Customer Reviews (1)

Good Fare for a Fantasy Starter.
You really want to like these characters.I found this book when I was really starting to get into the various genres of Fantasy.It has the requisite Dragon, with a twist, a Princess to be saved, and a hero thatneeds to find himself.And more twists than a pretzel factory...At leastto a 12yo mind.I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a lightread that is highly entertaining. ... Read more

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World Fantasy Award winner S.P. Somtow's libretto for the acclaimed opera AYODHYA, which squeezes the entire "Ramayana" epic into a single evening. ... Read more

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Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : S.p. Somtow, Pira Sudham, Siriphan Techajindawong, Chit Phumisak, Kukrit Pramoj, Khamsing Srinawk, Chart Korbjitti, Koynuch. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : Présenté dans un article de l'International Herald Tribune comme « l'expatrié thaïlandais le plus connu à travers le monde », S.P. Somtow, de son vrai nom Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul, est à la fois romancier, réalisateur et compositeur de musique classique. Il naît le 30 décembre 1952 à Bangkok en Thaïlande, fils de M. Sampong Sucharitkul, membre puis vice-président de la Commission du droit international des Nations unies (entre 1977 et 1986). Il vit en Grande-Bretagne dès l'âge de six mois, de sorte que l'anglais est sa langue maternelle. Au début des années 1960, il passe cinq ans en Thaïlande pendant lesquelles il apprend le thaï. Il est ensuite éduqué à Eton College et St Catharine's College (Cambridge) en Angleterre. Il commence sa carrière en tant que musicien. Dans les années 70, alors qu'il est encore étudiant, son œuvre est déjà jouée sur 4 continents. Il est nommé représentant thaïlandais de la Ligue des Compositeurs Asiatiques à l'Unesco. Ses compositions avant-gardistes font cependant scandale dans son pays d'origine, ce qui provoque le début de sa carrière d'auteur. En tant qu'auteur de science-fiction, il est connu pour plusieurs séries, parmi lesquelles Mallworld, les Chroniques de l'Inquisition et Aquila. C'est dans les années 1970 qu'il publie pour la première fois, dans les pages du Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. Il y a régulièrement publié des nouvelles ainsi que dans Analog et Amazing. Dans le genre horreur, il a écrit la trilogie Timmy Valentine : Vampire Junction ainsi qu'une série de nouvelles et d'histoires...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr ... Read more

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1996 HARDBACK EDITION. SOME WEAR AND CREASES AND SMALL TEARS ON DUST JACKET..DISCOLOR ON EDGE OF PAGES. OVER ALL ACCEPTABLE READING COPY..WE SHIP DAILY.... ... Read more

