color regional and country maps by Magellan Geographix.Government and political information is provided in a format which enables the reader to get an overview of the historical and socio-cultural conditions, the organization of the various branches of the government, a brief summary of current political conditions, and a list of current leaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number of reliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews in statistical tables on macroeconomic trends and key economic sectors.The economic data is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investment conditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stock market trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist, and a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary of current environmental issues, natural hazards, international environmental agreements, and for most countries, a table with time trends in greenhouse gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.coms Country Reviews are concise, up-to-date sources for socio-cultural, political, economic, enterprise and environmental information on the 191 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review for China.

Each Country Review begins with an overview which provides keydemographic and geographic information as well as full color regionaland country maps by Magellan Geographix.Government and politicalinformation is provided in a format which enables the reader to get anoverview of the historical and socio-cultural conditions, theorganization of the various branches of the government, a briefsummary of current political conditions, and a list of currentleaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number ofreliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews in statisticaltables on macroeconomic trends and key economic sectors.The economicdata is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investmentconditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stockmarket trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist,and a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary ofcurrent environmental issues, natural hazards, internationalenvironmental agreements, and for most countries, a table with timetrends in greenhouse gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.com's Country Reviews(tm) are concise, up-to-date sources for political and economic information on the 190 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World, plus Serbia and Montenegro.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review(tm) for China.

Each Country Review(tm) begins with an overview which provides key demographic and geographic information as well as full color regional and country maps by Magellan Geographix(tm). Government and political information is provided in a format which enables the reader to get an overview of the organization of the various branches of the government, a brief summary of current political conditions, and a list of current leaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number of reliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews(tm) in statistical tables on key macroeconomic trends and economic sectors. The economic data is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investment conditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stock market trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist, a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary of current environmental issues, natural hazards, international environmental agreements, and, for most countries, a table with time trends in Greenhouse Gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.coms Country Reviews are concise, up-to-date sources for socio-cultural, political, economic, enterprise and environmental information on the 191 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review for China.

Each Country Review begins with an overview which provides keydemographic and geographic information as well as full color regionaland country maps by Magellan Geographix.Government and politicalinformation is provided in a format which enables the reader to get anoverview of the historical and socio-cultural conditions, theorganization of the various branches of the government, a briefsummary of current political conditions, and a list of currentleaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number ofreliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews in statisticaltables on macroeconomic trends and key economic sectors.The economicdata is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investmentconditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stockmarket trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist,and a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary ofcurrent environmental issues, natural hazards, internationalenvironmental agreements, and for most countries, a table with timetrends in greenhouse gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
Commercial Data International's (CDI) Country Reviews are concise, up-to-date sources for political and economic information on the 190 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World, plus Serbia and Montenegro. In addition, data on Hong Kong and Taiwan are included in the Country Review for China.

Each Country Review begins with an overview which provides key demographic and geographic information as well as full color regional and country maps by Magellan Geographix. Government and political information is provided in a format which enables the Reader to get an overview of the organization of the various branches of the government, a brief summary of current political conditions, and a list of current leaders, including a biography of the head of government/state. Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number of reliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews in statistical tables on key macroeconomic !trends and economic sectors. The economic data is organized in an easy-to-understand format. Foreign investment conditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stock market trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist, a listing of key enterprises. Also included is a summary of current environmental issues, natural hazards, international environmental agreements, and, for most countries, a table with time trends in Greenhouse Gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.com's Country Reviews(tm) are concise, up-to-date sources for political and economic information on the 190 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World, plus Serbia and Montenegro.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review(tm) for China.

Each Country Review(tm) begins with an overview which provides key demographic and geographic information as well as full color regional and country maps by Magellan Geographix(tm). Government and political information is provided in a format which enables the reader to get an overview of the organization of the various branches of the government, a brief summary of current political conditions, and a list of current leaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number of reliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews(tm) in statistical tables on key macroeconomic trends and economic sectors. The economic data is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investment conditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stock market trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist, a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary of current environmental issues, natural hazards, international environmental agreements, and, for most countries, a table with time trends in Greenhouse Gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.com's Country Reviews are concise,up-to-date sources for socio-cultural, political, economic, enterpriseand environmental information on the 191 nations defined by theU.S. State Department as Independent States of the World.Inaddition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in theCountry Review for China.