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Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Alejandro Jodorowsky, Auteurs de Science-Fiction, Vic St Val, J. T. Mcintosh, S.p. Somtow, Theodor Hertzka, Bob Shaw, Erwin Neutzsky-Wulff, Vincent Gessler, Sarban, Theresa Breslin, Jenő Rejtő, Lucie Chenu, Marie Martin-Pécheux, Wilhelm Landig, Agop Melkonyan, Jeffrey Lord, Johanna Sinisalo, Louise Marley, Wildy Petoud, Sunao Yoshida, Lieutenant Kijé. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : Alejandro (ou Alexandro) Jodorowsky, dit « Jodo », né en février 1929 à Tocopilla (Chili), est un réalisateur, acteur, auteur d'une poignée de films ésotériques, surréalistes et provocateurs ; il est également auteur de « performances » Panique (groupe actionniste qu'il crée avec Roland Topor et Fernando Arrabal), mime, romancier, essayiste, poète et prolifique scénariste de bande dessinée. En 1953, il quitte le Chili pour Paris, et travaille avec le mime Marceau ainsi que Maurice Chevalier. En 1962, il crée le groupe Panique avec Roland Topor et Fernando Arrabal, en réaction au mouvement surréaliste. En 1965, il fonde au Mexique le théâtre d'avant-garde de Mexico. Il y tourne deux films, El Topo et La Montagne sacrée, ce dernier inspiré du Mont Analogue de René Daumal. À partir des années 1980, il anime dans divers lieux de Paris (comme une université, un bar ou un dojo) une réunion ouverte hebdomadaire, intitulée « Le Cabaret mystique », où il témoigne - dans l'esprit d'une agora ouverte à ses auditeurs - de thèmes touchant à l'éveil intérieur comme la pratique du zen (qu'il étudia avec Ejo Takata), les arts martiaux, la tradition chilienne, l'héritage spirituel de l'humanité, le massage, la « sagesse des blagues », la psychanalyse, Carlos Castaneda, ... Les univers qu'il développe sont en général des univers de scie...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Wisit Sasanatieng, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Nonzee Nimibutr, S. P. Somtow, Win Lyovarin, Chalermchai Kositpipat, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Vasan Sitthiket, Chart Korbjitti, Bundit Ungrangsee, Thunska Pansittivorakul, Nat Yontararak, Dnu Huntrakul, Saksiri Meesomsueb, Paiwarin Khao-Ngam. Excerpt:Apichatpong Weerasethakul Apichatpong Weerasethakul (better transliterated as Aphicha tpong Wi ra se thakun , Thai : , born July 16, 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand ) is a Thai independent film director , screenwriter , and film producer . His feature films include Tropical Malady , which won a jury prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival , Blissfully Yours , which won the top prize in the Un Certain Regard program at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, and Syndromes and a Century , which premiered at the 63rd Venice Film Festival and was the first Thai film to be entered in competition there. Working outside the strict confines of the Thai film studio system, Apichatpong Weerasethakul has directed several features and dozens of short films. Themes reflected in his films (frequently discussed in interviews) include dreams, nature, sexuality (including his own homosexuality ), and Western perceptions of Thailand and Asia , and his films display a preference for unconventional narrative structures (like placing titles/credits at the middle of a film) and for working with non-actors. Cinephiles affectionately refer to him as " Joe " (a nickname that he, like many with similarly long Thai names , has adopted out of convenience). Biography Mysterious Object at Noon Apichatpong Weerasethkul's parents were both physicians, and worked in a hospital in Khon Kaen , Thailand . He attended Khon Kaen University and received a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1994. He made his first short fil... ... Read more

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Chapters: Bhumibol Adulyadej, S. P. Somtow, Nat Yontararak, Trisdee Na Patalung, Dnu Huntrakul, Peter Feit, Khun Wichitmatra. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 46. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Bhumibol Adulyadej (Royal Institute: Phumiphon Adunyadet; Thai: , pronounced ; see full title below; born 5 December 1927) is the current King of Thailand. Publicly acclaimed "the Great" (Thai: , Maharaja), he is also known as Rama IX. Having reigned since 9 June 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. He is seen as so important by the Thai people that his ill-health has affected the financial markets. Although Bhumibol is legally a constitutional monarch, he has made several decisive interventions in Thai politics. He was credited with facilitating Thailand's transition to democracy in the 1990s, although he has supported some military regimes, including Sarit Dhanarajata's during the 1960s and the Council for National Security in 2006-2008. He has been accused of interfering in politics, although this would be unconstitutional of him and accusers are liable to be charged with lèse majesté. During his long reign he has seen over 15 coups, 16 constitutions, and 27 changes of prime ministers. He has also used his influence to stop military coups, including attempts in 1981 and 1985. Bhumibol is highly revered by the public and is also protected by the Constitution as "inviolable". He has no right to charge anyone who insults or defames him, but anyone can file charges for him; the penalty is three to fifteen years in jail. In his 2005 birthday speech, Bhumibol said he would not take lèse majesté seriously, and that the King can have flaws. Despite that, charges were still filed frequently, with over 100 cases of lèse ma...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=203756 ... Read more

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Chapters: S. P. Somtow, Win Lyovarin, Kulap Saipradit, Vibhavadi Rangsit, Suwanni Sukhontha, Ngarmpun Vejjajiva, Chart Korbjitti, Thommayanti. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 35. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: S. P. Somtow (a rearrangement of his real name Somtow Papinian Sucharitkul; Thai: ; born December 30, 1952) is a Thai-American musical composer. He is also a science fiction, fantasy, and horror author writing in English. Somtow has both Thai and American citizenship. A scion of the Chakri dynasty (his grandfather's sister was a cousin and consort of King Vajiravudh), Somtow was born in Bangkok but moved with his parents to England at the age of six months. English was his first language. Somtow was educated at Eton College and at St Catharine's College, Cambridge. He returned to Thailand in the early 1960s for a five-year period, during which he learned the Thai language. At age 11, Somtow wrote a poem called Kith of Infinity, which was published in the English-language Bangkok Post. Shirley MacLaine saw it, and thinking that it was written by a dead poet, included it in her autobiography, Don't Fall Off the Mountain. The poem contains the line "I am not a man", since Somtow was not yet an adult. It is thought this line caused MacLaine to assume that the poet was a woman. As a science fiction writer, he is known for several series, among which are Mallworld, Inquestor, and Aquila. He was first published as Somtow Sucharitkul in the late 1970s in the pages of Asimov's and Analog science fiction magazines, and wrote several stories and novels under that name before changing his byline to S. P. Somtow for personal reasons. In the horror genre, he wrote Vampire Junction and a series of related novels and stories. He was president of the Horror Writers Association from 1998 t...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=1182779 ... Read more