Each Country Review begins with an overview which provides keydemographic and geographic information as well as full color regionaland country maps by Magellan Geographix.Government and politicalinformation is provided in a format which enables the reader to get anoverview of the historical and socio-cultural conditions, theorganization of the various branches of the government, a briefsummary of current political conditions, and a list of currentleaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number ofreliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews in statisticaltables on macroeconomic trends and key economic sectors.The economicdata is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investmentconditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stockmarket trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist,and a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary ofcurrent environmental issues, natural hazards, internationalenvironmental agreements, and for most countries, a table with timetrends in greenhouse gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.com's Country Reviews(tm) are concise, up-to-date sources for political and economic information on the 190 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World, plus Serbia and Montenegro.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review(tm) for China.

Each Country Review(tm) begins with an overview which provides key demographic and geographic information as well as full color regional and country maps by Magellan Geographix(tm). Government and political information is provided in a format which enables the reader to get an overview of the organization of the various branches of the government, a brief summary of current political conditions, and a list of current leaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number of reliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews(tm) in statistical tables on key macroeconomic trends and economic sectors. The economic data is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investment conditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stock market trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist, a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary of current environmental issues, natural hazards, international environmental agreements, and, for most countries, a table with time trends in Greenhouse Gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.com's Country Reviews(tm) are concise, up-to-date sources for political and economic information on the 190 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World, plus Serbia and Montenegro.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review(tm) for China.

Each Country Review(tm) begins with an overview which provides key demographic and geographic information as well as full color regional and country maps by Magellan Geographix(tm). Government and political information is provided in a format which enables the reader to get an overview of the organization of the various branches of the government, a brief summary of current political conditions, and a list of current leaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number of reliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews(tm) in statistical tables on key macroeconomic trends and economic sectors. The economic data is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investment conditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stock market trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist, a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary of current environmental issues, natural hazards, international environmental agreements, and, for most countries, a table with time trends in Greenhouse Gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
CountryWatch.coms Country Reviews are concise, up-to-date sources for socio-cultural, political, economic, enterprise and environmental information on the 191 nations defined by the U.S. State Department as Independent States of the World.In addition, data on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau are included in the Country Review for China.

Each Country Review begins with an overview which provides keydemographic and geographic information as well as full color regionaland country maps by Magellan Geographix.Government and politicalinformation is provided in a format which enables the reader to get anoverview of the historical and socio-cultural conditions, theorganization of the various branches of the government, a briefsummary of current political conditions, and a list of currentleaders, including a biography of the head of government/state.Economic information, compiled and condensed from a large number ofreliable sources, is presented in the Country Reviews in statisticaltables on macroeconomic trends and key economic sectors.The economicdata is organized in an easy-to-understand format.Foreign investmentconditions are also covered along with a capsule description of stockmarket trends, for those countries where major stock markets exist,and a listing of key enterprises.Also included is a summary ofcurrent environmental issues, natural hazards, internationalenvironmental agreements, and for most countries, a table with timetrends in greenhouse gas emissions. ... Read more

Product Description
Tales of high-tech reproduction from the most inventive names in science fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
A fifth collection of spooky tales by the author of the My Teacher Is an Alien series and other notable writers features vampires, werewolves, demons, dinosaurs, monsters, and things that go bump in the night. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An amazing compilation
I recently dug this book out on a whim, after having not so much as looked at it for perhaps five years or more, and was genuinely surprised and delighted.The stories are a lot more mature than I would have expected for a book marketed to children.I say this not because they are in any way inappropriate, but because they deal with somewhat darker themes than most believe children can handle--love, death, loss, choice, sacrifice, abuse, and so forth.None of the writers "talk down" to the target audience, which is unfortunately a trend that has always manifested in cinematic family events.It's too bad these tales are considered "mere" children's fare; adults are apparently missing out on a number of fulfilling works.
The stories range from creepy to sad to humorous to simply bizarre, and are usually anywhere from five to thirty pages, with illustrations (the shortest story I've ever seen in one of these collections was less than a hundred words).I can't say that any of them gave me nightmares, but some of them actually came close, which is an accomplishment, given that it's very hard for me to reach a state of fear through books or even most movies.
The most notable entries, from my perspective, include the strange and darkly humorous "Letters from Camp," told from the perspective of a juvenile delinquent writing letters to his parents in which he expresses rather justified misgivings about his summer vacation establishment; a creepy and somewhat surreal entry called "Vampire for Hire," about a boy who orders a vampire through the mail thinking it will help cure his bully problems; "One Chance," a touching number about two misfit friends who find a way out of the cruel world that maltreats them; "Jenny Nettles," a nautical tale about a cursed figurehead that effectively conveys a sense of darkness and witchery on the high seas; "The Sight of the Basilisk," which tells of the meeting between an orphan and the dreaded creature that guards ancient tombs from graverobbers, a creature the sight of which means death; "The Teacher Who Could Hear"--by far the creepiest story in the book--about a teacher who can hear things most people can't--like death; "Life with a Slob", which relates a weird (and touching, in its own odd way) story about a boy and his relationship to the living, breathing Mess that accumulates on his bedroom floor; the short but rather frightening "Campfire", in which a sad outcast tells a rather unusual story in the deep, dark woods; and "Past Sunset," about a beautiful, hypnotic female ghost that wanders the streets of an Italian (I think) village after dark.This latter has something of a predictable ending, but the author builds a satisfying atmosphere of dread, wonder, and a strange sort of beauty.
Obviously that leaves only a few tales that I apparently wasn't so fond of."Grendel" is entirely redundant for anybody who's read or even knows of Beowolf (and the lead characters explain how redundant the story is by repeating the major plot points, which parallel this quite closely)."The Thing in Auntie Alma's Pond" is good and haunting, in a way, but also feels somewhat familiar.And "Those Three Wishes" is pretty much worthless, with an annoying setup, an obnoxious main character, and a silly, predictable end.
Anyhoo, I guess my point is that just because something is designated as "Children's Literature" does not mean it offers nothing of value to adults.These 13 (imagine that) stories are equal parts good writing, entrancing imagination, fine characters, and well-handled life issues.

Sad = Scary?
Perhaps I'm a little odd by thinking thatthe most spinetingling ones are the two saddest - One Chance and The Thing in Auntie Alma's Pond. Both are beautifully written and mournful beyond doubt. The others, well... Not so sure. Most are wierd and hard to understand.

Not a spinetingler story in there.
Story one was sad. Letters from... was weird. Grendel was boring. What's a Little...? was good but not scary. Past Sunset was sad and dumb. I never liked that author. Vampire for... left me yawning. Jenny Nettles was sadbut not scary. Basilisk was good but not scary.None of the stories wasscary. ... Read more

Product Description
Collected for the first time in one volume, three tales of Peter Crossman, Knight of the Temple, by the award-winning and best-selling team of Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald.

From the Spear of Antioch to
the Holy Grail, Crossman keeps the holy things holy and the pilgrims safe with cool
wit, hot lead, and perfect faith.



""Also noteworthy is the dry, neo-noir 'Selling the Devil' by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald.""

-- Publishers Weekly

""Cloak-and-dagger meets robe-and-Psalter with jokes and swagger, all just for fun.""

Kirkus Reviews

""A dash of medieval mystery adds zest to this inventive melange of hardboiled thriller and speculative fantasy.""

Publishers Weekly

""...a fast-paced tale of supernatural intrigue featuring hard-as-nails heroes on a literal mission from God.""

Library Journal ... Read more

Product Description
No reino de Brecelande vivem-­se tempos prósperos e harmoniosos, mas demasiada tranquilidade começa a tornar-se enfadonha e até incomodativa para Lys e Randalagora mestre feiticeiro da corte da Rainha Diamante. Porém, a rotina destes dois amigos será bruscamente alterada quando surge a oportunidade de Lys participar no maior concurso de bardos do mundo, que se realiza em Vaskinna, após a visita a Brecelande do Rei Torc. Mas desde o primeiro instante, Randal pressente más energias em torno da figura de Torc e do anel que este exibe. Que irão Lys e Randal encontrar no reino de Vaskinna? As forças do mal voltam a testar a coragem e a destreza dos teus heróis! ... Read more