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A collection of the best science fiction writing on UFO sightings and alien encounters features classic and previously unpublished stories by such writers as S. P. Somtow, Michael Crichton, and Don D'ammassa. ... Read more

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The Millennial War left a sullen void where civilization once stood. But then the whales began their song -- a mysterious song that resounded throughout the polluted seas and told an ancient heartbreaking tale that moved the survivors to revive and honored ritual . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Writer's Transition
I think I have read everything published by Somtow Sucharitkul, who also publishes as S.P. Somtow.The previous reviewer very accurately describes the qualities of this book, which in many ways encapsulates all that is wonderful and maddening about reading his work.

In Mallworld, and his Inquest series (Light on the Sound, etc.), he created unexpected yet fascinating worlds,which is what one always hopes to find in science fiction, but rarely does. These books are novel, fresh, and funny.His vision can make one think of Vonnegut at his SF prime.That he wrote with such searing wit and sophistication cross-culturally (he is Thai but writes in English) makes these even more remarkable works.

His fascination with death and its curious juxtapostion to that which we aspire to in life, was one thread throughout these early writings.In these great SF novels of the 1980's the thread often is reprsented in various versions of a roller coaster, metaphors of thrill, danger, and mortality.This morbid fascination moves distinctly in the direction towards obsession in Starship and Haiku.He would ultimately move much further in that direction in other novels which are even darker, more gothic, and where vampires, blood and decay abound.

Starship and Haiku is not my favorite, but it is certainly miles ahead of much of what passes as SF these days.Had I never read the truly brilliant Mallworld, I might be more satisfied with Starship and Haiku.As it is, to me the book seemed to herald the conversion from from a brilliant SF author to a much less interesting writer of gothic tales.

Deeply flawed, but still worthwhile
This may be one of the more obscure books that I've ever read, and it, more than anything, validates my insistence on shopping at used bookstore. It's by no means a masterpiece, but Sucharitkul's vision of post-apocalyptic Japan is more alive and original than most mass-produced heroic fantasies and repackaged techno-thrillers. If you can't understand how Darwin's Radio won the Nebula, this novel is for you.

I admit that you'll have trouble seeing this novel as the book that rekindled my faith in science fiction if you only read these next two paragraphs. The characters are mostly one-dimensional: Takahashi is the ultimate Dark Lord Foulness character, and his fate at the end is a cheat. I had to keep reminding myself that Josh Nakamura was thirty years old; he would have been a more interesting fifteen-year-old. The only interesting character, Akiro Ishida, only appears for half the book.

The plot itself leaves much to be desired; plot holes abound, and, as I said before, the villain's final fate, and the lessons learned, were incredibly unsatisfying. Not only that, but the characters think in exclamation points, and sometimes the revelations can be too obvious. So you'll have totrust me when I say that, despite the numerous flaws in narrative, Suchartikul's vision is so compelling that I'drecommend it anyway.

I always got the sense that he was busting at the seams with ideas about the tension between art and life, about beauty, about courage and honor and ecology and a dozen other things, and if he wasn't subtle enough, that's because this is a labor of love. His triumph is in a tour of a suicide colony; the mixture of the grotesque and the serene, culminating in an cruel mockery of artistry, is simply astounding, and absolves a good many literary sins on its own accord.

I understand that not everyone will be willing to ignore the book's flaws as I was, so take this for a limited recommendation (or possibly damning with faint praise). It was unique, and I derived enjoyment out of it; if you're looking for something other than the near-identical novels clogging up the Science Fiction section, you may like it too. ... Read more

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Some good tales, some not so great
This collection is mainly notable to me for the Bloch story, which is a very memorable (and typically heavy handed) tale of revenge.The Ethiopian tale was definitely intriguing also and disturbing. Unfortunately a lot of the stories are clunkers, especially the Ramsey Campbell tale. ... Read more